September 30, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 170 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE EASTSIDE GIRLS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2020

  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer a tribute to 15 
remarkable women who through their 65 year relationships with each 
other is a story itself; but, I believe, might also offer a way to 
carry many of us through this tumultuous time of economic upheaval, 
tragic illness and death, and riots in our streets where we have lived 
peacefully all these years.
  Their belief in each other has allowed them to love and share 
tragedies and disappointments. Their lifetime of friendships and 
memories help them to remember to laugh and make time together.
  Melany Burton Davis remembers what she recalls as one of the scariest 
days of her life at age 10, when she had to go to a new elementary 
school. ``Little did I know that the precious girls I met that day were 
going to be lifelong friends. Each of them made me feel not just 
accepted but valued and loved.''
  She goes on to say, ``Even when we all went our separate ways for 
decades, whenever we got together I had the same feelings of being 
valued and loved. These beautiful girls always bring joy to my heart, 
and I am blessed to have them in my life.''
  They are often asked, ``How do they do that?''
  Jackie Nantz Kelly, one of the women, answered, ``Where to start? How 
do you describe a 70-year friendship?
  We started in two different elementary schools that merged into the 
same junior high school where it all began. We grew closer in high 
school, but went our separate ways in college. We married, had 
children, some divorced and had struggles of single parent hood, but we 
survived and all of us raised beautiful children. We are all not the 
same religion, but believe in God and we love our country''
  In 1987, 26 years after we graduated high school, we decided it was 
time for a reunion. We remembered our best times were slumber parties 
so that's what we did, Dana Gant Tate sent the invitation and commanded 
for all of us, ``Sleeping bags, pillows and baby doll pajamas or you 
don't come!''
  We had a great time and decided we had to do a better job of keeping 
in touch, and we did.
  We began to travel.
  Tricia Walker Christensen was our historian forth is outing and in 
her words, ``In 2010 we had a great opportunity to celebrate and travel 
when we joined 60 passengers to birth the USS Fort Worth at Mariette 
Marine Corporation. One of our Eastside Girls was Kay Mullendore 
Granger and she was the sponsor of the ship. We watched as she stood 
with her grandsons and smashed a bottle of champagne against the bow of 
the ship. We were proud and excited. We were also holding our breath 
hoping that the hit would be successful. Kay was never athletic, so it 
wasn't a sure thing she could do this.''
  We gathered together for parties and get togethers that others hosted 
and at some point someone suggested we needed a name. Many of us still 
lived in the part of Fort Worth where we had all that fun, so we named 
ourselves ``The Eastside Girls'' for the area we grew up in and that is 
the name we have used for 23 years.
  The slumber parties were a thing of the past until 2001 when Key 
Stevens Richardson invited us to her house in Austin. As Key puts it, 
``After years apart and attempts to get together, we began the 
tradition of reuniting for an annual memorable weekend a tour house. 
Hank, my husband and an Eastside guy, leaves town and our raucous group 
takes over the house. We all talk at once. There is laughter (someone 
suggested we should be called the `The Eastside Cacklers') and there 
are tears.''
  Key's little sister Nancy Stevens Klein is the only one allowed 
outside our class and she adds. ``I'm honored to be included in this 
wonderful group of women who support and inspire each other and in 
doing so make each one of us stronger. I wouldn't miss seeing them 
every year for anything.''
  Laughter is the most important part of this long friendship. Talana 
Hadsell Wier says, ``My very best memories are of the laughter we 
always shared with whatever we did. Sliding down the stairs at Melany's 
house, pep rallies at Eastern Hills High School, talking about our 
boyfriends. And now making it through the good and tough times of 
marriages and raising families. And then being able to once again come 
back to our fun times of memories together.''
  Jaynie Lewis Shaffer says, ``We are each unique and different yet the 
same because of our shared heritage. It is wonderful to be with people 
who knew me then. I don't have to explain anything to them. Like a 
beautiful grand piano with individuals key that emit a beautiful tone 
and perhaps at times may need fine tuning, we make lovely music and 
come together.'' Jaynie spent 30 years at IBM to prepare herself for 
the most important job--technical support for the Eastside Girls.
  Priscilla Willis Coleman was the cutest, most popular and funniest of 
the ``Girls.'' She never misses the August Austin slumber party and is 
the most talkative and gets funnier every year. She added that it is 
important where we have that Austin soiree. ``It is in the hills of 
Austin so we don't disturb anyone, and believe me, a group of women who 
haven't been together all year, all talking at the same time, 
accompanied by a few margaritas and glasses of wine--this can become 
quite loud.''
  During the year we keep in touch by phone. And we text. And Priscilla 
says she imagines we will continue until we can't drive anymore and we 
will take an Uber or a van. But she continues, ``I really love these 
women. We would do anything in our power to help each other. We are 
happy together, sad together, and we pray for each other. We share a 
common bond that knits out lives together.
  We are all in our 70's now, but we will always be the Eastside 
Girls.''

                          ____________________