What a joy it was to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of Hamilton High School's Class of 1951 at Mercer Oaks last Sunday, April 13! It was so nice to spend those few fleeting hours recalling those dear old golden rule days with frequent contemporary interruptions referring to arthritis, pain pills, and our various octogenarian physical maladies. Among other things, we discussed the incredible differences found in our school experiences and the society in which we grew up when compared with the drastic societal changes in 21st century America. The above graphic contains a re-formatted column I wrote 23 years ago when even then society's fabric was gradually tearing more and more each day. To the right is a treasure which is indeed a personal treasure to me. My dear classmate Ms. Carol Sine Black (who has an uncanny resemblance to my late Cousin Ruth Williamson Gore) saved the beautiful card with the famous Emerson quote on it. Carol, along with many of the choir at Hamilton High School were taught by Miss Louise Simpson Baird, who not only taught is the beauty of music, but also the elusive search for a meaningful existence. In addition to that classic Emerson quote from Carol, here are two additional quotations which Miss Baird asked us to commit to memory; I memorized them all:
"The true test of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out."
"Make the world a bit more beautiful because you have lived in it."
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