Looking Back at High School

 I graduated 60 years ago. Man!  Who would have thought I'd be wriitng about my teenage years in 2021. Tomorrow or one of these days soon I'm going to start transcribing a book I typed up about comments and opinions various family members made to me in 2002 when I did this book (but didn't save it on my computer) called "Some of my Family with some of their thoughts and memories."  Four of those folks are deceased now and I'm on the list to be "in the past" myself.  Such is life moving on. I'm of the opinion that there's bound to be a few people interested in their family history members who have gone before and I want to make this project available to them. I know I would have loved to have something like this when I was deep into genealogy research and learning about my ancestors.  So that's my next project.

  Yesterday, I pulled out my yearbooks from high school and laughed at all the notations written inside. We had a party at the rec center just for the purpose of signing each others annuals.  There was a name for the annual party in the spring but darned if I can remember now what we called it. I didn't transcribe all the notes as they pretty much said  the same thing...stuff like Be Good this summer, see you next year and for some reason, a few said "be nice to the boys and leave some for me." I always wondered where that came from because I never had boyfriends. At least none that I can recall. 

Everyone signed their name followed by the year they were graduating. That was always super important then. I didn't have that many signatures in  my freshmen year as I was still intimidated by upperclassmen. By my junior and senior year, though, I walked with more confidence. High school can do that to you.  I never know how the cut and paste from a word document will show up on my blog so be prepared for it to look kind of "all over the place."  And now for a walk down memory lane.....

Looking back at my high school yearbook messages

MY FRESHMAN YEAR

Dear Joyce: Best of luck in the years to come in PTHS. ….Doris LaChance

(this one cracks me up because Doris was on one of my closest friends in our freshman year and her letters to me in the many years after high school also sounded like a business letter.)

Dear Joyce: Life is like a field of snow. Be careful how you tread it for every step will show….Jean Tyler

Hi Joyce, I hope you have a very bright future. Don’t give the boys too bad of a time and leave a few for me.  From a fellow boy lover, Sharon Mustatia

Joyce, Best of luck Stupid…Linda Gillett

Dear Joyce, You’re a living doll and I’m sure you are blessed. Me too, I hope.  You’ve been fun to work with and I enjoyed being with you in Wash. State. We may be there next year.  Don’t love and leave all the boys, they can be hurt too. Be good and have fun this summer. Love from your friend always…
Sharon Ryan

Dear Joyce, We sure have had fun this year. I hope we have as much fun in the following 3 years. Lots of luck to a wonderful girl who will go far in whatever career you chose. Love n luck….Sharon Sofie

Joyce, Well, we’ve had quite a few laughs and let’s hope we have a lot more. Lotza luck in all you do…Ruth

Dear Joyce, A merry Christmas and a happy new year….Don Doolittle

Dear Joyce, To a sweet kid from a sweeter one. Your ole pal, Linda Scott

Good luck in high school, Keep up the good work in the assemblys…Carol Wilson, PE Instr.

Dear Joyce, Have a lot of fun during the rest of high school. Time will go fast but I know you’ll make the most of it. Keep up your pantomiming too. You’re good. Love…..Kitty Kircher

Dear Joyce, I’m sure glad I met you. You’re loads of fun. Keep up the good work. Careful on the boys!...Judy Scott

Your act in the frosh assembly was a high spot. Keep up the good work and school spirit…Love & luck….Jan Gillett

To one of my most loyal admiring friends, the worst of luck in your miserable year at our horrible school. Your worst friend, Mary Pearce

Dear Joyce, Best of luck in the future. I really enjoyed your act in the assembly… Deana, ‘58

 

MY SOPHOMORE YEAR

Dear Joyce, You’re a real swell kid. Be good and I won’t write anything!!...Joan Curtis

Dear Joyce, Best of luck to a good friend whose company I enjoy…Doris

Dear Joyce, See you next year in the fashion show. Luck always to a real great gal!, Love..Karen Hufford

MY JUNIOR YEAR

Dear Joyce, You are a real nut and I know you’ll be even nuttier next year. Lots of Luck….Susan Hjellen

To the coolest cat that ever roamed the halls of PTHS. Your friend (I hope) Mary Pearce

Good luck Joyce, You are a real doll. Now that we’re seniors isn’t it great?..Love Sharon  ‘61

Remember the blast at Deleo’s. You danced real well with those carny guys and you make a neat ding dang doofitchie type bartender. Cecil (KN7LEP) Muggy

Dear Joyce, You’ve been a real pal this year and I can’t think of anyone that I’d rather have for secretary of Girl’s Club. Love, Sharon Sofie

Have fun this summer but don’t get caught…Spike Morello

Dear U-h-h-h-h. Lots of luck being Girls Club Secretary! You finally got an office, It’s been a gas knowing you. You’re really different. See ‘ya!  Judi Woodward

Dear Joyce, Lots of luck to a real swell campaigner. Your posters all were loads of laughs. Never lose your sense of humor…Gene Johnson

Dear Joyce, Look not for beauty nor whiteness of skin, But look for the hear that is loyal within. Beauty may fade and skin grow old, but the heart that is loyal will never grow cold. It sure was nice to tap you for girls club secretary. I know you’ll do a super job. You’re a true friend. Always…Sharon Edwards

Dear Joyce, You’re a real great kid and I like you even if you do like my sister. I know you’re going to have a great time finding things to do to Miss Barton next year. When you graduate next year come on down to Sedro Wooley and we can all have a reunion. Have fun and don’t be too good. You friend…John Plattner

Lots of luck to your rolling eyes…Peggy Homestead

Dear Joyce, Maureen & Julia still have a chance at Mr. Holbrook. Hope you had fun working on the paper. Love and luck, Karen Austin

MY SENIOR YEAR

To a girl that was hard to teach to smoke!  John Boggs

Hi Joyce, Sorry about the other night but good luck and keep up the good fighting. Always, Tim McMahon  (ha ha—we actually got into a physical brawl in front of the library uptown. I went home with a bloody shirt and my dad was fit to be tied when I told him I was fighting with a boy)

Joyce, Good luck to a real hot rodder. I always move when I see you coming…Doris Meister

Dear Joyce, What a crazy fun-loving kid you are! I sure will miss you when you go to college. I’ll never forget Sept. 6 and all the trouble and fun we had with you. Take care of yourself and stay just as sweet as you are. Love ‘ya, Barbara Blowers

Dear Joyce, Thank you for all the help on the WAWA. We wouldn’t have made it without you. Keep smiling….Carol Van

Dear Twinkletoes, Like you always….Woody

Dear Joyce, Remember all those wonderful parties we have had this past summer. Let’s keep up on them during the next school year. Always remember Wednesday night and the big blast. A friend always, Judy  “63”

Dear Joyce, Well kid, you’re free now. How does it feel? You sure are a lot of fun and you really know how to keep a party going. Keep on living and be good. Love Diane  “63”

Places of interest during my senior year that I recorded on the last page of my yearbook:

Chimacum, Port Angeles, Sequim, The Barn, Discovery Bay, Hudson Point, Wheel-in Motor Movie, Uptown Theater, Oak Bay, Port Ludlow, Shine, Mats Mats, The Pad, Roma Inn, Nightmare Square, Hobo Park, A&W, Chetzemoka Park, The flats, Memorial Field, Railroad Y, Humpy’s, All View Motel, City Center Trailer Park, Buddy’s shack, Rec Center, Adelma Beach, The cut-off, Hastings Avenue, the Palms, boat haven, San Juan Avenue, the quarter strip, North Beach, Fernando’s Hideaway, Irondale beach, gravel pit, and Skip's.