Well, on with the memories....
I can't say it enough, how much fun I had during my high school years!!! Since cheerleading was one of my major events in my life, I have to write more concerning it. But first, I am going to try to explain a little bit more about the lay out of the high school.
Back then, boy do I feel old when I say that! Anyway, back then, the school was right next to the football stadium. The school and stadium were located right behind a Shopping Plaza that contained some of Valdosta's greatest stores. You know the ones like: Sears, Pantry Pride grocery store, Woolworth's, Barnes Pharmacy with a special soda fountain, plus some other great unique shops. There was a wide walkway through the Plaza that connected the school/stadium and the Plaza parking lot. This complex was a major part of our high school's life in every shape & form.
Totally off the subject, but while I'm thinking about it, this story will be great for the Grands to read one day. Dave, their Grandpa, was not only a football player, smart, & good-looking, he was a hard worker. During his spare time, he worked at Pantry Pride bagging groceries. He really did work hard to pay for our dates, and saving for whatever he saved for at the time. We had been going out for a while, when all of a sudden it hit my Daddy that our dates were probably expensive for Dave. So, to help Dave out with our expenses, Daddy gave Dave a five dollar bill!!! To make matters worse, this was the only time Daddy helped out. All we could do was laugh & roll our eyes-after we left him of course. I think Daddy was in a time-warp. Five dollars did not even pay for us to go to the movies or out-to-eat!
Back to the story at hand. As I wrote in "Going Down Memory Lane-Part 1:The Beginning," I referred to the building of the high school as the Old High School. My 1973 graduating class was the last class to use this building as a high school. Afterwards, the city used some of the building for city offices & tore down the gymnasium a few years later. :( I find it interesting that the new city school is located just inside the city limits, & is built with open rooms-the class rooms don't have a full wall to separate each classroom. I would have never made it there. I'm too much of a talker, & I don't want to miss a thing-especially if there is something fun going on around me. But, our children attended school in this new facility :-/ and they did great!!!
My class was called "The First, & the Last." We were the first class to have all ninth graders in Valdosta to attend school downtown, due to integration; and the last class to attend the Old High School.
The Football Cheerleaders were in charge of many of the VHS traditions during the Football Season. Some of my favorite traditions were: the School & City-wide Pep Rallies, and all the festivities of Homecoming Week. Homecoming Week was so much fun.
-Everyday during the week, we had a different theme: one day we wore our Wildcat black & gold colors; another day we wore red in honor of Miss Flame-who was picked by the football players; and Friday, we dressed accordingly to our Homecoming theme-our year was the "Roaring 20's."
-Thursday night was the City-Wide Pep Rally. This was held at he Shopping Plaza Parking Lot. Our platform was a base of a trailer. This definitely served our purpose, only if we could maneuver our jumps between the holes in the platform. The Marching Cats, our band, was always there playing all our greatest hits and fight song. They were awesome by the way! Then the team would parade from the stadium, through the Plaza until they took front and center of the Pep-Rally. All this excitement was broad cast through the Valdosta radio station, WVLD! Then came the bonfire. There was nothing like caring a flaming torch through the crowd to light the bonfire. Gratefully, I only set the bonfire on fire.
-Friday: the school had a Pep-Rally, and the city came out for the school parade. Guess who lead the parade? Yep, the cheerleaders! Then, the big game! Oh yeah, I don't want to forget wearing those huge yellow mums with long ribbons hanging down.
Another thing I loved was at every game the cheerleaders lead the Wildcats onto the field, properly named-Death Valley, with the Marching Cats playing the fight song. What a thrill!!! -Saturday: Was the big Homecoming Dance!
Changing the subject a little, I love Christmas, especially when I was a child as most children do. I loved every decoration. My Mother had a special way of decorating our home for the Christmas Season in such a meaningful way, along with our church, and even downtown Valdosta. The decorations downtown did not just hang along the sides, but the decorations hung from one side of the road to the other side. The college at that time was called Valdosta State College, had these over life-size camels that just glowed.
One thing I dreamed of when I was a child was to be in the middle of the street of downtown Valdosta taking in all the lights. This wish came true in two ways: 1) Valdosta always had a Christmas parade. When I was about five years old, I got to ride on a float wearing my church choir robe. I was in heaven. 2) The other way my dream was fulfilled was when I was a FOOTBALL CHEERLEADER. I bet you were wandering how I was going to bring all this together. Every other year the city and county school cheerleaders would swap off leading the parade. Yes, it was our turn to lead the way. I must admit, I just took it all in with pom poms in hand, & the Marching Cats were rights behind. As you might can guess, it doesn't take too much to thrill me, sometimes! I took in all the music, every glowing face, Christmas sounds, and all the beautiful lights. I felt so blessed!
To Be Continued Only One More Time!!!--I PROMISE!
ann:)
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