Freddy Wright:
CLASS OF 1969
Cleveland High SchoolClass of 1969
Cleveland, TN
Freddy's Story
CHS with Nostalgia
Hey, my fellow Blue Raiders! I hope this message finds you all healthy and happy! I’m Fred (Freddy) Wright, CHS Class of 1969. As we approach the new year 2023, we tend to reflect on the current year near its end. We may remember past Christmas with overwhelming perceptive nostalgia. I’ve been thinking of many of you this week, and some of you I will never forget, I hope! I remember those who I loved and those that put up with me or loved me and left me. This causes me to feel a little blue this evening. Too many of my close and dear HS friends, such as Tommy Kimsey, Phil Cate, Clark McDaniel, Buddy Bowman, and Jo Marie Chastain, have passed away without a chance to say farewell! I miss them all a lot this evening Reflecting or looking back a little bit is okay. After all, remembering where you came from is essential to who you are. But we can’t stay in the past very long. We must always continue to look forward and I do.
However, looking back on my CHS days is a little tricky for me. When I think about my HS memories, I seem to remember my mistakes rather than my successes. My lovely wife Fran always sees things from a positive perspective. Nevertheless, I was a consistent underachiever at CHS and my involvement and interactions were not always my best. Some of my relationship mistakes harmed a few of you. If I let you down along our journey together, I want to apologize for my behavior sincerely, and I’m sorry to have caused any of you any pain. You know of whom I speak. Regardless, you always have and still matter a great deal to me.
I could have and should have learned a lot more, built better relationships, and really enjoyed my HS experience like many of you. Instead, I haphazardly pushed my way through it without clear objectives and meaning. I did not thrive; I just barely survived. I was too focused on trivial things to apply myself earnestly in my studies and meaningful relationships. Just as water may shape the land, the fires in my life have made me stronger and there have been more than I wanted. S...Expand for more
ome of those changes were impactful and painful. But I needed some corrections. Wisdom can be expensive, but it doesn't need to cost so much! Many of you avoided some of my mistakes because you had great guidance and better awareness. All of us were not so fortunate. Please count your blessings.
This evening I wanted you all to know that I admired so many of you for who you were when we were all young and endeavoring to become young adults. If I did not let you know this personally, I wanted to let you know this evening that you were and still are very important to me. So many of you were truly blessed with great qualities. You and your many traits are in my memories. In some cases, I was in awe of you! I also regarded some of your parents warmly. The Kimsey(s), the Trotter(s), Mrs. Cate, the Leighber(s), and the Williamson(s) are only a few folks that made my life better.
We went to a small junior high school that became a complete and great HS. We came from different circumstances, some rich, some poor, some with color and without, etc. Many of us were classmates for six years and some from Stewart elementary even longer. Our student body was not perfect, but I generally found it full of good, talented, and pleasant people to be associated with. Along with those Cleveland community leaders before us and the people of Cleveland, we helped start a great school! I’m pleased with that. l still remember that rainy day, we solicited the citizens to vote for our new CHS. Now I pray for more unity today as we had then. But, “then” was not suitable or so great for everyone either! While my personal HS experience may not have been great, it would have been unbearable without you. Thanks!
Individually and collectively I will love my CHS classmates forever, just as Jesus commanded, even those who don’t have a clue who Freddy was or care. This evening I pray for God to continue to bless every one of you with everlasting hope, unity, peace, and love. Merry Christmas to you all!!! And, a Happy New Year. Auld Lang Syne
Sincerely, Freddy :-)
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