A school mate is lost

I grew up in a small Midwestern town. The kinda town where everybody knows everybody. We only locked our doors at night and didn't bother to lock the cars. There simply was no need to. Our school went from first grade all the way to the twelfth in the same building. Most of us started kindergarten together and went all the way to the twelfth grade together. There were some exceptions but the point is we formed bonds with these people. Back then we thought we would always be together. Turns out we have all spread out and hardly ever see each other. I learned this week that one of those kids passed away. My heart is heavy with sorrow at the loss of one of my buddies, one of 'Our Gang'. Ted Hoskins, the teachers labeled him ornery. Everyone remembers the tricks he did in Mrs. Hankins sixth grade class! LOL He loved sports and I remember him being on the starting five for basketball much of the time. We also shared a love for boats. We spent our summers at Raccoon Lake and even raced our boats a time or two! Ha ha Don't think our parents ever knew about that. This picture was taken in 1992 at the twenty year reunion. First row, left to right: Denise Dickerson, Garry McDonald and Annette Pratt. Second row: Gail Elliott, Ted Hoskins, Me, Margo Leeke, Bonnie Wiley and Linda Wright. Third row: Brad Scott and Danny Mitchell. This does not make up the whole gang but it is the latest picture that I had. "Saying Good-bye is Always Hard to Do."