RECONNECTING WITH HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES ORAN AND CAROL BRANDON WEST
Oran and Carol Brandon West - 2009 - High school classmates of Velta
Sometimes there are events, happenings, occurrences - whatevers - that are almost magical! Such an event happened to me on Monday evening of this week.
For starters, I and the Wests, were classmates at Henderson High School in Henderson, Texas. Oran and Carol were an "item" in high school, so it is not surprising that after these many years they are still an "item" - and what a mighty item, I might add.
For many years the Wests have been affiliated with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Dallas, TX where Oran was in the accounting area. They recently retired from actively volunteering with Wycliffe (it is of interest that virtually all of the thousands of folks with this wonderful ministry are VOLUNTEERS, meaning that their sole support comes from churches, individuals, etc.) http://www.wycliffe.org/. They continue to make their home in Dallas, TX.
Somehow I found out that they would be in my area while stopping over at the home of their daughter, Dr. Amy West, who lives near the JAARS Center in Waxhaw. Fortunately, we were able to arrange a dinner together at the Olive Garden in Pineville, NC. They were on a very tight schedule, so we felt especially blessed to be able to spend a few moments together and begin to pick up where we left off in 1955!
It didn't take us long to figure out who each other was (we had described what each would be wearing). I was wearing a black and white blouse and Bill was wearing a red-checked shirt! Carol was also wearing a black blouse and Oran, well, she couldn't exactly tell me at the moment what his attire would be. I told Carol that I would just hug everyone who came into the foyer at Olive Garden, and eventually I would hug the right person! 54 years is a long time to not have seen each other and certain metamorphoses have taken place since then!
Well, the Wests were running a little late due to a medical appointment in Charlotte and very heavy traffic, so while we were waiting an elderly gentleman wandered in ... he had lovely gray hair and was wearing a red-checked shirt! Oh, dear, I thought. If the Wests saw him first they might just think they had zeroed in on the wrong man who might not respond positively to a hug from some stranger! Not to worry, though. That gentleman proceeded to the bar area and left Bill as the only guy wearing a red-checked shirt! Solved that problem!
Soon they arrived! I had saved all my hugs for just the right folks! After all these years we immediately recognized each other and were ushered to a nice, relatively quiet area of the Olive Garden where we renewed old memories and created plenty of new ones! It is so amazing how Christians just immediately have a common bond that is so relaxing, affirming, and just plain good! Two hours was not enough time to do justice to so many years, so we just decided this would be the first of many. But we all four found time to share several old stories from the past! They are blessed with four children!
One very interesting side note to the past: Carol was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and moved to Henderson, Texas, when she was five years old. Her father taught Bible at John Brown University and also pastored a local Presbyterian church there. When they moved, Carol said, it was because her father believed there were more opportunities for evangelism in Texas than in Arkansas. Can't argue with that logic! Tragically, Carol's father was killed in an automobile accident around the time of our high school graduation, but I'm sure he left a lasting spiritual legacy to her family and to the areas he served.
Oran and Carol were always such leaders in our school. He was senior class president and she was piano accompanist for our choral teacher, Claudia Holder (to whom I will always be indebted for instilling in me a love of music), Carol is also an accomplished harpist.
So, Monday evening was nostalgic and oh so rewarding. I just love it when something like this happens! I am so blessed to have such an abundance of wonderful folks who have influenced my life for good. Although through the years, because of distances and other circumstances, we were not in touch, I always followed them with interest, and were aware of their work for the Lord. I was fortunate to see Oran on at least one occasion at a high school reunion.
As we said our good-byes, it was with mixed emotions. Knowing our circumstances at this moment in time, our ages, and other factors, it is likely we will not see each other again this side of Heaven ... but if I have my way, I will give do my best to make it happen before then!
God is good - all the time.
Till next time,
Blessings and keep an eye and ear out for who you can reconnect with and build some more memories!
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