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Joseph Paul Sullivan
I did not make it to the 45th reunion, though I've been told my picture did. In honor of the occasion, though a little late, I'd like to offer these words:
I have memories of Blacksburg High School that havel kept me in good company through the years: a few of which follow. I can still see Joel Holt campaining for student president, while standing in front of a band that was playing, "Whipe Out". I always thought a couple guys, or girls, with some drums and electric guitars, were kind of cool. Lane Stanium may be a fine place to watch a foot ball game (something I have yet to do) if you're happy with watching little dots run up and down the field.However, what can beat being at the football field behind BHS, on a Friday night, watching the Indians have at it, and the game is just feet from where you were sitting.OK, so I didn't always know what was going on. I have to confess, I got a little distracted by the pretty cheer learders. From what I've seen, some of these ladies could still hold their own in their cheerleading uniforms, though they would most likely hesitate on the summer saults. And there was this one night when I bought a mason jar full of fresh squeezed, unfiltered apple juice: served cold. Man, I tell you, that was some mighty fine stuff. Albert Robertson, bless his heart, tried to knock some sense into me( quite literally) one day during PE. He was on the the mound and I was behind the plate. He let her rip and the batter sent that baby straight up. Albert went forward, looking up, and I did the same.We both met somewhere right underneath the ball. Albert remained standing, but I was out cold , I didn't come to till the next morning, mumbeling, "My name is Joe, my name is Joe, my name is.." I tell you, some of you guys play ruff.
This is the kind of stuff that's been rattleing around in my head for the last, well, 45 years. In that 45 years, I've served in the Air Force, married, raised four children, and now have 5 grnadchildren. I have lost my business, been diagnosed with multiple mialoma ( I can't spell it but I still have it) and end stage renal failure. Every night I hook up to a dialysis machine. I've had a stem-cell transplant that was successful. Recently, I was hospitalized with chicken pox and shingles. Some of the chicken pox went to brain. I should have died, or so I was told. But, as you can see, I'm here writing this note.All this to say that The Lord is good. Firm, He can be very firm (without a doubt) but good. He brought me through all this stuff to get my attention, but I can say He brought me through, and has kept in His hand. I believe even in those years way back there in the hallways of BHS He had His hand on me and I didn't know. I mean, how else could I have survived a full on run in with Albert, and lived to see another day.
I don't know how each of you stand in relation to Jesus Christ. We have had some very real reminders in our class that life does come to an end. Jackie Renalds didn't make it past the first summer after graduation. Please put some thought to what I have sought to put down here. Jesus Christ was thinking of you as He hung on that cross at Calvary.
Thanks for the memories. I'm so happy I can still enjoy them.
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May the ONWARD INDIANS song stick in your head all weekend! Have a blast. Sorry I cannot attend, recovering from knee replacement surgery, geez, how old are we? 
