“Nature must be viewed humanly to be viewed at all; that is, her scenes must be associated with humane affections, such as are associated with one’s native place.” – Henry David Thoreau
Thanks to Marlene Mallewick, English teacher stalwart at Woodrow for 25 years, for introducing many of us to Henry David Thoreau. Also, for those Friday vocabulary tests.
Thoreau had his Walden pond; Wildcats have White Rock Lake. The initiation of spring is the first nice day at the lake.
With water lapping at the shores, and the sun’s bright beams coaxing buds from the flora, Wildcats feel a tug on their heartstrings.
Their memories of youth include flying kites, the paddle boats, sailing and, in the old days, the Bathhouse and the Bonnie Barge.
Submarine races, the Lady of the Lake (who was no doubt an early alumna), a midnight trip to Cox Cemetery and a little carousing are also part of those passages.
Despite the City Council’s efforts to restrict the freedoms of our lake and its youthful patrons, I’m sure Wildcats still find a way to carry on the traditions.
Lakewood parents, with their intricate phone network, always know where their children are at 10 p.m. and beyond. All it takes is one bold parent to cruise the West side of the lake.
In contemporary years, they usually would be found at the T-Docks. In my day, it was Woodrow Hill. If you don’t know those locales, you’re not a Wildcat.
Woodrow Hill is where we had bonfire pep rallies before the football game with Skyline, and where we returned after all football games.
We were kings at the top of “The Hill.” Prestige was having a reserved parking place.
For some reason, Bryan Adams and Samuell (on the wrong side of the lake) could not leave us alone. Adams’ Cougars would drive by and shout imprecations.
Samuell Spartans, the latter-day Grove Rats, were a bit more bold. They took the hill on a lonely Sunday morning, March 6, 1976 (the day the Alamo fell). Our David Crockett, Dr. Joel Akin ’76, and our William Travis, Charlie Secker ’78, sounded the battle cry to take no prisoners, and the Spartans, like Santa Anna, were caught with their pants down shortly thereafter.
Oh well, Thoreau also wrote about the “almost profane levity” possessed by great wits.
When I’m troubled or depressed, a trip to White Rock always helps trigger pleasant memories from my Woodrow days – especially this time of year.
