Dearest Scottie:
The first of May would be fine for the pictures.
Steve Watrous – one of our classmates – is designing a website that will contain all kinds of things from our high school days. A memorial to our classmates is being thought out. I envision having several meaningful pictures of Susan that portray her personality, interests and curiosity.
If you would like to fish out those pictures, Steve could stop by for them and then return them to you. Or, if Bud, or someone close by in Cortland, has a scanner, then the pictures could be scanned and sent electronically to Steve.
I just might drive up that second week in May so, if you need help, I would love seeing you and participating in helping out.
Also, if you have some outstanding moments of Susan's high school days that would help encapsulate her character and integrity, they would be included with the pictures on the website. The website will be accessible to the general public, but I can't imagine anyone using it other than our classmates and other interested Cortlandites.
All best wishes and affection –
My Friend Susan Ames
Does everyone remember how Susan Ames' blue eyes crinkled when she smiled?
Those eyes and smile were part of a kind and generous nature that always tracked to the best within all of us.
We met when the Campus School kids came down to the high school and Susan and I were in Mr. Mogul's art class with Johnny Ferro and lots of other interesting people that fascinated us. We became good friends when we took an art class bus trip to New York to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was there that we discovered our mutual interest and curiosity about art and our shared adolescent amusement over male Greek and Roman statuary.
We were both JV cheerleaders and we had such a great fun time going to games, laughing and moving our school loyalty up to the heavens by cheering our voices hoarse. I remember us laughing as we walked along, scuffing autumn leaves with our black and white saddle shoes and white wool socks - the earth gifted us with the fragrance of the unseen. I can still see Susan telling me some joke and me responding so that we laughed harder - just with the pure joy of our existence and because we were young with promise. In the winter, her cheeks would be pink with cold as we walked along packing down snow with our purple corduroy sneakers - but still laughing.
We use to wonder who we would marry and how many children we would have. (Susan eventually had a daughter who grew into a beautiful young woman and who eighteen months ago gave birth to Susan's grandson.)
On the day that we voted for Senior Ball queen, I caught up with Susan after school and asked her who she voted for. She said "you" - that's the kind of friend that Susan Ames was and that's the kind of friendship that we relied on from each other the years. Whether or not you and I were aware of it back then, we all were beneficiaries of her warmth and goodwill.
Our mutual humor and interests grew and I came to know Susan's family from invited overnights and dinner invitations and so understood where she learned her grace of being.
Over the years after high school, we shared so much - marriage, children, loss of loved ones, illness - but we always could move the other out of the doldrums with laughter.
And, what I wouldn't do to hear that hearty laugh and see those crinkled up blue eyes!
......Bonnie
Hall Trexler