Old papers provide frequent reminders of simpler times

Looking through archived Greybull Standards is not only fun, it’s educational. I am sometimes shocked by how many things I have forgotten about the town, community and school down through the ages (that I can recall with ease, that is).
I do remember “back in the good old days,” there was not just the junior prom, but the Sweetheart Ball, the Sadie Hawkins dance, the Senior Ball, the FFA dance and “sock hops” after some of the home basketball games. They all were something to look forward to; they were always fun, the gym was always filled and while three of the dances were formal, others were semi or casual. But they brought the students together for something other than walks down the hallways between classes.
I know time marches on, as it should. Times change, as they should. But I think the olden days had a “togetherness” that is missing today. I could be wrong, as I am a lot of times. But I honestly don’t think there were as many cliques as there seem to be today.
Of course, we have lots and lots more sports offered. In those olden times, we had football, basketball and wrestling--all were for boys, you’ll notice. I am still trying to nail down when girls were allowed any physical activity except in gym class. So I am not wishing to go back to those days. Having girls sports made a huge difference in school life. Now girls are not relegated to just being on the sidelines, cheering for the male athletes. And since I have a daughter and granddaughters who love to compete, it is wonderful that the doors of opportunity opened and allowed them to.
But with all the advances, new technology, the changes that are taking place in schools, education and colleges, I sometimes wonder if we have lost some of those simple things that brought us together when the world, and school days, were a lot simpler, more innocent.
Or am I looking at the past through rose-colored glasses?
Sometimes, just sometimes, I head back to those Friday afternoon football games when the stores were closed, school was dismissed at 2 p.m. and the stands were filled with students, parents, merchants. The main street was quiet because all the action was on the football field. The stores opened immediately after the game and stayed open longer to compensate.
But diversity is great. Having girls sports is wonderful. Finally in the early 70s, girls could do more than just sit on the sidelines or be a member of the pep club.
How many of our readers can remember what I THINK was Greybull’s first entrance on the volleyball scene: a state tournament in Powell in, and EJ and I are guessing, ‘74. Fran Childers was the coach and the Buffs dominated. No one could touch them. If you were a member of that team, let me know! I would mention names I remember, but I would hate to be wrong.
Anyway, times have changed, and we have to change with them. Change is good, but so are memories.