REMEMBRANCES FROM THE GOTCHA GIRLS

By: Linda Abbott
I was fortunate to have grown up in two very unique regions of this country. I was born in the Midwest in Iowa where I lived until the sixth grade when my father was transferred to Texas City in August of 1959. I began seventh grade at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School. The southern drawl was different at first but
now I’m told even I have an accent. One thing I noticed was the people were very
friendly in Texas. I have many good memories of friends like Sylvia Granitelli, Janet Jones, Agnes Martin. One of the highlights while attending Fatima was the opportunity to witness the ceremony when Sister Lorraine, our teacher, received her final vows for the religious life at the Convent in Houston. Another highlight of that year was the snowfall on Valentine’s Day in February of 1960. My family and I weren’t as excited as everyone else because we were used to snow and cold weather. The fall of 1961 was my first experience in public schools. I loved the changing of classes and teachers every hour at Blocker. The football games with the marching band were so much fun too. Wonderful teachers like Mrs. Mabry, Mrs. Blocker and Mr. Eyre prepared me for high school. During the first weeks of 9th grade Hurricane CARLA slammed into the Gulf Coast, and interrupted our school year. My parents were unfamiliar with what to do about the threat of a hurricane. My dad thought he would stay at home and try to salvage things. So, he and Tom Mackey, our next door neighbor, evacuated our family along with the Mackey family to the holiday in on Wayside in Houston. Tom and dad tried to
stay, but the water came up so fast that they decided to leave. They waded in chest deep water to Loop #197 where they were rescued in a truck by one of Tom’s employees. School was closed for three weeks while families tried to rebuild and recover their lives and homes. Our house had 28 inches of water in it just enough to make it a dirty, smelly mess. My sister Peggy and I pitched in to help clean
and get the house livable again. Pine-O-Pine will forever haunt my senses.Because
our backyard was fenced on three sides, the open end became a collection of trash and debris. Rita Schaper was in all my classes, and she and I developed a close friendship during the weeks following Carla. I learned one day that she lived just down the street when she happened to walk by our house. We were partners in crime from then on. In the summer Rita and I played on the same softball
team. Our parents would come to the games to support us, but I really think they came for the humor. I could hit the ball and catch it but I couldn’t run. Rita, who was in the line-up after me, was taller and could run fast. In fact she would almost run over me. 1962! Finally High School! Our sophomore year brought new faces as we joined the students from Levi Fry. Many of us became good friends and went to dancesat the Nessler Center and the Elks Club in La Marque. The Pep Squad trips were a blast. Some gals played Ukes while others sang. We all thought we could sing, but that wasn’t always the case. Such good memories were made, especially our senior year with all the activities. Our friendships are so memorable
and still alive….Rita, Donna Spurlock, Cheryl Jordan, JoAnn Herrin, Dianna Wisdom, Brenda Matthews, Kathy McQueeney, Mignon Gilbert, Linda Brooks……
and so many more. Thank the Lord for the GOTCHAS! In 1966 I moved to Iowa to live with my sister and brother-in-law. Two years later my brother-in-law was
transferred, so in 1968 I moved to Indianapolis with my parents. My father was transferred there, and two years later he was transferred back to Texas City. It was then I found my future husband, Tom Abbott, who is also a graduate of TCHS. We were married in 1971, have two wonderful sons, Tommy and Trey, and a granddaughter, Kendall….LIFE IS GOOD! Linda (Fosdick) Abbott lives in Seabrook Texas with her husband, Tom. She cares for her granddaughter. She
is also a member of St Mary Catholic Church/serves on several committees.