Monday, December 22, 2008

A Time to Remember

I just got back from Seguin, where I celebrated Christmas with my siblings. It was a good visit. Not only because of the time I was able to spend with my family, but because the one thing I look forward to when I visit, is running into "old" faces. During this visit I ran into Jeff and Tracy Schuele, as well as Mrs. McKnight (Alvoyd's mother and teacher from Mary B. Erskine) and Mr. Heinemeyer.

As typical before I head back to Huntsville, I visit the cemeteries where my grandparent's and parent's are buried. During today's visit, I came upon Diane Aguilar's grave, which made me start thinking about the classmates we've lost so far. I started thinking about Alvoyd, Diane, Truda, Patricia, Marsha and Victor...how difficult this time of year must be for their families. My mind went down memory lane and I thanked God for how much they touched my life....our lives....

I can still see Alvoyd walking the halls at Mary B. Erskine...his posture...his wave....his politeness...his smile;

I still see Diane's contagious smile and imagine her setting the volleyball. I remember the time at Joe F. Saegert when I was walking around the locker room in my game socks and she pushed me out into the rain;

And who can forget Truda...that laugh...her easiness to get along with everyone...her smile. I remember going to one of her parties and devouring some chili-type dip that a family member had made;

And Patricia....that giggle....her excitement in Jazz Band when it was time to play "Africa" or anything by Earth, Wind, and Fire....how we were only six days apart in age.

I know several of you have precious memories of Marsha and Victor. And this is your opportunity to share those memories. Our classmates may be gone, but they continue to live when we remember them. Please keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers during this holiday season.

Lavonne

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

You Know You Grew Up in the 80's If....

I received an email from Lora Castilla Robles titled "You Know You Grew Up in the 80's If...."

Here are just a few of the listed "criteria". Okay - I admit, I'm guilty of oh...let's see.....18 of the 19 listed (ouch)!

1. You’ve ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
3. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
4. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
5. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off, his cheeks shifted, and his nationality became questionable.
6. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
7. You still get the urge to say 'NOT' after every sentence.
8. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
9. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
10. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
11. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
12. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were "all that".
13. You know all the words to Bon Jovi's - "SHOT THROUGH THE HEART".
14. You just sang those words to yourself.
15. You still sing 'We are the World'
16. You tight rolled or french-cuffed your jeans.
17. You owned a bannana clip.
18. You used to (and probably still do) say 'What you talkin' 'bout Willis?'
19. You're still singing "Shot Through the Heart" in your head, aren't you!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!
Lavonne

Saturday, November 1, 2008

More "Remember When"....

While visiting some other Seguin-related blogs, I came across this one that contains photos of one of the Drill Team's uniforms from the 80's. The story itself is pretty funny. I'm not sure if it's from our time at SHS, but it sure looks familiar. What do you think, Michelle?

http://photosbytammy.blogspot.com/2008/11/retro-night.html

How many of you still have your football jerseys, drill team uniforms, concert t-shirts, or letter jackets? I panicked a few years ago when I took my letter jacket out of storage and found the sleeves were "sticky". A trip to the dry cleaners helped along with instructions not to wrap it in plastic, but in a pillowcase.
A few nights ago I added some "Police" songs to my Ipod. That got me digging high and low for my "Synchronicity" concert t-shirt. I've yet to find it....(aargghh)!

P.S. Am I the only one still hanging on to all of my cassette tapes?
P.P.S. I still have ALL of my twirling uniforms. Maybe there's a grand-daughter in my future who will want to play dress-up with them(???).

Lavonne

Monday, October 13, 2008

I Sure Do Miss....

It seems with every trip home during the last two or three years, a new business or restaurant has made their arrival in Seguin.

What are some businesses and/or restaurants that contain great memories that you would love to see re-open? Here's my list:

The Corral (we spent some great weekends dancing to Firefox and the Emotions)
K & N Drive-In (this was a drive-in restaurant on Kingsbury Street that had the BEST steak fingers and root beer that was served in an icy mug)
Lehman's Five and Dime (off the square on Austin Street. They had great burgers and Borden's icecream that was served out of a machine. They also had those stools that spun in circles if you chose to sit at the bar)
Candies (oh...so many memories of walking back and forth from Gattis to Candies on Friday and Saturday nights)
Baenzigers and Wuests Grocery Stores (these up-to-date "super" markets just can't beat our two family-owned stores)

How about your list? Share it with us...

Lavonne

Sunday, September 28, 2008

We've Come a Long Way Baby....

The Mighty Matador Marching Band has come a long way since 1986. Check out the second photo under the "Saturday, September 27th" posting, at THIS website.

Lavonne

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Thanks, Lavonne!

Thanks, Lavonne, for adding the photos, profile, etc! If anyone else wants to post anything other than comments let me know and I can give you access.
(And Happy Late Birthday, Lavonne, Carol and Sandra Rosenthal!)

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Floods of the Guadalupe River

From Lavonne:

While dealing with the after effects of Hurricane Ike here in Huntsville, I’ve been thinking about the three major floods that Seguin has encountered during OUR lifetime.

I have one vivid memory of the flood of 1972. I remember sitting in our living room on South River Street, the rain coming down hard, and through the darkness, one lone police car with its flashers on, and the sound of it's officer speaking over his megaphone telling people to evacuate. I remember the sound of the warning siren coming from the fire station just a few blocks up the street. To this day, I hate that sound.

A few months after the flood of 1998, I drove through what was left of the Glen Cove Subdivision. I remember the sadness that overcame me when I couldn’t find Martha’s childhood home. It was gone. Not even a slight indication that a pool once occupied what now appeared to be nature’s success in obtaining more green space. What wasn’t gone; however were the memories of childhood sleepovers, birthday parties, girl talk around the pool, but more important the love, generosity, and thoughtfulness of Martha’s dear parents. Thank goodness for memories.

I was visiting mom when the heavy rains started in 2002, and here we were 30 years later, but the warning siren from the fire station made me feel the same fear that day as I did as a five year old.

How many of you remember the flood of 1972? How many of you were in town when Seguin was devastated in 1998 or 2002? What are your memories? Share them with us.

P.S. When was the last time you heard the “Emergency Broadcast System” advertisement either on tv or over the radio? Those advertisements don't seem to be as frequent as when we were kids.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Sending Good Thoughts....

Sending good thoughts to our friends, family and classmates in Ike's path. Let us know you are all OK.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Back To School Night

Just walked in the door from "back to school night" for my kindergartner. Of course, it is raining and probably the darkest night in the history of dark nights. I admit, I dawdled a bit to make sure that the kids would all be sleeping before I came home.
I don' t think my parents ever attended a back to school night - I remember leaving things on my desk along with everyone else in preparation, but since I am the youngest of 5, I'm sure my parents already had a pretty good idea of what went on in school. Or maybe they were just tired.
At the time, it bothered me a little - but now, I so get it.
There is nothing like being a parent to make you understand your own a little more.
And while I have been lucky enough to make every back to school night for my two oldest, all bets are off on the 3rd one. I'm tired. I've been through the same speech by the same wonderful teacher. And though they say that those drawings hanging on the wall are from this class, they look suspiciously like the same ones from my daughter's class four years ago....
One cool thing that is different - in our schools we are seeing a heavier focus on character education - with kinders it starts simply - helping them to establish self-esteem and a positive attitude by reinforcing that each one is unique and special. I think all good teachers have always done this without it being part of a formal program - what teachers helped you to believe in yourself?
I'm going to pour a glass of wine, take these beastly shoes off, check the doors one more time, peek at the children (2 out of 3 sleeping - I should have sat through a red light), close my eyes and think about how grateful I am for those who believed in me - including my parents who never attended a back to school night....

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Just a breath away.

There is a dusty blue trunk somewhere in my garage or perhaps on a shelf in offsite storage - I am not even sure any more what is in it. I convinced my husband to bring it home some time ago so that I could go through it. I remember opening it. I remember the smell of yesterday on my hands and the feeling of grubby on my fingertips. I vaguely remember my twister beads, a picture from a college formal and papers that I had no recollection of but that were certainly treasures at one time. And I remember not finding - or maybe just not recognizing - whatever it was that compelled me to open the trunk in the first place.
Funny how the things we held most dear once can be completely forgotten. Packed away to gather dust until we are ready to remember them or throw them away.
Sometimes those SHS days feel like they were lived by someone else and I can barely remember the people, the smells (maybe that's a good thing), the way it felt.... I was talking to a former neighbor the other day. His wife passed away not too long ago. They had been married for 53 years. We stood in his yard, looking to the end of the cul de sac, where my husband was standing in the driveway. I asked him how long he had been married and he told me - and he said, "And the funny thing is, it was just a breath away."
Just a breath away.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

How did we ever do it?

It's hot here in Colorado today. This morning it was so cold that the kids at the swim meet were goose-bumped and literally blue, but now as dinner simmers on the stove, it has reached 82.9 degrees according to the kitchen counter thermometer.
Now, I know that is not hot by Seguin standards, but maybe I have acclimated or maybe it is age or maybe 82 is hotter than it used to be, but it makes me wonder how we did it in the days when we didn't have AC at SHS or at Saegert before that. (Oh, my, I sound like those relatives we always swore we would never be.... Next thing I will be wearing a robe to drop my daughter at school....)
What are your memories of summer in Seguin? Do you remember how the hall always smelled that first week of school? Or how hot and dusty Freedom Fiesta always made you feel? Share your summer memories....
I think I'll grab an ice tea and sit under a ceiling fan for a bit....

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Welcome to the official blogging site for Seguin High School Class of 1986! Please use this site to as your communication link. Posting comments is easy. Forward the URL to your friends and family, and let's use this site to keep in touch between get togethers.