Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Wistful Wednesday: Graduation

Back in 1969 I graduated from High School.  I was anxious to be done with school.



There were no try outs for the choir.  I am tone deaf yet they let me sing with the choir on Graduation Day.  I am just about in the center of the photo.  Just down and to the right of the very tall to be crooked lawyer in the back row.  I can name everyone in the front row…but I won’t.



From the left Jim (he is married to my cousin), Cathie (My best high school friend), Clyde, me, Hilda ( my cousin) and Pam…her last name started with Z.  Needless to say we were the last to get our diplomas.

Those blue/grey caps and gowns were worn by everyone.  You had to go down to the Civil Defense Shelter in the underground tunnel and find one that fit…they wanted them to be  close to the same length on everyone.  Then you had to take them home and press them. 

As I remember the speakers were long winded…didn’t they realize that their advice was going in one ear and out the other?


The Class Flower was a turquoise carnation and the class motto was “The path you make is the road you take.” ( How stupid is that?) The class colors were turquoise and silver.

That would be me in front of the picture tree at the farm.  I am certain Far Guy will notice his 1959 Desoto Station Wagon in the background.

My Mom took these photos and didn’t get them developed until 1970.


25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really hated school....I was so bashful. Here in the south, Graduation was so very hot/humid and LONG! I enjoyed your memories and photos. Our high school grad. song was "I Did It My Way" - a stupid choice!

Cynthia said...

I remember how l-o-n-g the ceremony was, too! And there was s baccalaureate service the night before that was even longer! And funny how we picked out all those "class" things that seemed important then and so silly now.

Intense Guy said...

I bet the choir sounded pretty good - I don't recall my high school graduation motto - if they even had one - heck, I barely recall any of it. It must have been a snooze-fest.

Linda Kay said...

There always has to be a senior choir at graduation, right. At my granddaughter's graduation a week ago, there was a soloist even, and I'm sure you couldn't be more tone death than she was. How fun to reminisce with you at your graduation, but gray gowns?

Rita said...

I wonder how many people actually remember anything about the graduation speeches? I know I certainly don't. Mine was in 1968. I cried afterwards because I didn't want to leave that last time...loved school. Unlike home, it was the place I was accepted, acknowledged, appreciated, and validated.

DJan said...

I don't remember having any graduation ceremony but we must have. My school had thousands who graduated and I was moving away in a week. Not exactly anything to remember, so I'll enjoy yours instead. :-)

Tired Teacher said...

We graduated the same year: my class was tiny - 10 students, 5 boys and 5 girls.

Jennifer said...

What lovely photos of your graduation! My mother didn't take any photos of me on my graduation day.

Anonymous said...

A crooked lawyer? Oh no . . . Your hair looks cute. I wonder if the roll of film was new for your graduation, but didn't get used up until later, hence the 1970 developed film. I was the only accompanist for my high school choir and band, so I played the piano during graduation. It was a Thursday night and the next Monday I started college: two summer classes.

Linda W. said...

Enjoyed seeing your graduation photos! Yes, my mom would keep film in her camera forever and then develop it months later.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Yes she did, she just forgot to put film in the camera. Your mother is a dunce:(

marlu said...

Loved the story and photos so much, that I lifted (stole) your idea for my blog today.

Our school song: March Forever On, written by a student way back in the teens or twenties. If we had a class flower or colors, I don't remember. School colors, blue and gold. Our gowns were a dark grey. Thanks for stirring up the memories.

Red said...

Finishing high school was a very exciting time. Yes some of what was done looks kind of dumb now but we were only 17 when we planned graduation. I finished highschool in 1957!

troutbirder said...

Fine looking crew there. I can't say I could name many of my graduation class of about 500 plus. Harding High School 1959...:)

Leah said...

Love the gowns... thank goodness they had changed things or the grey ones wore out before I graduated :) Yikes no film - oops. Thank goodness those days are gone!

L. D. said...

I can still feel that feeling of being released from jail. I did well in school but the whole thing seemed too demanding. I can go to class reunions and still be put into the same person as I was in school. I have really changed a lot in almost 49 years. The grey is good. We had bright purple.

L. D. said...

47 years would be more accurate but I always was sloppy in math.

Harriet said...

Connie....I had to laugh, your mom and I share a tendency to develop film late to say the least. Made me smile, made me laugh....a good thing on a stormy Michigan day.

Henny Penny said...

I love a post with old pictures. You had beautiful hair. I laughed about getting the film developed in 1970. We used to do that too. In fact, one of us would find a roll of film in a drawer and not know what was on it until we carried it to the drug store to be developed. Boy, have times changed!

Jacqi Stevens said...

Bet everyone cheered when your friend Pam Z crossed the stage!

Wonderful pics...wonderful to relive those memories..the "picture tree"--how true! I see we aren't the only ones...

Linda Reeder said...

You make me laugh. ( I hope that's OK)

thecrazysheeplady said...

You know, the best part is probably the developing part :-D.

thecrazysheeplady said...

You know, the best part is probably the developing part :-D.

thecrazysheeplady said...

You know, the best part is probably the developing part :-D.

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Love these old photos. Thanks for sharing them.