Looking back I have not posted as much as I thought I did. Maybe I should post more often.

Reading some of the post did make me miss Dave. I think about him all the time. I know he is in a better place, but I can't help to be selfish and want him back in Haysi. How is Clara and the family doing? Good I hope. I haven't heard from them since his death.

It's funny how time changes our lives. We are writing history whether we realize it or not. I know I'm just rambling, but what else is there to do on here?

I got a little upset while reading what some one posted about prom queen/king and homecoming queen. They wrote that it was the most popular girls with the best clothes, the nicest car, and some one who dated football players. Just for the record (because I'm writing history) I won 1994/95 Homecoming Queen! And here is the catch...I NEVER dated a football player! I had several friends who played on the team, but no dates! I knew better than to date anyone from Haysi. Plus I didn't have the nicest car nor the best clothes. You can look back at my senior year and know I wore sweat pants and t-shirts to school.

Anyway, I had to vent on that one! Sorry:). All in all, I'm proud of Haysi. I love that place and it will ALWAYS be a part of me. I will never call another place home. Although, I have learn that my place is with my children and husband I will always long to be there. It's my shelter and place of refuge. God bless you all that live there. I so wish I was in your shoes!

where did they post about prom king/queen and all that

who got prom queen/king this year, and what type of people are they? are they preps, jocks, etc?

I really don't recall where it was posted. Sorry:)

Just because you wear the khakis and pop the collar, don't necessarily make you a prep. Labels are so bogus anyway, I hope the kids at HHS aren't into that crap.

I think it was Larae Bowen and Drew Sutherland, just don't quote me on this, not even sure i have the names spelled right.

what kind of kids are they?

they are two very sweet & kind people . :]

This message dosen't have to do with Dave, whom I liked very much and do hope he is in a place of rest. It does, however, have to do with the Homecomeing and Prom King(s) and Queen(s) of Haysi. I can only recall one single time when a more popular couple or inividual was not chosen in my time at Haysi. Most of the time the most popular kids at the school always were/are crowned. Though you (Amber) may not have dated the football players or what have you, you certainly were one of the most popular girls in school. You did come from a more privileged background, with ties to the upper class folks at Haysi. You had nice things, you were athletic(basketball, track etc.), and you were really pretty. You were a very nice person, so don't get me wrong when I point out the status you held. I'm merely stating fact, you were 100% one of the most popular girls in school. I believe that if your gonna be crowned anything at HHS you had to be or have to be in with the in crowd, you had to be one of the most popular guys or gals in school, and you had to carry a lot of clout.

This thing has raged in schools across America for years. We can't be bitter toward the one person from the popular crowd for winning, they won because they were chosen over the various other popular folks who could have been crowned as well. Usually, I will have to say this, that the male or female crowned is one of the more friendly and easy going popular kids in school, so that's a little better than giving it to the one's that have their nose so high up in the air they can't see anything but the clouds. Amber, you were one of the nicer popular girls, so you deserved the crown so don't feel guitly or bad because you were popular and won. However, I think we would be lying if we denied that the popular people weren't the ones always winning. In my Senior year of school, the same girl that won Prom Queen, was also Mrs. Senior, was on Homecoming Court, and also was selected for more than one Best of(s) or Most such and such. This girl was really wondeful though, and I have to say she did deserve a lot of credit for working hard to be on top, but she was one that did date a Basketball player, wore brand name clothing, she also had her own car, and she had a parent that was in the school system.

We all know the A 1, 1st class, Top Notch names at Haysi. Just like the names at Clintwood that carry all the popularity. If your in cahoots with any of them, whether it be dating, best friends, or related, your set for your high shcool career. Why, when I was in school, if I had dated a Sutherland, Hackney, or a Compton, I would have been right on top too. However, I didn't. I was not nearly cool enough, though I wished I were. I will say this though. I was very blessed to have gradutated with some of the nicest Sutherlands and Comptons that have ever attended HHS. I'm not throwing off on any of the folks with these last names nor am I going to put them down. All I'm saying is that it is very well known exactly Who's Who among Haysi High students. If we were to go back and look at all the annuals from the early 80's until now, I can guarantee you that the pages will most certainly be full of all the folks with those last names in the number one spots and those folks connected to them in the ways I mentioned previously.

The way I see it is this...you can dwell on how bad you have/had it by not being a part of the in crowd. You can carry it with you for years and let it eat away at you, haunting you because you weren't that male or female in the number one spot with a crown on your head. You can try to find ways of punishing the people in the number one spots by bad mouthing them and tearing them down, but it never will give you those years and days back when you weren't those things. It hurt me to not be in with the in crowd for my first 3 years of high school. Then, I found a place where I belonged, I strove to do well in the activties I enjoyed and succeeded at, and I found that I was surrounded by folks that were more like me, than not. I also found that once I had been out of high school for a good many years, most of those old high school cliques' don't matter and I can now go up to the fellas I wanted to be on the arm of or the girls whose shoes I wished I were in and actually be there real friend. They will talk to me now, notice me, and listen, Why? Cause I grew up and they did too. I became an adult and learned how to take charge of my own life! They grew up and learned it's not who you are that matters, but what you are. Now, don't get me wrong there are a handful that still won't give me the time of day, but that dosen't matter to me. The way I see it, their the one's loosing out on a good friend.

Many could learn from your attitude. I think the boss said it best.

Glory days, yeah they'll pass you by.
Glory days, in the wink of a young girls eye.
Glory days, Glory days. Whoo!

Give this just a little thought though. How many of these "Big Named" people made anything out of there lives, once they graduated, on their own. Im not talking have a successful life now because they were given the chance, but the ones that have really worked hard to get there. Lets accknowledge those people, there the ones that I respect. I didnt take advantage of my life, like so many others did, I was one of those "cooler" kids, I was once in the "clique", I didnt think that I needed to work like everyone else, boy was I wrong, I wish I could go back a few years and start off fresh. To you that worked hard and made something out of your life, I commend you. Lets recognize these folks Haysi.

I just wanted to say that I was in fact one of those Prom Queen, Homecoming Court people, and yes I was also in the so called popular crowd. However, I was never purposely mean towards anyone, and didn't feel I was above anyone else. To be very honest most of the time (and I know this sounds fake) I was very surprised to have one something. As far as names are concerned I do not feel its the child's fault if they were born with a name that may or may not give them a leg up in society. Most of the names you mentioned I dated at some point, and I think they all worked hard for their achievements. Those boys were the ones who always came to open gyms, summer weight lifting etc;
I guess my point is this YES generally the most popular people do usually win at Haysi, but these same people are also the ones who are out practicing every day when lots find better things to do (tv, four wheelin, drinking, etc). They are studying late at night after ball games, and usually represent our school with a lot of class when traveling to school functions. In my opinion they are deserving.

Your right it's not the childs fault for their names but it was the teenagers fault for the way he or she behaved into thinking they were better than anyone. In my days os school it was "Viers", "Yates", "Barton", "Sykes" and "Deel". So it was the way they all acted towards the ones who had less money than them. So when they were a child no it wasn't their fault but when they got older and knew right from wrong it sure was their faults.

I enjoyed your post. You made alot of good points and it was an interesting read but I know that I did not have a privileged upbringing. You may have not been suggesting that but it seemed as though it was implied even if unintentionally. I never had my own car the entire time I was in high school. Yeah I got to drive my mother's car to school some when she didn't need it for work but it was not mine. There is nobody in my family that has ever been in the school system. If my brothers and I were popular it was because we happened to play ball and not because we were rich or were the kids of teachers or whatever. Don't get me wrong we were not poor or anything...our dad worked in the coal mines just like practically everybody else's dad. Our parents provided for us the best they could and we were lucky to have them and still are. Sorry to ramble just thought I would respond. If you were meaning it as a compliment then thank you

I actually wasn't saying that ALL of the people with those certain last names were/are privileged, however I did state that Amber and some of the others were a bit more than most and had or have parents, aunts, uncles in the school system. Now, as for you, I remember you rather well. Though you may have come from a less than privileged background you not only were a fine athlete, but a rather handsome fella, plus you were friends with all the populars, with an awfully fine last name as an added bonus. Therefore, you were never out of the in crowd. I commend you for much of the things you have written on here and I think you were probably a fairly nice guy in high school. I never knew you one on one, but HHS isn't that big of a school,if you were popular, folks knew who you were and most of what your about. I can't think of but maybe 5 or so relatives of the Hackney's that weren't popular, Blaine, Wendy and Nicky, Kristy, Tim, all of um were popular, but all of them were also good looking. I think more than privilege or wealth that the Hackney's may or may not have had, they were all good looking. Needless to say your family was always a part of the in crowd.

Well I appreciate that. Nice of you to say. I would comment more if I had knowledge of who you are but since I don't I will just leave it at that. Maybe you were in the "in" crowd and didn't even know it Maybe there are lots of different "in" crowds depending on who you are friends with. Maybe "in" crowds don't even really exist in a place like Haysi....you just hang out with who you hang out with...i dunno.

Yea but Jamie come on would you have dated someone who didn't fit in with your criteria? Someone who was not in the same "Class" standing as you? Would you have dated someone your friends didn't agree with?...No I think not...even if you were madly in love with the girl..it had to do with social standings.

I'm not answering for Jamie but I think thats about dating in general. We tend to date people with whom we have things in common. Does this usually lead to just dating in one's own group? Usually, but its that way regardless of which group your coming from (athletic, outdoors, academic, humor, etc)

Well thank you for your input but I was refering to Jamie. He could have had a million things in common with her and just because she wasn't up to his and his friends social standards then he would not have dated her!

Well, I have to disagree. Jamie and I dated and then married. When I first met Jamie, I have to say that I did not think that I was within his “Class” standing. I was not the most popular girl in school nor did I wear name brand clothing etc… Jamie had to come to my house for 4 months before we could go out on a real date. Jamie is a wonderful caring person. Although, we divorced several years back, we remained friends because Jamie holds no grudges. I knew Jamie from a very personal level and he never judged anyone by their looks, social class,etc. and never cared about what others thought of him (remember the yellow car you drove forever and never was ashamed that it backfired every time you turned it off). I am just unsure how you can perceive judgment on someone’s heart. You really don’t know him at all.

I can see you still love him and it's a shame something as beautiful as that got messed up.

Oh Lord let's not get that started on here!

I do agree with you on one thing and that is I do love Jamie and always will, however, there is a difference in loving someone and being in love with them. I just felt that I know him well enough to see that he does not pick his friends/girlfriends by class “Standing” as someone put it. Not everyone who gets a divorce hates each other.

I guess this was an attack since you don't like your "cousin" very well. I can say the same thing about Amber as I did about Jamie in my previous post.

some don't trust me on this. I see it every day.

I guess it is a good thing you left since you're too good for anyone here.

Sorry I'm actually still around.

Then what was that statement all about? I don't understand? If you're still here, does it mean that you don't think much of yourself.

I guess she had to go all the way to Grundy or Clintwood to find better men. LOL!

I remember you dating someone from Haysi!

really?

..

no D.J. didn't play football that I remember. We dated for 5 months and never kissed! Isn't that funny? D.J. more like my brother/bff than anything.

Thank you for the nice post. My parents always told me to be kind to others and do right by them. I think I tried to do that as a teenager, but we all know we make stupid mistakes.

Honestly, if my dad didn't hold the position he did in the school system I would question if I would have been in the popular group. I tried to make sure I wasn't associated with any "one" group of individuals. I liked every one. All us Yates girls had a blast in homeroom throughout high school. At the same time I enjoyed journlism and all the different sports I played. In everything I did there was different groups that I hung out with. I didn't get to walk hand and hand with the boy(s) I wanted to in high school. I seem to me they were either ashamed or just wanted to talk to me over the phone.

Anyway, no pitty party here. I loved high school and enjoyed it. I just thought it was interesting what that one person wrote. Not all homecoming queens are bad. Some of us are nice.

For me life began well after high school. I had always planned to come home and teach after college. Upon meeting my husband I found that God had different plans for me. Not too long ago I thought I would be coming home to teach again, but once again God showed me He has a plan.

My last point is directed at the person who wrote about people growing up after graduation. High school is a small portion of life. I don't think you learn to live until after you have children. My children have opened my eyes to God's gifts. I have lived a blessed life. I had wonderful parents, a wonderful family, I married a well educated man with big dreams (his only down fall he's from Clintwood) and I have two beautiful children. I'm truly thankful. In all of that I can still look at my life and see things that I don't have what others do. It's human nature to want what others have. My dream to live closer to home or at home will never happen for us. I need to learn to be thankful for what I have and not what I don't.

very well put Amber

It seems as though some of you posting here really didn't take time to get to know Amber and are just passing judgement. I was blessed to be able to call both Amber & D.J. my friends. You can say what you want because I know Amber can withstand it & show she is a better person. Yes, she was the principal's daughter but you know that really made it harder for her. Everyone looked at her & watched everything she did because of that. I wasn't one of the popular ones in school but I was blessed by having a wide range of friends; some better off than others, some poorer than others, some that were well respected by others & some that was the butt of others jokes. While in school - I never made the cheerleading squad, was on the homecoming court or played any sports but that has not changed who I am today. I love Haysi with a passion, the only reason I moved away was to find a good job. But it is sad that alot of people who graduated from Haysi can't seem to let go of the past. I know I am rattling on but it just pissed me off to hear some of you putting down a person that always looked on the inside not the outside (otherwise she would have never picked me as a friend).

Amber, I really like your post and appreciate it. Although you are several years younger than me, I remember you well. It is GREAT to see a positive post about the town and I agree with you totally about Haysi. I am glad things are going well for you. What you said reminds me of a quote from Robert Murray McCheyne: "That place where the Lord sees fit to place me, must ever be the best place for me." My heart was always in Haysi when I was away, but knowing that God is with us no matter where we are is a comfort. I hope you can get back home sometime, you would be a great asset to our community and school.

To Country Gurl and Allison.

We had some good times didn't we Country Gurl? If we could only go back...all the youth group trips and church picnics! I miss ya honey! We should have a youth group reunion! Ha, wouldn't that be funny? Hope all is well with you.

Believe me Allison, if I had the opportunity to come back and work in our community I would. I'd love to bring my experiencesback to Haysi. I'm always telling my dad about the different events here. I make sure to go into great detail of who plans it and who organizes it. I'm trying to plant a seed. Maybe he'll be able to pass them along to the right person. Hopefully one day some of them will be implemented into the community and county.

Amber, I agree with your posts. You and I have been best friends since high school and there are many reasons why. It wasn't about being popular to get on the homecoming court or prom queen, it was about taking time to talk to everyone in our class and showing no prejudice. In my opinion, that is being popular. When people respect you becasue you have earned it. I never dated any of the football players or attend parties after the games. I did get on the homecoming court twice and to me it was an honor, not a public show of popularity. Looking back at the past homecoming queens I have to say that most of the girls were really sweet people.

If I remember correctly I went out with both of you girls at one time or another and was married to one of you. I played football. Am I missing something? Where is all the talk about staying away from football players coming from, lol? Is there something wrong with dating a guy who plays football? I also thought you dated Chuck Childress didn't you Amber? Chuck played football as well. Anyway my 2 cents is why dog a girl for dating a football player? We like girls too, lol

Dear Jamie,
I don't think you could call our relationship dating. Do you? We never went out on a date. I think you were too afraid to ask my dad. Hehe. Yes, you played football, but I was young and didn't exactly know what dating was. I would have gone out to the movies with you. You never ask. So no, I don't think we dated. We "talked".

As far as Chuck goes...well, that was after he graduated. He dated Wendy through most of high school. His senior year he skipped around a little. I did't come along until the following year.

Thanks for the LOVELY memories though! I'm just kidding. I habor no ill feelings towards him or you. I guess you both turned out to be pretty good people! He he.

ps..yes, as far as I know you did marry my best girl friend Kim! Ha! Did you guys date while you were in school or after you graduated?

I guess it all depends on what you consider dating or what your definition is. I didn't say we dated in my previous post I said we "went out"....but now that I think about it if you set a "date", time and place to go see someone that you have a romantic interest in that would technically fall under the definition of a date...if you do it more that once that would be "dating" lol, anyway the point I was trying to make is that a person should be able to date whomever they want in high school without regard to what sports they do or do not play.

I went out with Kim after I had graduated but while she was still in school. I was not a member of Haysi's football team at the time but even when a guy has graduated they still have many friends and former teammates that are still in school playing...I'm sure it was the same way with Chuckie.

Jamie when I dated you, you were a has been! I was talking about football players that were in school. LOL......As I remember Chuck Childress was a has been also when Amber dated him.

All time classic comeback.

lol...yeah that was a pretty good one. i guess it's true that i'm not as good as i once was but it's also true that i'm as good once as i ever was

OK guys and gals, popularity, personality, athletic, and good looks, in the 90's. Who were you're all time favs. Girls and Guys, lets name em.................

I'm going to go with Cindy Crawford or Cathy Ireland. 80's would be Christy Brinkley or Elle McPherson.

I think you were referring to folks who attended HHS in the 90's, am I correct? The person below named famous folks, I think there confused or I am one. ;D

Well yeah but in your case it would be because of who your dad is.

but I hope you are not referring to me when you use the comment "because of who your dad was". That's rude and uncalled for. I've ignored you long enough. If you have some thing to say just say it.

Yea I was Amber we are cousins and it's a shame that you don't even acknowledge me just because I'm not up to your standards....when your brother does.

Family Feud. I'll play Richard Dawson and lay a few kisses

I actually had somebody tell me one time that I was in the "in crowd" when I was in school. My mom was on disability, I came from a broken home, and usually walked around without a penny in my pocket. But just because I played sports and had friends that did I was considered by this person and her friends to be stuck up, and be a person of priveledge somehow. I never dated a popular girl, although I have patted Jamie Hackney on the butt a few times. (but that was before he was a has been). BIG lol. And for the love of god I was a big fat ugly tackle, Not exactly a glory position. Although we all know people that are stuck on themselves, most of us were just kids. And like all kids we had our groups of friends. As an adult I find that most people who considered their self an outsider were not really considered that by anyone else. Just my opinion.

I agree with your post TP...good observation. BTW I still enjoy the butt pats from time to time even in my old age

OK guys, in your opinion, who through the best parties when you were in school? I thought of this when someone mentioned after game parties in an earlier post. I graduated in '98, so this may be a ? for some of the younger ones. No offence to the "older generation" Lmao!

If you graduated in '98 you're not exactly a spring chicken You graduated in the same decade I did and I'm referred to on here as being "OTH"

Well I have thought about it and now i am going to sound off.. Was in the same grade as kim and amber. Girls dont fool yourselfs you both were mean and ugly to other people that were not in your ranks. And still are I see you often still and you dont speak dont even look my way so what right.. Dont think you should be on here acting all high and good when you know the truth. And Jamie oh my god Jamie you were a total hottie and still are I even worked with you and you are a really great guy and overall person But back then you were just as bad as these two were. I do not hold grudges so maybe that is why I am a sucessful person, mother,and wife to one of Jamies classmates and fellow old footballers. So thanks for helping me to become the person i am today..