This is a journey I took to go see my best friend from grade school all the way to high school. Her name was Mary Charles. She was my cheerleading and basketball component.
I can recall her as a cheerleader and how we use to compete with each other. There were more then 11 teams at times or whenever teams can make it to the wrestling tournaments. The line ups were in alphabetical order. The teams use to go in the gym in orderly way. So, we were either next to each other or across from each other. The cheerleaders use to sit along the mat. We use to cheer for our team wrestlers.
Then compete each other for first, second, and third place cheerleading. We also tried to get the sportsman ship trophy too. This was judged by how the team acted, helped, and worked with other teams as well.
Mary use to tell her cheerleading team to sit straight and always look at the judges and be loud. She was a team leader and a good one too. I have a picture of them when we went to one of the villages and it was during Febuary 14, Valentine's day. The back ground had Valentine's day on the wall and the picture was black and white. I still have that picture at home along with my team.
During our basketball tournaments. We use to play each others teams. She was a good basketball player too. She was the leader as well. She use to encourage her team to be calm, do their best, and try to win the game. One year we were competing for a championship and they won. We came in second place.
I did not know that she was my classmate. She graduated the same year I did, 1986. The obituary gave me good memories of her. The spirit comes with-in her love and the love for her surroundings, and especially the family. Reading her obituary reminds her of me. How much we both love children, helping out on our siblings, helping others , and give love for all people around them.
It is very true that she greeted any one with a hug , a smile or a comment. We will truly miss her but she will be alive in our hearts.