"It appears someone invited a lot of old people to my high school reunion." --- Anonymous
Undeniably, the years are piling up. Garth Brooks's lyrics "I'm much too young to feel this damn old" resonated, with me, in Tiger Stadium on the last night of April. And even more so two months later, when I ardently appeared at my 40th high school reunion.
People and places are a changin' - even the Skeet Club has switched sides of the Enon road since our youth. While my husband Rodney and I had been to a party several years ago at the new one, we recall gathering long ago at the old one. We didn't forget the distinction this time though I did forget distinguished honors in last week's column. My 1982 Bowling Green "BG" classmate John Mark Fussell was also Most Likely to Succeed. And Salutatorian was my good friend Marsha Carter. Both honors came to me during the night.
But on the night of July 9, our BG Class of 1982 celebration continued at the Skeet Club, where Rodney and I, with my classmates, joined BG graduates from multiple classes. A much-anticipated gathering generously organized by Bowling Green graduate Tracy Bitting Pasquarella. Our class of 1982 proudly added two reunion attendees, who always add zest, to those present the night before (detailed in last week's column) - Teresa Ball (Wittiest 1982) and Paul Bienvenu (Wittiest 1982).
In addition, it was a treat to visit with Tracy's Aunt Kendra Myles. Digressing, her mother - Elsie Penny Myles and mine - Margie Nell Brumfield Ellzey - were classmates, graduating together from Franklinton High School in 1942.
For many, the BG reunion was a family affair. My classmate Paul Bienvenu's siblings Harvey (Wittiest 1977), Michael, Kristen (Wittiest 1979), and John - that makes five - were present. Only Emily (Wittiest 1975) was missing. Obviously, good humor runs in the Bienvenu family.
The McVeas were also there en masse - siblings Janet, Jay, and Dr. Chip (Most Talented 1979) with wife Angela Stringfield. And brother and sister, Brian and Rosemary Stafford (Miss BGHS 1979 and Most Athletic 1979), were present with spouses Dr. Lisa Stafford and Scott Reedy, respectively, as were sisters Patri and Faith Frazier (Most Athletic 1975). These friends, I've known all my life, kind of cradle to grave. In fact, the guys - Chip, Brian, and Scott - were among my mother's pallbearers.
It would be impossible for me to list all attendees - I can't even scratch the surface - but dizzy with delightful conversation, Rodney and I reconnected with a legion: Patty Alford; Tammy Husser (Miss BGHS 1978); Jo Beth Gatewood (Friendliest 1980) ; Dr. Chris Foret with wife Julie; Rhonda Jenkins; Todd Magee; Jeff Knight; Bubba Moseley; Dean Thomas (Friendliest 1976), husband of Becky Moseley; Jennifer Seal with husband Tim Haik; Lisa Johnson; Allison Johnson; Valerie Stafford; and Stacey Hellen and husband Richard Magee.
I would be remiss if I didn't note that while Richard Magee (Most Athletic 1980) is renowned today for his role as a devoted grandfather, many remember him as the talented BG Buccaneers quarterback. My husband Rodney, also a 1980 BG graduate and Most Handsome 1980, was offensive guard and defensive linebacker. Rodney and Richard, who is retired from law enforcement, go way back. We always enjoy being with Stacey, daughter of the late, famous football Coach W. E. "Buck" Hellen, and Richard.
Digressing, I remember BG football from its inception in 1971, when as a first grader I served as Mascot with Patri Frazier, who was a second grader. Going onto the field with the Majorettes and Cheerleaders at the football games was big stuff, for a first and second grader.
As for football itself, there were esteemed BG coaches at the reunion - Coach David LeSage who naturally remembered Rodney but also remembered my dad; Coach Alan McCain who remembered the both of us; and Coach Rickie Branch who didn't know me from Adam. As I explained, I didn't play ball.
But I do write, which several faithful readers commented on over the course of that sultry Saturday evening. My concluding conversation was with my classmate Dr. Yancey Peterson of Roswell, New Mexico. I had not seen Yancey since we graduated forty years ago. Appearing at the Southern Hotel late Friday evening, he and his wife Chrishawn Cobos Peterson arrived from Roswell after the BG Class of 1982 reunion celebration was well underway so he and I didn't have much time to chat.
But all that changed at the Skeet Club late Saturday, just before our leave-taking, when Yancey ambled over to talk. His beloved mother Sarah Leuna Kitchens Peterson had died at the age of eighty-three just five weeks prior. A Mississippi native, she was preceded in death by her husband Eric Peterson of Sunny Hill who was a longtime cattle rancher. Sarah also was the bookkeeper for his business Pearl River Towing Company. I also remember seeing her at Bert Burr Photography where she worked for several years. Sarah was the devoted mother of son Darryl Duane Peterson (who predeceased her); Kitch Hunter Peterson of Wichita, Kansas; Krystal Kayrn Peterson of Franklinton; and my friend and classmate Dr. Yancey Peterson.
I had known Ms. Sarah - who she was - for most of my life. But what struck me most was what I didn't know, what Yancey divulged. Ms. Sarah had been clipping and mailing my newspaper columns to him in New Mexico. I appreciated Yancey - a busy obstetrician/gynecologist who to date has delivered nearly ten thousand babies in Roswell - taking the time to read my column. I suppose that's sort of what you do when you get mail from your mother. But I was beholden to Ms. Sarah, for her readership and loyalty. And I regret that I didn't get the chance - more's the pity - to thank her for reading and mailing my columns to her son.
But I bet dollars to doughnuts that Ms. Sarah would have been ecstatic about our class reunion. So for her, I'm mailing this column to her son Yancey.
Godspeed to all, until we meet again.
Note: For the most part, maiden names were used. And I regret that I did not have yearbooks showing Senior Superlatives for those my junior. My yearbooks span from 1971 to 1982.
