Blog 3425 – 03.20.2025

A Picture From The Past

I do not believe that posting pictures, texting, emailing, or messaging on social media will ever take the place of voice to voice calls or face to face conversations that strengthen and sustain true friendships, but it I do appreciate seeing pictures old and new of family and friends that are dear to me.

The above picture was taken sixty years ago and I saw it yesterday on Facebook for the first time in many years. I do not recall two of the shorter boys names, but I still remember all of the girls names (Imagine that). I note that Eddie, both Phyllis’s and Mitzi are the only ones smiling while the rest of us look like we just lost our best friend. We were all friends though and it is amazing how close we were in middle school.

Twenty years ago Eddie Oliver, Phyllis Green Donley and I (Yipes Stripes, sweater and shirt) got together and contacted as many of the East Lake Junior High ninth grade class of 1965 as we could find for a fortieth reunion. Several teachers and the principal also came.

It was a big day in East Lake Park just across the street from where the old school once stood. See how many of the gang pictured above you can spot in the group photo taken at the reunion.

Call an old friend today or better yet try to see them face to face if you can for a chat. If I lived closer to Chattanooga that is what I would love to do today. I plan to call Phyllis Green Donley and Ric (Butch) Chambers just to hear their voices today.

I wish I could speak with and see them all face to face, especially Eddie who passed a couple of years ago, and thank them all for their friendship.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White