THE SECOND GRADE REBELLION

Mrs. Higgins second grade class, at Greenbriar Elementary School, was not a happy group this mid-November morning.  I remember a lot of slamming of locker doors as we stomped around creating the most disgruntled group of unhappy rebels who wanted to create some sort of revolution that morning.  How could we be treated so unfairly?  As the stark reality of the situation sunk in, we just wanted to be as difficult a group of seven year olds that we could possibly be.  We were being treated unjustly and we were not going to just behave accordingly as we normally would.  

What had happened?  Why were we so angry?  We had just learned that we, the entire group of secondgraders at this Fort Worth school would not be attending the parade to be held downtown later in the morning.  Of course, the classes older than us, were boarding buses and going to see President John F. Kennedy and his wife, first lady, Jackie Kennedy as they left their hotel and proceded on to the airport for the rest of their Texas journey.  My sister, Kathy, a fourth grader, was going to get to see him.  My parents planned on finding a spot on the parade route and seeing him and Jackie as well.  I believed my teen sister, Pam would also be there.  

All of this seemed so unbelieveably unfair!  I loved President Kennedy and Jackie so much.  I don't even remember having a president until him.  I had wished to be part of their family.  They were perfect.  Their children were perfect.  They had the perfect life and because of them, we had the perfect country.  I wanted to see them so much!  When I found out the rest of the school was going to go see him, I was furious.  I don't remember if I actually led the civil disobedience of slamming lockers and stomping feet, but, I was sure making my disapproval of this situation known.

I think Mrs. Higgins, who seemed to be a very sweet, kind and gentle white haired teacher eventually got her little band of bad kids under control and cooled the heated rebellion as we went on with our day.  

I only remember that eventually, we were told that we were dismissing early. As I met my mom at the car out front of my school building she told me that our handsome, perfect president was dead.  I was devastated.  The next four days were spent in front of the TV mourning this larger than life man.  I had never lost any one before.  This was really hard to take.  The unbearable grief just seemed to go on and on.  Life as I had known it was over.

I remember going with my family, over to Dallas, to tour Dealy Plaza and see all the flowers that had been placed in his memory.  I also remember eventually going to see where Lee Harvey Oswald was buried.  I remember being sad for a long time.  My perfect world was shattered.

Today, fifty years later, I have learned that John F. Kennedy was not perfect.  His family was not perfect, neither was our country at that time.  I've watched and continue to be saddened whenever a new Kennedy death occurs.  I don't know how they can carry on in a family that sees so much death and loss as the years unfold.

As Thanksgiving rolls around again, I am so thankful for my family and the many ways God has blessed us through the years.  I just wanted to share my little story of my memories from fifty years ago.  I hope you have a wonderful day.  Stay safe.  luv, Susan