Senior cords

This past week, I noticed something in the closet I hadn’t thought of in years. I found my “Senior cords.”

Senior cords were unique and once phenomenal, popular among high school seniors.

Senior cords were pants, skirts, and vests made of yellow corduroy. They were decorated in permanent paint, with your name, your school’s name, your graduation year, your boyfriend or girl friend’s name, classmates names, clubs you belonged to or cartoon characters with teachers names underneath; anything near and dear to you in high school.

Senior cords were worn to set you apart from the “lowly” underclassmen and showed you were a revered senior. They mirrored your personality and showed the school you were unique.

I couldn’t wait until I got my senior cords done, so I could wear them to school. The big thing for the boys was to have flames coming up the pant legs. My friend Carla had a senior cord jump suit.

I proudly wore my culottes and vest displaying “I’m a Little Off My Rocker” on the back, with a cartoon character next to my rocking chair. The vest had all my friends names on it. All of my high school accomplishments were displayed in paint for all to see and read as I walked through the school.

The tradition began to die out in late 70’s when schools began consolidating and because people began to question traditional involvement in ceremonies and rituals. The fad simply died out, although I hear that one or two high schools in Indiana still carry on the tradition.

Finding my senior cords brought back fond memories. The grim, but laughable realization that I couldn’t fit into my senior cords any more.

I could sum up the senior cords as a short-lived event in one’s life. It had such an impact on us. They made us fit together as a group, but stand out because it was our last year in high school.

It showed our school spirit, coming and going.

Nancee Harrison is a past columnist for the Greene County Daily World. Visit www.blondeladywithdarkroots.com or email her at blondeladywithdarkroots@gmail.com or send comments to Nancee, Daily World, box 129 Linton IN 47441.