Hey AHS Class of '83!
Here is the next offering in our "Then & Now" series, where we profile one of our classmates, with their own words and photos. This terrific, funny, and soulful post is from our own Kathy Stice Blanchard, who gives us a deeper insight into her school years and her life path since that time. Give it a read, share a memory, and come see Kathy at the reunion in November! Reunion weekend is Nov 2-5
THEN:
What is your memory of arriving as a freshman at Austin High in 1979?
Writing this made me want to go digging back through my diaries to see what my memories were! I was an avid writer back then and had a lot to get off my chest. My father had just died at the beginning of my 8th grade year at O’Henry MS, and much of that year was a complete blur. One of the things that helped me process my grief was meeting Cindy Couch, the choir teacher at Austin High School. She took a special interest in me and invited me to come join the school’s highest-level choir, the “Madrigals”. This was no ordinary choir—being asked to join was indeed a very big deal, especially for a freshman, and a major commitment to boot. I have a newspaper clipping about being selected. The choir met at the “zero” hour before school started and being late was not optional. Being so young, I wasn’t driving a car yet and didn’t know who was going to get me there. Not mom, she was still grieving. Not my brother, he was too busy and had a job. The bus didn’t come early enough either.
Cindy suggested Leslie Stokes, a sophisticated upper classman who lived in the neighborhood. She would pick up both me and tenor, Tad Davis every morning (he lived in the neighborhood too). I swear there were times when her car horn was my alarm clock. Jokes aside, she was a godsend to both of us. Thank you, Leslie Stokes, wherever you are. You were our savior and hero and got us to school on time for one whole hair-pulling year of your life.
What activities were you involved in during your years in high school? What were your favorite classes and who were your favorite teachers?
Choir obviously, it was my lifeline. Cindy got her hooks in me and never let me go. I wanted nothing more than to make her proud, and if gave me a solo, it was both scary and thrilling all at the same time. I can’t say enough good things about Cindy. She was a good kind of strict and saved me during a very difficult time in my life. High school can be such a treacherous place, you know? Sometimes it can be hard to find your place in the world. Having friends that I could hang out with and make music with certainly helped.
When I wasn’t in choir, I was typically hanging around the Little Theatre with my drama friends. Theatre kids and choir kids were pretty much cut from the same cloth and very sympatico. There was lots of overlap within the Fine Arts department. We all joined forces to put on musicals. I always admired the people in band and orchestra. My family could never afford to buy or rent a musical instrument, so I was always put in choir instead. Luckily, I found my calling there and a new sort of family.
Any memories that really stand out, at any point in your four years?
Oh my god, I was so naughty. Weren’t we all? I know I’m not alone here… So many things I cannot even begin to reveal here—stories that still make me blush. The stories are now officially classified documents and the names and dates have been erased to protect the innocent. Wink.
But I do have one, though.
I remember driving around in my first car. It was a beautiful, gold 1971 Buick Skylark convertible with an electric black top. I frequently left campus during lunchtime just to get away for a few minutes from all the stresses and pressures of life. (Miss that car! Totaled it on RR2222.) I fully enjoyed the short escapes. Top down, cruising around, even if it was only for one hour or [CLASSIFIED: two].
I had Mrs. Brinkman for English Composition right after lunch and I pretty much only arrived on time to her class about once a week. Mrs. Brinkman was an amazon of a woman, somewhat intimidating, and not one to mess around with. She and I did not see eye-to-eye. In fact, my 5ft 2 inches probably only came up to her kneecaps, just so she could kick me in the ***, but I digress... I decided I was not going to write the all-important research paper that semester. You know the one—the one you where you must think of something to research, visit the library, look through the card catalogue, find multiple “verifiable” sources, miraculously discover “interesting” tidbits, reference your materials, and create evil footnotes. You would start out with notecards, create an organized, bare-bones outline with roman numerals, throw in introductory sentences and supporting statements, and then create a first, second, and third draft (each time handwriting the same sentences over and over again) until you were finally “blessed” with the opportunity to write the final paper! Waaah! The Simpson’s music plays, and the clouds part… And then you receive the teacher’s edits. (It’s coming back to you now, isn’t It? Pure torture.) I just wanted her to let me write the paper first and then do all that other useless stuff afterwards. I didn’t see the point of doing all that prep work. I was stubborn, cocky, and headstrong. One day after class she impressed upon me the simple fact that if I didn’t write the paper, I wouldn’t pass her class. And if I didn’t pass her class, I wouldn’t be able to graduate. In other words, this paper could make or break my entire four years of high school. So, guess what I did? I stood my ground and didn’t submit it on time. She totally flunked me, of course. Ended up having to take summer school way across town at Johnston High for the entirety of one very, long, hot summer. Learned my lesson there. Stubbornness with teachers does NOT pay off--they do not negotiate with hot-headed ginger brats. Thank you, Mrs. Brinkman for the important life lesson--it served me well, and I DID graduate on time with all of you fellow rascals.
Anything you would go back and do differently?
Yeah, perhaps go back and write that stupid English paper the first time, no matter how pointless it all felt? Yeesh.
What are some of your most vivid memories as a highschooler at Austin High?
Most vivid? Hmmm. It’s only been like FORTY YEARS now, so my memories aren’t quite as vivid as they once used to be! We’re getting old, folks! Who you calling old? Let’s see…what do I remember? I liked wearing Dr. Scholls wooden sandals that took forever for the leather to soften up to the point where you could wear them without getting blisters on your feet. I liked learning how to drive. (I can’t believe they don’t teach you that in high school anymore!) I liked wearing Mexican peasant blouses and tight blue jeans. I would babysit for long hours at a time so I could afford to buy a Ralph Lauren polo at Beth Denius and try to fit in with the rich girls. Buying pencils at the student’s store outside the cafeteria. Walking up and down all those stairs, and hanging out on the 2nd floor. I liked pep rallies. I liked screaming, cheering, and drinking at the football games. My choir teacher did NOT like that. We did a lot of drinking in those days. Heck, the legal age limit was 18, so we all had friends that were old enough to buy us cheap beer. Beer, beer for old Austin High, bring out the whiskey, bring out the rye, send those freshmen out for gin, and don’t let a sober, SENIOR IN! Oh lordy! (Apparently, we sobered up on wood alcohol. What even is that? Gross!) Big fat mums with long streaming ribbons pinned to my shirt. The more ribbons the better. Young love! Braces, pimples, and pizza-flavored goldfish (eww!). Middle of the night tapping on my window, come escape with me! Does anyone remember a drink called Malt Duck? OMG, wish they still made that. Tiny little bottles--tasted just like grape juice. Hiking up to the top of Mount Bonnell, hanging out at Walsh boat landing, Deep Eddy, Tom Miller Dam, or Red Bud Isle--you know, all the good smoochy spots.
People making fun of our mascot. He’s a comet, people. A comet! Not a puff ball. God bless Mr. Maroo. Love our little guy. Loyal forever, man. Still loyal. I loved going back to House Park on cool October nights when both of my kids were at AHS. We’ve had three generations in my family go to AHS now. Go maroons! Go white! Go Austin, fight, fight, fight!
What advice would you give your teenage self now?
It’s okay if you can’t see the future. Turns out most people can’t!
Stop saying, “Gag me with a spoon!” It makes you look like a dork. And stop saying “dork”. It makes you look like a… oops! Anybody have another word? Spazmoid, dude! Totally tubular. Gnarly, rad, and dudette! As if, dipstick! Totally bogus.
Try harder to learn the chorography better in the musical so Ms. Couch doesn’t kick you out of the class and make you practice it out in the hallway until you finally have it down and memorized. Work your ass off instead of being so stubborn!
Take typing classes. You’ll be glad you did.
Time heals a broken heart. The heart ache of a high school romance break-up does finally evaporate, even if it takes a whole year for you to get over it. A new fish (or Senior, ha ha) eventually does come along.
Don’t drink booze the night before you take the SAT test. You won’t score well. (Another life lesson.)
Don’t worry, you won’t always be the young, gawky, freckled-faced freak with pimples, forever. Eventually you’ll turn into a lovely young woman, and then you’ll get to be old. We’re so close to our Senior Citizen discounts and early bird dinners, I can almost taste the mashed potatoes. Not all teachers are evil. Some actually have your back and know what they’re doing--listen to them, they are gold, but not Mrs. Brinkman.
NOW:
Where did life take you after high school?
The transition time after high school was a real eye opener. I was so used to running around seeing everybody every single day for 12 consecutive years of my life--it was all supposed to just keep going after graduation, right? I was suddenly thrown into the real world and expected to find my way in it. All my friends were going off to college, so I figured I was supposed to be doing the same, but I had no idea how to get there, no help, and no money!
I didn’t score so great on the SAT (see life lessons above), so I went to ACC for two years. Took 30 hours and transferred into UT. I was determined and motivated to make it, though! When I finally made it over to the forty acres, I tried two years of majoring in music. Loved every minute of it but I got overwhelmed with no prior experience playing piano. While there, I realized I didn’t want to be an opera singer or a choir teacher, so I pursued other options.
I ended up singing in many different choruses throughout Austin over the years which, other than my family, has been my greatest joy. Some were professional where I was paid to sing (10 years with Conspirare, and 17 years as an Alto soloist with Central Presbyterian Church), and others that were just for fun (River City Pops, UT Longhorn Singers, Concert Chorale, Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, and two Zilker Summer Musicals). I still sing to this day, even at the age of 58! Gotta let my “WAH!” out regularly or bad things start to happen. Dun, dun, dun…
What are you doing now?
I have made a career being an Executive Assistant. I currently work at a state agency. It’s good, steady work, and all state employees recently got raises across the board, so yay! Turns out I found my niche working in fast-paced, office environments. I’m freakishly fast at typing, drop dead gorgeous, and good at juggling multiple tasks and people. You didn’t know I juggle people? Hidden talent! Kinda hard on the wrists, though.) All in all, it’s been a rewarding career--lots of variety. Sometimes it’s stressful, though, because I never know from day to day what’s going to be thrown at me, but it has allowed me to shine in ways that feel natural to me.
I married a wonderful man, Clif Blanchard, in 1995 and we raised two beautiful children together while living in Southwest Austin. I had the luxury of being a stay-at-home mom for ten years and got to experience being a kid all over again. Can’t wait till I have grandkids! Both of our children have graduated from college and are now in their early years of career life. I am very proud of that, by the way. Neither my siblings nor I graduated from college, but our children all did, so there you go! What a blessing.
Clif and I have been married for 28 years now. I will always appreciate Rob Andrews and Trisha Girling (both from Class of ’83) for introducing us right before Clif graduated from the Austin Police Academy. Trish and I have known each other since Bryker Woods elementary. I’m pretty sure I have pictures of us in the same kindergarten class. Might have been 1st grade, also--I’d have to go look. When we have our 40th class reunion, I would love to have a picture taken of all of us kids who went to Bryker Woods, Baker, O’Henry, and Austin High. That would be a hoot. I still have little kid, elementary school artwork from some of you guys in my desk drawer (people like David Genet, Jeff Seekatz and Francine Johnson).
What could young people of today learn from our generation?
To be honest, my kids are WAY smarter than I will ever be, so it’s the other way around actually--I’m learning from them! All I know is, life is what you make it. You gotta be strong and keep on going. Eventually you’ll find your way in life. The crystal ball may be cloudy at first, but life has a funny way of working out on its own. One door closes, but another one DOES open. Change is scary, and sometimes you must be brave and try something new by yourself. That’s still the case no matter how old you are. Find the people that embrace and celebrate all your silly quirks and love them in return. They are the ones worth keeping.
That’s about it really! I look forward to seeing all of you guys at the 40th reunion. Be brave. Show up. Maybe I’ll be brave and show up. Thanks for listening to my story. I look forward to listening to all of yours. I may still be a little bit crazy after all these years, but I still love to boogie and I promise I won’t bite. I’ll behave if you behave! Do we have to behave? The jury’s still out.
