Subject: More memories
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 22:48:43 -0500
From: "Margaret Baxter" [mbaxter@netexpress.net]
To: ALL

It's been fun reading what some of you remember from high school. Here's my list - both the good and the not-so-good:

Incoming freshman girls (boys, too?) had to sign a pledge card that they would not be a member of a secret society. Probably had to do with post-WWII subversive groups? We were worried about whether that meant we couldn't form a spread (whose name always had a secret meaning). What a relief to know spreads were okay! I could tell you the meaning of our spread - the DOTTS - but it's a secret.

I remember having loads of fun in our spread - going to the games, the Rec, Hunt's, having slumber parties, doing lots of fun stuff all through high school.

I wasn't allowed to go to school dances - even had to be excused from the dance units in PE. I pretended I didn't care, but I did - and I still do. Oh, the things well-meaning parents do to their kids in an effort to raise them "right." We didn't do any of that to our kids, did we?

I remember home room with Mr. Larry Harris. Nice way to start the school day.

Susie, under those tight, or straight, skirts "nice" girls always wore a girdle. Pantyhose came just a few years later. Separate nylon stockings were held up by garters on the underside of the girdle. Can you believe it?! Or you could wear bobby sox.

Lots of crenolines were worn under full skirts. Made stiff by dipping in starch or sugar water. I think I once got carried away with the sugar water and some of the sugar flaked off and made a crunching sound all day as I walked.

I remember having to drop Latin after a few weeks and lots of crying over my homework. I had no idea what 1st, 2nd, 3rd person singular and plural was. I could speak it right, but didn't even realize English was organized that way. I either mised that lesson in grade school or Miss Swisher didn't explain it very well. I was totally lost with all those different endings to the same word. But I can still say most of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in Latin - "Mica, mica......." It was a humiliating way to start my high school career. As an older and wiser sophomore, I got along much better with French.

I remember (because I asked her) that Miss Swisher wore Emeraude perfume. You couldn't miss it when you walked into her classroom as she stood by the door. I liked the smell and bought a bottle despite my bad experience with her.

I remember the French teacher, Frances Roberts, many days held her head in her hand and moaned, "J'ai mal a la tete" - I have a headache. She must have had migraines.

I remember Miss Albright brought a TV to US History class and we watched the JFK inauguration ceremony.

Didn't Miss Poshard marry Max Mills after his wife died? That was after we were out.

I remember Mrs. Rahn's English class and Great Expectations. Seems like we studied it for months.

I remember eating, and providing snacks for others, in Miss Kellogg's English class - until she caught me!

I remember Val Davis in that English class always brushing her hair UP in the back before class started.

I got lost in algebra, but absolutely loved geometry because you could see it! It was so logical. Wish I had taken more math and science.

Susie, I also remember girls chorus with Mrs. Szepessy and Mrs. Linder, and the rich heritage of vocal music we received. We also learned to sight-read music. When I hear Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze the words flow through my mind. Same with other songs we learned, classic and popular from back then. Always a pleasing memory to know the words when you only hear the melody. Sorry about pulling out your gray hairs. I don't remember that.

In study hall it was an acceptable practice to ask another girl to look through her purse. Made for an interesting, or tense if you owned the purse, hour going through every item, every piece of paper in her billfold, every zippered or snapped compartment. Nothing was private.

Our cheerleaders were the best ever! I never figured out why other cheerleaders didn't, and don't, do such great jumps!

I remember announcements for school play try-outs and how badly I wanted to be in a play. But I didn't go because I assumed I wouldn't be chosen. Who knows? And I didn't realize there were many other ways to be involved - costumes, props, stage crew, lighting, etc. Todd, I could have helped you bring up the lights at the right time for Susie Entringer's line. I also wanted to try out for Coquettes, but didn't have the nerve.

I thought it would be neat to write the advice column for the Opinion. Again, didn't know how to get involved.

I have mostly good memories of high school, along with some regrets about not making more of the opportunities to try out and find different areas of interest. One of the good things about getting older - you can make up for some of those missed opportunities of your younger years.

And that's my list. Hope to hear from more of you.

Margaret Ring Baxter