In spite of her constantly beating me in rummy, checkers, scrabble, rook I kind of like her. She's funny, witty and has some great stories that she has shared with me. Now I'm not really sure if they're 100% factual but like my friend Christine Stewart always said, "never let the truth stand in the way of a good story".
Last week Beth and her sister Debbie had some shopping and running around to do that neither NaNa or I were interested in doing so we volunteered to stay behind. I used this time to take her on a little outing to one of our favorite hangouts on the bay side of the island. When it was time for lunch I ran across the street to a small ice cream shop and picked up three hot dogs. When I came back and proudly proclaimed that I had three hot dogs for us NaNa immediately fired back "well why did you only buy one for yourself"? That's NaNa and her quick wit! She's also pretty nice because she actually let me have two of the hot dogs.
She shared with me some great stories of coming out on the island as a child and spending the entire summer in what was then a non-air conditioned cottage where when you went outside you were attacked by swarms of mosquitos, thankfully this was the pre-Zika era. She told me about how they ate fish for practically every meal and would sit around all day rubbing ice on their arms and necks because it was so hot. Sound's like a lot of fun doesn't it?
She also shared with me stories of there being a military base on the island back in the early 40's and that she used to get lots of letters from soldiers that she had met during her summers out here. One of the interesting things about the letters were that as from what I understand was a common practice back in those days the letters had been screened and anything considered "classified information" had been cut out of the letters. Maybe that's something we should consider requiring for Hillary's e-mail correspondence going forward!
Sorry for the momentary digression into politics, I guess I short circuited a little.
We also talked a little bit about her high school years and she told me that she graduated in 1946 (Palmetto High School, Palmetto, Fl.). Just think about that, if my math is correct that's 70 years ago!
So I did a little digging to confirm a rumor that I had heard for quite some time and found out that it's true. NaNa was selected as the female with the best figure from the Palmetto High School Class of 1946! My source to confirm this rumor, none other than her yearbook, complete with a photograph to prove it.
The confusing thing about all of this is that if you look closely at her senior picture her nickname is listed as "Fatty"! Just think about the politically correct "everybody gets a trophy" world we live in today, something like "best figure", "most attractive", "best dressed", "most bashful" or "best complexion" which were all recognized in her yearbook would never be allowed unless there was accommodation for everyone.
So congratulations Fatty on being voted best figure in the Palmetto High School Class of 1946!
By the way, Beth's dad, Howard was also in the Palmetto High School Class of 1946. In addition to being Sr. Class President he was also "Best All Around". "Most Popular", "Best Personality" and "Best Complexion"!
His nickname as you can see from the picture below was "Cookie"
Fatty and Cookie, you guys rocked the Palmetto High School Class of 1946!
Congratulations from your Son-In-Law, Kent, named something from the Mulberry High School Class of 1975. I wish I could remember what it was, I know it wasn't "Most Studious", "Most Likely to Succeed" or "Best Figure"!
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| Not exactly sure what the "Commercial Club" was all about! |
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| That's not Cookie standing there in his underwear holding hands with NaNa! |
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| Melba was also Cookie's partner for Best All Around and Best Complexion..............still not as cool as Fatty! |
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| Big Man on Campus! |
