LHHS CLASS OF 1965 SPOTLIGHT

OCTOBER 2006

 

Carolyn Payne Matthews  

 

Eddie, Carolyn, and Cari Matthews

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

1.      What do you remember about your last day at LHHS?  I remember the fun and friendship, drinking my first (and last) tastes of cherry slow gin, dancing at LouAnn’s, hanging out and sneaking out with girlfriends.

2.      What did you do in the summer of ’65?  My aunt took me to Hawaii for two weeks after graduation.  Hawaii was fantastic, and she allowed me freedoms my mom and dad would never have allowed. 

3.      What did you do the next school year?  I went to UNT (a.k.a. NTSU).  It was a real growing up time for me.  I missed my family and boyfriend (Eddie).  You would have thought I had moved to the other side of the world.  I hated the dorm, but liked the night life.  Actually I liked the nightlife so much that I almost was not invited back.  However, I wouldn’t change those miserable low grades for the excitement.

4.      College?  North Texas State University

5.      Were any other Wildcats with you?  Suzi Engledow, Sandy Laurini, and many other Wildcats attended North Texas at that time.

6.      Did you ever get married?  More than once?  Married one time to Eddie Matthews.  We married in 1970 after we had both graduated from college.  

7.      Children?  One wonderful, adorable, smart, and fun daughter–Cari, who is 26.

8.      What did you do for a living for the first ten years after LHHS?  I taught 3rd grade at Wallace Elementary School .

9.      What did you do for the second ten years?  I taught 2nd grade and 4th grade at Wallace Elementary.  Actually I taught at Wallace for 28 years.  Richardson offered a buy out at about the same time Cari was getting ready to start to TCU.  It was a perfect opportunity to have extra cash for college expenses–so I took the money and ran to Dallas ISD.  For the next nine years I taught remedial reading to 7th and 8th graders at Franklin Middle School.

10. Where do you live? (city and state) Fort Worth , TX

11. What do you do now?  I am retired and really excited about retirement.  We bought and remodeled a house that was built in 1924.  That is something I have always wanted to do , and I love my new house and my new location.  Most of my family lives here so I spend a lot of time involved in family activities.  We also do EVERYTHING that involves TCU football.  That’s really great because they play games in some cool places.  This football season we are traveling to New York City , Santa Fe , Las Vegas , Salt Lake City .  OK–I realize all of those cities do not have college football teams who play TCU, but they are fun cities and close to game destinations.  I also love to work in my yard, read, and eat lunch out with other retired friends.  The lunch thing is a luxury for someone who has spent years smelling school cafeteria food.  Life is good.

12. Do you stay in contact with any LH classmates?  Yes.  I love staying in touch with my LH friends.

13. If you could change anything about your high school experience, what would it be?  Actually-my high school experience was pretty good.  I guess I would have liked to have lived that time with more self-confidence. 

14.  As you approach retirement age . . . are you ready?  Already retired and I was ready.  I enjoyed teaching very much, but the whole  teaching to the state mandated test and the government rules that are being forced upon educators was bringing me down.  One should never do anything that surrounds them in negativity.

15.  In your opinion, what is that “certain something” that has kept so many of our class so connected for so long?  I moved back and taught in Lake Highlands because of the small town feeling fostered in the area.  It was an inspiring place to grow up, raise a child, and teach.  As I watched Cari go through LH, I noticed that her class had that same feeling of closeness.  She also continues to be close to the members of her high school class.   I don’t know exactly what produces that close feeling, but Im glad I was fortunate enough to be a part of it.

16.  If David Wise would share his “Wayback Machine” and take you to 1962, would you go?  Yes–I’d go with you, but let’s just stay a couple of days.  I kind of like 2006.

17.  Anything you want to ramble about . . .   I’m not a great rambler, but I love to hear others ramble.  I would like to take the opportunity to put in a plug for our public schools.  I have worked in two extremely different school districts, but have found dedicated staff members in both.  The public schools right now have been bombarded with rules and guidelines created by politicians, and I am worried about the future of schools.   As you all head for retirement, I hope you will consider putting in some time helping out in your neighborhood school.  It is rewarding and keeps you young.