On Homecoming déjà vu, bats, and a time capsule update

If someone had told me back in 1969 - when I was co-editor of The Torch - that 30 years later I'd still be taking pictures of the SJHS Homecoming Court, I would have snickered gleefully.

What a preposterous idea.

By 1999, I expected to be an award-winning columnist; have written the 'great American novel;' and maybe picked up a Pulitzer Prize or two.

Although all that may still come to pass, last week's trip to the SJHS courtyard for the annual Homecoming photo shoot produced a definite case of déjà vu - mingled with just a tad of "Why am I here, in this town, at this type of assignment, after all these years of writing?"

The answer came unexpectedly later that evening via a telephone call from another Torch 'veteran' - and good friend - Lynn Henning.

Although he's moved up the journalism ranks - and actually is an award-winning writer for the Detroit News - Lynn reminded me that no matter what arena of journalism we're employed in, the key reason for our work remains the same.

"Hopefully - if we do our job right - we tell the stories, take the pictures, that have meaning for an individual's life," he said. "Sixty years from now, someone is going to pull that picture out and it'll be like finding buried treasure."

Thanks for the reminder, Lynn.

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This particular issue of the Clinton County News has more than a few "treasure chest" pieces, I think.

In particular, readers will enjoy David Hall's article on bats - at least I got a kick out of reading it.

Maybe it's because I know Cam Stiffler, and, in fact, tipped Dave off about the story thanks to a lead from Cam's sister, Chris Grennell. It seems that Chris' Oakland Street Barber site has become a home-away-from-home on more than one occasion in recent weeks while Cam avoided her bat-invested abode.

I know it's not funny, but the mental image of the Grennell boys, Zach, Zane, and Zarren, trying valiantly to secure the little mammal at Aunt Cam's house - only to be chased away with tennis rackets in tow - does produce a smile.

At least they tried.

Maybe they should take their hockey sticks next time - or would that be bat-cruelty?

* * * * * * * * * *

This is also a good time to catch up on some comments made regarding previous columns.

Shirley Karber called last week to fill me in on the real reason why a ruler and thermometer were placed in the Centennial Time Capsule which had been buried at the Courthouse site - and is currently homeless.

"Hila Bross included those two items," Shirley informed me. "At that time, 1956, there was a nation-wide push toward the metric system. Hila was sure that by the time the capsule was opened up, we wouldn't be using rulers or thermometers anymore."

She may still be right about that.

Who knows what will happen by 2056?

One thing I am pretty sure about - I don’t think I'll be taking pictures of the SJHS Homecoming Court.

Someone else will have taken over the guardianship of community journalism here by then.