I apologize for the length of this post but, this past weekend once again our high school reunion took place. What a great time we had reminiscing with friends from the past. Sadly, we have lost several members but, we continue to meet and enjoy retelling the stories of our school years.
Several years ago, I was ask to read the poem below that I wrote for a homecoming assembly, where Daughter#2, who was a teacher at BHS, was speaking; granddaughter # 1 was the little attendant and my mother received the flower for being the oldest graduate. Four generations of us and all proud to be a part of BHS.
So, I'm reprinting this for those who remember the good times at our alma mater:
When I look at my life these past fifty plus years,
I see much happiness along with heartache and tears.
I see memories before me of memories of the past,
But most of all what I see are that memories will last.
I see myself a small girl who had never been far,
Being taken to school in my daddy's big car.
I see the CCC building that was provided for me,
To begin education; the A,B's and C's.
I recall how I cried the first morning there,
For these teachers were strangers and I didn't care.
In all my six years, I had always had mom,
And, all I could think of was "I want to go home!"
But somehow I managed to stay through the year,
I had different teachers coming from far and from near.
We suffered through winter wind blowing through cracks,
An the old wood stove puffing through it's "smoking attacks".
When third grade came along I was ecstatic you see,
For we had a new building that was fine as could be!
The floors were all shiny; the big windows so bright,
I didn't have to squint now......I could see how to write.
The first big event I remember that year,
Was the grade school operetta and how we shivered with fear.
As we each took our turns and performed twice that day.
We grew in our confidence.......what can I say?
With twelve of my friends; six boys and six girls,
We practiced and practiced and knew all our twirls.
To the music of "Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown",
We all twirled and bowed and danced all around.
And when it was over we felt, oh so fine,
As our parents came up and they all got in line..
They shook our hands and they said we did great,
And I look back with pride when I think of that date.
The games that we played were jump rope and jacks,
And kick ball and hop scotch....don't step on the crack!
At recess we slid down the old metal slide,
That's still on the play ground......out that way just outside.
I remember one day as we played at recess,
My very best friend slid down the slide and her dress,
Caught right at the top of that great big, old slide,
And as she got to the bottom, we saw nothing but hide!
Such excitement we had as we neared Halloween
We'd vote with pennies for a King and a Queen.
People came to our carnival from near and away,
And, we'd make big 'ole scarecrows and stuff them with hay.
The parade was the highlight of homecoming back then,
We'd work nights on our floats while teacher's patience wore thin.
And, what an experience to ride through our little town,
With the Queen and her court dressed in long, flowing gowns.
There was no Bobcat stadium for the players those days,
The fairgrounds was the place where coaches called their plays.
But never the less the whole town would turn out,
Player's dad's walked the sidelines and mothers would shout.
These buildings may fall or blow away as in the past,
But the friendships we built there are the ones that will last.
As each generation walks down hallowed halls,
The memories will linger within those old walls.
Students who find yourselves seated here today,
Your the next generation who are passing this way.
So, never forget even when you are old,
There's the "Great Bobcat Spirit" that you have to uphold.
Jo Ann Swofford
Copyright 1996
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