
Atlanta Parade, 1972
A young Rachel Lane, 5, dressed in a solid royal blue sequin baton twirling costume and carrying two batons, was captured by White House photographers during a parade in Atlanta in October 1972. Nixon and the First Lady were on the campaign trail ahead of the November 1972 election. Another majorette in a similiar costume and red vest was also captured grasping hands with First Lady Patricia Nixon. In the background of this photo is a twirler wearing a red, white and blue patriotic gauntlet.
I think the pictures are so lovely and I wanted to share them here. I discovered them in March 2023, and published them on another site I created, The Vintage Twirler. My daughter Bridgette has been a competitive twirler for the past 10 years. I created the site as a way to give back to the long-embattled sport of baton twirling, which we love. Also, as you all know, I love history (one of my college majors) and vintage photography. Working on the site with a couple friends has been pure joy for me. In addition, I was recently invited to join the new Parents Commission for U.S. Twirling. It is such an honor and privilege, especially since I never twirled competitvely. I hope my background in nonprofit management and public relations will be of use to this wonderful organization and sport. It’s destined to become an Olympic sport, and world baton twirling championships have existed for decades. This year they’re in Italy. Hopefully, I’ll see baton twirling in the Olympics in my lifetime.
Finally, my junior high friend Teri who was the head majorette for the Gilmer Buckeyes, is never far from my mind as I consider what twirling has come to mean to our family. Teri, Yamboree Queen forever, died at the age of 27. It didn’t start with Teri though, my love of twirling. But she certainly took it to new heights and I carry her beautiful smile and persona with me all the time. What I wouldn’t give to have a picture of her in her majorette costume, the fiery orange one or the white one with black chainette fringe or the band jacket with military shorts. It was the best of times, my friends.

Air Supply, 50th Anniversary Tour
Last week, my husband Robert and I went to see Air Supply in concert. It’s their 50th anniversary tour and the experience was wonderful. They sang all the songs and as they performed I peered through the dark civic center to see the faces of Generation X. So much time has passed, and much wasted, for all of us. Some sadness stirred around me, but most of all joy and people truly living in the moment. I think Gen-Xers have always been good at that. It was their station in life back in the spring of 1981, when a cover band came to Gilmer Junior High and sang Every Woman In The World.
I’ll leave you with this:
Let me respectfully remind you
Life and death are of supreme importance
Time passes swiftly, and opportunity is lost.
Let us awaken, awaken, take heed:
Do not squander your life.
