What I Remember About College

After high school, I went to school in Florence (across the Tennessee river) to Florence State College, now named the University of North Alabama. I played the clarinet in the band one year. I stayed in the dorm the 1st semester and home the next semester. After a year at FSC or UNA, I transferred to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. I majored in music, with the piano being my principle instrument and the organ as my secondary instrument. I spent a lot of my time alone in the practice rooms. I went to the Wesley Foundation (campus wing of the Methodist church) and most of my friends came from there.

I usually had a dorm room with one other girl, but my senior year I had a private room with a shared bathroom. I got plenty of exercise because I didn't keep an A-B average, I couldn't park near my classes! But having a car was definitely a plus.

My degree required I play two recitals. One in my Junior year and one in my senior year. The junior recital was 30 minutes of memorized music with another student on the program. The senior recital was an hour of memorized music all by yourself. It was very difficult but I somehow made it through. I was used to playing in a band, not alone and I didn't care for solo performances. I didn't do too well on the organ. It was a big instrument and the bench was too high for me and I had to sit on the edge of the bench which gave me the feeling of always about to fall off. I don't have pleasant memories of learning to play the organ. But I played the organ many years at church and I think I did a good job and I enjoyed it. I graduated in the summer of 1966 and I was so glad to get out into the real world!

What I Remember About School

We lived three blocks from the elementary and high schools. Therefore, I got to walk to school each way. The Junior High school building was on the same block as the elementary school and was built in 1918. That helped me remember when Alabama came into the Union in 1819!

All I remember in the 1st grade was my teacher's name, which was Miss Grace Jones, and she had three reading groups, the red,blue and yellow birds. I don't remember which group I was in.

In the 2nd grade, it was the math I remember. I had trouble with math. I remember on the big test they gave to see how everyone was doing, I couldn't divide two number into three and I would just make up a number and put it on.

The teacher in the 3rd grade had traveled a lot and we saw lots of pictures of her travels.

I don't remember 4th & 5th grades but I have good memories of the 6th grade. I can even remember the teacher's name, which was Mrs Johnson. We had a club, the Correct Talking Club. All through the week, when we heard someone use incorrect English, we would write their name down and put it in a box and on Fridays we would have a meeting of the CTC and would pull the names out of the box and would give the person time to correct their mistake and if they couldn't, we all would help them. It was a fun time!

The Jr. High building was right next to the Elementary School. It had wooden floors and the bathrooms smelled bad but I used them anyway. The lunchroom served fish every Friday for the Catholic students. I was in the beginning band and played the clarinet. I was also in the choir 7th and 8th grades. When we got out of the 8th grade, we went to Sheffield High School.

Since I lived 3 blocks from the high school too, I walked to school. I played in the band all 4 years. I didn't like marching band and the football games but preferred concert band. I don't remember the names of the teachers but I remember their classes. I had good English teachers. Our graduating class was the largest so far with 160 students in 1961. I was in the senior play and enjoyed drama and acting.

What I remember About

Ann Landers

I found this in my Mother's things and think it's pretty good.

Lord, Thou knowest I am growing older.

Keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the idea that I must express myself on every subject.

Release me from the craving to straighten out everyone's affairs.

Keep me from the recital of endless detail. Give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips when I am inclined to tell of my aches and pains. They are increasing with the years and my love to speak of them grows sweeter as time goes by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong. Make me thoughtful but not nosey; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom and experience it does seem a pity not to use it all. But thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

I'm afraid I resemble this thought!

Bird Trip

Frank moved the bird carriers into my bedroom last night after the birds had gone to bed so they wouldn't see them. Some how Gertie knew something was up for I went to get him out and he climber to the highest point in his cage. I went after him and he gnashed on my finger once and then climbed on board. I didn't have any trouble getting him in the carrier. Rikki didn't want to get in but she is such a laid back bird and I didn't have any trouble with her.

I hate driving the old Accord for it's ride is not as smooth as the new one, but I had to drive it to take the birds to Hartselle. It ran fine but it has a lot of vibrations at 60-70 mph. I'm supposed to a bring Rosko and Gert back in two weeks but I'll be in the hospital by then. Rosko has some bumps on his nose and Gert has an infection that I'm giving him medicine daily.

Frank worked hard all day yesterday fooling with the car battery and now he has fevers. I've given him Tylenol and hope he won't have a bad night.

Wednesday Day Trip

I haven't been sleeping well at night so I go back to bed and sleep another 1-1/2 hours in the morning. After I got up today, I had to go to Walmart to get a new battery for the old Accord. They gave me the wrong one but Frank put it in and the car started. In the meanwhile, Karen and I drove over to Decatur to look for this clothing store. We went into Belk's and Penny's and Dillard's plus the store we originally went to find. Dillard's does have formal wear we learned. After wandering around the Mall we came home.

I then had to go back to Walmart to get the right battery. There was no problem with it all, it just took a lot of time. The new battery cost $81.00. Tomorrow, I have to take the birds to Hartselle to have their wings, and nails, and beaks trimmed. As tired as I am now, I believe I will sleep in again!

Walmart and Lou's

I had to go to the bank and deposit the check we got back for returning the 4 air cleaners and I went to Walmart to buy a few groceries. I forgot to locate the Popsicles so we only have 4 left. I could always get some more tomorrow.

I asked Frank where my old Accord keys were for I thought he had had them last. After a while, he came in and said that the keys had been left in the car and that the battery was dead! I told him to stay away from my keys in the future! That's what I'll do tomorrow, get a new battery for the old Accord. Karen and I are to go out tomorrow so I guess we'll pick up a battery and then go to Madison to the Pottery place. Maybe they'll have some garden stuff on sale.

Got a cancer support group meeting tonight. Mary Lou Hill is coming over and will ride with me. There are storms predicted for tonight and tomorrow and that may stop some ladies from coming. Heck, life goes on whether it's raining or not. I'll take my umbrella.