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Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Mike, when you asked us for a statement to best summarize our school experience the first phrase that occured to me was a time of real friendship. It sounded corny so I waited.

 Now after we have shared Jack's accident and hospitilization and Mike's concussion (sorry Frank, Philadelphia ailments don't count) it hits me to be all the more true.  Look at all those priceless get-well cards  that Jack received and kept all these years. Look at Jim's generosity in walking Mike part way home.  By the way, Jim, is it only after taking the Hippocratic Oath that one is obliged to walk the patient all the way home? Look at MM's sweet  card to make Mike feel better all these years later. Look at all the shared memories, the shared laughs and the shared sadness expressed in this Forum.

Some of those friendships began in grade school, others  began in high school, some have remained strong throughout the test of time, most have skipped decades and pop up every few years at a class reunion, on FB or in an email saying, "Hey, I am going to be in your area,,,,,"

Was Latin worthwhile? It sure has helped me with other languages throughout the years. Spanish class with Sr. Jeanette, you might think? Not so much. Credit goes to Elena and Millie and their families welcoming me into their homes and their hearts. Again friends helping friends.

Can BWHS take credit for friendships? It was our meeting place and our universe for four years...and here we are 51 years later.

Michael McLeod

was it sister estelle who taught latin?

David Mitchell

Wow Nina, that's twice now. You only get one more before we turn your name in to Homeland Security.

Michael McLeod

On friendship, Donna: I think the way you are friends when you are young is unique. The crazy chemistry of those adolescent bonds, just the length of time we spent crammed together in that four-year sandbox, and how foolish and funny you can be together prior to getting sobered up by adulthood, and the fact that unbeknownst to us at the time we were privileged and self-absorbed compared to so many others, and ignorant enough to think that everything about us and our friends was far more important than anything else that was going on in the world -- and it was all suffused with the fresh breath of first love. First best friends. First everything. By definition, you only get that once. 

And now nobody can share the things that we share about Columbus, about being Catholic back then, about the relative innocence of that time and place compared to how the world is today......when I get sentimental I always think of that Bob Seegar line: "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then."

Joseph Gentilini

Mike, I think it was Sister Estelle who taught freshman Latin.  I think she left the convent. I don't remember who we had for the rest of the year.  Sister Miguel taught Latin for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

About physical issues: I was in a Volkswagon beetle in July just after we graduated.  A 2-ton truck hit us and I was in a coma for several days and then continued in a fog for several months.  I was only a passenger in the car.  The doctors did not know the extent of my injuries and so had to be a part-time student in freshman college and was not allowed to drive for about 9 months after that or be enrolled in any phys. ed class.  When the doctor checked me over in March or April of 1967, he said to my mother and me: "I do not have a medical explanation for this, but your son is fine." 

Janie Albright (Blank)

I had Mono after Christmas our senior year and was out of school most of January. They gave me a blood test each week until finally I was cleared to return. For some reason I do not think Seniors in high school draw cute cards with little stick people to send to their ailing classmates. Jack, I'm very jealous! 

Didn't think my mention of Latin as my most useful subject would bring up so many comments! Enjoying them! I also have forgotten freshman Latin teacher's name. Estelle does not sound familiar - what about Sr. Eymard? was that it? Does anyone remember her? 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Lawrence Foster

Re:

# 1071 - MM that is great art work!  I really like it, makes me think of some of Picasso's sketches - seriously.

 # 1079 - Donna your post and all the others about friendship made me think of the last lines in the 1986 movie "Stand by Me."  It goes something like "You never have friends like the friends you have when you are 12.  Jesus, does anyone?"  We are fortunate that we can include a lot of other years besides just 12.

#1089 - Janie, in junior year there was an English teacher named Sister Emir (pronounced A-meer).  She may have been new that year.  She also taught freshman English that year as my sister had her too.    

Daniel Cody

Sr. Cecily taught latin 1. Sr. Jean Baptiste taught latin  II. I had Sr. Eymard for junior english

Joseph Gentilini

Jim H mentioned that there was a Sister Ewald, but I don't remember here.  I do know there was a Father Ewald, who was somewhat odd.
 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Janie.....I was in homeroom 115 freshman year and had Sister Estelle Marie for Latin and sophomore year I had Sister Steffanie (how it is spelledJ on my report card) for Latin.  It was in that class that we first learned of the assasination of JFK.    Freshman year English, I had Sister Michele and sophomore year it was Mrs. Campbell, who became pregnant and left mid year and then we had Ms. Mackin who ended up coming back after she became Mrs. Bourke and taught English for over 25 years at Watterson, retiring 2 years ago.  I have vague memories of our class being split up at some point and maybe some girls being exchanged for a group of guys because they needed to break up the "fun" they were having in another English class.  This is a pretty fuzzy memory, so maybe I dreamed it all up!!  I do have a more vivid memory of being in the back of Mrs, Campbell's/Ms. Mackin's classroom where the desks were kind of close together and the guys tried to get the girls' help diagramming sentences    If anyone can shed any light on my freshman year English class, I would love to hear your memory.

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Fredericks

Regarding a statement that best summarizes my high school experience, it would have to do with the comradery experienced playing basketball and cards with Jim, Bob, John, and Steve.

Michael McLeod

Ok this is just a layman's opinion but I think Joe's coma trumps all the other ailments in the class of '66 high school injury competition. 

David Mitchell

Did I mention that I fell on the stairs and broke my nose?

(And that the ice cream was pretty good after the surgery?)

Did I mention that, Huh?

David Mitchell

It had to be Sister Cecily. How could I forget? I was across the hall in in Sister Battleaxia's class and all we could do was fantasize about how cute that little nun in the other Latin class across the hall was. 

Mark Schweickart

Mike,

Regarding your Bob Seegar line: "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." It reminds me of a song I wrote a few years ago, although I did not realize at the time I was stealing the sentiment from Mr. Seger. My song, Young Punk Then went like this:

I once met a man down in New Orleans
Who rambled on about what is, and was, and what might have been
But I just said, “Hey, give it a rest old man.”
He looked at me like I was just some young punk then
Oh like I was just a young punk then

Yea just a young punk then, oh just a young punk then
He looked at me like I was just some young punk then
And I said, “Hey, give it a rest old man.”

And he said, “Well, hey smart guy, can I ask you this?
You ever felt a true love’s kiss?
Oh from the looks of you, well I would guess not.”
And a smug glance from me was all that he got.

I said, “ Well hey, what makes you think you know about who I am?”
And he said, “Son, you ever been to Viet-Nam?”
Oh I said, “Go sing those homeless-vet blues somewhere else old man.”
And he said, “You ever look deep within yourself, my friend?
Oh you might be surprised what’s lurking inside, my friend.

Oh have you ever faced those pitiless gods, and their demand for sacrifice?
Oh you ever pierce the heart of a pretty young wife?
Oh you ever turn your back on everything you know to be right”
Your dreams ever scorch your soul through sweat-filled nights?”

And I said, “Oh, you’re talking crazy old man.
You’ve got nothing to say.”
I pushed past him, went on my way.
But I had to look back, oh I just had to when I heard him say,
“Oh you know you won’t always be such a young punk my friend.
Oh, such a young punk, my friend.
Oh no you won’t always be such a young punk, my friend.”

Now it’s been twenty years, and I can still hear him.
And I think I know now a little about what he might have meant
About those pitiless gods and their demands
About being unable to make a righteous stand
And the thing I know most now is how little I knew back when
I was just a young punk then

Oh but things were so much easier then
Back when I was just a young punk then

Because now I know all about making that sacrifice
Oh and I know way too much about betraying a wife
And I know all about those sweat-filled nights
Ah things were so much easier when
I was just a young punk then

Janie Albright (Blank)

Mark love your lyrics. Very profound. How can we listen to it? 

MM, I too was in 115 freshman year along with Fred but I forget who else. I wouldn't be surprised if you remembered us all in alphabetical order - the way they always seated us. Albright, Alexander... Debbie was the lucky one  she was BEHIND me so I always got caught turning around to talk! Although I have no idea if I'm thinking home room or others classes. My memory on that sort of detail is poor. 

Danny, I had Sr  Miguel for Soph Latin and was in her class when they announced Kennedy had been shot. I know I never had Sr. Francesca but I also don't recall Cecily for Latin but maybe I did. With most of us required to take it there had to be a few. 

Frank Ganley

Deborah Alexander (Rogers)

Janie, Sorry I always made you turn around in homeroom 115 to talk!  If memory serves, I was quite a talker in high school.  I seem to remember some 70's in conduct! 

Does anyone remember Sr. Francesca watering her artificial flowers?  Or the time the boys turned her desk around and she couldn't find the drawers? 

Has anyone used algorithms since we graduated?  What the heck was that all about? 

Fun memories...keep them coming. 

Joseph Gentilini

Well, will add a bit to several entries.

I liked the lyrics to your song, Mark!  Thanks.

I remember Sister Cecely (?).  Glad she found some happiness, although sad that he life seemed to be short.  I may have mentioned this already before, but I was in Watterson HS for some reason (don't recall).  Sister Mary Alice (Barbara) was there and I mentioned that Sister C was beautiful.  Sr. Mary Alice went down my throat for saying such a thing.  Hmmmm makes me wonder why she reacted so strongly.  I do remember the story about Sister Francesca (?) watering her plastic flowers.  I was in Norbertine's class and so missed the watering of the flowers.  Joe

Frank Ganley

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

Is that like the "algo-rithm method"?

Daniel Cody

I know i wasn't in Mr. Shevlin's homeroom 114.  His unfortunate desth in a housefire in 1966 or 67 was truly sad. His wife couldn't walk or run out of the burning home. He went back placed his body over hers but died if smoke inhalation. So sad