LeAnne Hardy, author and editor
  • Home
  • BIO
  • My Books
    • Children's and Young Adult
    • Historical Fiction
    • Non-fiction
  • Blog
  • Editorial Services

My ​Times and Places
​


​​

The People We Have Become

10/25/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
​​​We’ve been getting together at Waycross Camp in southern Indiana for four years now. We are only a few (7 this year), but then the Tudor Hall class of ’69 was only 32 and that counts Inez, the foreign exchange student. We weren’t particularly friends in high school. Some of us rarely spoke. We were threatened by the academic achievements or coolness factor of others, but the passage of forty-plus years has mellowed all that. We are who we are, and that's OK. 
Some are widows, some divorced, some married, some grandparents. All are applying for or already on Medicare. Several of us are in education or involved with kids in some way. Often, very needy kids. We talk about things we never would have considered when we were seventeen. We aren’t the people we were then. I like what we have become.

Our conversations this year avoided politics. That was one of the things head mistress Alma Whitford taught us should not be discussed at the dinner table. Politics, religion and … What was the third? All we could come up with was sex, but we couldn’t imagine even considering talking about sex at Miss Whitford’s lunch table. For that matter, I can’t imagine Miss Whitford TELLING us we shouldn’t talk about sex at the table. So if there are any Tudor girls out there who remember number three, we would love to hear from you. (Thank you Beth Ferrel Jeglum for your great imitation of Miss Whitford at the head of the table.)
 
Beth also planned games. Now, Beth is a former pre-school director, but these games were well beyond toddlers. We laughed until one of our number (who shall remain un-named due to the propensity of Internet stories to follow you—one of many topics discussed over the weekend) had to run to the bathroom to avoid peeing herself. Twice.
PictureJanie White and Beth Ferrel watch as Debbie Stuart and Tina Mark race to string Cheerios on pipe cleaners and make bracelets using only their non-dominant hands. (Does that mean if I'm ambidextrous I can use both hands? asks one of Beth's tormentors.)









We did break Miss Whitford’s rule and talk about faith from time to time, but always in gentle ways of “This is who I am” rather than hitting each other over the head with diverse doctrines.
 
Saturday afternoon was a highlight for many of us. Beth (again, thanks to our great organizer!) had discovered a farm not far away with a sculpture garden spread over many acres. The sign out front clearly said, “Closed. Keep Out. Don’t Even Think About It,” but there was a phone number, and when Beth finally got a hold of C. R. Schiefer, he was pretty hang loose. He might not be there; might be up in Indy visiting his girlfriend. (Susan Nunnamaker Carr, super-cyber-sleuth, found out later on the Internet that he is 91.) “If I’m not there, you can just wander around.”

Picture
 When we arrived, we were met by a HUGE dog, who was NOT wagging his tail. Beth took her life in her hands to go up to the door and knock. The dog did not attack. He limped. When he came closer, we saw he had no tail to wag. No answer at the door. We finally decided to take the artist at his word and wander around despite the “No Trespassing” signs.
Picture
​
Fascinating clusters of sculptures, life size chess set, pregnant women, Asian-looking totem poles—all overgrown with weeds. Last week two Twin Cities mystery writers spoke at our local library’s annual fundraiser. I love mysteries, but have never felt inspired to write one. If I ever do, this sculpture garden is definitely the place to find the body.
 
As I drove the ten-hours from home to Indy to meet up for the weekend, I found myself wondering, “Will I still do this when my dad is no longer in Indy?” As I drove home Monday, my heart answered, “Yes. You will.”

Picture
1 Comment
dk wilson or kay
10/29/2016 06:51:26 am

so glad you wrote and shared about the good time with longtime friends. You have given me the start of an idea for some of those who are 1961 h.s. alumna with me. or maybe some from college class of '65. I've been thinking of your dad and Penny and her family with the opening of Cuba , etc. How are they? I was last in Indy for the GIC.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    LeAnne Hardy has lived in six countries on four continents. Her books come out of her cross-cultural experiences and her passion to use story to convey spiritual truths in a form that will permeate lives.

    RSS Feed

    Add http://www.leannehardy.net/1/feed to your RSS feed.
    To receive an e-mail when I post a new blog, please subscribe.
    Subscribe to Blog

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    Author Interviews
    Current Events
    Devotional Thoughts
    Guest Blog
    Holidays Christmas
    Holidays Easter
    Holidays-Easter
    Holidays Other
    Holidays-Thanksgiving
    Missions And Missionaries
    Music
    My Books
    My Life And Family
    My Travels
    Non Fiction
    Orphans And Vulnerable Children
    Photos
    Publishers And Publishing
    Reading And Sharing Books
    Reviews
    Skating
    Theological Education
    Tributes
    Writing

    Archives

    June 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    March 2000

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • BIO
  • My Books
    • Children's and Young Adult
    • Historical Fiction
    • Non-fiction
  • Blog
  • Editorial Services