Sylvia Bowman Gause

I graduated from A.B. Davis High School in 1957. I thought this was my ticket to the world. Married in 1959, and this made me think this was my ticket to a life of ease. Had my first child in 1960, and I thought this was my ticket to the perfect mother award for the year. Even after I didn’t receive the award that year I tried it again two more times. Well, I guess by this time I realized it would take more than having children to receive mother of the year award. By this time I wanted an award for just making it through the day. I couldn’t wait for school to start because then I could get an award for getting them to school on time. Needless to say, the years passed and I thought for sure I would get an award for the dance lessons and modeling and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs. I still wasn’t eligible for any special award. I made it through 12 years of school and sent them off to college. Well, I did my duty and they could all become tax paying citizens. They all returned home. Now I know this makes me eligible for some kind of award. No! They told me this is the way of the world. Children are expected to return home. Well, I lived at home until I got married, so how could I expect more or less of my own? Soon two went into the navy and I felt if I sent two away to serve their country certainly I was in line for some outstanding award. No! Not yet. Soon weddings started to come. If you can make it through and be the parents of the bride and groom and come out alive you must get some honorable mention. But it is not your day so who cares that you made it because the bride is the thing. Along come the grandchildren. Seven in all, but one went to be with the Lord. Finally, I received a card that read “Grandparents of the Year”. It took me a few years to accomplish getting an award and then it is not for me only but it also includes my husband. I could not even get my own award. In two more years I will be married 50 years to the same man. Maybe they give awards for that. I believe my years at school helped to prepare me for life, even if it was a small part or a large part. I believe the friends and teachers at A.B. Davis helped me to learn how to navigate my way through the paths of life. I would not have missed it for anything. I am looking forward to seeing the people that I started off life with to see if maybe some of my fellow travelers in live have received any outstanding certificates.