Recently went to Slaton, Texas, because it was celebrating it's 100th birthday. I graduated high school there, way way way back in 1949. Each class had get togethers, so BJ, a friend, and I drove down on Saturday morning, watched the parade. Floats, with people throwin' candy, lots of tractors, old cars, and the high school band playing Hold That Tiger ('cause they're the Slaton Tigers).
Afterward, BJ and I headed to the Slaton Bakery. I was not about to try out the Port-O-Potty, and the city hall was closed. Ever tried to find a rest room in a town you don't know and there aren't any fillin' stations around? Wasn't time to eat so we didn't look for a restaurant. My grandmother used to buy me cookies at the Slaton Bakery when I was just a kid. Then I got big enough to buy them for myself, so at least I'd been in the bakery before. It's still in the same family so I figure I'm a customer. Normally I would've bought something but BJ bought enough for both of us. Outside some men were selling homemade ice cream and I bought us some of that. It was good ice cream, and they even put a cookie on top.
First we checked out her class - 1959. She's a lot younger than I am. Didn't recognize anyone. They didn't recognize me either, but they did ask about my brother when they found out my maiden name was Peebles.
Finally we went to Alton Kenn's, where my class was meeting. Shoot, I didn't recognize many in there either. Names sounded familiar though. When asked, I used my given name - Johnie Peebles. They would look at me and then almost yell "Johnie Pearl". I want'ch to know, I dropped that Pearl part the minute I hit Texas Tech, fall of 1949. Here I've had one first name for all these years and suddenly I'm a two first name Texas girl again.
I did recognize a few though - Nancy, Joan, Forrestine, Alton, Waylon. For a few more there was a slight resemblance to people I had seen sometime during my life, and then there were those that I had no clue who they were.
Four of us started first grade together, and made it all the way through high school to graduation - Freddie England, Daunita Dowell, Jimmy Porter and me. Jim showed up. I hadn't seen him since 1949. A person can change in sixty two years. Daunita wasn't able to come, but I did see her about twenty five years ago. Freddie was at the last reunion I attended and said he'd be at our very last one. I spoke up saying I would be right there with him. He didn't make it. He's gone now, and I really missed him. Freddie and I were in the Cradle Roll at the First Baptist Church together, when we were babies.
BJ and I drove around town before we left to take a look at places that had meant a lot to us growing up. The house where she lived is now run down, and the trees her dad was so proud of are gone. She kept saying "Daddy would just have a fit." The one where I lived is gone completely. I was been born in that house. Lived there all my life and then got married in it. Now all that is left is a vacant lot full of weeds.
Buildings around the square are the same, different names, different stores, some have been sort of re-done, but are just older. The court house was torn down and a new one built years ago. Focal point on the square when I was growing up was the gazebo. That's where I played a violin solo on a program one Saturday night, when I was about 8 years old. It was either torn or fell down, but towns-people wanted it back, so now there is a new one. It's the brightest spot in all of down town. The old Harvey House down by the Santa Fe Railroad was vacant ever since I can remember. It has been restored and is now a bed and breakfast. That's where BJ's class met.
It was July 3, 2011, a bright sunny day. BJ and I enjoyed it. However, talking on the way back to Amarillo, we agreed - you can go back, but you really can't go back home again. Home is where you are living now. Enjoy it.
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