Candida Bettinson (Jensen)

I too, was disappointed that we weren't having the reunion at the old South High, or even a park within it's (past) boundaries (I was more of a Fairmont Park go-er) but I truly appreciate all that the committee has done to plan a nice and fairly priced reunion. Your hard work with hard decisions is very much recognized and appreciated!!! (It is still very up in the air if I can be there.  My husband is dealing with cancer and things are very uncertain at this point to plan the future).

All of this judging, bickering and unhappiness is getting me down.  It's almost getting hard to read the forum at this point. We need to be 'walking in some moccasins' here... of the committee, of those who struggle, of those who struggled through the years during their high school days with emotions and feelings of disconnect.  I forever brag about my South High experience and how great the Cubs were, even though I wasn't one of the 'in crowd'.  I still felt very little snobbishness there.  Maybe I just ignored it, and I must say I have felt at previous reunions that maybe I was more 'outside' than I realized.  But I am a FIRM BELIEVER THAT ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!

As I relate my history...please don't feel that I am bragging or have a need for sympathy or anything like that.  However, know that I also firmly believe that everyone's 'hardest thing' is their 'hardest thing' and emotional background, pain tolerance, support from family, etc is different for each person, which makes comparing not fair or right. I feel really blessed... not better than anyone else.

When I was 16 (yep, during high school) I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Spondylitis following a summer that I lost much of because of mononucleosis, which they figure was the trigger.  I was no longer allowed to be in PE or participate in sports...something I loved dearly.  I attended the U of U medical center rheumatology clinic, and at 18 they decided I had Rheumatoid Arthritis. (Also an autoimmune disease although the two are not usually found together in people) In attending the clinic, and seeing many people in very bad shape I decided I wasn't going to end up that bad. (mostly I've been blessed, but I have kept on moving too).  The only time I wasn't in pain was strangely, but predicted, during my pregnancies.  But just hours after delivery I always felt like I'd been run over with a truck after feeling so good for 9 months.  

I have found over the years that you just sort of 'deal' with the pain and stiffness and it becomes just a nuisance in your life. Unfortunately, the RA also affects the tendons and tendonitis is a constant problem in whichever tendon it decides to hit next, which adds to the problem, and has meant numerous surgeries and PT. (I used to think I was becoming a hypochondriac with being treated for tendonitis in one area or another so much).

Moving forward to 1994.  After being very sick with constant pneumonia, kidney issues and chest pain and my labs being off the charts, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. (again, another autoimmune disorder). I hadn't noticed the joint pain to help with the diagnosis because I had joint pain for 25 years. The Lupus had damaged my lungs, my kidneys, my heart muscle and my liver and after a liver biopsy was given maybe two remaining years on this earth.  REALLY? NO WAY!  I had my first grandchild on the way!

Here I am (knock on wood) still kicking.  I have been blessed richly in so many ways. I spent 25 years as a nurse, and in dealing with patients with RA could see that one major answer is to keep moving.  I do my best to do that, because I love life and don't want to loose that mobility. I love to garden, and exercise and work hard, and hike...and although I continue to loose some ground (hopefully just aging) I am not ready to slow down.  My doctor says he would like to hire me as a motivational speaker for many of his patients, and I truly believe the reason I keep going is indeed, all in attitude.  Today I deal with lupus flares on and off, which come on very unexpectedly and wipe me out to nothingness fatigue-wise for weeks on end, but I do the best I can through those times to not loose ground otherwise.  I deal with prednisone induced diabetes (a horrible, but miracle drug) and a back with 4 ruptured discs (Dr thinks it's because of the way I have to move and bend because of my joints and loosening of the ligaments and tendons). I struggle with my weight because of the inability to exercise as hard as I would like to. The pain is always there, and sometimes I think it's going to pull me over the edge, but I am determined to live as normal of a life as possible and continue to do the things I love and enjoy my grandkids, and enjoy spending time outdoors and on the back of my husband Goldwing. (Very painful...but something he loves to do, and I need to support him)

Again, please don't judge another harshly in their struggles, whatever they might be.  We all have them of one sort or another, and we all deal with them however we can.  But chin up!!! And as Gloria says:  SOUTH HIGH CUBS WILL GO ON FIGHTING!!!  (But not about the reunion) 

That's the very attitude we need!!!

(I appologize that this is so long)

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Amazing Candida! (Lack of comma intentional.)

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Mike Hendriksen

Hi everyone,

I know Richard and Candida both quite well. I have visited with Richard recently and am aware of the pain and difficulties he is living with. Candida, I didn't know about your health issues. We are all getting older, aren't we? I have my own health issues too but am still in one piece. I look forward to seeing everyone on Friday night, not certain about Saturday at this point. I was sad to havve missed our reunion 5 years ago, especially since I had been planning to go. I was never a football or basketball person, but I did play soccer for South, and was in all the instrumental music events at the school that I was aware of. I became a teacher and even taught one year as the Instrumental Music Teacher at South back in 1986, the school year during which the decision to close South High was made. I was told I should look elsewhere for a job since all the music jobs in the SL District was already spoken for, so I went elsewhere and was not happy. I wish I had stayed for the last year and taken my chances. If I had done so I might have still been teaching music in Salt Lake City. I have since worked at BYU, WordPerfect, Novell, SwitchSoft, Zions Bank, fonix, NetApp, and others. I believe I am at the job from which I will retire several years down the road but not with any kind of pension. Oh well, life has been good to us.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Mike

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Richard H Blair

I learned along time ago that you can't change the cards your dealt but you sure as hell can bluff your way through a lot of problems.You all talk about being excepted by the cool people but think about the riches you received by not having to live up to their standards they always had to be cool the rest of us didn't. We could actually move on and accomplish what ever goal we set for ourself . Me all I cared about was not being hungry having a place to lay my head and never be ashamed of what I am or what I did in the world .I served my country I work hard and provide a good product (me) . To try and fit other peoples mold of what they think you should be is crap, be happy with yourself and things seem to go alot easier. OK I'm finished I will see any and all at the park at the country club or on the street,like someone said It's been 45 years give it a break

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

How cool is this... The couple from the Woodstock album cover are still together, 46 years later!! 

Sue Kelson (Butcher)

THANK-YOU Paul for the post "It's a Wonderful World" by Michael Buble'.  YOU MADE MY DAY!!!!  I discovered a long time ago that that particular song is my most favorite song in the whole world!  Of course the Louis Armstrong version is my most favorite but I really enjoyed listening to this version.  I like most of Buble's stuff.   THANKS again!

Jeff Chivers

Frank Milner

Hi everyone.  I worked everyday after school during my years at south so I didn't have the chance to get too involved with after school activities.  Thanks to my extremely high IQ I was able to get decent grades without much homework. I worked at an old Saddle Shop at 428 South State Street where I met Char's dad, Noal Warr.  He was famous saddle maker here in Utah.and taught me a lot about life.

I made my own way at South, not trying to really be accepted by anybody other than myself.  I guess my half Italian Heritage helped me and Divino get through it all! You takin to ME!

It was a wonderful part of my life and I have many fond memories.  I like to keep it that way.

Again, where are all of the Glendale people?  I guess we were on the poor side of town West of the Tracks.  That's ok, we made it.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Frank

Bart Croxford

I have really enjoyed the last few posts.  I am glad that so many others have chimed in lately, although I wish it hadn't come about the way it did.  For a while there, it was mainly a three-way conversation between Char, Jerry, and Gloria.  By the way, where have you gone, JD (not Joe DiMaggio)?

There have been a lot of hurt feelings over the years and, I guess, some are still festering with some people.  I am very sorry that not everyone has had a good high school experience and I wish we could do something about that but I don't know of any school where there are no haves and have-nots but I think it was probably not as bad at South as it was at other schools.  I would have hated to go to Highland, East, West, or anywhere else.  Most of my friends at Southeast Junior High went to Highland and I don't know of anyone that really had a good experience there.  Our lives are still full of the haves and have-nots and I don't think we should have expected our high school experience to be any different.

I am also saddened by the illnesses many are experiencing now.  I can't say that I want to trade you places but growing old still beats the alternative (death).   I think that almost everyone is experiencing some kind of physical, mental, or other malady.  If we think that life would be better in someone else's shoes, I think we just don't know their situation well enough.  If we haven't experienced much pain ourselves, we have experienced it through our children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, etc.  Unfortunately, though, many do suffer more than others and life seems really unfair sometimes!

I appreciate veterans more than ever now and want to thank them sincerely for their service for our country, especially those who went to South!  After we graduated from high school, Vietnam was not a popular war and I don't think we gave our veterans enough praise.  I have been reading "Unbroken" lately, which is about a man's struggles after being shot down over the Pacific during WWII.  It is just unbelievable what he and many others went through for our great country.  The movie was great but the book makes it look like Disneyland!

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Frank, I'm so glad you remember my father fondly. He was a famous saddlemaker and a cool guy but that sure doesn't mean he made a lot of money. (Kind of like me and my quilting - I'm am well known, perhaps even world-wide, in the quilting world but I am certainly not getting rich from it.)

I was fairly shy in school but can't say that I lacked confidence. I always knew that I was intelligent and took a lot of pride in that even though we were dirt poor. My grandmother's house was at 636 E. 17th so. - across the street from Hawthorne. The lots there are quite deep so when my dad married, my grandmother insisted that he build a house behind hers to keep her only family close by. That house's address was 636 1/2 E. 17th So. It was such a stupid thing to be ashamed of but it was the one thing when I was a child that I was truly mortified by - that I lived at an address with 1/2 behind it. The lot was so deep my father even built his saddle shop behind our house. 

OK, there was one other thing. Do any of you remember my older sister, Nola? Nola had polio when she was a child and it mostly affected her eyesight and maybe her intelligence. Her glasses were like soda bottle bottoms and she had an overbite and did poorly in school. Kids made fun of her and I was embarassed to be associated with her. I was so unhappy when she got held back in the 7th grade and was in the same grade as me. So she was in our class at South High and attended one year before she dropped out. Funny thing was, she had more friends than I did and I didn't have many. Nola married and had 3 children. Her husband wasn't much support. Then schizophrenia kicked in and things were just awful for a while. My mother ended up raising Nola's 3 girls. (Her oldest actually married Robert Foster who was the first black Student Body President at BYU.) Nola had a tough life; schizophrenia really takes a toll. She became a heavy smoker. She started having lots of physical pain but the doctors mostly ignored her. I took her to the emergency room (probably her 4th visit in several months) and they found a huge tumor in her lungs that they had somehow missed before. Then they discovered her body was riddled with cancer. She died 2 weeks later in January of 1997.

I don't feel like I was a very good sister to Nola but she was very hard to be around and I didn't have much patience for what I had always thought were her lazy ways. Well, that's probably too much sadness for you all. As Bart said, we all have our different problems and I don't think any of us have had an easy ride through life. But I'm not ready to disembark just yet. I find lots of pleasure in the small things. And I'm almost finished sewing my younger daughter's wedding dress. The marriage takes place on June 6 - I'm cutting it close there.

Dale Charlie Salazar

My greatest memory from South was that we elected the first Black student President of any high school in the state.  I grew up in Central City so I knew many of the Black & Mexican students at South and the hub bub about Reggie was invigorating.  It was followed a year later when Grover Thomnpson was elected studentbody president of the university of Utah.

It was a time of change.  The pride of the Chicano Movement created many more dreams of opportunity that went on to become reality for me and for many others from my neighborhood.  

On a personal note it became much more important for me to be nice to everyone at South instead of always trying to be bad. While I had more than my share of fights mostly it was because I was sticking up for a smaller guy being bullied.  In some cases I could've used more smart than tough because the other guy was too much.

It wasn't easy trying to fit in at South because I had a record as long as your arm when I got there.  One thing for sure was that I did not want to be locked up again and I did not want to be mean to or hurt anyone.  I hope I didn't.  

While I never felt like I belonged I also found South to be a safe place to be me no matter how good or bad that might be.  While there were some arrogant people who looked down their nose at many of us the live and let live attitude seemed to be the prevailing standard.  Thanks for the memories folks.

Deeann Loveridge (Reynolds)

It is always interesting reading these posts and hearing about what people are thinking and doing.  In 1994 I started working at Highland High as the counselors' secretary.  This was not very many years after South was closed.  Feelings were still raw and many students told me how that decision "ruined" their life.  Lots of opportunity for discussion after those comments.  The point being that your attitude and reactions are huge contributors to happiness and success in your life because someone is always going to try to rain all over you so learn to enjoy the drizzle or bring an umbrella. We have all accomplished much and I am proud to know you.

While at Highland I ended up being secretary to the principle to 3 principles; one was Ken Powell, former math teacher and administrator from South.  He is a great man, but it was really weird having my old algebra teacher as my boss.  Also, some former teachers from South were Roger Burt, George Henry, Ann Larson, Clark Archibald and that is all I can remember at the moment. Great memories from both schools but the love for South was very strong.

Unfortunately, prejudice often rears it's ugly head and against those schools we thought were our rivals.  Our youngest son was on Highland's soccor team in the late '90's playing up in another county for the state championship. Highland lost by 1 point.  Instead of letting the Highland players take a few minutes on the field to appreciate how far they had come and their accomplishment, they and all Highland students and visitors were told they had to immediately leave the area.  Parents and district/school officials from the other school thought there would be trouble.  There ended up being an apology made but that didn't help much.  

So, I'm happy with the friends I had at South and though I didn't stay close to any one I appreciate their good influence on my life.

See ya all on Friday at Sugarhouse Park.

Sue Kelson (Butcher)

FRANK--

Here's one Glendale Jr. High Griffin!  I went to Glendale Jr. & Glendale Elementary.  My Mom still lives in the home where I was raised.  I'm down in Glendale all the time.  It saddens me to see the changes in the schools but they're much nicer now.  At least the Jr. High kept the name.....

Dale Charlie Salazar

I returned from Texas to Channel 4 in assignments in 1989.  I received a call shortly after my arrival from the Studenbody President at Highland.  He was calling to tell me he would be wearing a blue gown at graduation that night in honor of South High, the school he would've graduated from.

I heard later that a number of students at the other three City schools also wore the blue robe at graduation. To think they never had the chance to echo the praises down the hall like we did.  School spirit?

Deeann; I loved your story about Highland.  If Don Barlow was still there he was the administrator I had to go to the school district to see when I was in 8th grade at Bryant.  More wrestless then than now.  I ran a youth program in the early 90s and we had a chapter at Highland.  Ivan Cendies was principal then and Jenny Duran was our spponsor.

And Frank; I remember you from Glendale.  I was there a few years.  I'm also close to your Neice Celina.  She reminds me a lot of Joann.

Phyllis Bueno

Vickie I was thinking about playing golf but haven't totally decided yet.  But we could try and plan a little something .........let's give it some thought.   Do you have any ideas?   Chances are I won't be playing golf I would hate to show up those jocks

Yvonne Bonzo (Eisenmann)

Dale, I remember you very well and always thought you were cute and funny.  You may not remember me but I just want to tell you that one of the things that I was proudest of regarding South was the great diversity we had in the studentbody.  I have always been proud to say I went to South for that reason.  Maybe I was a little blind but I didn't see any real prejudice at school. I had many friends from all backgrounds and I loved 'em all.

I have been shocked and saddened by many of the remarks made in this forum lately and the negative attitudes displayed. It started out as a fun place to visit and share memories but it is not that anymore.   I won't probably be going to the reunion but if any one of my friends sees this post , including you, Dale,  I wish you the best and hope life treats you kindly.

Dale Charlie Salazar

Yvonne;  Yes I remember you very well.  You were always smiling, very kind and gentle and I always thought you were beautiful.  It shocked me a bit when Doug Smith died last year that you mentioned you and he had been close early on.  To me it was a testament to Doug that a lady like you was close to him.

I hope you'll reconsider about coming to the reunion.  I would love to see you. And, thank you for your kind words.

Deeann Loveridge (Reynolds)

Yvonne, come to Sugarhouse Park, even if it is just for a little while.  Charlie, Don was THE man!  He really understood people, especially kids, was a great counselor over activities (good and discipline-wise), and not hesitant about taking on a few faculty who were out of line on a couple of things.  He was the second principal I worked with.  Just missed Ivan Cendese.

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Yvonne, I hope I have not been one of the people that have written things that have made you unhappy. If so, I apologize. Now, I am not the monitor of this site but I may arguably be the one who posts the most. When we very first started this forum I made it very clear that it would be best if we kept politics and religion out of it. Most of the time it has been that way but every once in a while someone slipped something in. Some things could be ignored; other things were incindiary and I just couldn't make myself let them slide though I have promised to ignore them in the future.

I do hope you'll come to the reunion. I remember you fondly as a fun, smiling person and would love to see you again as I'm sure would many others.

Brent Barnum

Almost exactly 42 years ago I was sitting in one of those biology 101 classes at the U of U along with hundreds of other wide-eyed freshmen when the guy next to me nudged me and asked, "Hey, didn't you go to South?" It was Pres Miller and from that moment on we became fast friends. Other than being football teammates, we hadn't really known each other at South. What I  did remember about Pres was he was one of the few who would not back down during the vicious "separater" drills that Coach Schwab and Coach Kirk relished inflicting on us. For me, football was a socially sanctioned means to hit another human being as hard as the law of physics and my 165 lb body would allow. To unleash on another person (especially if they attended Skyline, East, Highland...) was  not only a  violent physical occurence, but for me it was more importantly, a therapeutic exercise in the release of demons that had haunted me throughout my life. I won't bore you with the details but beneath my happy go lucky veneer was an angry young man. Football was my escape and my salvation. My guess is that whether you were on the football team, chess club or an office aide-it was a means to an end and God bless you for working it out!

Pres and I became fast friends and still are the best of friends. I can tell you the Pres I know is kind, sensitive, and a generously giving friend, husband, father and grandfather. Ditto Tony Divino and all the other classmates who I did not run around with at South but have since been priviledged to become friends with. My guess is that if we all had the opportunity to sit down and have lunch, one on one, there would be very few of us who wouldn't become fast friends. We all have too many intertwined roots-whether we grew up in Central City, Glendale or even east of 700 East-I have discovered we were all blue collar. There may have been several shades of poverty but we all struggled to make it growing up. I just wanted to take a minute to say to all of you-I salute you, I admire you and I love you!

Kind Regards,

Brent Barnum-Proud member of the Class of '70

PS-To my journalistic sister, Charlotte Warr- you rocked as editor of the Southerner-thanks for all your work!

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Mike Hendriksen

It is so nice to see that I know so many of you! Even though I had few close friends I feel like I knew many of you, we certainly had many classes together. Gloria, I am sorry you are feeling well but I hope you are well enough to make it Friday evening. Also the others, Paul, Bart, Rod, Charlotte, Frank, Yvonne, Dale, Deeann, Pres, and Brent-- gosh there are others too. I hope you are all there. Thanks for your comments and for being willing to post things online for the rest of us. I am looking forward to seeing everyone who comes on Friday night. I can't come Saturday... so come both nights if you can! ON SOUTH HIGH! From a proud Southerner of the Class of 1970!