For some people, high school memories are not always so sweet. In fact, when I received Steven Lester‘s painful story, I wasn’t sure he wanted to share it with the rest of the class. As a matter of fact, you won’t even find his picture with the rest of the senior class photos in the Ceralbus. But after several email exchanges, this is what he wants to share about his lonely years in high school:
Steven Lester in the 11th grade.
Steven Lester today
“At a time when nobody even talked about it or knew what it was, including myself, it seems that I was gay; and at a time when the condition had not even been given a name yet, I also was possessed by Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a high-performing form of autism, from earliest childhood. I was strange, but I’m afraid that I couldn’t help it. I was what I was, and am today as well, although I am more self-accepting these days than I have been in the past.
This is why I missed the 30th and 40th reunions, because I still have little in common. . . I never did anything with any of you socially or athletically, and never romantically (as if that were actually possible with my autism). I have never been married nor have had any children, so what would there have been to talk about? I might make it to the 50th, though. The way we are all dying off so suddenly these days, I would like to see the survivors at least one more time before my own inevitable demise.
I am no longer embarrassed by what I am, mostly because those conditions have become much more socially acceptable as we have entered into the “enlightened” 21st century.
Steven lives in Des Moines, WA.
Forty-five years later, Steven lives in a small town south of Seattle and works many hours overtime as a county public bus driver, a career that has spanned over twenty years. He travels throughout the Western U.S. every chance he gets. His favorite places to visit include Sandpoint, ID where he enjoys train watching; Lava Hot Springs, ID for people-watching, and Portland, OR where he has dinner with a friend once a month.
I was most interested to learn that Steven even taught himself how to play the organ at one point in his life (remember, I’m one of those ‘dinosaurs’ who play the organ) because he loved the dramatic sound of the pipe organ. Unfortunately he stopped playing “decades ago” because of the challenge of starting at a late age.
As to the yearbook, Steven says that there was a very small photo of him in the back row of the Junior Varsity football team. He was the head manager of both teams and when it came time for photos, Steve Armstrong insisted that he be in the picture. For that, he is thankful.
He remembers that he and Lark Ziegler were classmates from Kindergarten and she always seemed to be the “most lady-like and smartest girl around.” He also sang in the choir during the graduation ceremony, “Song of Democracy” (yes, I remember this piece well!) In fact Mr. Hall threatened him with not being able to graduate if he DIDN’T sing with the choir! He also remembers the operetta, “The Lowland Sea,” as he was one of three sailors who sang “Haul Away” while pulling on an imaginary rope.
Steven, thank you for connecting with us.
Burbank High Class of 1968 