Thomas Hersem

I thought I might be able to attend but will not. I know you will carry on in the best Hillite traditions, albeit in my absence. You'll just have to take my word for it that I am much better looking, more fit, and a much nicer person than I was back then....and one of of three isn't all bad: you choose. I'll miss you all as I have for these past fifty years but would certainly welcome your hellos either here or, whenever, if you visit Florida. I've enjoyed catching up with Cheri Harper Aronsson and Kristy Behm Evon; have maintained as close contact as possible with Diane Maguire and my best friend in high school, Mrs. Maryann Ruppell....thank you, Rod (AHHS class of '62), for allowing us to stay friends. For those of you I've had the pleasure of speaking to in the past few months, you all sound accomplished, polished, and perfect; for those I will talk to or email with, I'm looking forward; for those who have passed on to their ultimate reward, you are, and will be, eternally missed. So many are no longer with us that my mind has still not grasped the magnitude of their early exits. Love y'all (or is it all y'all?)....I'm still working on the local dialect. Best to you. Party on!!!!

I failed to wear socks one fine spring day of our Senior year. Vice Principal Birdsall requested (or was it required) my person to be presented in the office of the vice principal for a proper reprimand. Oh, and I'd better be wearing socks when I got there. I did have one old pair of socks left over in my football locker (they could have marched to the v. p.'s office by themselves, of course.) When I arrived in his office, stiff and holey socks stinking to high heaven, he proceeded to tell me that if I, Thomas, were allowed to come to AHHS without socks, that one could not predict how the students of the future might dress?!! (Not only was he the enforcer of inane rules of the day but he was actually quite prescient, as I now view him) His final question, I wish today he had not asked, "Mr. H, how would you feel if I came to school without wearing my jacket?" Of course, for those of you who knew me at all in those days, that question resulted in my sporting my usual smart....um....alecky smirk and guffaw, after which I solemnly replied, "Mr. Birdsall, please don't wear your jacket for me, today or ever in the future." I was immediately suspended for the remainder of the day, of course. The following year, AHHS asked those of us who had matriculated at MSU to meet with them to see if they had taught us ANYTHING that might have been beneficial to our collegiate studies and experiences. When he saw me in the classroom in which we met, sockless of course, he shook his head and then my hand and told me that the dress code was no longer being enforced. We enjoyed a good laugh before I told him only Moose Roethke had ever taught me anything that mattered and that was that I "will be judged by the manner of my speech and writing." I lied, of course, and he knew it. We were fortunate for our time at Arthur Hill; for our teachers and coaches, and for all of our classmates, each of whom was a lesson unto him/herself.

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