2. What was your fondest (or one of your fondest) memory of High School?
In the Spring of my first year of high school tryouts were held for the different cheer squads. We had Yell leaders, Song Leaders and Flag Twirlers. Historically Juniors were Flag Twirlers and Seniors were Song Leaders or Yell Leaders. I wasn’t great at twirling a flag so I made the bold move to try out for Song Leader. We had grueling tryout sessions where we learned the routines that we’d have to perform in front of a panel of teachers who would narrow down the field to perform in front of the whole school and then put the vote to the student body for the final team and alternates. I remember how hard it was to walk up stairs after those training sessions. After the first tryout I made the cut and then the decision went to the student body. When the votes were counted they put up a sheet of paper with the results in the main hallway at school. I was thrilled to see my name on the list as one of the six! There were also 2 alternates. My future sister-in-law was one of the alternates. The other Song Leaders weren’t as thrilled as I was that I made the team. Oops. Lest you think I was sooo popular with the student body let me explain that I had a brother a year ahead of me and a sister 2 years ahead of me who were popular and our family name was well known in school so I’ll give lots of credit to that fact in my success in getting the popular vote! 🙂
My Junior year with the other Song leaders who were Seniors.
In this photo my future sister-in-law is behind me. This was our Homecoming rally and she is wearing a homecoming corsage that my brother gave her.
You had to try out every year so in my Junior year I tried out and made the cut again for Song Leader in my Senior year. This photo above is in my Senior year with my good friends who moved from being Flag Twirlers (as Juniors) to Song Leaders (as Seniors).
We’d probably lose 3-5 pounds every Friday night from all the aerobics.
3. What did you do the summer after High School?
I worked and got ready to go off to college at the University of Redlands.
4. June 14th is National Strawberry Shortcake Day…are you a fan, and if so will you celebrate? How do you make yours? Have you been strawberry picking? If so what do you do with all those berries?
We enjoy Strawberry Shortcake with sugared strawberries that have made a little of their own juice and we’ll have them with different bases like angel food cake, pound cake, or our Russian Easter Bread, with whipped cream or at Easter with Seernaya Paska (a sweetened cheese). I have been strawberry picking but didn’t pick more than we could enjoy within a couple days. In California when we lived in Camarillo we had Strawberry fields close by and what a treat it was to go and buy baskets of fresh strawberries to enjoy. So good and sweet unlike some of the grocery store variety.
5. What’s something you always splurge on?
Besides our kids and grandkids? We’ll always splurge on Birthday and Anniversary meals and/or nights away during those events.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Our master shower project is underway.
Happy Flag Day everyone! Our flag is waving!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
…so you were a pom-pom girl?
Hello,
The cheerleading photos are great memories. Your new shower will be wonderful, my son plans on re-doing our shower/bath. Strawberry shortcake is delicious, yum! Take care, enjoy your day!
So now I have he song “Ready for Camarillo” stuck in my head. If you don’t know that one, look it up!
I’ve never heard of a “song leader” cheerleader before. What great memories!! I know you will love that new shower!
What great memories of being a song leader! I’ve never heard of having the different types of cheerleading squads but I like the idea. Looks like the new shower/bath is coming along well. Have a great week!
Hi,
I love the high school photos you shared. I love the hair styles, the outfits, the shoes and the socks.
We have our flag flying too.
Happy Flag Day!!
Carla
Love the photos you shared;such great memories. And the hairstyles, socks, and shoes took me back down memory lane.
Really enjoyed reading about your times in high school as a song leader. I tried out to be a pom pom girl but one of the cheerleaders who was popular told me no one would vote for me so I dropped out. My mom was so upset with me. She had been part of the pep club when she was in high school and of course, she wanted her daughters to experience what she had. (or maybe it was the other way around) My younger sister was a cheerleader so that pleased our Mom.
Your old bathtub/shower looks exactly like ours. I can’t wait to see the new redo.
You have nice memories from high school.
I love strawberry short cake.
I’m sure the new bathroom will be great. It’s hard working in a bathroom.
I did not know that June 14th is National Strawberry Shortcake Day! Love hearing about your high school days and the photographs oh so much fun!
Your yard looks lovely. We now have an issue with ours because Mark can’t do it with his injury and won’t be able to for several months. Looking to get someone to do some trimming of things. That looks like a very exciting time in your life. How wonderful for
you to be in the Song Leaders. Your strawberry short cake sounds yummy. It is fun to splurge on the grandchildren. Way to go on the shower. That is something we need to do. Take care. Enjoy the rest of your week.
Ugghh I hate weeds, but your yard is pretty. Your answer to #2 was interesting. How fun. Good luck on the bathroom remodel!
Well, that was fun seeing you in those photos! It looks like you had so much fun cheering and song leading, after being so brave to try out! Such a great experience!