Parties, gatherings, get-togethers, eat, eat, eat!  When will it all end? I really promise to start my new healthy lifestyle soon.  Keep reminding me!

MAIL CALL
from Nelwyn Comeaux Blanchette in Kingston Springs, TN
Our daughter and her fiancé will be joining us from Texas for Christmas.  Our daughter in Kansas is due to have her baby any day.  As soon as we get the call, Charles and I will head there.  She is having another sweet girl.  Aren't grandbabies special and so much fun? 

We spent Thanksgiving in Texas.  We had a fun, busy 2 weeks with our daughter and brother in Bridge City. We went to help our daughter move and set her up in her new home.  Needless to say, we loaded up on shrimp and boudain to bring back home! 

from Sharon Lewis Forrest
On 12/31/09 I will retire after 30 years at Shell Oil Company.  I actually started with Texaco in PA, but through various mergers and acquisitions, I ended up with Shell.  When I think about all the layoffs and changes in the petroleum industry over the last 30 years, I am extremely grateful to have been able to stick it out to be able to retire~  As you can well imagine, I am excited about retiring, but will miss all the people that I see every day at work.  I have had the pleasure of working with some really great people that I know I will remain friends with for years and years to come.  Thank goodness for e-mail, Facebook, and The TJ Class of '68 website --- we will be able to stay in touch and keep up with what's going on in everybody's lives!

Our house-building project in Boerne is progressing well.  The roof is going on soon and then the insulation, sheet rock and inside stuff.  We estimate we will be in the house March-ish.   My last day in the office in Houston will be 12/23.  After Christmas we are pulling our little palace on wheels up to Alamo Fiesta RV Park in Boerne, so we will be closer to supervise the house building.  We fully expect lots of visitors, 'cause everybody loves the hill country!

Other news-our son, Chris, was promoted to Major in the U.S. Army on 11/01/09.  We traveled to Virginia to attend his promotion ceremony.  As a retired Army officer, my husband Jim was able to give him the oath of office for the 3rd time.  The first time was when Chris enlisted, 2nd time  when he received his commission and this last time was for the promotion.  We stayed for about a week and had a great time with Chris, Lynn, and the grandkids!!!

from Gloria Faye Burks Scott in Bryan/College Station
Rebecca Stark Nugen, a friend and former co-worker here at the City of College Station has written a non-fiction book called, "If The Devil Had a Wife", written under the pen name Frank Mills.  (This name was her dad's name before he was "adopted" by the Stark family.)  It is being released in January.  This is really going to be quite a book and a true story about the Stark family of Orange.  I was amazed when she told me some of the story.  I thought the class of 1968 would be interested in this true story of the Stark family.

from Dianna Caillier Lewis in Pt. Arthur
I received the NEWSLETTER that you sent me in the mail.  I was so sorry to read about Mr. Rowland's passing.  I sent his family a card.  He was such an inspiration and blessing and I felt fortunate to have him as my homeroom teacher for three years.  On another note, we finally moved into our new home after they demolished our old one and rebuilt on the same site in downtown PA.  It has been 4 months since they tore ours down.  It certainly was a challenge being away from your own home so long.  I've been keeping all of our classmates and their families in my prayers.
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MEMORIES
Remember the magical time when we could go to the Sears and Roebuck store on Woodworth and ride the escalator upstairs to see Santa and his workshop?  Wow!  The train set running in circles, the beautifully decorated trees, the toys stacked everywhere.  What a sight.  Santa sitting on his huge "throne" while we waited in line to tell him of our dreams.   My husband said his parents never brought him.  What a loss. 
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SURPRISE 60th B-D Party
Webb Draughon's sweet and beautiful wife, Mary Margaret, surprised Webb with a gathering of family and some of his classmates for a get-together at Larry's French Mkt. in Groves.  Those in attendance from our class were Anthony Roccaforte, David Williams, Ruelle Parker, Hal Ross, Frank Mirabella, Pete Huber, Keith Tamplin, and myself!  Photos will be included in the next edition (I hope).  Webbie hasn't changed.  He still has that sly grin, quick wit, and tinkle in his eye.  He and his wife live in Seabrook.  He received well wishes from some of his buddies that were not able to attend: Fred McCarty, Bill Richey, Pat Lange, Gary Hammond, Charlie Fontenot, Robert McClintock, Jimmy Hughes, Mike McGurk, and Tommy Thompson.
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SUPPORT UPDATES
from Janice Hebert Boudreaux about husband, Barry's heart condition
Barry is scheduled to have a heart cauterization on Tuesday, Jan. 12th.  He is still having the PVC's, but there are less of them.  The stress test results showed that the bottom of his heart is not pumping like it should.  The strange thing is that the holter monitor showed that most of his PVC's are occurring during the hours between midnight and 5 am.  Our daughter, Brooke, is going to have a stress test done soon.
mbsjanice@aol.com
(713)361-5440 home phone

from Chrissy Dupuis Mullens about her husband, Richard
(This comes from a series of FACEBOOK entries that I copied)

1)We are in room 1210 at MD Anderson.  We went thru the ER on Friday for pain control.  He is on High Power IV drugs with bonuses when needed.  He is feeling better.  Next, we are hoping to get Pec Tube (feeding tube) as he cannot eat and is down to 127 lbs.  Keep him in your prayers.
2)Thanks to all my Facebook friends for the prayers and support.  He is better and the clinical trial doctor says he may continue treatment....makes me a little worried but I pray for good results.
3)Still at MD....on call for Pec tube then he will get his scheduled chemo.  I feel like I have been here forever and the world outside has forgotten us.  That really isn't true because we have gotten lots of calls, etc.  Richard said he misses his cat and dog and I miss my bathtub, bed, and I miss work.
4)Good morning...we got the feeding tube late yesterday ....not back into the room til 8:30 pm.  All went well.  Thanks for the support.  Hope to be home by the weekend.
5)Well, today was a washout.  Nothing got done properly.  Things like he has not yet gotten his first dose of food in his tube?  The doctor was clueless on why it all went sour.  Maybe tomorrow we will be home.
6)Well, we got HOME last night at 7:30.  Yesterday was awful.  It is so good to be home.  Thanks for all the support.
cmullens@gt.rr.com
(409)960-2963 mobil phone
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I have an early morning Sunday.  We are having my side of the family meet in Huffman, Texas (outside of Crosby) for our Christmas get-together.  I hope that all of you have a safe, happy holiday and Christmas celebration.  Happy New Year to you all!

                      Thanks for all you do and all you are to me and Mike,
                      Linda DeCuir McFadden
                      lindasuemcfadden@sbcglobal.net
                      www.tjhs1968.com