Linda Fairfield Beaman

I stayed home to raise my kids, then I went to Professional Careers Institute for my Certified Medical Assisting Degree in 1985. I've worked in several doctor's offices in Lebanon doing back office duties as I like the patient contact.

Maxine Allen ran for queen in our Senior year and the winner was determined by how much money each candidate (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior) raised at a penny a vote. I stood in the cafeteria after lunch to hit the guys up for money when they came down to buy ice cream. I was determined that our classmate would win. The Sunshine Society had something to do with this contest and since I was the treasurer I helped count the money. When I learned that our class had won I was so excited and Maxine was so deserving! Mrs. Leonard reminded me that it had to be kept a secret until the crowning. I kept the secret, but I sure wanted to tell Maxine! Mrs. Leonard would have had my head on a platter (literally) if I had told!

Speaking of Mrs. Leonard, one day in Home Ec. we made muffins or cookies. Of course we ate what we made. There were four kitchens. The next class after us (Juniors) also made goodies, and they found mealworms in the flour that had just been used. Those Junior girls could hardly wait to tell us what they found! I was sure glad they weren't found in my kitchen. I think it was Bonnie Disborough's. Only she knows for sure. Although Mrs. Leonard assured us that mealworms wouldn't kill us, and that the flour had been tossed, we all checked our ingredients very carefully after that. I still do to this very day.

I also remember one day in band practice when I tossed my baton high into the air and it went out of control and into the band. I yelled "look out' and the band scattered. It came down and landed in Donnie Crouch's tuba. How embarrassing!