Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Go Zebras!

When I was in high school in the early 60's our mascot was the zebra - The Pine Bluff High School Zebras.  And yes, we had mascots even in "olden times." 
Times were different then, but girls weren't.  We traveled in herds and we were very protective of each other.  If someone attacked one of us we circled up and loved on the one who was hurt, at the same time as we "brayed" at the offender.


I graduated 46 years ago but those friends still hold a corner of my heart.  This weekend 6 of them will come to my house for a weekend of laughter, whispered conversations in the dark, a glass of wine on the deck.  We will tell each other lies (you haven't changed a bit) and truths (I hated that guy you dated junior year), we will share tears over divorces, deaths, breast cancer, lymphoma, cheating husbands and weight gain that we can't blame on "that time of the month,"  and we'll talk until our voices get scratchy.  We'll confess to things we thought we'd never tell anyone in our whole lives, and we'll ask for advice we might or might not take.  We'll be fussed over and at and we'll love on each other.  We'll walk proudly into a restaurant, promptly put on our reading glasses, make multiple trips to the bathroom and remember when we could go from morning to night without even one trip (who wanted to go in the school bathrooms!), and agonize over whether to order the salad acting like we diet all the time or order the cheesecake and a side order of fries.  How do I know?  Because this isn't the first time we've done this.  Or the second. 

I never laugh as hard as I do when I'm with these women.  We're nothing alike, any of us.  But we're just alike, all of us.  We're tall and short, fat and skinny, married and divorced, wrinkled and....well, not quite as wrinkled.  We've walked some hard roads and some narrow paths.  We have so, so much in common, so many bonds.  We're all women and we're all Christians, we're all Pine Bluff High School Zebras, and we're all friends.  Sisters of the Heart - that's what we call ourselves.  And when we walk into that restaurant Saturday night we'll all wear shirts that say that because we're proud of it.  And of each other.  And besides, if we all dress alike none of us will get lost.  Reading glasses only work so far you know. 

16 comments:

Mad about Craft said...

Have a really good time!

Julie Fukuda said...

Wow, I don't think I know where even one Euclid panther is and I doubt they would recognize me if we met.

I guess my Scoutfriends are like that but a lot of them are guys.

Arkansas Patti said...

I really envy your get together. I grew up going to 8 different schools so I never learned how anyone turned out.
Enjoy your group and laugh till the tears run.

Tracy P. said...

I'm already there with the reading glasses! We had 540 in our graduating class, and I lost touch with most of them immediately and the last few gradually. Facebook has brought many of us back together, and we had a truly delightful reunion this summer, amazingly well attended! There is something so special about friends who knew you way back then. Have a wonderful time!

Lena . . . said...

How wonderful. There are six of us gals that went from 1st grade all the way through high school together. We all live locally and manage to get together about once a month, and it's wonderful - we're all like sisters.

Zebras, huh? Our high school mascot was the spud - in our area that's a nickname for potatoes since we're in the middle of potato growing country. Can you imagine going to a basketball game and the opposing cheerleaders are yelling "Mash those spuds, mash those spuds!" Oh, well, we had fun anyway.

Have a great weekend and we'll expect a full report.

Lori said...

Have a blast with your friends! It's take a long time to grow old friends, so water, fertilize and cultivate!

Needled Mom said...

Very cute and very true. I know you will have a fabulous time!

Elora said...

Hey, Marlene! What a great post! The writing is superb, if I may be so bold as to judge! I loved it all and envy you the joy of connecting with high school friends!
Have a great time!
Elora

Memaw's memories said...

I know exactly how you feel about your sisters of the heart. In my community, there are 4 of us who started and graduated together. We raised our families, and made our way in the world. Today and for the last 20 years, we have traveled as a pack. We have more fun than anyone is allowed.

Jody Blue said...

Oh how sweet is that! So many of us women would love to have bonds like that, you are blessed.

Anonymous said...

I live 15 miles from Pine Bluff and they have always been the HORNETS....never a Zebra in the thought process. Besides, I think a Zebra would be really chilly here as winter is thinking of showing its cold face. I'm thinking your PB is the much further south PB. Anyway...today was the first time to come across your blog and I did enjoy reading about the Zebras. Linda

molly said...

Wow! That's is great that you are still in touch with people from H.S. forty five years ago. What fun you must have!

And thank you so much---you know what for.

Lea and her Mustangs said...

I have not seen most all, maybe one or two, since graduation night 54 years ago. That sounds so fun.

Di said...

Marlene you're hilarious. But you do have a gift for putting into words so many of our thoughts and feelings on growing "more mature" (shall we say). The friendship you and the other zebras share is such a special bond. Cherish it, and long may it continue for you all. Di x

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Wear your stripes proudly, and have a glass of wine for me!

peace~elaine

Kathy - mom of many said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting. I do hope you will post pictures of your group of friends. How wonderful to get together regularly after so many years.