During the summer of 1958 – we – my mother, my grandmother, and me – moved from Tahlequah, Oklahoma to Augusta, Kansas. It certainly was the biggest adventure of my life – at least until that point.

In the fall I started sixth grade at Garfield Elementary School – the same school where my mother was employed for many years to teach second grade. She continued to live in Augusta following her retirement until 2002 when she came to live with us in Austin. My grandmother, LaVaughn Wattenbarger, also lived in August until her death in 1989 – my mother died in 2009.

There are a number of stories that need to be told about the years 1958 through 1965 – I will try my best to protect the innocent by changing or not using names – and we are very much looking forward to attending the Class of 1965 50 Year Reunion this coming year – my how time flies – especially when you’re having fun!!!!!

For people who may not know – Augusta, in Butler county, is located just about half an hour east of Wichita. During these years the primary focus of the town was the Mobil refinery – easy to see – easy to smell – and easy to taste in the local water. When we moved to Augusta the population, as I recall, was around 6,000 – according to Wikipedia the population in 2010 had grown to 9, 274.

Following is at least a partial list of the stories that I need to tell:

— Beloved and wonderful music teachers Edwina Parker and Max Hendrickson

— The historic downtown Augusta Theater and the Drive-In

— Brick streets

— Driver’s ed

— The old Methodist Church and the resulting experiences at Camp Pike

— The honor of attending Boys State and Boys Nation

— Working at the Augusta Pharmacy

— Spending the evening on State Street

— The flood

— Lehr’s and Dairy Queen, etc.

— Augusta Community Theatre

— Teachers: Vivian Williams, Margaret Mallory, David Joy, Winifred Ketch, basketball and math – Adams, Moore, Ashcraft, Hutter – McAdoo, Hicks, Ralston, — I am sure I will think of others before I get to this point in my writing

— Band trips

The only reason I make this list is to remind me of events and times that profoundly effected my life and contributed to the person that I am today. I hope that some of you who read this blog will be willing to contribute your memories to this collection of stories either by commenting directly on this blog site or by commenting on FB.

Wishing everyone a great celebration of Thanksgiving tomorrow! Grace and peace