Happy Birthday, Michaele!!! I hope you had a great day!!! Hoping you will come visit soon!!!

Furure? But there’s nothing on the right and only red on the left......

08/31/20 11:00 AM

#571

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kris Anderson Shearer, Pam Berry Davis and Butch Colbert. Your class wishes each of you a year of good health, new adventures and happiness like the happiness you have caused others to have. I spoke with KRIS ANDERSON SHEARER a couple weeks ago. She is doing well and keeping busy as the President of the Capitan Library, the only library still open within a hundred miles or so. PAM BERRY DAVIS is our class' wonderful treasurer and so giving to all. Pam is the same sweetie I met in the 5th grade. BUTCH COLBERT recently escaped the most severe consequences of hurricane Laura. Also, Butch was kind enough to meet with other classmates and me when Kathy and I came through Houston area. Oh, by the way, Kathy and I will be back at Lake Conroe the last few days of October to the middle of November.

09/01/20 08:52 AM

#572

William Samuel "Bill" Sloan

Maybe with this much advance notice, we can arrange our calendars and plan another many hours lunch! That was so much fun!

09/04/20 04:15 AM

#573

Happy Birthday Jim and Chuck! I am especially grateful to share this daqy with 2 fantastic gewntlemen! Have a GREAT day. Bill

09/04/20 06:51 PM

#574

Jim,

Happy Birthday to you!!! I hope you have a wonderful day with your bride!!! I hope you will come visit when you and Kathy come to Lake Conroe! We'll see if Michaele will come visit as well!

09/10/20 09:45 PM

#575

William Samuel "Bill" Sloan

DO YOU REALLY CARE? That question has several variations or, as English Professor Betty McCombs Patton would say, "It has ramifications." First, let me address those that are suffering at the moment. We do not know of any classmate having Covid-19 right now, but Wally Reynolds did just lose his sweet wife of 53 years from it.

And did you know that Laurie Shuey Andersen just got to "touch" her husband of 49 years for the first time in six-months? Andy had to be taken in very critical condition from a nursing home to a hospital in order for Laurie to physically touch and rub his arm.

There is hurt going on out there. One of our classmates just completed his Y90 radiation treatment for liver cancer, which might have given him 5 more years (from my internet search), only to find out this week the cancer has now mastascized to three other organs.

Another classmate that everyone also loves is fighting spindle cell carcinoma and is having a horrific battle.

A lady classmate has a nerve problem that when walking outside, a small bit of wind can produce extreme pain since her skin is so sensitive. And do you know that classmate with Lyme Disease, for years every joint in her body hurts? It can be totally debilitating at times. Be glad I am not describing the illnesses that recently

took Margaret Nichols Kuenzler or Sterling Grant. Should I continue further? Heck, who would have guessed, with her past history and dying on the table a couple times, Mardi Gonyea Nicklin would be one of the healthiest in our class?

Others that have died on the table but have been brought back to life include Mary Mauldin Garcia and Gayle Moore Diorio.

Sorry, I hate writing such Debbie Downer messages but I care about these people I grew up with and hope you do too. Classmates generally will NOT let us know what is going on for fear they would be viewed as pandering for sympathy.

That is not true. We want to know if something is going on in your life. We do care so do not be afraid to mention you or your family's conditions, or ask for prayers if you are a believer.

Second, let me ask all classmates, have you tried to look up your friends from high school? If not, why not? If you need help, contact me to help find that person. Also, if you would like someone other than you to advise the class what is going on in your life, then contact (blabbermouth) me then too.

I am traveling, will be in six states within the next 4-6 weeks, and rarely have a good WiFi to work with, but I will try.

Class of '66 (and '65 and '67), YOU ARE THE BEST!

Jim White

09/11/20 11:38 AM

#576

Terry Michael Boone

Jim, very well written with a lot of forethought. You do an excellent job communicating with the group while still respecting some peoples' privacy.. We very much appreciate all the good work that you do for the class.

09/11/20 02:30 PM

#577

Thank you Jim for being the person many of us are willing to share issues with!

09/11/20 02:32 PM

#578

William Samuel "Bill" Sloan

Happy birthday Michaele and wishing you many more travels in the near future. Know we Floridians are always glad to talk with and see you when you pass through.

09/11/20 05:34 PM	#579
Cathy Morris (Rhoades) Happy Birthday to my best friend thru jr high and high school and beyond. You deserve the best!

09/11/20 07:32 PM

#580

Deborah Pike

Dear Jim White,

Thank you for he reset. And for the post about our missing friends. Every year our numbers decreace and we realize that we are "OVER THE HILL" some of us HAVE FAULTY BRAKES and will get there faster than others. But we all need to remember that in the end we will all be there sooner than later. I like to think about the reunion we will have when we all meet there. Sounds to me like we are in a pretty good place. (The nicest part when we get there, all the aches and pains will be gone and we can really enjoy the party.

Debbie

09/12/20 05:30 PM

#581

Thank you Cathy, Bill and Jim for the kind words and birthday wishes!

09/12/20 08:08 PM

#582

Happy Birthday, Michaele!!! I hope you had a great day!!! Hoping you will come visit soon!!!

09/13/20 09:19 AM

#583

Louise Ybarra (Christensen)

Thank you, Karen. I’m thinking about a little trip around the first of November. How’s that sound?

09/13/20 12:33 PM

#584

The fires in California can only be described as devastating. We have some friends who lost their home in the Berry Creek Fire. The whole town of Berry Creek is gone. Population 525. Our friends had gone to Berry Creek for doctor appointments. On their way back home they were stopped on the road being told that the area was on fire. They could not go back to their home. The fire happened on Thursday. They are still not allowed to go see their property. A friend set up a GoFundMe for them. So count your blessings. Losing everything and having to start over is difficult. Take care. Louise

09/14/20 08:57 AM

#585

Margaret W. "Peggy" Ware (Koger)

Thank you Bill Leggett. I’m sure that living anywhere in California, fires are on everyone’s mind. I have a granddaughter (who is pregnant) in Palo Alto and a stepson in Tacoma and we worry about them all the time. I know a lot of my classmates live on the west coast and I hope everyone stays safe during these awful times.

09/14/20 09:42 AM

#586

Thanks for the medical updates, Jim. I am sure most of those people don't want to be mentioned, but I would love to put my prayer warriors to work. They are mighty powerful! God bless them all!
And, as an aside...aging sucks, but it's better than the alternative. My brother, Patrick, who is going to have aortic valve transplant surgery tomorrow, says "Life is Terminal". Kinda sums it up.
Louise , so glad to hear you are safe! Those fires are devastating and I am so sad for your friends.
Between the horrendous heat here this summer and quarantine, Fred and I were feeling really blue. So, we decided to rescue a dog. This cutie has been such a godsend.

Stay well, friends and classmates!

09/14/20 10:28 AM

#587

Michaele,

Early Nov. sounds good!!! Looking forward to seeing you!!!

Karen

09/14/20 11:53 PM

#588

Have you been watching Hurricane Sally? Sally is headed right towards our beloved musician, BOBBY ALLISON. Below is a picture I made from Bobby's balcony. His condo is that close to the Gulf of Mexico. Bobby and Ernie lost a lovely home in a prior hurricane. This one is to bring surges up to 10-11 feet, not to mention up to 20 inches of rain. As you know, Bobby is in a wheelchair so not real mobile. He and Ernie are heading to a casino so they can park their car on an upper floor and ride out the storm. Keep Bobby and Ernistine in your thoughts and prayers. Also, if anyone else is in the storm's path, please advise.

09/15/20 12:10 AM

#589

If BOB and KAREN HARRINGTON REAM, along with MICHAELE AUSTIN KELLY (if Michaele makes it to the North Houston area) would like to arrange a safe mini-classmate reunion in November, Kathy and I will attend. We will be at Lake Conroe the first two weeks of November. We can either complain or cheer about the election. Seriously, I would like to meet with any North Houston classmates if possible. The last two weeks in November and all of December, we will be at Galveston Island (see www.jbrv.net) and can hook up with South Houston classmates then. HERKY VEACH and his bride are planning to meet with Kathy and me, I hope. Now to track down other south Houston classmates like LOUIS BAGWELL, BARBY MITCHELL and JOHN ALLEN.

Kathy and me, photography by KAREN McCARTY FINK.

09/15/20 01:09 AM

#590

55-YEAR REUNION (2021): Dear MARIANNE COONS McCULLOUGH had graciously volunteered to chair the reunion IF she receives enough offers of help. The 55th will be a toned down reunion because we, as a class, have so little money (thank you sooo much for those classmates that did send in money and I will announce below where others can send money to help our Class) and we are losing classmates and losing touch with classmates. This reunion will more than likely be two-nights (vs. three-nights), not have live music unless the venue provides it, and probably not a banquet (meal) with program. Maybe just hors d'voeures, Memorial for deceased classmates Happy Hour type situation. There is a lot of work, planning, negotiating with venues, tracking missing classmates, mailing classmates, making name badges, signing classmates into the reunion and more. So we can keep Marianne as chairperson, we need you to volunteer to help:

<GO TO> "Classmate Profiles" on the Top Bar and look up MARIANNE COONS McCULLOUGH under "Cs"

<CLICK> under her picture and send Marianne a 'private message' of your willingness to help.

Since the Class of '65 had to cancel their 55th due to Covid-19, we might ask them to join us. When would you like the reunion? Early October has been suggested due to best climate at that time, but let Marianne know what is best for you.

If you would like to make a donation to the class non-existant bank account, send a check payable to PAM DAVIS at 3795 Cedarvale, Roswell, NM 88203. Our bank account went to zero so now our treasurer (and thank you so much, Pam, for handling this for many years) carries the Class money in a separate personal account. You will just have to trust her as I do. Donations from $10 to $200 will be much appreciated and will give Marianne a big boost in her planning and negotiations. We will have a small(er) registration/attendance fee than usual. You will be able to register your friends and classmates who are no longer here but will be in the memorial, and that memorial registration money has traditionally gone to help classmates attend who would not be able to otherwise.

Now, please go to Marianne's page and volunteer to help and maybe mention in what area you would like to help, and feel free to send a check to Pam Davis. Thank you soooo much. You are the best!

Marianne Coons McCullough with Craig Sutherland at the last reunion. Marianne loves to have fun!

09/15/20 11:14 AM

#591

Jim, we would be delighted to arrange a mini reunion for the northerners of Houston... I will see when Michaele will be here and check your schedule ..... it is always fun to see old friends!!!

09/15/20 01:48 PM

#592

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Hello Classmates/Friends,

It's been a while since I checked in. Think about you all a lot and miss you more. I explained to my partner in crime, Jim White and super woman wife, Kathy that I "burned out" on communicating. Do you ever do that?

This darn pandamic has thrown a whole lot of us into Netflix hell....ha! Movies that we would have NEVER have watched pull us in, and the next thing we know we are binging for all seven seasons! My question in regard to that is, what do we do when the new season's come on....how many hundred hours will we be catching up where the last season kept us hanging onto a thread. Of course, I am being redicilous because for the first time in my life I have total control of a remote control and I have just become dangerous! Before I would not have been remotely interested in such intense mafia action, such thrilling, such killing, such massive disfunctional families and such espionage! I definately would have never have watched the graphic intensity. Well, I do have to admit....I would have watched all the naked hineys !! I mean I had given up cursing...well, mostly, and dropping the "f-bomb" every other word was pretty much eliminated in my vocabularly, so finding myself drawn back into that world....whoa. I mean, I have to go to church on Saturday to ask for forgiveness for all of the elicit binging I have got caught up in! So that when I do go to church on Sunday, I can show up with a fairly clean soul again. Don't get me wrong...I am pretty far away from being a saint but before Netflix hell I was on a fairly righteous path....ha!! You all know I am writing this in a context as if I am standing up doing my comedian routines...right!!

Thanks Jim for saying I am probably one of the healthiest....all thing considered...all physical war zones I have been through...and you are right my friend. I went to my new Cardiologist a couple of months ago. I've gone through a couple of defriberlator's over the past years. The new Cardio said, "Do you know that we can unplug you from your defrib.?" I said, "Huh?" He said my heart is fine.He said I didn't need my defrib.OKAY.....life is good!! I haven't scheduled the appointment to do that, but I will. Heck yeah....I have eliminated 4 medications over the past year and now I can unplug from the defib.....yep, I would say that is fairly healthy. I still dance to 3 rock songs a day !!

I am, however, in seach of a hobby. For years I have colored and I have acquired a massive amount of books and coloring materieals. But, I have found that when I sit down to participate in this hobby, I just fizzle out. So, I guess I have burned out. We have a new Hobby Lobby and I find myself wandering aisle after aisle in search of something that looks interesting. I've eliminated scrapbooking....done that for years, burned out. Card making....not good at it. Resin casting....not good at it. Cross-stitching....vision is not good enough to continue it. Burned out on most of the stitching hobbies, done them. So if any of you are doing some interesting hobbies, please let me know as I am open for suggestions.

OK, I am "played-out" for now.....so I am signing off. Know I love each of you. Keep laughing.....keep dancing....LIFE IS GOOD.

09/15/20 10:09 PM

#593