Last One Standing

My high school graduating class was small; there were 44 of us. I joined the group halfway through the second grade, moving to southern Delaware from up state. Most of those in the class that I joined had started in the first grade and we all moved along together. There was just one building -- large, we thought then -- with elementary classes in one wing and junior and senior high in the other.

About half of us went off to college, but a fair number returned every five years for a class reunion. Then the school organized an alumni association and many of us came back for that annual banquet.

I "came home" to Sussex County twelve years ago and have enjoyed hanging around with those who call me "Tommy." My class gets together twice a year -- spring and fall -- at a local restaurant. There are only eighteen or twenty who show up for these mini-reunions, and that number is swelled by the spouses we bring along.

Having lived to be eighty-two means we have said good-bye to many of those with whom we walked the halls of Laurel School. We said good-bye to another this past week.

To us she was still Joanne Yerkes. She had a last name tagged on, Nagel, I think. To us, though, it's Joanne Yerkes that sticks in our heads. She was smart, friendly, a bit shy; she graduated from the University of Delaware, and taught school, receiving, along the way, an award for teacher of the year.

She also gave me a valetine in Miss Clune's sixth grade class, and, for some reason, Miss Clune chose to read it to the class -- all of it -- including the line that said "you are all the world to me." As I remember it, it did not seem a cruel thing for the teacher to have done. As I recall, it was all received in good humor.

I sat next to Dorothy Waller (Banks) at Joanne's service. Dorothy is coping rather heroically with COPD. She told me that when she went across the street to Layton Timmons' house -- another class mate -- to tell him of Joanne's death, he said that when he saw her coming he wondered who would be next.

Strange thing -- this eventide of my life -- is not a depressing time for me. My life has been rich and full. I have family who love me, and interests enough to keep me wanting to get up each day. And I am so glad I am here, able to say good bye to those with whom I spent so much time so many years ago.