On a Friday night I sat in on a celebration at my great nieces, graduation.
I had rushed to get there I do not like being late.
The graduation has passed by about month and I know I am quite late in writing about it.
I listened to flowery speeches from dignitaries and the Valedictorians. I do not remember who gave the speech at my graduation from the same school but mine was over forty-nine years ago. The school had changed too, going from a B.I.A Boarding School to more like a regular high school.
I had told my nieces, nephews, and now the ones we call great nieces, or nephews, that I wanted to write their speeches. Alas none made the list to give a speech so I set out to write one anyway.
So here is what my speech would sound like if they had let give one.
Ahem!
I did borrow this opening line from Marc Anthony.
“Friends, relatives, natives lend me your ears,” for the next few minutes.
As I stand here looking back at the last four years I wonder where did it all go and where am I going?
I want to give thanks to my parents, coaches, and teachers.
Firstly, to my parents who agreed to send me off to a boarding school.
Namely Sequoyah High School.
Sequoyah promised mom and dad that I would get three square meals a day. This is the place where I learned that the Mess Hall cooks fixed gourmet meals. Once I tasted cooked liver smothered in onions and gravy I was hooked!
No longer was I satisfied with just Squirrel, or Rabbit, covered with gravy. Asparagus, took the place of Wild onions and eggs likewise Broccoli replaced Polk salad and eggs.
I must say though mom could still outcook these chefs! There was no one who would cook commodities like her. Nor use as much lard i.e. grease.
To my coaches who hollered at me to do better but never once cussed or cursed me out. Some like coach Sanders just shook their head and wondered how? How did I ever make it on his football or basketball teams. He was very patient and put up with me for at least three years.
To my cross-country coach Sumner, who coached and trained me to run like the wind. Even though it was a mighty slow wind.
To my teachers, a couple of them who flunked me. They never realized that a genius happened to grace their classroom.
To my woodshop teacher who gave me a passing grade. Regardless of the fact, that the only project I made was gluing two blocks of wood together. While others made gun racks, cabinets, and old- fashioned lamp stands. I got a much-needed credit in summer school.
This allowed me to come back in the fall as a sophomore.
Finally, to Mrs. Ewing who gave me a passing grade in English. I struggled with it since it is my second language. Without her reluctantly giving me a D- I would not have graduated. I remember seeing my thesis with all the red marks and wondered why my work had bleed so bad?
To the dorm staff, like the mean one Mrs. Porter who dumped a bucket of water on me to wake me up!
To Mr. Jackson And Mr. Sarnie who pulled my mattress of my bed with me still on it. To the times they rapped me on the head with their long, heavy, flashlights again to wake me up!
To Mr. Shipp, our principal who suspended, sent me home, and kicked me out of Sequoyah all together added up to about eight times.
Who let me back into Sequoyah. Why I do not know?
Now as gaze with bleary eyes over my fellow grads I see no native regalia. The closest any of us and me included came to a feather was finishing off a bottle of “Wild Turkey.”
A few I see are still sobering up, one has just gotten released from jail so he could graduate.
As I stand before you, I see the honor students.
I am not one.
I see the sports stars some made all-conference.
I am not one of those.
All those that know where they are going in life.
I do not!
All I know is that as I turn my gold tassel to the other side, I have graduated wearing my blue and yellow gown!
Wait! Sequoyah colors are Maroon and Gray, right? Right!
Yes, but the guys got outvoted by the girls who wanted blue and gold!
With that I leave with no honors but this memory of the blue and gold sorta like that sausage!
Memories yes both good and bad from my time at Sequoyah Boarding School.
Tahlequah, Oklahoma U.S.A.