Denise McLellan Compton - Minzenberger

It seems appropriate that I am sitting here reflecting upon my high school days as my youngest son sits amoung his graduating class of speeches ,dreams and hopes for the future, and as I watch his face anticipating his future, I in turn explore my past. The song A Long and Windy Road comes to mind(yes this was our prom theme song) Has it really been a 40 year old path???? I attended the University of Evansville and majored in Special Education. Upon graduation, I returned to Louisville and entered a career of Restaurant Manager for Chi-chi's,where I married and was blessed with 2 wonderful sons. I later divorced and began a career in Sales and raised the boys in a home I bought in J-town. After an extensive travel schedule I decided to slow down and spend quality time with the boys,thus changing my career path to Property Management,which I still do today. I now have entered the biggest, hardest bump in my winding road, letting go and letting my sons find their pathes and be there for the bumps. I feel Ive come full circle, we start high school excited and scared, a journey, a path we just don't know how it will turn out but hope for the best. I guess the pathes never really end just turn into curves and keep long and winding. As I have kissed many frogs to find my prince, I remarried in 2018, I am blessed to have a wonderful wonderful husband and his children that have created a new paved road.

I am first hesitant to look back 40years(pinch me is it really 40 years) I know forty years ago it seemed to get through High School was a big enough accomplishment. My first thought is my Freshman year and being bussed to Parkland Jr. H.S. A complete year of turmoil, became a melting pot of friends from schools all over and probably some of my fondest memories. Of course,the lobby in the mornings with all the different groups and everyone always wanting to fit in. We had homecomings and working on floats to the wee hours of the night. The dances and the drama of who was taking who. Parties,hanging out at Mr Gattis,staying out past curfew and cruising in cars because we could. Senior year,our final year was senior cut day,yearbook staff,rings(I still have mine somewhere in a jewerly box)And GRADUATION, I do remember with all the hopes and dreams that lied ahead of us, good memories,better friends and the best years with no regrets. I Guess, as hard as it is to admit, YES some of my best memories is the constant merciless teasing of MR. HALL til my dying day I will always remember our tennis match and trying out for baseball, but my fondest memory will be how he could get me so riled I would stand there ranting and raving stomping my foot thus I the nickname Bug Stomper.