When I attended the monthly 1959 Classmates luncheon in Dresden on June 6th it was shared that our classmate John Longaberger would not be there because he died. I attended his memorial on Friday, June 9th with Bonnie Birkhimer Hague. In 1958 I dated John’s wife’s brother, Rodney. Rodney was at the service so I talked with him and we shared some old memories. Rodney’s wife was not there so I did not meet her, but met his son. I could see that his son had this grin that meant he couldn’t wait to tell his mother about his dad’s ‘old girlfriend’. God had other plans for me when my sister, Betty Slate, told me to “chase Larry Smith around the block”. I did just that and thankful for 58 years to this wonderful mate. We had our last anniversary apart because he had Covid at the hospital in Marble Falls, Texas but we talked on the phone.
Plans are set for the Jefferson High School alumni banquet on Saturday, June l7th at the Tri Valley school in Dresden. My nieces Beth Slate Melick Smith and Tina Stratman Embrey will attend as my guests. I need their support because I will be the speaker. It will be a challenge to talk about my 82 years of living in Ohio, Tenn., Texas and Mexico.
There have been many doors opened and closed in my life. I remember a picture on the wall of a classroom at the Methodist Church in Dresden of Jesus standing in front of a door that did not have a door knob. Jesus is knocking at our door and WE open it to let Him guide and direct our lives. Luke 11:10 …Everyone who asks, receives; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks…. The Living Bible
