Branna Reflects on the Heyday of May
Goodbye to the annals of April and bring on the meritoriousness of May!
First we celebrate our memorable matriarchs on the second Sunday. Be it a birth mom, stepmom, adoptive or foster mom, we must make mention of their magnitude. Regardless of how they came into our lives, we commemorate the myriad of moms. It’s not about blood, rather the blessed benevolence they have bestowed on us as their brood. These female fore-bearers founded the format for our growth and development as human beings. They have loved us for the length of our life span.
Right around the corner from heralding the heroines of motherhood, we also commemorate the results of our children’s academic accomplishments. Graduation – a marked milestone in our cradle-to-grave litany of school-life achievements. A time that students can’t wait for and parents anticipate with both joy and dread. It’s the momentous milestone when teaching and textbooks come to an end and we bid goodbye, only to let our not-so-little ones fly. Parents wistfully wonder where the years went, and the graduates are figuring out their future. Where DID the time go?
I, myself, have been pondering this a lot lately as our NHS class of 1977 is busy building the blueprint of our 50th year class reunion. It’s been almost 50 years since we hailed the hallowed halls of our high school. Say it isn’t so! Ah, but the recollections and remembrances will always be treasured. Who out there remembers the amorous acclamation of our 12th year of teachings? “SENIOR-ITY!” Why, we even had T-shirts, saying as such, that we delightfully donned down the halls. While I’m not as loud and proud of my “seniority” at 66 years of age, I will never forget the battle cry of our fourth and final year at my awesome alma mater.
Recently I attended our annual Noblesville High School alumni banquet where decades of dealings with our old aches and pains melted away, replaced by the love and laughter living on through the many memories made. If you’ve never attended this fabulous fete, I highly recommend it!
Maybe you’re a frenetic fan of fast cars and edge-of-your -seat excitement. We Indiana natives happily host the greatest spectacle in racing right here in our own humble Hoosier land. I remember as a small child racing to the mailbox to get the Indianapolis Star’s anxiously awaited printout of all 33 of the royal racers. Pretty soon, properties everywhere were peppered with checkered flags in anticipation of the annual Indy 500. Dad and I would pour over the newspaper to study the statistics of every driver in the Memorial Day lineup. Mom dug out her prized pan and concocted a cake that, when cut, would reveal the patterned plan of the finish line flag. What a delectable delight of sweet sugar rush! You just can’t originate from our great state and not relish the revelry of The Great Race!
So take a moment to meander down memory lane and marvel at the musings of May!
Branna (McCarty) Shores believes that “HOME is where your story begins.” A Noblesville native and proud graduate of NHS and Purdue University, she is a professional speaker, advocate for mental health and work / family balance and retired social worker. Branna is the mother of two grown daughters, six precious grandchildren and wife of one brave husband! Her passions include singing, writing and sharing the lighter side of life through lessons learned, both personally and professionally. She can be contacted at [email protected]