Cathy Hudgins Arnett

Just because I live in Louisiana,and have since getting married, does not mean that I don't have family or roots in Virginia. To be honest, I have always considered Richmond to be my home,and when we do travel back to Richmond, I always tell people " I'm going home".
We have lived in Holland, In California,and have spent most of our married life in the Baton Rouge area,but there is no other place on earth that I would rather be than in Virginia.
Years ago, my father in law had a shop on Cary street called " National Electric Appliance repair service"..very near the old Byrd Theater. My Daddy had a gas station, an old Sinclair station out on route one, next to the Princess Lee motel.
Those were the days that you actually went to a gas station and waited for someone to pump your gas,and those were the times when you didn't throw away your small appliances, you had them repaired.
My Mom worked at MCV, now VCU in the pathology lab. Once again, memories of my childhood, growing up in Richmond...how did I know how great Richmond was until I moved away ?
We get to Richmond at least once per year. There's no other place like Richmond,and no other state like Virginia.
Recite the Virginia creed...and if you don't know it, look it up online. It's very true.

My senior year of high school I was dating a boy who had graduated from Hermitage...His name Vernon Williams,and his father was a Baptist pastor. Vernon's brother, Vincent, had gone into the ministry and he was dating a Henrico senior named Theresa..but I can't remember if she stayed for the full school year or not. She was very soft spoken and very sweet.
I was 17 and Vernon was I think 21 at the time.
I was very shy in high school and not one to join things...I did try out to be in the musical " Oklahoma!" and did land a part. Unfortunately, I got very ill and missed about 6 weeks of school..and missed being in that show. I was heartsick.
I had been so nervous trying out for the show...and had practiced long and hard for the audition.
All of these years, I blamed the young man who had dated me..because I had gotten a viral illness from him.
This seems like eons ago now, but, re thinking it now, I'm glad that he broke up with me. He ,it turned out, already had a girlfriend..but he never told me this. I later learned this. such is life.