MAIL CALL
from Rebecca “Becky” Carr Errington in Houston
My son, Wade and his wife, Alyson, are expecting twin girls on my birthday, March 8th. Also, I finished physical therapy. I can't raise my arm over my head yet! Very annoying. I have an appointment with a lawyer. Don't know if he will take my case but I'll know by Friday pm. Did I say my arm constantly hurts!!!! AHHHH
from Billy Jordan in Decatur, AL
Living in Alabama for the last fifteen years, I am amazed of the football craziness that goes on here. Of course, we were pretty crazy about football in PA and when I lived in Lufkin
and attended many high school games there was a strong fan following there, also. Living up north for about nine years, I missed that fall frenzy. With the last three National Champions being from Alabama,(Alabama 2, Auburn
1), this state has some high expectations. This year's Alabama
team seems to be a little different so I have enjoyed watching them play. With my alma mater, Texas A&M in the SEC, I now get to see them play more often. When there is an Alabama
home game, the town I live in becomes a quiet one as a lot of people go to the games. Church this past Sunday was half empty.
Roll Tide!! Gig'em Aggies!
from Janette Light Norton in Cypress, TX
First of all, I'm sorry for letting you down by not keeping in touch. As you know, life does not slow down in retirement. So, Richard and I have a precious new grandbaby, Claire, and an exceptional son-in-law, Kurt. During the summer, we all went to Virginia to meet Kurt's dear mom who lives in an assisted living home and she was unable to attend the wedding. On the way, we spent a few days in Charleston, where I got to explore South of Broad, the setting of Pat Conroy's latest books and one of my favorite authors. (Yes, I am a nerd.) The next month we spent a few days at Hilton Head, beautiful, but event-less. We just returned from Lake Tahoe, vacationing with our longtime friends from Bridge
City, Mary and Togo Railey. Although not classmates, they are both educators from Bridge
City and PN-G. I'm sure many of you know them. But when summer ended, I got my dream job: sitting 2 days a week with our granddaughter, Claire. Now 7 months old, she is brilliant, of course, and has her first 2 teeth which show constantly in her giant sunshiny smile. I feel like I'm rambling!
I hope this finds everyone safe and well. Love to all and see you in August, 2013 at the REUNION!
from Shari Louvier Parker in New Boston, TX
(taken off of Face Book)
You have to read this! Now, I am officially a REAL LIVE COUNTRY GIRL! I just killed a huge skunk that had sprayed my dogs. It took me 10 shots with my 347 from 6' to actually hit it and 2 more to kill it. NOW, THAT'S SHOOTIN' GALS! I haven't seen my dogs since. I finally found them cowering in the office under my chair. I guess the loud shots sent them scootin'. NOW, THAT IS A PRODUCTIVE MORNING!!!
from Carolyn Bigler Hebert (Alfred Hebert's wife)
Alfred just won first place in the Rose City Triathlon in Whitehouse in September and first place in the Try Andy's Triathlon in Sugar
Land in October. In August, we went to Vermont
and he qualified for Team USA
to go to LONDON in September, 2013 and represent the US
in the World Sprint Triathlon there. We are excited about that and already making our plans. We will start looking for sponsors soon. I have gone gluten free and losing weight quicker than imagined. Hopefully, when we go to London, it will be with a completely new and smaller-sized wardrobe.
REUNION NEWS
We are excited to be hearing from classmates telling us that they are “hopefully” coming to our reunion next Aug. 2-4 weekend. Send me your name so Mike can include it on the website front page. It is under the RSVP list. It is not a list set in concrete, so don't PANIC! It just gives us an idea of how many and also allows others to get excited about who they can see when they show up, also. We have added new names to the list each website update twice monthly.
We are making a list of caterers to choose from for the event. If you know of a local caterer that you have used or one that was special at an event you attended, forward us the name of the person or company. We'll throw them into the mix.
We are also making a list of possible DJ's. Do the same as above if you know any that you really like.
The committee received a donated 1968 annual for the silent auction at our 40th reunion. We hope to get another one donated for this reunion. We had a lot of fun with this last time with a bidding war going on. Contact me if you have an extra one to donate. The proceeds go in the reunion fund.
HURRICANE SANDY (aka FRANKENSTORM....the PERFECT STORM!)
So sad. I sent a note to several classmates that lived in the area that I felt might have been affected. I received back notes from several of them.
from Mary Ann Johannesen Ferguson in Sterling,
Massachusetts
Thanks for checking on us. For most of Massachusetts, we missed the brunt of this storm.
from Mary Bruchmiller Neal in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine
All is well here in Maine. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
from Charles Cramer in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
Thanks for the note. We are doing fine. We had 80 mph winds and tons of rain. Fortunately, we moved to a new home in a 3 year old subdivision, so we had no big trees to blow down. Thank goodness we weren't in our old house with its 80 foot trees in the backyard. I would have been up all night with my chainsaw in hand. We were blessed. Some of my friends weren't so lucky. I was at one's house Tuesday setting up my generator for him. He had a tree go down and it took out a power line. He and 1,200 of his neighbors won't have power for at least a week.
from Gail Wilson Felker in Alexandria, Virginia
Thanks for the note checking up on us. Prayers are always appreciated. We are fine. We were without electricity for about 7 hours, but that was the worst of it for us. Compared to what happened in New Jersey
and New York, we got off easy. I saw a couple of trees down as we were driving around yesterday, and we had a ton of leaves plastered to the side of our house, but we're fine! Thanks again.
from Phillip Romero in New York City, NY
Although many very destructive events have occurred, I've been safe & dry with power, as has been my med-student daughter and her boyfriend in New Jersey. I am going back to a full schedule and am looking forward to getting out! All the best and thank you for your prayers!
I have NOT heard from the following classmates:
Peggy Johnson Baskerville in Baltimore, Maryland
Donald Landry in Brigantine, New Jersey
Bruce Meyer in Cranford, New Jersey
Susan Grimes in Foster, Rhode Island
Susan Hardcastle Beaty in Phoenix, Maryland
James Leland Hebert in Waldorf, Maryland
Linda James Louvier in Palmerton, Pennsylvania
I certainly hope for the best and pray that they were out of harm's way. If you were in the storm's path, please let us hear from you. Our thoughts are with you.
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
I haven't written anything for this column lately. I figure you get sick of hearing the same story....just another chapter!!! My sister has been really suffering with depression for the last couple of months but, as of this last weekend, seems to have turned the corner!!! I brought her to Shangri La in Orange, TX. This is the time of the year when they have the “scarecrow exhibits”...75 in all, along the trails. The gardens were beautiful. She really had a great time except has trouble walking very long ways due to her dementia and I am thinking possibly mild Parkinsons disease. Thank for the prayers. Keep them coming. Dad had some tests done and was found to have neuropathy in his feet and we are running some extensive blood work to see what might be the cause. He and my mom would have celebrated their 72 anniversary this weekend. She has been gone 2 ½ years now. I still have trouble with holidays, but it is getting better. I am now thinking more of my fun times of her during the holidays instead of being without her during the holidays!!! Ernie Castaneda Bullion, husband Ron, Murphy and I went to Nutty Jerry's to a Creedance Clearwater Revival concert. Loved the music! It was definitely Murphy's favorite when we were dating from 1970-1973 . I was always the classic Country Music fan myself. Carla Castro and her husband, Ricky Stewart was also at the concert on the front row! Carla sure loves to party! Murphy took off today to go to the deer lease for OPENING WEEKEND! He doesn't go far....to Weirgate,
TX, about an hour and 20 minutes away. Last year we gave all the deer sausage away to the relatives thinking he would get more than ONE DEER! NOPE. We will be a little wiser this year. He is not too far away, but just right! “-) We had over 325 trick or treaters this year. The little bitties are so cute. But, Murphy woke up to find that our Tundra had been EGGED! One of the eggs actually took the paint off. Sure wish I could have seen the idiots that did it. Don't know what I would have done, though.
SUPPORT
(an update on Molly Bigler Gerald from Carolyn Bigler Hebert)
My sister, Molly Bigler Gerald, is now home but she is not out of the woods yet. Her left leg is still very constricted. Physical therapy has stopped due to insurance calling the shots but in November, Medicare will kick in. She had her hair styled into a shag like in the 1960's which is how it was when Gary
met her. She really likes our visits, especially from me....her big sister. I have made memory books and recently I made an 18 month memory calendar using pictures I took of her craft room and the entry way to her home. She loves cats, has one, and has been to London several times. She has memorabilia of London in her home.
from Florence “Sissie” Woods Kilcrease in Pineland
With the death of my dad in August, things just haven't been good lately. I am dealing with work and trying to deal with a grief stricken parent when I get off of work in Orange. I am burning the candle at both ends. Because of all of this, I am sadden that I will not be able to continue to be on the reunion planning committee any longer for this reunion! Please keep me and my family in your prayers.
sissiekilcrease@aol.com
(update on Arlette Sonnier Guidry's husband, Tony)
Thanks to all of you for your response to my post on FB about Tony. The cards you are sending touch his heart so much, please don't stop. His comment this weekend on the new cards sent was, “I though they would have forgotten about me by now, guess not. God has truly blessed me that people care so much.” Tears ran down his face at your precious comments in these cards. I thanked God that I could witness this sweet spirit that shines on my husband's face and all of that for each person taking the time to send a simple card to let him know how much he means to you and that you are continuing to pray for him daily. God bless all of you. His visiting hours are 5-8 during the week and 8-8 on weekends. He might not remember that you visited him tomorrow YET....it is a memory you will never forget knowing that you and he have been touched by God.
from Harold Erixon in Liberty Hill, TX
Our son is heading to Afghanistan
from November through May. Please pray for his safe return.
harolderixon@hotmail.com
(a note from Mary Wells about Skippy Cole)
I heard from Skippy's brother, Charles, that Skippy has the West Nile Virus. Please send him your well wishes.
Enoch “Skip” Cole
600 Sharon Lane
Alexandria, LA
71303
CONDOLENCES
Doing research on our spreadsheet trying to confirm classmate addresses, we learned of the passing of one of our own....KENNETH ODNEAL. Since Mike and I didn't know at the time it happened, we were unable to report it on our website update. So, I am asking you again.....PLEASE contact me when there is a death of a classmate, a classmate's spouse or their parent or their child or sibling. We don't report on in-laws because I wouldn't have time to try to keep up with those. I wish I did. I would rather have 10 people contact me about a death than NO ONE. As of this time, 88 known classmates have passed away, 18 more than at our last reunion in Aug. 2008!!!!. Please take the time to look at the MEMORIAL section and pray for their families they left behind.
KENNETH KEITH ODNEAL
November 1, 1949 – August 29, 2011
Please take the time to drop me a line. I am scraping the bottom of the barrel. If you like reading my NEWSLETTERS about our classmates, don't ASSUME someone else will write to me. Begging is not beneath me, but I don't really like it! “-(
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com