I think Jan Minter and her committee have done a fabulous job? They have worked long and hard. A year ago, I received a letter from Jan. It read like one of those Readers Digest Sweepstakes things or a draft notice! "Congratulations!" she wrote, "You have been selected to be a speaker at Homecoming!"

Why Me? I wasn't one of the class stars, nor did I march away and set the world on fire. I think Jan shares my amazement and gratitude that not only am I a cancer survivor, but I have also survived and recovered from a severe stroke - due to no cleverness on my own, but directly attributable to the power of prayer followed by a lot of hard work.

A legacy of stroke is that I am emotionally incontinent. I hope I can get through this without making myself cry.

Another residual is my "middle European" accent. My husband, also a cancer survivor, who is mobility impaired from extensive surgery, likes to say, "I think it's cute the way she talks. I always wanted to be married to a woman with an accent." I respond "Oh really? And I've wished for a husband with neat perks like a handicapped parking permit!" We laugh as often as we can. It's a survival technique!

Pop culture and the TV series "Happy Days" give a picture of the 1950's as the ideal time to have been a teenager. I'm so glad that our era has been so perfectly remembered. It was all about the music! We were on a first name basis with our artists. Elvis, Buddy, Patsy and Hank were still with us then. We got to witness the birth of an entire new genre of music. The world calls it "Rock and Roll", but when it was just getting started, we called it "Cat Music." We thought we invented dancing. Our cars looked like Easter eggs with fins and "pipes, man." We were so cool, with our ducktails and our poodle skirts! Oh, the joy and simplicity of that time! They really were the Happy Days!

In Ken Briden's wonderful book is a recurring theme. From time to time he imagines he hears the theme song from "Happy Days" playing in the background. I think I hear it now! Don't you?

We're celebrating the Golden Anniversary of a golden time. Last October, the football team of '53/'54, the most successful team in Big Spring history, celebrated their own 50^{th anniversary. In 1953, they had honored me by electing me as the football Sweetheart. They invited the cheerleaders and me to come back and celebrate with them. They took me by surprise - again. They re-crowned me. I was flabbergasted. Struck dumb. How often do we get the chance to go back and say what we wish we'd had the presence of mind to say? I'm going to take this opportunity to say to them and to you.}

"Fifty years ago you were the cutest, neatest, most talented group of young men and young women in the State of Texas. Not a thing has changed today! We have just ripened and maybe plumped up a little. Winners then and absolutely winners today". I think I hear "Happy Days" again. Or is it the Steer Fight song - one more time?

We have so much for which to be grateful. We're here! And to be citizens of this great nation and to be Texans - West Texans especially, and to have been shaped by a culture that places faith and family above all things, and to have experienced those Happy Days!

When I received my copy of Ken's book, I sat down and read it cover to cover. I was touched and inspired by story after story illustrating faith, character and integrity. By sharing our faith stories, we gain courage to face life's storms. Like a pep rally! My favorites were the bond fires. Remember? We would scavenge every loose scrap of wood in Howard County. Often on the top of the heap was the outhouse of some poor, unsuspecting farmer! He was truly discommoded! Can't you just see us dancing around that fire and can't you just hear "Happy Days", or is it "Rock Around the Clock?"

We must share our stories with our children and grandchildren so they will know that God will always see them through the storm.

"Quiet minds cannot be frightened or perplexed" wrote Robert Lewis Stevenson, "rather they just go on in fortune or misfortune at their own quiet pace, like clocks ticking in a thunderstorm."

Yes, I hear "Happy Days" way in the background, but should I walk among these tables tonight, I would hear clocks ticking above the thunderstorm, and the beating of faithful, courageous hearts.

I loved you to death for the precious boys and girls you were in those happy days, and tonight I salute and cherish you for the brave and beautiful men and women you have become.

God bless us every one and God bless Big Spring High School.