Spring Banquet 1967.

Spring Banquet 1967.

A month ago, I looked everywhere I could think of

for Spring Banquet photos.

Then last week, looking for a photo of our friend Joel,

I found the two pictures that had eluded my search.

With my banquet beau, Spring Banquet 1967

With my banquet beau, Spring Banquet 1967

Here is the date who found the corsage I lost.

Sometimes when our minds are totally consumed by other thoughts, we find a lost object.

Sometimes the story isn’t complete until we find the picture.

Can you relate?

Shirley Showalter

14 Comments

  1. Wilma Shank on May 21, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Shirley, thanks for sharing these important and beautiful moments in your lives. Marvelous memories.

  2. Wilma Shank on May 21, 2015 at 11:12 am

    Thanks, Shirley for sharing this Important and beautiful moment of your lives

    • shirleyhs on May 21, 2015 at 5:24 pm

      Thank you, Wilma. The last weeks have been ones of changing seasons in the spiritual and physical world. It was a small comfort to find these old photos again.

  3. Kathleen Pooler on May 21, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Shirley, you are completing the story nicely with these beautiful pictures. What treasures- sweet innocence personified! I have several photos in my mind that I want to find. I’ll have to make a point of not looking for those specific photos so I can find them when I’m looking for something else.

    • shirleyhs on May 21, 2015 at 5:27 pm

      Ha, Kathy. It does seem to work that way sometimes, doesn’t it? Seek too hard and ye shall not find. Wait, and it shall be given.

      Hope you are successful in your searches also.

  4. Merril Smith on May 21, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    I can definitely relate! I’ve often found an object I had been looking for while looking for something else.

    I think a similar thing is when you can’t remember something or when you’re writing and the word won’t come–then you go take a shower or a walk or something, and suddenly the thoughts or words are there.

    Love the photos!

    • shirleyhs on May 21, 2015 at 5:29 pm

      Yes, Merril. It’s almost like one’s field of vision changes when the mind relaxes, isn’t it?

      Glad you like the photos. I’m sure you have your own reminders of how young we were when in college.

  5. Marian Beaman on May 21, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    I’m looking for a photo of me on a motel bed with fuzzy pink slippers during a trip West with friend Joann Metzler Herr. Now I’ll give up and probably discover it. That’s my prediction based your story.

    About the photo: What a difference 7 years makes in the EMC dating parlor: you with no covering and . . . Is that makeup I see on your lips, so wild!

    • shirleyhs on May 21, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      I hope you find that picture, Marian. It sounds like the perfect capstone to one of your zany adventure stories, which I always love.

      O yes. Things did change rapidly in the years after you graduated. I had my hair styled in a beauty parlor, wore makeup, and borrowed someone’s long gown. I’m sure you noticed the white gloves. And I’ll bet you had some of your own. 🙂

  6. Cathy Nafziger on May 21, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Oh.my.goodness! I immediately recognized your “prom” dress! I must have borrowed it in 1969. I have a picture of me in that same dress, on the 4th floor of North Lawn. I went to the Spring Banquet with the brother of my good friend. Sharon Showalter was on my floor at the time. Perhaps that is the connection that I borrowed it??!

    I knew which photo album to look for this picture, and the writing on the back tells the year! I’ll send you the picture if you can email me with your email address!

    You look lovely in your dress. I heard you speak at the Goshen College Afternoon Sabbatical, and enjoyed it so much. Then I was privileged to meet you in person when you spoke at Greencroft on your book tour, where I told you I remembered you from EMC!

    • shirleyhs on May 21, 2015 at 5:51 pm

      O my goodness indeed! Cathy, this was amazing. I wish I could post a picture you sent me here so that others could see it. I had just finished telling Marian (above) that I had borrowed this dress, when I got your message.

      Now the next mystery: was there some closet on the fourth floor where people put clothing items they were willing to share with others? Thanks for filling in some of the background and personal connections for where we have met each other.

      What fun to see the dress on you. I wonder how many others wore it??

    • Cathy Nafziger on May 21, 2015 at 10:01 pm

      If you want to post the “borrowed” dress picture, it is fine. I feel privileged to have worn the same dress as someone so special and famous!

      I cannot recall how it came about that I found out about the dress to wear, but it was a lifesaver for me! I do remember that I styled many gals hair to go to that banquet, it was a “hobby” of mine. To this day I still cut and color my own hair!

      Also forgot to mention how much I enjoyed reading your delightful book. It was very reminiscent of how I grew up in Fleetwood, PA. Your memories were wonderful. Except that I was not on a farm, instead worked for my parents business from the time I was young ~ making ‘Good Shoofly Pie Mix’. My maiden name was Good, my dad was the inventor!

  7. Laurie Buchanan on May 21, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    Shirley — Hair? The color of wisdom, now. Other than that, your face is e-x-a-c-t-l-y the same as in the photo! A beautiful woman — from the inside, out — both then and now. I’m so honored to call you friend.

    • shirleyhs on May 21, 2015 at 8:09 pm

      Aww, Laurie, you flatter me. Actually, you just know how to pay a genuine compliment. Thank you, and I feel exactly the same about you! I missed you on Tuesday this week when I was galivanting about with other friends. But I’m off to see what you had to say.

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