Questions: "What was your best day at Central, and what made it the best day?"
Most recent response:
Okay, I'll chime in. I had many great days at Central with friends who
adopted me, the new arrival. I was honored to hang with beautiful ladies
who accepted me into their inner circle - Janeese Jackson, Jane Piggott and
Melanie Waters. At 5'6" I was definitely the shortest and arguably the
homeliest. Apparently they liked me, though; you know, "she has a great
personality." So when at the end of our senior year my name was announced
as Wittiest Senior Girl, I was very surprised and delighted!
I never really thought about being witty, but just had/have a quirky way
of looking at what is happening around me and commenting about it. A good
sense of humor is a good thing. In my case, I tend to see humor in most
situations, and that has gotten me into hot water just a few times.
Mostly, though, it has helped me make friends fast and that last. --Cathy Sakas cathyjosakas@gmail.com
Cathy, Janeese went to Mitchell-Neilson and started gathering us together.
Jane Piggott was the new girl there in the 7th grade and I was the new
girl in the 8th grade. Janeese was the only native among the four of us.
We all love to laugh so you were a natural fit. We were not the only ones
who found you beautiful, I remember a few boys who expressed curiosity and
wanted to get to know you. You can stop wondering why we liked you, we all
had good personalities (except that witch Melanie). You are the whole
package, beauty, brains, fun, and kind to everyone. You still are! --Melanie Waters Bigelow mwbigelow1@yahoo.com
Ok, I must also chime in for this one!! I may have been the "only native"
in this group but I never cared where someone was from or who they knew, I
only cared if I liked them! When I liked someone, I bonded. But I didn't
know how to stay connected sometimes (because I was a wanderer). Doesn't
matter, my only memories of high school are of trying to "get out" and
"get gone" (only because I was so curious about the rest of world and had
to find out)! Other than my memories of you fabulous women, the gang at
Cabinwood and partying by the river, I don't have a lot of specific
memories of high school. High school can be an awkward transitional time
between childhood and "adulthood," so I'm glad I had the support of
girlfriends!!
I do remember that Melanie sat behind me in one class at Mitchell-Neilson
(and, obvious oversight by the school authorities)-- and we were
inseparable. I remember Jane and her family moved into my neighborhood and
we became fast-friends. And, Cathy you were a "no-brainer" fit for our
motley crew. Your sense of humor was infectious (quirkiness being a
plus). And, as far as being "homely," I beg to differ. I'm the one that
couldn't "buy a date in high school"!!
I've only attended 2 reunions to date (25th and 45th and had such a great
time at both) but I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone from our Class
of '69 at the 50th!! I just hope we have name-tags so we can recognize
each other after all these years. --Janeese Jackson jj@janeesejackson.com
(REUNION NOTE: Name tags with annual photos will be available.)
GREAT!!! Name tags AND annual photos.
That will not only destroy everything I have achieved in witness
protection it will show how far I have fallen in 50 years.
I want my money back! In cash. (P.O. Box BR549, Athens, AL 35611)
--Craig Beasley cwbeasley2@att.net
PS: My best day at Central was the day I didn't get caught when the power,
water, and sewer went out.
"POWER TO THE PEOPLE, Y'ALL!!!"
---
Okay, now I have to chime right back....
Janeese, you were a major catch in high school and my goodness you still
are! At our 25th I remember how fun it was seeing Myers Parsons bounce you
on his knee in rhythm to the music low to the floor while the rest of
danced at a more comfortable elevation. I was very impressed with both of
you! And the dress you wore that night as I recall was a slinky black
number that was so becoming! At our 45th you still rocked the look! I do
not however recall seeing Myers bounce you on his knee to the music.
So at Central I didn't catch on until later in our friendship that your dad
was Mayor Joe Jackson. I do believe that our red blooded male classmates
who were feeling the full press of their raging teen hormones kept that
fact in the back of their minds. "Now what if I mess up somehow and end up
getting hauled in with the Mayor's daughter in tow." I am sure that kept a
few would be suitors at bay. No wonder you wanted to get out of M'boro to
see the world and it is no wonder you moved just about as far away as you
could and still be in the lower 48. I eventually got that.
Now as I also recall gorgeous Jane was the Homecoming Queen at one point or
the Senior Representative to the Queen's Court and Melanie was also in the
Queen's Court at some point. I also recall Melanie was a very lovely SPO
Sweetheart. So you see, I was among real beauties recognized by peers, I
just wasn't one myself. Okay, I was cute, I'll go with that and again "with
a great personality" (wink,wink). Marla was certainly in the beauty realm
as well and I know she held some title bestowed by classmates.
So, obviously I don't have my annual in front of me because if I did I
could look this stuff up myself, but I think it would be interesting to
list our homecoming queens and court, cheerleaders (I remember Elaine,
Donna and Debbie), team captains (Dale football and maybe Bart or Steve J.
in basketball), band leaders (Sally as a most stately drum major) and
majorettes (lithe Sally H.). Most Likely to Succeed (wise Cy and sweet
studious Patty??), etc. for the Superlatives. Class officers (Steve J.,
president....), etc.
If someone doesn't mind listing all those classmates, I think others might
like to remember their claims to fame as well. Maybe the reunion committee
has already thought of this and we will see these lists when we convene in
June.
In the meantime, I wish everyone a lovely spring that is mostly pollen
free! Our fair city and coastal areas are awash in beautiful colors from
the prolific bloom of our azaleas and wisteria and dogwoods and pears and
red maples. (My two black cats look greenish yellow from our very high
pollen count!)
I just returned home from our annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown
Savannah, touted to be the second largest parade in the nation at 4.5 hours
long. Because the 17th fell on a Sunday the celebration planners and
bishops and priests lobbied to have the parade the day before, today. I am
still in my green attire and Crabette uniform and hat. My band called The
World Famous Crabettes performed in front of the Leopold's Ice Cream Shop
(established in 1919). For over 20 years we were in the parade on a float.
Our last parade appearance was in 2014 when our elderly drummer fell off
his seat stopping the parade. He had a low blood glucose episode and had to
be hauled off to the ER. We have since decided floats are not the way for
us to participate in this ancient Savannah celebration. Also having a
"facility" close by sure helps and I know you know what I mean!
Happy St. Patrick's Day Eve and Erin Go Braugh (or as my friends say, Erin
Go Bra-less)! --Cathy Sakas cathyjosakas@gmail.com
This question stumped me, and then I started thinking about WHY it stumped me, because I had a pretty good experience at Central. If I had to choose one thing, though, it would be the trip to Miami for the Orange Bowl. It was fun to travel with my friends, and there were so many activities planned for us. I think we were gone about five days. --Carolyn Bigger Lattimore carolynlattimore@gmail.com
I'll have to agree with Carolyn. The Orange Bowl band trip was a great
memory! --Mary Baskin Miller gamaymay@gmail.com
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