Recently I hosted three friends from high school at my home
here in Dundas, Minnesota. It has been several years since this group has gotten together for a girls’ weekend, so we had lots to catch up on! When I thought about when I had met these ladies, I was shocked to find that
it had been over 50 and 60 years! One of my friends (Kathy J) I have known all
my life. We had mutual aunt, uncle and cousins which involved going to
birthday parties together since we were born! I have known Alice most of that
time as well since we both attended the same Lutheran church including Sunday
School, confirmation, and Luther League. When us country kids came into town
for junior high school, I met Kathy S. Let’s say we’ve had a bit of history
together and have stayed friends over the years as we spread throughout the
Midwest. We had fun catching up on each other’s lives, talking about where
other classmates are now (living and deceased unfortunately), and reminiscing
about growing up in small town Iowa and our school memories.
My dad was a farmer, so I attended Viola Elementary School out
in the country up through sixth grade. Other friends attended school in Gray,
Iowa and we were all bused into the Audubon schools when we were in seventh
grade. We went to junior high in an old brick building that was once the high
school. There we met new friends and learned to go to different rooms and
teachers for each class.
We moved onto high school which was a newer school with
catwalks between two sections of the building where we hung out in between
classes. Starting as Freshman was a bit scary with all those older kids who weren’t
necessarily nice to us gawky young kids. We survived, and as seniors ruled the
school. I remember getting passes to go to the guidance office to discuss our
college futures and ended up chatting with friends and the guidance counselors
about all sorts of topics. I was in the middle of the social hierarchy - getting decent grades,
involved in activities, not causing problems. If we were in the hallway during
class, no questions asked.
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| Alice and me rehearsing a skit as two British ladies having tea and discussing a murder. |
I was involved in girls basketball for a couple years, but
dropped that to focus on drama. I was on stage occasionally, but my main focus
was costumes since I had been sewing my own clothes for years. I was also in
marching and concert bands playing the baritone, as well as the pep club.
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| Posing with the band director, Mr. Bourne, for a picture before a band trip to Canada. Gotta love those wide pant legs! |
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| My pep club beanie (we actually wore those??) and letter |
On the weekends we often hung out with friends on Saturday
nights. Sleepovers, movies, parties in the country as we got older. Once we got
our drivers licenses, we scooped the loop around the town square, and down main
street on Saturday nights. Occasionally someone turned a corner a bit too tight
and lost a hub cap. So, I’ve hunted in the dark in back yards for lost hubcaps!
I am fortunate to have many circles of friends in my life. My
college roommates are planning a weekend in October, and I am looking forward
to seeing these ladies who live in several states. This past weekend we went to
Iowa to bike the High Trestle Bridge trail with college friends. We had a great
weekend in Des Moines going to the Des Moines Farmers Market, drinks at Iowa Distilling
Company in Cumming, wonderful food and great company as we caught up with each
other and discussed upcoming trips. The past few years we have been going on
awesome trips to places like Alaska and the national parks in Utah. And we try
to make one Iowa State football game each fall.
I feel fortunate to have such good friends over so many
years who I have met in different ways. I look forward to connecting with many
of those friends as we travel in retirement.
