There are times when you wonder how those old friends that you had in school, and the old neighborhood, are doing, and if they are well. I get to see quite a few of them each week in my line of work, and I get to talk with them about the old days. There is nothing like getting with an old friend and reliving those great times we had together. Back when we were young, a friend was like a brother or sister, because you were always close. Friends were like family back then, and if you needed anything, they were right there to help out any way they could. I was very fortunate to have buddies that to this day are best friends.
Then there are times, when friends must part due to moving and relocating to another school. That can be very scary, because you wonder if you will see those old friends again. You wonder if the new friends will accept you and be close as were the old friends. Such was the case with this writer , who in 1953, moved from Kokomo to New London, and thus from Kokomo High School to Western, to finish out my high school career. I remember getting on the school bus, and moving to the first empty seat available. I sat there really nervous because I didn't know anyone there. Well, by the time that we reached the school, I had made several friends, one of which was the one sitting next to me, by the name of Kelsey.
Going into that school with friends already, made the rest of that first day a real pleasant one. Once, in the first class, and introduced by the teacher, I found a group of the best people around. Everyone there helped make my first day a very easy one, and instead of being alone, I was accepted into their family of friends, and the scare was gone. To this day, I remember a great group of school-mates, who because of the way that they were raised to respect and help others, made this young man a member of their class.
We had our forty-fifth class reunion on June 17th of this year, at the Bavarian Inn, and it was great to see and relive those days when Rock & Roll was really great , and you could understand the words and you could listen to the music without danger to your ears. The music of the middle fifties was pleasant and you could dance to it as well as sing along. Something about 1955 was magical, in that the songs of Nat King Cole, Elvis Pressley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Supremes, The Cole brothers , and many othere were about people and the things that happen to them, and were set to music in a way to soothe the mind and the soul.
To remember too, in the fifties, were the many eating places, around Kokomo, in which although the same food was served, it was in a different taste. Right in town, there was the "Hills Snappy Service" where you could get the best tasting hamburgers, and the best limp fries anywhere. Then up to the "B&K" root bear stand north of Kokomo, or the "A&W" root bear stand on the south side, where the root bear and hotdogs were tummy filling. Don't forget about "Louie's Coney Island" right in downtown Kokomo. There were many more right in Kokomo's downtown area, but in those days you wanted to cruise all the ones outside the area. "Rock Around The Clock" in the north end, and "The Lighthouse" in the south end, were about the boundries that we would stay in, with "Vics", and "Crumes", on the east side, where the bypass is now. Markland Avenue was full of those great places too, with the "M&G", "Wolfcales", and "The Hobnob". I could go on all day with just great places to go in the fifties, but let's get back to my story.
As we met for our forty-fifth class reunion, we went over the past, and how we came into the present. It was very refreshing to see that all but six of us were still here on this earth, and that each one had made their life to their preference and that each was very satisfied with what they had achieved in life. As each gave a short story on their life, you could see the happiness in their eyes, commenting about their children and their spouses. To hear that they had achieved what they wanted in life was refreshing to each of us. And each of us gave our thanks to one of the best teachers, principal, and friend, Mr. Richard R Rea, who helped mold us into good solid citizens.
And so as we parted, and said our goodbyes, we look forward to our fifty year reunion, where once again we will live the past up to the present and hope for a future. As I said, when I first went to Western, I was the new kid on the block, but not for long, because I was taken into the arms of "The Class Of 55", and together our friendship has never swayed. They say that friends are a dime a dozzen, but mine are priceless. So if you have a class reunion coming up, make sure that you take time to go and relive those glorious school days, with friends that never go away.
Oh, and about those friends that I had before changing schools, they are still there, and we see each other a lot. They will always be my childhood friends, who like me grew up with new friends, but have never forgot thier first friends. Life without a friend would be a very lonely one. I can say that I will never be alone. May God Bless each and every one of them. As always, my writings are posted on my web page at www.geocities.com/kokomoman/ for all to see.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day