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Dann Carnes
It is great to see active correspondence on our class website and talk of another reunion. The 40th was special and those who organized it to honor a departed class member provided the rest of us with an opportunity for lasting memories—thank you. We had transfers who attended South for only their senior years and others who experienced their senior years at other schools, but knew they were still part of the South Meck family. The most special part of the night for me, no, Johnnie Cullen, it was not seeing you, though you were top three, was having an opportunity to say thanks to a guy for a kindness that happened so many years ago. So after a few hellos, and being a guy who had my priorities straight, I headed for the buffet table. The dining hall was nicely segregated with African Americans in the middle and those of European decent on the perimeter. So that made it easy to identify the person who was the reason I was there and I headed for the middle table. As a senior, and having finally been with a group of class mates for more than a couple of years (I attend four different elementary schools and two different junior highs) I could have done more to welcome our new comers, but didn’t. Guess I placated myself that I was doing good to be a senior after almost dropping out junior year. So I headed over to William Medley, who had interest neither in becoming a South student or a Saber Football player, despite our desperate need for him to “replace” Randy Rhino (I may have misspelled his last name because he ran with a football like the animal). I wrote about William’s kindness after the 40th reunion on our website so will skip it here, but William demonstrated his character at that age when most of us were focused on ourselves. I am so glad you found your way, William into coaching so your middle school students could benefit from your tutelage.
Isn’t it great when you extend yourself to do a good thing, and then unexpectantly you get showered with blessings? At least that is what happened to me the time or two I did that. Well not long after I sat down next to William and was explaining to him and his table mates why this white boy was coming around, this beautiful woman sat down beside me. It was none other than Leslie. I do not recall her last name, but she knows who she is. Had I not found my soul mate in Rebecca Ward (who cheered for Gail Gorman as I beat her at ping pong on my pathetic home table--ALL you guys who took beatings from Gail during lunch know why I had to get her on my home turf), I would have asked Leslie to marry me. I’m sure she didn’t even know my name, but for me, she was in the on deck circle. I saw her a few years after graduation in the UNC-G cafeteria, or maybe it was someone who looked mildly like her and I was fabricating a mirage moment. None the less, I was living in my VW Beetle and did not want to catch up with anyone at that point. That was my excuse. Fact was I was still awed by her to the extent that I did not approach her. However, years later in a crowd of over 50k in Kenan Stadium, there she was. I called to her. We had a brief catching up and I bid her goodbye. She turned out to be that strong southern woman I knew she would become and was well on her way at South. Lord forbid our spouses depart before us both, Leslie, but just know you have a standing proposal.
Granted my 40th reunion stories are not as exciting as those of Ted Elkins and others, but if I traveled to as exotic places as Ted, I likely would have been inspired to make up some that were competitive. As is, I am on a project in Wilmington and am as inspired as I am going to get. I mainly want to encourage all to attend the 45th. You just don't know what can happen when you put yourself out there and share a bit of yourself with others who experienced a common slice of life during what was a most important time for many of us.
Dann Carnes
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