(Submitted by Kristie Liddell)
20 years. It's so hard for me to believe that it's been that long since we walked across the stage together ending a 2 year oddesy and starting our own personal journeys. We parted from MUW's campus and ventured out to many different parts of the country. I don't know about you guys, but I did not have to actually study anything new until my sophmore year. The one thing that was missing from my college experience that we had at MSMS was the genuine concern about my success as a student.
The teachers and staff at MSMS really cared about us. They did everything that they knew how to help us cope with the academic troubles that arose while also helping us to deal with the challenges of being away from family and friends for the first time. Girls, remember when we moved into Fant and there weren't any desks? We had to pile all our books up in the middle of the floor. My aunt (an educator) came to visit me during this period and was worried that they were putting too much on us. I thank God that they challenged us the way they did. We learned that we could do anything we set our minds to if we worked hard.
Even though we had our own cliques, we all shared an experience so special that it sometimes seems like a dream. I remember when Vel died. The thing that I remember the most about him was his smile. Vel was always smiling (almost as much as Kevin (Gillespie) walked around humming/singing "Don't Worry, Be Happy"). It was such a special time. We were so young and innocent.
We had no idea what the school would become or how big of an impact that it would have on our lives. We are all still geeks (on some level) whether or not it is obvious. Just have a conversation with anyone of us and it is clear that we are "different" (in a good way). I hate I missed out on the 10th or gathering for the 15th, but I promise that I will do all I can to make sure that I don't miss any more. I really do want a do-over for those years or at the least, a do-over from the reunion. Next time, I won't fall asleep in a chair or break my heal dancing too hard :-).
Love you guys
--Kristie
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday - Part 2
Yes, I will try my best to actually finish the tales of the weekend. Friday evening most of us headed to Proffitt's Porch for dinner, others ended up at Harvey's. The waitress at Proffitt's had our table of about 25 plus a few other table and supposedly it was her first night. In other words service was beyond slow. So we spent a lot of time just catching up on our current lives. By the time we actually left most people were just ready to get to the keg at P.B. But several of us decided to go on to Tales from the Crypt.
Since we got to the cemetery so late we barely had to wait in line, although we did have a long, dark walk to get to the ticket area. Mr. Yarborough is the current history teacher and credits Butler with a lot of his teaching methods. I had met him at Temple Heights the night before so he greeted us personally and made sure we weren't split up. I think he may have picked our guide, since it was a kid I had seen at Temple Heights. I had never done the tour before, and most of it was really good. The students played various characters that were either buried in the cemetery or were the 'relatives' of those buried. The cemetery is dark, barring the graves where the students are. These have a few lamps burning around them. The characters ranged from an 'elderly' slave woman singin in her rocker, to the crazy abolitionist sister, to the Scottish Confederate soldier (played by an Asian kid who did a full Scotty accent), and of course the 3 women that started Memorial Day. Seeing these kids reminded me of the talent of my fellow classmates. I can't help but wonder what we would have turned out if given the arts opportunities as well. And of course there was that moment where all of us on the tour fought our tears as we were pointed to the graves of Carl and Judy, both lit with candles. If you are ever in Columbus during Pilgrimage you MUST do this tour. To support MSMS and to pay a bit of homage to the good old days.
Following the tour we hurried back to P.B. Here we were greeted by those that had already rolled the keg onto the back deck and the party began. Vincent had even set up a blender and was mixing drinks for those that didn't want beer. Daniel and Nathan both had on their medal from graduation, and Daniel was in his 3rd? shirt of the day - can you believe he kept all of his old MSMS shirts? This one was the black with pink writing. The party really was more of a Where are you? What are you doing now? How can we fix the foundation? time for the first few hours. Although by 2 a.m. it had probably devolved. Finally around 4 a.m. we tried our best to lock up - Cass was in charge, 'nuf said. It really had been a great day, and it was wonderful to be together again. I guess that was why we didn't mind staying up all night. At least this time we weren't hidden in a closet studying.
Since we got to the cemetery so late we barely had to wait in line, although we did have a long, dark walk to get to the ticket area. Mr. Yarborough is the current history teacher and credits Butler with a lot of his teaching methods. I had met him at Temple Heights the night before so he greeted us personally and made sure we weren't split up. I think he may have picked our guide, since it was a kid I had seen at Temple Heights. I had never done the tour before, and most of it was really good. The students played various characters that were either buried in the cemetery or were the 'relatives' of those buried. The cemetery is dark, barring the graves where the students are. These have a few lamps burning around them. The characters ranged from an 'elderly' slave woman singin in her rocker, to the crazy abolitionist sister, to the Scottish Confederate soldier (played by an Asian kid who did a full Scotty accent), and of course the 3 women that started Memorial Day. Seeing these kids reminded me of the talent of my fellow classmates. I can't help but wonder what we would have turned out if given the arts opportunities as well. And of course there was that moment where all of us on the tour fought our tears as we were pointed to the graves of Carl and Judy, both lit with candles. If you are ever in Columbus during Pilgrimage you MUST do this tour. To support MSMS and to pay a bit of homage to the good old days.
Following the tour we hurried back to P.B. Here we were greeted by those that had already rolled the keg onto the back deck and the party began. Vincent had even set up a blender and was mixing drinks for those that didn't want beer. Daniel and Nathan both had on their medal from graduation, and Daniel was in his 3rd? shirt of the day - can you believe he kept all of his old MSMS shirts? This one was the black with pink writing. The party really was more of a Where are you? What are you doing now? How can we fix the foundation? time for the first few hours. Although by 2 a.m. it had probably devolved. Finally around 4 a.m. we tried our best to lock up - Cass was in charge, 'nuf said. It really had been a great day, and it was wonderful to be together again. I guess that was why we didn't mind staying up all night. At least this time we weren't hidden in a closet studying.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Reunion Planning
There's no way I can adequately organize this, so I'm just making a list as it comes to me.
1) Book Plymouth Bluff early. The W also uses PB for events, and there are lots of them in the spring. Our reunion was the same weekend as both Pilgrimage and MUW Homecoming. We booked it in June 2009 for April 2010. The total cost was $3771, which included the 24 cabins. Plymouth Bluff let us handle the room assignments, which we did by first-come first-served. We paid a deposit of $500 when we signed the contract, and the balance was due 2 weeks before the reunion date.
(Addition by Alice) - PB is a great place to have the reunion. It meant we had a place to just socialize any time of day (or night). We had full access to the kitchen, deck, lounge like area with couches and coffee tables, and dining area. And since most of us stayed there we did not have to worry about driving anywhere. With a hotel you are cramped in small rooms most of the time. Plus you can't really stay up all night without disturbing someone. Since the party mainly stayed at the conference center, it was away from the cabins if you did need to sleep. The rooms are not plush, but the overall facility offers many advantages.
2) The DJ is who we booked for our Saturday night entertainment. He normally does a 3 hr block, but we added 2 additional hours. So instead of music from 9p-12m, we had it from 9p-2a. The DJ at our 10 year reunion had to pack up and leave before any of us were ready - so the extra time was much better. We paid a $200 deposit with the contract and $475 balance 2 weeks before reunion - for a total of $675 for 5 hrs of entertainment.
3) Food. We decided to do a casual BBQ for Saturday night dinner. Plymouth Bluff can cater a sit-down dinner, but that seemed too formal for us. We just wanted to be relaxed and have fun getting to visit with each other. Little Dooey's in Columbus catered dinner for us. For an estimated 100 people, it cost $1200 - $300 deposit, $900 balance paid the week of the reunion.
4) Contact the Columbus Visitors Bureau, and they will provide welcome bags for everybody. We handed them out at registration Friday.
5) We bought MSMS mugs from their store to give to everyone registered. They cost $5 each for a total of about $200.
6) Beer. Our kegs came from Brewski's in Starkville. We had 2- 1/6th barrels of Southern Pecan and a full keg of Stella Artois. Cass says the total was around $290. He also brought his own CO2 tanks to hook up to them, but they very nearly ran out - probably because of a leak. Luckily, one of the tanks made it all the way through for us.
7) Not everybody will pay. Of all the people who participated in our reunions, the same person who didn't pay to attend the 10 yr reunion did the same for the 20 yr reunion. What can you do?
8) Fees. We charged $150 for the rooms ($75/night). For the reunion, we charged $75 for single, $125 for couple. We also asked for donations above the reunion fees, which we got a few. The money that was left over, we donated to the school. There was about $1000 left, and the extra donations helped us give a $2000 check to the school.
9) Consider having the reunion during a time when school is in. MSMS participated by making Emissaries available for tours, Mr. Brown gave a talk to us on Friday, the Emissaries and SGA President were there on Saturday to participate in the opening of the time capsule. They want to interact with us. We also got to go see Tales from the Crypt on Friday night. We couldn't have done any of that if we had waited until school was out. We invited the original remaining teachers to the banquet on Saturday night as well. Two of those teachers also spoke at the dinner.
10) Class composite. I happened to be in Columbus in August 2008 for the 20 year celebration of the school's opening - and I noticed that our class composite was coming apart. I contacted Mr. Brown a few months before the reunion to see if he could find someone to restore it. He came through, and it was fixed and ready for display. The cost of it was around $500, which he was going to pay out of Foundation funds - but a donor covered the cost instead. I only wish that a digital copy could have been produced.
11) Registration. This was really low key. We had the welcome bags, an itinerary, the mugs, and keys to give out. The PB cabins have 4 rooms to a cabin so we tried to preassign them in groups of 4. Registration was really more about having a central place to gather so we used Hogarth. Also the school provided a class schedule if we wanted to sit in on a class. If possible see if Emissaries can help. The hard part was wanting to socialize, but needing to be at the table.
I may come back and add to this if anything else comes to mind.....
1) Book Plymouth Bluff early. The W also uses PB for events, and there are lots of them in the spring. Our reunion was the same weekend as both Pilgrimage and MUW Homecoming. We booked it in June 2009 for April 2010. The total cost was $3771, which included the 24 cabins. Plymouth Bluff let us handle the room assignments, which we did by first-come first-served. We paid a deposit of $500 when we signed the contract, and the balance was due 2 weeks before the reunion date.
(Addition by Alice) - PB is a great place to have the reunion. It meant we had a place to just socialize any time of day (or night). We had full access to the kitchen, deck, lounge like area with couches and coffee tables, and dining area. And since most of us stayed there we did not have to worry about driving anywhere. With a hotel you are cramped in small rooms most of the time. Plus you can't really stay up all night without disturbing someone. Since the party mainly stayed at the conference center, it was away from the cabins if you did need to sleep. The rooms are not plush, but the overall facility offers many advantages.
2) The DJ is who we booked for our Saturday night entertainment. He normally does a 3 hr block, but we added 2 additional hours. So instead of music from 9p-12m, we had it from 9p-2a. The DJ at our 10 year reunion had to pack up and leave before any of us were ready - so the extra time was much better. We paid a $200 deposit with the contract and $475 balance 2 weeks before reunion - for a total of $675 for 5 hrs of entertainment.
3) Food. We decided to do a casual BBQ for Saturday night dinner. Plymouth Bluff can cater a sit-down dinner, but that seemed too formal for us. We just wanted to be relaxed and have fun getting to visit with each other. Little Dooey's in Columbus catered dinner for us. For an estimated 100 people, it cost $1200 - $300 deposit, $900 balance paid the week of the reunion.
4) Contact the Columbus Visitors Bureau, and they will provide welcome bags for everybody. We handed them out at registration Friday.
5) We bought MSMS mugs from their store to give to everyone registered. They cost $5 each for a total of about $200.
6) Beer. Our kegs came from Brewski's in Starkville. We had 2- 1/6th barrels of Southern Pecan and a full keg of Stella Artois. Cass says the total was around $290. He also brought his own CO2 tanks to hook up to them, but they very nearly ran out - probably because of a leak. Luckily, one of the tanks made it all the way through for us.
7) Not everybody will pay. Of all the people who participated in our reunions, the same person who didn't pay to attend the 10 yr reunion did the same for the 20 yr reunion. What can you do?
8) Fees. We charged $150 for the rooms ($75/night). For the reunion, we charged $75 for single, $125 for couple. We also asked for donations above the reunion fees, which we got a few. The money that was left over, we donated to the school. There was about $1000 left, and the extra donations helped us give a $2000 check to the school.
9) Consider having the reunion during a time when school is in. MSMS participated by making Emissaries available for tours, Mr. Brown gave a talk to us on Friday, the Emissaries and SGA President were there on Saturday to participate in the opening of the time capsule. They want to interact with us. We also got to go see Tales from the Crypt on Friday night. We couldn't have done any of that if we had waited until school was out. We invited the original remaining teachers to the banquet on Saturday night as well. Two of those teachers also spoke at the dinner.
10) Class composite. I happened to be in Columbus in August 2008 for the 20 year celebration of the school's opening - and I noticed that our class composite was coming apart. I contacted Mr. Brown a few months before the reunion to see if he could find someone to restore it. He came through, and it was fixed and ready for display. The cost of it was around $500, which he was going to pay out of Foundation funds - but a donor covered the cost instead. I only wish that a digital copy could have been produced.
11) Registration. This was really low key. We had the welcome bags, an itinerary, the mugs, and keys to give out. The PB cabins have 4 rooms to a cabin so we tried to preassign them in groups of 4. Registration was really more about having a central place to gather so we used Hogarth. Also the school provided a class schedule if we wanted to sit in on a class. If possible see if Emissaries can help. The hard part was wanting to socialize, but needing to be at the table.
I may come back and add to this if anything else comes to mind.....
Some Things do Stay the Same (20 Years Later).
(Reposted from Shannon Outlaw-Kimsey's personal blog, with permission.)
September 1988 I arrived in Columbus Mississippi to the new "Mississippi School for Math and Science." We had a caravan of cars and trucks to drop my brother off at Mississippi State for his Freshman year, and continued on to drop me off in Columbus. I was scared, excited, and CLUELESS as to what I was getting myself into, but I was also determined. I wasn't running away from a bad home life or unhappy school situation. I was running to adventure and the possibility of experiencing just about anything. It amazes me still that this day even happened! Let me go back 11 years and explain how close I was to missing this opportunity. This is proof that one small decision can change your life forever. You see, back in "those days" parents had a little more flexibility in deciding when to send their children to kindergarten. I was born in November, so I would either be the oldest in my class, or the youngest. Mama enrolled me in kindergarten in 1977. When it came time to go to kindergarten Mama asked, "Shannon, do you want to go to school, or do you want to go to Jackson shopping?" Being a girl, I chose shopping, so off we went and the rest is history. I did go to kindergarten then next year, which set me up to be in the Inaugural class of MSMS!
Back to my time at MSMS: I met this wonderful guy on our first day, and he would stand by me 21 years later as my Man of Honor at my wedding. Marcus kept me sane and has continued to be a steadfast friend. Christmas break junior year I was diagnosed with a severe case of mono that was causing my liver enzymes to elevate and my spleen to be enlarge. My doctor suggested I not return to MSMS since I was so sick. Are you kidding me?? I HAD to go back! Mama came to school with me to set up my room so I wouldn't have to lift anything heavy, and I was moved to the bottom floor so I didn't have to go upstairs. I didn't miss a single day of school! I'm so glad that I fought to stay! Graduation was so exciting and difficult. I lived with these people, loved these people, and didn't want to leave these people. (I felt the same way this weekend!)
When we arrived Friday at the campus I was greeted by the same faces! I mean everyone looks the same! Oh, we may have a little more weight, or a little less hair, but all in all, not bad for 20 years! Some of our teachers look the same too. We took a tour of the campus and quickly realized that we also act the same. It was like we never left. Robert went to our small 15 year reunion in New Orleans. We had only been dating 2 months, but he felt very comfortable around my friends. It was the same this reunion. They embraced him like he went to school with us. Robert, Cass and Jason could get into trouble if they lived closer to each other. We stayed up until 4:30am Saturday morning and 5am Sunday morning. It was like we wanted to make the most of every minute! I am paying for it now. I feel smarter after spending a weekend with everyone! Just being in the same place and breathing the same air as these brilliant people makes me want to learn more. Even though everyone is brilliant, the weekend didn't become a "let me show you how much smarter I am than you" reunion. It was like we were 17 again, only with legal alcohol, spouses, and children. We have lost teachers, one classmate (Roger), and gained lots of spouses and children in 20 years. We opened the Time Capsule that we sealed at the end of junior year. Mrs Judy Morris was obviously in charge of this. She kept a lot of pictures and mementos. She and Coach Butler were missed! There were a lot of funny things and embarrassing things in the time capsule. I'm so glad we did that!
I have spent the last few days looking at pictures from the reunion, longing to be back there, laughing at the photo captions and comments, and feeling truly blessed to have such wonderful people, as Marcus put it, as my family. I feel so bad for the classmates who couldn't make it. It was an experience that has changed my attitude and outlook! I haven't stopped talking about the reunion and laughing so hard that I wheeze!!
September 1988 I arrived in Columbus Mississippi to the new "Mississippi School for Math and Science." We had a caravan of cars and trucks to drop my brother off at Mississippi State for his Freshman year, and continued on to drop me off in Columbus. I was scared, excited, and CLUELESS as to what I was getting myself into, but I was also determined. I wasn't running away from a bad home life or unhappy school situation. I was running to adventure and the possibility of experiencing just about anything. It amazes me still that this day even happened! Let me go back 11 years and explain how close I was to missing this opportunity. This is proof that one small decision can change your life forever. You see, back in "those days" parents had a little more flexibility in deciding when to send their children to kindergarten. I was born in November, so I would either be the oldest in my class, or the youngest. Mama enrolled me in kindergarten in 1977. When it came time to go to kindergarten Mama asked, "Shannon, do you want to go to school, or do you want to go to Jackson shopping?" Being a girl, I chose shopping, so off we went and the rest is history. I did go to kindergarten then next year, which set me up to be in the Inaugural class of MSMS!
Back to my time at MSMS: I met this wonderful guy on our first day, and he would stand by me 21 years later as my Man of Honor at my wedding. Marcus kept me sane and has continued to be a steadfast friend. Christmas break junior year I was diagnosed with a severe case of mono that was causing my liver enzymes to elevate and my spleen to be enlarge. My doctor suggested I not return to MSMS since I was so sick. Are you kidding me?? I HAD to go back! Mama came to school with me to set up my room so I wouldn't have to lift anything heavy, and I was moved to the bottom floor so I didn't have to go upstairs. I didn't miss a single day of school! I'm so glad that I fought to stay! Graduation was so exciting and difficult. I lived with these people, loved these people, and didn't want to leave these people. (I felt the same way this weekend!)
When we arrived Friday at the campus I was greeted by the same faces! I mean everyone looks the same! Oh, we may have a little more weight, or a little less hair, but all in all, not bad for 20 years! Some of our teachers look the same too. We took a tour of the campus and quickly realized that we also act the same. It was like we never left. Robert went to our small 15 year reunion in New Orleans. We had only been dating 2 months, but he felt very comfortable around my friends. It was the same this reunion. They embraced him like he went to school with us. Robert, Cass and Jason could get into trouble if they lived closer to each other. We stayed up until 4:30am Saturday morning and 5am Sunday morning. It was like we wanted to make the most of every minute! I am paying for it now. I feel smarter after spending a weekend with everyone! Just being in the same place and breathing the same air as these brilliant people makes me want to learn more. Even though everyone is brilliant, the weekend didn't become a "let me show you how much smarter I am than you" reunion. It was like we were 17 again, only with legal alcohol, spouses, and children. We have lost teachers, one classmate (Roger), and gained lots of spouses and children in 20 years. We opened the Time Capsule that we sealed at the end of junior year. Mrs Judy Morris was obviously in charge of this. She kept a lot of pictures and mementos. She and Coach Butler were missed! There were a lot of funny things and embarrassing things in the time capsule. I'm so glad we did that!
I have spent the last few days looking at pictures from the reunion, longing to be back there, laughing at the photo captions and comments, and feeling truly blessed to have such wonderful people, as Marcus put it, as my family. I feel so bad for the classmates who couldn't make it. It was an experience that has changed my attitude and outlook! I haven't stopped talking about the reunion and laughing so hard that I wheeze!!
Want to Share YOUR Thoughts?
Family Reunion.
(Reposted from Marcus' personal blog, per Alice's request.)
This past weekend, we attended our 20-year high school reunion. The fact that it is already time for such an event is shocking. I still feel like (at least most of the time) that 18 year old kid who somehow managed to graduate from MSMS, despite coming into the experience with the absolute bare minimum academic requirements thanks to growing up in a tiny private school in truly rural southeast Mississippi. Even now, some part of my subconscious does not accept the fact that I managed to do it, as one of my recurring dreams is still one about missing a test, failing a class, or finding out that I was enrolled in a class that I never knew about, and the end result is me not graduating with the class. That scenario happened to a few folks, and I can only imagine how psychologically taxing it must have been to put so much effort into two years of intense study only to come up a bit short in the last week.
Our shared adventures-- being guinea pigs in an experiment, where none of the participants knew exactly what they were doing; the stress of knowing that our only option was collective success, because failure would not only be a personal defeat but would also torpedo the entire school experiment; and the whole process of being shoved into the fires of an academic oven during the day, then cooled in the social & residential experience at night-- forged us together into a group that still clings tightly together and is not broken away from without significant effort. Together with our beloved faculty, we were quickly formed into a family, one that is just as real as any biological one, and one that we long for when we are separated again.
I am a firm adherent to the philosophy that family is the people that we choose, not necessarily the ones that we are assigned by birth. The vast majority of those that are my family are my classmates from MSMS. So, it was no surprise that seeing them all together would be fantastic. What was shocking for me was the blinding flash of the obvious that even some of those folks who I haven't seen since the 10 year reunion would also make such a deep impact on my weekend. And that I would miss them so much when we all headed for home. And even though, just like regular families, there are some that are annoying, and some that we don't share a lot in common with, they all do add up to create the whole unit. They are all players in the stories that we still tell. I don't get all wrapped up with emotions, and rarely experience sentimentality, so I was surprised to find that I was terribly sad to leave on Sunday, and I don't know anyone who wasn't. Because while we thought that it was a high school reunion that we were attending, we were quickly reminded that it was actually something else. It was a family reunion.
Friday (Part 1) - For Those that Couldn't Be There
Ok, this is not eloquent, think of it as reporting. I have to preface that after reading two beautiful reflections by Daniel and Marcus.
I arrived in Columbus on Thursday evening so I had the pleasure of doing a Pilgrimage tour that night. And, of course, I had to tour Temple Heights. Memories flooded back before I could even step inside. They started when I had to park for the tour. Anyone that gave a tour of the Butler home knows that if you couldn't find a spot right away you ended up on the wrong street that V'd away from the home. So guess where I had to U-Turn?
As I arrived 2 MSMS students greeted me and let me know Dixie was on the front porch. Dixie was delighted that a former guide had returned, she even slipped me her cel number so that alumni could tour the house during the weekend if they wanted. Walking in I was shocked at how sentimental I became. I know Carl wasn't the beloved teacher that Judy was, but he taught history in a way I had never experienced before. Because he made you EXPERIENCE it. Also walking through the home I was struck by the memories of giving tours, driving Columbus looking for architecture he assigned, and just being in a group of friends. Several guides were MSMS students so it wasn't hard to be flooded by memories. And standing in his home I realized he is gone, Judy is gone, and chances are we will say goodbye to many more in the next 10 years. Finally, I just have to say Mr. Butler's class is an example I use of why MSMS was not just about Math and Science. I learned the Charleston, the Jitterbug, I listened to Jolson, and I saw the Berlin Wall fall - all in his class.
On to Friday. I was up early to get the Welcome Bags, doughnuts, set up in Hogarth and just get settled. Which was great, because there was little stress. Luckily, we had a bit of money for welcome gifts so I was able to tour the MSMS 'store'. Ok it was a supply closet, but they moved the stuff into a conference room that afternoon. I was shocked at the different types of memorabilia - mugs, shirts, blankets, ornaments, umbrellas, laundry bags, and geeky lanyards. We opted for coffee cups since they were in budget and something everyone could use. Then I went to the room where it would all be laid out, only to be greeted by large portraits of Dr. Bunch and, of course, Mr. Franklin. Meanwhile, Cindy and Cass squared away the rooms at P.B. and the keg. And upon arrival, I have to say, the Everitt girls setup our welcome table since neatness is not in me.
As our fellow classmates arrived I began to get excited. I have to confess, I only had one person I didn't recognize - Jason Miller. Jason, the shaved head threw many of us. As everyone trickled in it was like no time had passed. And even the spouses and partners seemed to naturally fit in. Besides raiding the store our first order of business was the tour. Hooper is the same as ever, just more computers. The auditorium has new seating and the tables have built in plugs for your computer. Remember when Lee was the oddity for having a computer in every class?
But the rest has changed a lot. Fant has been closed due to mold, although we got a peek on Saturday and it is just as I remembered it (outside of some peeling paint and a lot of dust). Pohl gym (the first one we used) was destroyed in the tornado, so a large facility has replaced it. So MSMS and MUW share a gym again. But the new one has an indoor track, aerobics rooms, 2 raquetball courts, many cardio machines, a pool, and a gym with pullout stands. It is VERY NICE, and it sounds like MSMS has virtually full access. Both of the dorms being used are like twins of Kincannon and are in that part of campus. What can you say, they are old. The school has turned the old laundry building (by the tracks) into a music center for band/choir. They also have another old building for art, yearbook, and a few other classes. The art room is like a warehouse, with multi-media art. In addition to painting and drawing, they are sculpting and have decorated a few rescued mannequins. The main section of Hogarth has not changed, but the cafeteria has undergone an entire facelift. It is run by Marriot, and has a variety of lines (not just one slop and go tray line). Also it is brightly lit, perhaps they don't mind you seeing your food now. The library hasn't changed much, but MSMS students are rarely allowed upstairs (can't imagine why).
After the tour we mostly hung out at Hogarth, although a few people went to classes. We also had Dr. Mac visit with us. Eventually we migrated to Hooper and did the private, talk to teachers tour. In other words, we stood around listening to Dr. Mac rant. She says having a lab in the classroom is a huge improvement, but that the students don't push the envelope like we did. I guess that was the unique thing about being the first. We were willing to try things others weren't. Some of those things were in the classroom, and some were outside. But ultimately, it was in our nature to risk an adventure and learn from it. Of course a tour was not complete without someone leaving a bit of graffiti on the boards. And it was one of the usual suspects.
We closed the afternoon with a state of the school address by Mr. Brown (the director) and an older gentleman from the foundation. The school had a rough year last year. Their senior class this year started with 93 students, but those students have truly been dedicated to the current juniors. So the junior class has lost very few students. Like every other school I know the MSMS budget has been slashed. They will get a cut of about 15% this year. This will affect not only staffing, but the number of students they can accept this fall.
The foundation presentation was a bit lackluster. The foundation has made great strides in obtaining grants to offset the budget cuts. However, they are really struggling on how to reach the alumni. The gentleman working for the foundation has been responsible for obtaining the grants, but technology and young donors are outside of his element. On the upside, Noelle and Mickey will be joining the foundation in May so we should see this turn around. The only other thing I can think to add so you feel like you were there - put on shorts and a t-shirt and sit in your freezer for an hour. That would be the temperature of Hooper that day.
I arrived in Columbus on Thursday evening so I had the pleasure of doing a Pilgrimage tour that night. And, of course, I had to tour Temple Heights. Memories flooded back before I could even step inside. They started when I had to park for the tour. Anyone that gave a tour of the Butler home knows that if you couldn't find a spot right away you ended up on the wrong street that V'd away from the home. So guess where I had to U-Turn?
As I arrived 2 MSMS students greeted me and let me know Dixie was on the front porch. Dixie was delighted that a former guide had returned, she even slipped me her cel number so that alumni could tour the house during the weekend if they wanted. Walking in I was shocked at how sentimental I became. I know Carl wasn't the beloved teacher that Judy was, but he taught history in a way I had never experienced before. Because he made you EXPERIENCE it. Also walking through the home I was struck by the memories of giving tours, driving Columbus looking for architecture he assigned, and just being in a group of friends. Several guides were MSMS students so it wasn't hard to be flooded by memories. And standing in his home I realized he is gone, Judy is gone, and chances are we will say goodbye to many more in the next 10 years. Finally, I just have to say Mr. Butler's class is an example I use of why MSMS was not just about Math and Science. I learned the Charleston, the Jitterbug, I listened to Jolson, and I saw the Berlin Wall fall - all in his class.
On to Friday. I was up early to get the Welcome Bags, doughnuts, set up in Hogarth and just get settled. Which was great, because there was little stress. Luckily, we had a bit of money for welcome gifts so I was able to tour the MSMS 'store'. Ok it was a supply closet, but they moved the stuff into a conference room that afternoon. I was shocked at the different types of memorabilia - mugs, shirts, blankets, ornaments, umbrellas, laundry bags, and geeky lanyards. We opted for coffee cups since they were in budget and something everyone could use. Then I went to the room where it would all be laid out, only to be greeted by large portraits of Dr. Bunch and, of course, Mr. Franklin. Meanwhile, Cindy and Cass squared away the rooms at P.B. and the keg. And upon arrival, I have to say, the Everitt girls setup our welcome table since neatness is not in me.
As our fellow classmates arrived I began to get excited. I have to confess, I only had one person I didn't recognize - Jason Miller. Jason, the shaved head threw many of us. As everyone trickled in it was like no time had passed. And even the spouses and partners seemed to naturally fit in. Besides raiding the store our first order of business was the tour. Hooper is the same as ever, just more computers. The auditorium has new seating and the tables have built in plugs for your computer. Remember when Lee was the oddity for having a computer in every class?
But the rest has changed a lot. Fant has been closed due to mold, although we got a peek on Saturday and it is just as I remembered it (outside of some peeling paint and a lot of dust). Pohl gym (the first one we used) was destroyed in the tornado, so a large facility has replaced it. So MSMS and MUW share a gym again. But the new one has an indoor track, aerobics rooms, 2 raquetball courts, many cardio machines, a pool, and a gym with pullout stands. It is VERY NICE, and it sounds like MSMS has virtually full access. Both of the dorms being used are like twins of Kincannon and are in that part of campus. What can you say, they are old. The school has turned the old laundry building (by the tracks) into a music center for band/choir. They also have another old building for art, yearbook, and a few other classes. The art room is like a warehouse, with multi-media art. In addition to painting and drawing, they are sculpting and have decorated a few rescued mannequins. The main section of Hogarth has not changed, but the cafeteria has undergone an entire facelift. It is run by Marriot, and has a variety of lines (not just one slop and go tray line). Also it is brightly lit, perhaps they don't mind you seeing your food now. The library hasn't changed much, but MSMS students are rarely allowed upstairs (can't imagine why).
After the tour we mostly hung out at Hogarth, although a few people went to classes. We also had Dr. Mac visit with us. Eventually we migrated to Hooper and did the private, talk to teachers tour. In other words, we stood around listening to Dr. Mac rant. She says having a lab in the classroom is a huge improvement, but that the students don't push the envelope like we did. I guess that was the unique thing about being the first. We were willing to try things others weren't. Some of those things were in the classroom, and some were outside. But ultimately, it was in our nature to risk an adventure and learn from it. Of course a tour was not complete without someone leaving a bit of graffiti on the boards. And it was one of the usual suspects.
We closed the afternoon with a state of the school address by Mr. Brown (the director) and an older gentleman from the foundation. The school had a rough year last year. Their senior class this year started with 93 students, but those students have truly been dedicated to the current juniors. So the junior class has lost very few students. Like every other school I know the MSMS budget has been slashed. They will get a cut of about 15% this year. This will affect not only staffing, but the number of students they can accept this fall.
The foundation presentation was a bit lackluster. The foundation has made great strides in obtaining grants to offset the budget cuts. However, they are really struggling on how to reach the alumni. The gentleman working for the foundation has been responsible for obtaining the grants, but technology and young donors are outside of his element. On the upside, Noelle and Mickey will be joining the foundation in May so we should see this turn around. The only other thing I can think to add so you feel like you were there - put on shorts and a t-shirt and sit in your freezer for an hour. That would be the temperature of Hooper that day.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Daniel's Reflections.
(reposted from Facebook with permission)
It has been nearly twenty years since we, some of the brightest young minds in the state of Mississippi, graduated from the Mississippi School for Math and Science. Seeing so many of you this weekend has stirred up some old feelings for me, and I wanted to write this before it fades with the busyness of work and family, the lives that we live now.
First of all, I miss “us.” As we drove home yesterday, I was feeling a longing, and I kept trying to put my finger on who it was I was missing so much. I thought that if I could identify those people I missed the most, we could make plans to get together in the near future and subdue the sadness. I found that no matter who I thought of, the idea of spending time together with that person was not quite enough. Eventually I identified a time I felt this way before: in the days leading up to graduation, after we knew we had made it, and that we would be leaving the hell we had grown to love as home, life took on a surreal quality. The way of life we had known for two years was coming to an end. This wasn’t entirely true of course. College life was not so different from life at MSMS – after all, we had already lived in dorms and had been forced to be more responsible than most of us would have been at such a young age. What was changing was the people who would be a part of our daily lives. Not just the people in our own cliques, but the people we didn’t get along with and the people we didn’t even really know except by name and face. This reunion, as with the ten year reunion, recalled that feeling for me - knowing that something special had happened to all of us, and we had shared it and were bound by it.
One thing I have been experiencing lately, and I think his is true for all people as they enter middle age, is the realization that it is no longer true that I can do anything I want with my life. I can still do great things, I am sure, and it’s probably true that I can do anything if I set my mind to it, but nearly 38 years of my life are already determined. Possibility is always only in the future, never the past, and eventually everyone runs out of future. The key to happiness, I think, is not to dwell on what we don’t have, including the time that is gone, but to appreciate what we do have. Even though it has been twenty years since we all lived, studied, worked, played, and struggled together in Columbus, MS, we all still have one another. We still have a special connection. As the inaugural class, we also have a connection to the school today – there is a continuity reaching from us all the way to the students on campus today, and as long as the school continues to exist, we will always be a part of that.
I love you all.
It has been nearly twenty years since we, some of the brightest young minds in the state of Mississippi, graduated from the Mississippi School for Math and Science. Seeing so many of you this weekend has stirred up some old feelings for me, and I wanted to write this before it fades with the busyness of work and family, the lives that we live now.
First of all, I miss “us.” As we drove home yesterday, I was feeling a longing, and I kept trying to put my finger on who it was I was missing so much. I thought that if I could identify those people I missed the most, we could make plans to get together in the near future and subdue the sadness. I found that no matter who I thought of, the idea of spending time together with that person was not quite enough. Eventually I identified a time I felt this way before: in the days leading up to graduation, after we knew we had made it, and that we would be leaving the hell we had grown to love as home, life took on a surreal quality. The way of life we had known for two years was coming to an end. This wasn’t entirely true of course. College life was not so different from life at MSMS – after all, we had already lived in dorms and had been forced to be more responsible than most of us would have been at such a young age. What was changing was the people who would be a part of our daily lives. Not just the people in our own cliques, but the people we didn’t get along with and the people we didn’t even really know except by name and face. This reunion, as with the ten year reunion, recalled that feeling for me - knowing that something special had happened to all of us, and we had shared it and were bound by it.
One thing I have been experiencing lately, and I think his is true for all people as they enter middle age, is the realization that it is no longer true that I can do anything I want with my life. I can still do great things, I am sure, and it’s probably true that I can do anything if I set my mind to it, but nearly 38 years of my life are already determined. Possibility is always only in the future, never the past, and eventually everyone runs out of future. The key to happiness, I think, is not to dwell on what we don’t have, including the time that is gone, but to appreciate what we do have. Even though it has been twenty years since we all lived, studied, worked, played, and struggled together in Columbus, MS, we all still have one another. We still have a special connection. As the inaugural class, we also have a connection to the school today – there is a continuity reaching from us all the way to the students on campus today, and as long as the school continues to exist, we will always be a part of that.
I love you all.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Group Photos.
Many thanks to Jennifer Grubbs Hughes who agreed very early in the planning process to bring along her photographic equipment for a group shot. I cropped down the original images for display here. The downloadable files are much larger, weighing in at about 7 MB. Crop, edit, and add effects of your choosing. Use the images as desktop wallpaper, or send to your favorite photo processor for prints. Enjoy!
Monday, April 19, 2010
From Alice's Blog
Oh, where to start? So much to say, but words are not enough. The reunion was totally awesome, although I desperately missed many that could not be there. I can't get everything into one post, especially now that the kids are home. But I have a few key things to post. One of the greatest things about this reunion was that having all of Plymouth Bluff rented meant we were able to really just hang out and catch up. I tried to have intentional conversation with almost everyone. Unfortunately, it's impossible to do that with everyone. So I apologize to those I did not have time to sit and speak to. Mostly I found myself drawn to those that intrigued me in high school, but I did not really know then. Now I find I have more in common with them and deeply enjoyed talking to them.
Ultimately, the thing about those conversations was that they were all great. Like Cass and Robert said at Waffle House, we are a unique group. Not just intelligent, but also willing to take risks, to think outside the box. I forget until I'm back with this group what it is like to just walk up and have a deep (and sometime bizarre) conversation with a friend. When we're together for the most part we can just totally be ourselves. We have already seen each other at our strongest and weakest moments so we can just be us. I am at a loss for the words when I try to talk about our class. And I know it sounds arrogant when I am done. But this is one group that challenges the way I approach life. They force me to think. And they stretch me to be better at whatever I do. And I also love them, because ultimately they helped to form who I am today. 20 years ago I would never have thought of being involved in a non-profit, much less in Haiti. But it was these friends that opened my eyes to the world beyond Neshoba county.
I used to think I glamorize those 2 years at MSMS, and the people I met. But this weekend just reaffirms what I have always said. This is my family. That was the best 2 years, education wise, I could ever hope for. And these are friends I will have for a lifetime. And no matter how long we are apart, no matter how far away we are, when we are back together it's like we were never apart. Furthermore, I truly believe (and have said for years) that if I ever desperately needed help that I could call any of you and you would be there for me. Like I said Saturday night, MSMS meant something different to each of us. But ultimately, it meant a lot to all of us.
And yes, I will be posting about the amazing fun later.
Ultimately, the thing about those conversations was that they were all great. Like Cass and Robert said at Waffle House, we are a unique group. Not just intelligent, but also willing to take risks, to think outside the box. I forget until I'm back with this group what it is like to just walk up and have a deep (and sometime bizarre) conversation with a friend. When we're together for the most part we can just totally be ourselves. We have already seen each other at our strongest and weakest moments so we can just be us. I am at a loss for the words when I try to talk about our class. And I know it sounds arrogant when I am done. But this is one group that challenges the way I approach life. They force me to think. And they stretch me to be better at whatever I do. And I also love them, because ultimately they helped to form who I am today. 20 years ago I would never have thought of being involved in a non-profit, much less in Haiti. But it was these friends that opened my eyes to the world beyond Neshoba county.
I used to think I glamorize those 2 years at MSMS, and the people I met. But this weekend just reaffirms what I have always said. This is my family. That was the best 2 years, education wise, I could ever hope for. And these are friends I will have for a lifetime. And no matter how long we are apart, no matter how far away we are, when we are back together it's like we were never apart. Furthermore, I truly believe (and have said for years) that if I ever desperately needed help that I could call any of you and you would be there for me. Like I said Saturday night, MSMS meant something different to each of us. But ultimately, it meant a lot to all of us.
And yes, I will be posting about the amazing fun later.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
"Thank You!" is Not Enough.
I'm laying here in bed on the Friday evening of the reunion, and want to be the first to extend my gratitude to Cindy Everitt & Alice Wurst for the amazing amount of time and energy that they devoted to making this event a reality. They have made all the phone calls to handle the innumerable details that goes into planning everything from catering to booking the facilities at Plymouth Bluff to scheduling events with MSMS. Cindy took on the tedious chore of being the treasurer and financial manager, and after doing that for the 10 year reunion, I know just how unnerving it can be. Alice served as intermediary with the school, and made countless calls to nail down such details as having merchandise available for us to purchase, having tours provided, and setting up the opening of the time capsule. There is a lot that goes into events such as this, and the details sometime seem to be never-ending.
While I may have assisted with some "big picture" items along the way, the simple fact is that this reunion would not have happened without their dedication, and for that I am truly thankful. This time around, they are certainly the heros.
And with that, we collectively retire from the reunion planning role. The floor is open for nominations.....
While I may have assisted with some "big picture" items along the way, the simple fact is that this reunion would not have happened without their dedication, and for that I am truly thankful. This time around, they are certainly the heros.
And with that, we collectively retire from the reunion planning role. The floor is open for nominations.....
Monday, April 12, 2010
Where Do I Go?
Has it been 20 years since you were in Columbus? If so here are some maps to help you.
Campus Map
Directions to Plymouth Bluff
Campus Map
Directions to Plymouth Bluff
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tours and Things for Guests to Do
For those looking for a trip down memory lane, Temple Heights will be on the Candlelight Tour the weekend of our reunion. Unfortunately, that tour takes place Thursday night and Saturday night (during our dinner). But if you are arriving on Thursday you can check it out. Tickets may be purchased at the Tennessee Williams home up until 8 p.m. that night.
If you're spouse/partner is looking for something to do, know this will be the tail end of Pilgrimage. For a full list of Pilgrimage events downloand the brochure.
If you're spouse/partner is looking for something to do, know this will be the tail end of Pilgrimage. For a full list of Pilgrimage events downloand the brochure.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tentative Itinerary
UPDATE: We've gotten a few more details from MSMS - and they've been added/edited below.
We are still discussing a few times and locations with MSMS, but this is the tentative itinerary that we've got in place so far:
Friday, April 16
12:30 -1 p.m. check in for early arrivals - Hogarth
1-2 p.m. Tours (tours last 45 min. - meet in Hooper lobby)
2-3 p.m. may attend 7th period
3-4 p.m. may attend 8th period
4-4:30 registration
4:30 State of the school by Mr. Brown
6 p.m. dinner - on own
suggested restaurants Proffit's Porch, Jackson Square Grill (spinoff of Cotton District Grill for you Dawgs), J. Broussard's, we are suggesting multiple restaurants since Proffitt's may not be able to handle a large crowd in the time allotted
7 - 9 p.m. Tales of the Crypt (45 min tour)
Informal gathering at Plymouth Bluff after Crypt - Beer will be provided
Saturday, April 17
12:30 p.m. Campus Tours (meet at ????)
1:30 p.m. Opening of Capsule (steps of Hooper - weather permitting)
2:15 p.m. Class picture (steps of Hooper)
1-5 p.m.
6 p.m. Dinner at Plymouth Bluff
6 p.m. Gather and seat
6:30 Welcome/dinner served
7:30 p.m. Dr. Mac and Mrs. C speak
9 p.m. - midnight DJ
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Donations
I just wanted to take a minute and ask you to start thinking about making a donation to MSMS. According to Mr. Brown, they suffered a 10% budget cut from the state legislature this school year - and they've been told to expect a cut of 15% more next school year. All of this is taking place during a time that the administration is trying to increase enrollment and interest in the school.
There are so many areas where MSMS could use funds - technology upgrades, dorm furniture, student travel, lab equipment, etc. I think that Mr. Brown is very concerned that the latest round of cuts will begin to affect personnel and instruction. We all know what a top-notch education that MSMS gave us. It would be sad to see the quality be negatively affected by budget issues.
The MSMS Foundation is going to begin a major fundraising effort. I don't have any details on it, but I think they they are going to try to establish an endowment to put the school on better footing and help them better absorb budget cuts. I've asked for more info from the Foundation, and I'll pass it along as soon as I get anything.
If there are any funds left over after paying for all of the reunion necessities, we are planning to donate them to the school on behalf of our class. However, as of right now we won't have very much to give. The more people we have to sign up and attend, the nicer the donation from our class will be.
So please consider making a donation. You can give directly to the school. You can give via the MSMS Foundation website. You can give extra via the reunion (PayPal button on the right of the page) and we'll make sure that it's included in the donated funds (and not in paying for reunion stuff). They really need our help, they will appreciate it, and you know that it will go for something important to all of us.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Hotel recommendations
Because both Columbus Pilgramage and MSU Super Bulldog Weekend fall on the same weekend as the reunion, hotel rooms may be a little more difficult to find than on normal weekends. If you know you are coming, you might want to go ahead and make a reservation.
Columbus
Wingate Hotel by Wyndham (this one gets my personal recommendation)
Comfort Inn
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn
America's Best Inn and Value Suites
Shadowlawn Bed & Breakfast
(There are several other bed & breakfast homes available if you Google)
Starkville
Comfort Suites
Hampton Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Hotel Chester
Holiday Inn Express
America's Best Inn & Value Suites
If you have any to add (or any to avoid!), leave a comment.
Edited to add: Mr. Brown just emailed to say that Tales from the Crypt will be performed on April 14 and April 16. The first performance usually begins at 7:00pm in the cemetery.
Columbus
Wingate Hotel by Wyndham (this one gets my personal recommendation)
Comfort Inn
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn
America's Best Inn and Value Suites
Shadowlawn Bed & Breakfast
(There are several other bed & breakfast homes available if you Google)
Starkville
Comfort Suites
Hampton Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Hotel Chester
Holiday Inn Express
America's Best Inn & Value Suites
If you have any to add (or any to avoid!), leave a comment.
Edited to add: Mr. Brown just emailed to say that Tales from the Crypt will be performed on April 14 and April 16. The first performance usually begins at 7:00pm in the cemetery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)