Beautifully said Don and sadly it is true. I also wish we could go back knowing what we know now and not be so cruel to others. I don't really think we meant to be that way. I do hope that the last paragraph you wrote will not be the case at the reunion. No ignoring others at this reunion. We all made it 50 years as you said, we all deserve recognition and friendship and hope that happens.
Don, your observations are spot on. Everybody was cruel To Shirley, and a couple of others, whether openly, snickering, making jokes or outright ignoring she exsisted. We all did this, and hopefully we have learned something from it. Most, probably not, but hopefully some have. Thank you Don, very moving. Although I am not attending the reunion, perhaps dedicating this reunion to Shirley Hunt would be a worthy thing to do, if not 50 years late.
These memories of Shirley Hunt make me sad. I do not remember being mean to Shirley. I feel I acknowledged her presence. Since I have always been friendly , I seem to remember always saying Hello to her, and talking with her.
I do, however, remember that young high school students are all about beauty and how we looked. Shirley
was a target in those days for teasing and jokes. That part is even sadder. I will remember her as a good
person with a beautiful spirit. May be in her own way, she was more confident then we were.....RIP, Shirley.
Thank you, Don, for your kindness and bringing Shirley to our thoughts again. Rita Grisafe Wells
Like everyone, I remember Shirley Hunt very well.. I'd like to think we all have learned something from the writting by our classmates when it comes to how we reacted and treated Shirley as well as others in our class. Iknow we all could have done better . Don Jose hit the nail straight on the head with his writting.. John Grabowsky also has included additional remarks as well as others..
I think honoring Shirley is a good thing but at the same time are we doing it to make ourselves feel better ? Or are we finally realizing that we still can do something positive about the way she was treated and set examples of how far we've come over the years ?
I'd like to think as we all walk into the hotel on Friday night and to the event on Saturday that we manage to talk to as many people as possible and get to know our classmates as the adults we have become. Remembering the good times of Jr. and Sr. High School in Rialto is good reason for a reunion but opening our hearts and making new friends at this time in our life is also important..
To Shirley, I say Rest in Peace and I'm truly sorry. To all of our other classmates I'm looking forward to renewing friendships and making new friendships.
I always felt sorry for Shirley. One evening, I called her with the intentions of getting together with her and doing girly things like hair and makeup. Her response was that of a tiger. She had no intentions of changing her looks! The mean days of high school both scarred and unleashed a spunky voice inside her. She knew exactly what to tell one of those pandering fluffy girls that thought life evolved around external beauty.
I learned something from her that night. Thank you, Shirly. It’s always stuck with me.
And if she was here today, she’d say, “Don’t spend your time feeling sorry for me. I had the keys to life, even then.”
I have no doubt her adult years were wise and beautiful! Funny how a group of giddy, gangly teenagers could think they crushed that little flower!
I always felt sorry for Shirley since elementary school. I always tried to be nice to her. When I meet her sister at Rialto Historical Society about a year and a half ago, I asked about Shirloey. Her sister told me Shirley died of a brain tumor shortly after high school graduation. The family knew Shirley had problems, but never know just what. So sad.
Thank you, Phyllis, for putting multiple question marks to rest with that short bit of information about our classmate and inadvertant lesson provider, Shirley.
I was in Blue Birds with Shirley. She was so different when she got to high school. I always thought she had to help her mom a lot because she had had polio. I wondered if she was depressed and having a hard time. I am glad we know now that she was sick. May she rest in peace and in our hearts.
Evelyn Perkins
Beautifully said Don and sadly it is true. I also wish we could go back knowing what we know now and not be so cruel to others. I don't really think we meant to be that way. I do hope that the last paragraph you wrote will not be the case at the reunion. No ignoring others at this reunion. We all made it 50 years as you said, we all deserve recognition and friendship and hope that happens.
John Grabowski
Don, your observations are spot on. Everybody was cruel To Shirley, and a couple of others, whether openly, snickering, making jokes or outright ignoring she exsisted. We all did this, and hopefully we have learned something from it. Most, probably not, but hopefully some have. Thank you Don, very moving. Although I am not attending the reunion, perhaps dedicating this reunion to Shirley Hunt would be a worthy thing to do, if not 50 years late.
Rita Grisafe (Wells)
These memories of Shirley Hunt make me sad. I do not remember being mean to Shirley. I feel I acknowledged her presence. Since I have always been friendly , I seem to remember always saying Hello to her, and talking with her.
I do, however, remember that young high school students are all about beauty and how we looked. Shirley
was a target in those days for teasing and jokes. That part is even sadder. I will remember her as a good
person with a beautiful spirit. May be in her own way, she was more confident then we were.....RIP, Shirley.
Thank you, Don, for your kindness and bringing Shirley to our thoughts again. Rita Grisafe Wells
Linda Prince (Davis)
Like everyone, I remember Shirley Hunt very well.. I'd like to think we all have learned something from the writting by our classmates when it comes to how we reacted and treated Shirley as well as others in our class. Iknow we all could have done better . Don Jose hit the nail straight on the head with his writting.. John Grabowsky also has included additional remarks as well as others..
I think honoring Shirley is a good thing but at the same time are we doing it to make ourselves feel better ? Or are we finally realizing that we still can do something positive about the way she was treated and set examples of how far we've come over the years ?
I'd like to think as we all walk into the hotel on Friday night and to the event on Saturday that we manage to talk to as many people as possible and get to know our classmates as the adults we have become. Remembering the good times of Jr. and Sr. High School in Rialto is good reason for a reunion but opening our hearts and making new friends at this time in our life is also important..
To Shirley, I say Rest in Peace and I'm truly sorry. To all of our other classmates I'm looking forward to renewing friendships and making new friendships.
Barbra Koch (Badger)
For the Girl Who Became Invisible
We are much older now and though our eyes are failing –we see you.
In our time together those many years ago—no one wanted to be you.
There were many clues that you were lonely and very lost.
We didn’t have the skills to help or the will to pay the social cost.
There were others like you, misfits.
And we all felt that way inside.
But you personified all our insecurities.
All those feelings we were trying so hard to hide.
If we were to meet you today
We would all want to say
How foolish, crass, selfish
And cruel at times and how mean to exclude you
We want your forgiveness and it’s too late.
We want you to know it wasn’t out of hate
We feared that to befriend you meant taking on your burden
It was beyond our scope to carry.
It was easier to make you invisible
Tell ourselves, “I didn’t see” when your needs were clear.
If we were to meet you today—
We would hug you and say,
Welcome! We want to be your friend.
But you flew away, some place safe,
Where misery and lonliness end.
Quiet, Shirley
Without a mean bone
Or uttered word
Accept our sorrow
For missing you
Then and now.
LaNette McDonnell (Donoghue)
I always felt sorry for Shirley. One evening, I called her with the intentions of getting together with her and doing girly things like hair and makeup. Her response was that of a tiger. She had no intentions of changing her looks! The mean days of high school both scarred and unleashed a spunky voice inside her. She knew exactly what to tell one of those pandering fluffy girls that thought life evolved around external beauty.
I learned something from her that night. Thank you, Shirly. It’s always stuck with me.
And if she was here today, she’d say, “Don’t spend your time feeling sorry for me. I had the keys to life, even then.”
I have no doubt her adult years were wise and beautiful! Funny how a group of giddy, gangly teenagers could think they crushed that little flower!
Don Josi
Thank you Barbra for a very moving sentiment, you know how to quiet the moment
Don
Phyllis Lawson (Hagmann)
I always felt sorry for Shirley since elementary school. I always tried to be nice to her. When I meet her sister at Rialto Historical Society about a year and a half ago, I asked about Shirloey. Her sister told me Shirley died of a brain tumor shortly after high school graduation. The family knew Shirley had problems, but never know just what. So sad.
Marsha (Melia) Stewart (Shell)
Thank you, Phyllis, for putting multiple question marks to rest with that short bit of information about our classmate and inadvertant lesson provider, Shirley.
Jane Hite (Morris)
I was in Blue Birds with Shirley. She was so different when she got to high school. I always thought she had to help her mom a lot because she had had polio. I wondered if she was depressed and having a hard time. I am glad we know now that she was sick. May she rest in peace and in our hearts.