Appreciation

Back when I was in High School I was one of those 'wallflowers' who didn't spend my time getting to know some of the girls in my school. Instead, I contented myself with carrying on an extended correspondence with a girl I had met up with at our 7th and 8th grade 'dances' at the Junior High I attended in the Cleveland area and attempting to find out more about a girl who appeared on Mrs. Colonel Fair's seating chart when I was in the 9th grade.

Fast forward 40 years later and I have come to the conclusion that I am in awe of those girls, not just for the girls they were back when, but for the women they have become now.

This awe had been prompted by several events, including recent milestones and accomplishments. For instance, today marks Jane's birthday. She was the editor of the yearbook in my senior year. Smart, perky and ebullient, I had been a fan for years. I had heard of what she has done in her adult life through what I call the Chillicothe "moms network" and she has remained smart, perky and ebullient to this day. By most standards, she is successful... and she deserves every bit of that success.

I have been contact with another yearbook staffer, Kay. She has become a teacher... the girl most likely to point out any misspellings and grammatical errors which haunt this blog from time to time. (Hey, I looked up the word ebullient in my dictionary before I used it in the previous paragraph.) I really look forward to her occasional posts on Facebook about recent events in her life... they are heroic in the sense that it is my understanding that she had hit some rough spots here and there which she has risen above.

Then there were the cheerleaders. My son and step-son were remarking a couple of weeks ago about the absolutely awful (in terms of personal conduct) girls in the cheerleading squad here in Allen. They have not meet Debbie, Diane and Eva from the class of '72. Debbie is involved with Boy Scouts along with her husband, Jim (someone else I am in awe of) and doesn't seem to have an 'off' switch. The posts and messages I get from her from time to time are absolutely delightful. Diane has popped up on my radar from time to time in the last 40 years-I have known some of her siblings and her parents. Like Kay, she's been through some rough spots, but she's always bounced back. And Eva. She's written a book! Between being a parent, a grandparent and working for an agency helping low income families find housing, I have no idea where she finds the time.

Awesome, all.

I have not even scratched the surface. There are other women who I have come to know through Facebook who are just as awesome in their own ways as the ones I have mentioned so far in this rant, like Vickie, Barb and Dorcas... as well as others who have not come to the top of my mind at the moment.

To those who I have mentioned, to those who I have not mentioned, and to other women who I have encountered through the years who did not attend Chillicothe High School when I was there (that way I get to include my sisters), let it be known that I am genuinely happy for you and for what you have become. I am in awe of you, and perhaps a bit envious of your husbands, lovers, and/or significant others.

Have been and probably always will be... and I didn't have to wait until Valentine's day to say it!



Be Seeing You!