Colcord High School Class of 1999

I've seen it asked several times now, so I thought I'd make a post here about it. Our class colors are black and white.

Yes, our school colors were blue and white, along with, at the time, the increasing and somewhat controversial, red (but that's the topic of another post).

If you recall, we had a class meeting where we picked our class colors, class motto, and class flower. In our apparent attempt to represent our subversive and disruptive qualities, we picked "black and white" for the colors and "we won't back down" for the motto.

And I suppose we felt the need to balance all that subversiveness, because we picked the "yellow rose" -- a symbol of friendship -- for our class flower.

But upon deeper inspection, the choice of colors turns out to have more meaning than we probably realized at the time. The Wikipedia article on the topic of Black and White Dualism mentions, among other things, the symbology of opposites, and the dichotomy of day and night and good and evil.

Our motto, well, I'm not sure of the exact origin. Most of my googling turns up music from 2004 and later. I like to believe we were thinking of the song I Won't Back Down, one of Tom Petty's first singles, released ten years prior. I particularly enjoy Pearl Jam's cover.

Well I know what's right, I got just one life
in a world that keeps on pushin' me around
but I'll stand my ground, and I won't back down

I think this song goes perfectly with the Good and Evil concept of our class colors. "I know what's right" says the lyrics, "and I won't back down."

Changing the "I" to "We" is appropriate given the final piece, the yellow rose, which represents friendship and platonic love. Perhaps we knew that standing up to the world and all the bad in it would require more than just resolve. Friendship is key.

So I think these three things tie together quite nicely, and while I don't find much wisdom in many of the choices we made back then, I continue to find value and enlightenment in these three.

Editor's Note: I must apologize to Amber and Tony for the massive delay in getting this interview up on the website. It seems I misplaced Amber's original answers from back in February, and just this month realized I had goofed. On the positive side, I'm certain you'll be touched by the story of little “Emmy” and the Anderson's life-changing events from the last few months. — Tim M.

So what are you up to these days? Where do you work? Do you enjoy it?

I am still living in the Colcord area with my husband, Tony. We live on 180 acres on Flint Creek (bordering New Life Ranch to the west) where we raise Black Angus cattle. I have been working as a Chiropractic Assistant/Office Administrator for Dr. Denise Chandler in Siloam Springs for almost 5 years now. I absolutely LOVE my job and can’t imagine doing anything else.

Who did you marry and how/where did you meet them? Any special stories together?

I am married to Tony Anderson (Colcord class of 1998). When people who knew both Tony and I in high school find out that we’re married now, they always ask, “How did that happen?” Tony and I ran in very different circles in high school and while I was Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes, he was a bad boy: to put it mildly. I knew who Tony was but that was about it. I don’t think we ever even spoke one word to each other when we were in school, but being the Chevy girl that I am, I always admired his ’69 Nova from afar and was quite fond of his long hair.

Shortly after I began working for Dr. Chandler back in 2004, he walked through the door for an appointment and the moment I saw him, I thought to myself, “I know that guy”. He was apparently thinking the same thing because as he was leaving the office, he asked me if I went to Colcord. When I said yes we were finally able to place one another. We were always friendly to each other when he would come in for appointments but it never really went any further (partly because I could lose my job for dating a patient). But then one day I was on my way home and I saw someone riding a four-wheeler on the dirt road near my house and when I got closer I saw that it was Tony so I stopped to say hello. He asked me what I was doing in his neck of the woods and I said that I just lived about a mile down the road. He informed me that he just lived about a mile down the road in the opposite direction. We were neighbors and we didn’t even know it!

From then on, when he would come in the office, he would always tease me when he left saying things like, “Come see me, neighbor!” but he would never ask me out. I was getting increasingly frustrated (but being the southern lady that I am, I don’t ask guys out, I wait for them) and one night as I was closing the office, the phone rang. As a rule, when the clock strikes 6 o’clock, I DO NOT, under any circumstances, answer the office phone. I figure if they’re calling after 6, they can wait until tomorrow! But for some strange reason, I picked up the phone and guess who was on the other line? Tony! He had finally gotten up the courage to ask me out and we hung out that night at his house, riding his four-wheeler, checking his cows, shooting pistols, looking at fish in the creek. I came home completely covered in cow crap but I could’ve cared less. I knew that at the very least, I had found an awesome new friend.

Little did I know then, he was the person I believe God put on this earth especially for me and before we knew it, we were inseparable. We were married on July 7, 2007 with several Class of ’99 alumni in attendance. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful to God for letting me answer that phone! And the best part is: I didn’t get fired after all!

Any kids?

Tony and I welcomed our precious baby girl, Emmaline Elizabeth (aka Emmy) on June 18, 2009. She was born 11 weeks premature and as I write this, she is 10 weeks old and currently still in the hospital. I had several hurdles to jump during my pregnancy due to my diabetes, hypertension and thyroid issues, so we knew going into it that I would have a high-risk pregnancy. I developed preeclampsia during the 29th week of my pregnancy and was flown from Fayetteville to Little Rock for an emergency c-section.

Emmy weighed just 2 lbs. and 1 oz. when she was born and spent 4 weeks at UAMS in Little Rock before she was strong enough to be transferred to Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson (where she is currently) but she has been a fighter from the get-go and is doing wonderful! She just has to get a little bigger and learn how to feed from a bottle before we can bring her home.

If anyone is interested, I have a blog that chronicles my pregnancy and life with Little Miss Emmy at: amberandtony.blogspot.com. We would appreciate everyone’s prayers for our new little family!

Any adventures or excursions or vacations you'd like to tell us about?

Because of the responsibilities of our farm, Tony and I don’t get the opportunity to travel that much but we did take a trip a couple of months before we were married to Phoenix (where my sister lives) and Las Vegas. Tony had never flown before so that was an experience in and of itself. We drove across the Hoover Damn and got to ride the world’s tallest thrill ride at the Stratosphere in Vegas. I LOVE Vegas but both us much prefer the green trees and hills of Oklahoma to the desert. We do try and make it up to Branson at least once a year, even if it’s just for the day. We love visiting Silver Dollar City because we can both just be big kids for a day.

What has been the most valuable lesson you've learned since high school?

In high school, I was very conscious of how others viewed me and what they thought of me. Now that I’m older (and hopefully at least a little wiser), I’ve realized that it’s what I think and how I feel about myself that really matters. My happiness lies in my own hands, not in someone else’s. I’m the only one that can determine my self-worth.

If one of your classmates could know just one thing about your life in the last 10 years, what would it be?

That I have grown up and learned a lot since my days at CHS, but deep-down, I’m still that same bubbly cheerleader who loves to laugh.

If you could tell a current senior one thing, what would it be?

Don’t get caught up in everyone’s drama and don’t ever let anyone get away with making you feel like crap about yourself. Even if you think your life is horrible now, I guarantee you, in 10 years you’d love to have the chance to do it all over again so enjoy it while you can!

Would you share a favorite memory from high school?

What stands out in my mind the most is cheering for our incredible football team. I have so many memories of Friday nights cheering on the sidelines while the mighty Hornets were kicking the crap out of the opposing team. Football Homecoming Senior year was amazing. I was so honored to be chosen Homecoming Attendant. I felt like a princess!

And, most importantly, what is your favorite song from the nineties? And your favorite movie?

That’s a tough question! Just ask the girls on the cheerleading squad who used to laugh at me when I’d ask Dr. Hall to turn up the radio in the school van on the way to games because “my favorite song” was playing. Every song seemed to be my favorite! My favorite movie, on the other hand, is easy: “Titanic.” Come to think of it, my favorite song would probably have to be the theme from Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion.

What can I say, I’m a sap!

My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion (Live In Vegas: A New Day)

Hey class of 1999! We want to hear your story!

Since the beginning of this year, we've been interviewing your peers and posting the results here, and some interesting and juicy details have come to light this way. For instance, we confirmed that Kelly still likes sappy Shenandoah songs, and just last week, we learned that Casey has sells gas. How else would you learn such interesting facts about your classmates?

Now it's time for you to give back... your turn to be interviewed.

If you're up for it, please shoot us an email at 1999@colcord.us. We especially need more dude interviews. This space is dude deficient.

We'll be in touch. Please don't make us hunt you down.

So what are you up to these days? Where do you work? Do you enjoy it?

I live in Yukon, OK which is just west of Oklahoma City. I have been married to the only man that could put up with me. We have been married since May 2003.

I work for Clearwater Enterprises which is an Oil and Gas Production company. I have been here for 5 years. I am the Gas Sales Manger. I sell natural gas to end users and help them save money. I love my job, who wouldn‘t; I am helping people save money. They love me!! I have lots of freedom and I must say I am really good at shooting the breeze with people.

Who did you marry and how/where did you meet them? Any special stories together?

I actually met my husband [Chad] the summer of my freshman/sophomore year of college. My girlfriends and I were at Lake Tenkiller and here swims up this hot guy with tattoos, Oakley‘s and his hat on backwards. One of friends warned me about him. I thought...yippie, a challenge. So here we are almost 6 years later and I tamed that challenge. He is my better half. He is a wonderful man whom I love dearly. The Lord has brought me my sole mate.

Tell us about your kiddos. What have you learned while being a parent?

I have a 3 year old son named Tayber Allen and I have a 3 month old daughter named Lydia Grace. I must say that I always thought that parenting would come naturally to me. I have loved kids since I was a kid. Let me just tell you that being a parent has been the most challenging and wonderful thing I have ever done. They are the light of my life. I never knew I could love someone so much and would give everything I had for my children. They have made me to be unselfish and enjoy life so much more. I love seeing life through the eyes of a child.

Any adventures or excursions or vacations you'd like to tell us about?

I must I haven‘t been on a vacation since we had Tayber. Prior to having him, he would go to Mexico two times a year. Here is my response....”What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico.”

What has been the most valuable lesson you've learned since high school?

I have learned that no matter how time flies or where you move to, the friends you are closest to, you still love just as much, maybe even more. That the good Lord is the most important thing in life and family is the greatest blessing.

If one of your classmates could know just one thing about your life in the last 10 years, what would it be?

That I am still the same “Crazy Casey”. My husband calls me that too. (I‘m sure not with the same meaning.) I am still a kid at heart and I love life.

If you could tell a current senior one thing, what would it be?

Even though you think that moving away from your friends will be the end of the world... it‘s not. There is such a great life journey that lies ahead that will bring you closer to your closest friends than you ever thought about in high school. Life changes people, some for the better some for the worst. It‘s a wonderful part of life that makes us who we are. Enjoy the ride, have fun and remember....College is wonderful. You only go to class for a few hours a day, party all night and still have off spring break, fall break, Christmas break...break after break after break and don‘t have to take “Vacation Days”. So enjoy life!!

And, most importantly, what is your favorite song from the nineties?

“Back that thang up” by Juvenile, Featuring Mannie Fresh and Lil' Wayne. Oh the memories.

I received this letter, addressed to our class from Mr. Turlington, our high school principal for many years (click to enlarge):