Well, 2012 is around the corner. Come on in. 2011 wasn't such a great year. Maybe you'll do better.
MAIL CALL
(I got this on Dec. 8th and forgot to share it with the classmates in the last NEWSLETTER, so here it is.)
from Judy Thompson Orr
I am writing to you from England where Alan and I have been for 3 weeks now. Back in January we bought tickets to come and spend Christmas with his parents, Don and Doreen, but then his dad went into hospice on Nov. 8th. On the 15th, the doctors advised us to "come sooner rather than later," so we changed our tickets and the next day we were on a plane! It was all a bit crazy trying to get ready to leave for 6 weeks in less than 36 hours, but we managed and I am very glad we did. Luckily, Alan has a job where he can telecommute and a wonderful, understanding boss (mind you, he sometimes has to take conference calls with Japan, India and California in the middle of the night!) As for me, I found a good substitute to take over my class of little darlings and took a leave from teaching. We expect to go home on Dec. 31st but that will depend on what is happening with Don and Doreen.
Don is in a wonderful hospice, St. Michael's in St. Leonard on Sea, just 5 miles from Bexhill where he and Doreen have lived for about 10 years. Don is 92 and until just a couple of months ago he was in pretty good health but on medication for heart arhythmia. He had an accident on his electric scooter in July and his health has gone downhill since then. He has heart failure, is bedridden and there is not much more they can do for him physically so he is having "pallative" care: keeping him comfortable. I am glad to say that although physically he is wasting away, mentally he has been quite lively since we arrived. Our 3 boys (Colin, Geoff and Jeremy) came from California and Colorado and spent a week doing lots of visiting with their beloved grandad. As my own dad died when Colin was a baby, our boys have grown up being quite close to their English grandad. We lived here until the boys were 11 and 8 before moving first to Italy and then to California. During these last 20 or so years the grandparents have made many trips to see us in the USA. My father-in-law has also been regaling us with stories about how he grew up in London, just around the corner from the famous Crystal Palace, an enormous glass and metal structure built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and then moved to South East London in the 1860's. He was there when that structure burned to the ground in 1936, standing on the Great Highway with thousands of others, mourning the loss of such a beautiful building. During WW II, Don was in the British Army and was part of the Normandy Invasion. He has recounted to us several stories about being in northern France, scouting a village and escaping in a jeep as German tanks bore down on them. This was a story I had never heard before. Quite fastinating. I have typed up some of his stories as I do not want to lose them for posterity.
Although Alan and I have been on regular visits to England in the last few years, this is the first time we have been here for more than 2 weeks since leaving in 1989. I have been driving--now THAT can be scary; driving on the left, steering wheel on the right, 5-on-the floor gear shift on the left! Small roads and lots of traffic add to the fun. I am glad to report that so far "no wrecks, no drownings" as they say here. We are not only glad to be here for Alan's dad, but also for his mum who is now legally blind and in the early stages of dementia. There was no way for her to take care of Don at home (she is struggling to take care of herself) which is why he went into hospice. We are trying to convince her to move out of her little house and into sheltered accommodation but we don't want to rush her into anything while Don's health is still so precarious.
Bexhill is in the area called "1066 Country" - it is on the south coast of England just east of Brighton and Eastbourne which are pretty much south of London. The next town going east on the coast is St. Leonards and the town of Hastings, as in the famous "Battle of Hastings" when William the Conqueror invaded and then ruled England back in 1066. The actual battle did not take place in Hastings but in what is now the village of "Battle" which grew up around the actual battlegrounds. So most things in this area are pretty old. Bexhill was recognized as a village by King Offa in the year 776!!!! We have done a lot of exploring and sightseeing in this area in the years that Don and Doreen have lived here but we won't be doing that this time. There is a lovely "front" down where the town meets the English Channel (the Sea). As it is only about a mile from the house, we often walk down there. We have been REALLY lucky with the weather: much drier and warmer than is usual for this time of year. Bexhill is the home of British Motor Racing, begun on the beach in the early 1900's by Lord de la Warr. There is a lovely pavillion (like a theatre center) named for him built right on the waterfront. Currently there is an Andy Warhol exhibit there and it's really good. How's that for irony: come to England to see an American pop icon!!!!
Please think of us during the holidays. We are just taking life a day at a time and are happy to have Don still with us. Here's hoping that our classmates have a wonderful, festive Holiday Season and all the best wishes for 2012!
(I hope you enjoyed this informative update from Judy as much as I did. Thank you, Judy, for taking the time to write to us.)
from Denise Hall Jacob (former PA student who graduated in 1969 from BCHS)
I spent the better part of my afternoon checking out the TJHS website encompassing 68/69 graduates remembering names and faces from the past. It was an afternoon that was at once pleasurable with rediscovery and somber with missed opportunities of youth. My parents moved to PA from Baton Rouge when I was the early age of two so that my dad could work for Gulf Oil. When old enough to attend school, my education began at Sam Houston Elementary and then continued on to Thomas Edison Jr. High in PA before moving to Bridge City for my freshman year to graduate there in 1969. Although I graduated a proud BCHS Cardinal, the names and faces from the early and formative years in PA are imprinted forever in my memory with delight. I met and married someone whom I met at Lamar State College of Technology (now University) who was a graduate from Forest Park (Trojans) before the school was absorbed into the streamlining of the Beaumont ISD. We now live in Boise, Idaho.
My reason for writing is that it occurred to me this morning that I have some group pictures taken at Sam Houston Elementary that I'm sure I can readily find. It would make me happy to share these pictures with everyone who visits the website. I will be willing to donate these pictures in the effort to rekindle more memories. Please let me know.
(Glad you "found" us on the internet. We would love to have the photos. I'll send an address to your e-mail. Thanks again.)
from Mike Soileau in Atlanta, TX
I agree with you about buying your own Christmas presents! Sometimes I just go out and buy the best rod and reel I want. Well, I am waiting anxiously for Santa to leave presents under our tree that I have so painstakingly bought for MYSELF! I have learned over the past years that this is how you make sure you get what you WANT! By the way, you and Mike are doing a great job. Mike, I hope you take Linda's lead and go out and treat yourself to something you really want. "-) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ya'll!
from Sandra Dauphine Vaughan Merrifield (French teacher)
Thanks for the news about Jayne Smith's death. I know that there are several teachers still in the PA area that are close friends of hers. You are good at getting the news out. Merry Christmas.
from Roy Dale Birkelbach in LaMarque, TX
I loved the deer hunting story about your husband in the deer blind. After 38 years of hunting, I recently shot my first turkey and was as excited as a kid with a new bicycle. I also was waken up by a text from my nephew while in the blind! Cell phones.....how did we ever live without them? I so much appreciate the great job you and Mike are doing with the updates. Happy holidays.
(Murphy is still holed up in the deer blind. It is slim pickins' this year.)
from Christy Dodge Young in Destin, FL
(taken off of Face Book)
I just got some exciting news!
Dear Featured Artist,
Congratulations!
Your work has been accepted for our new publication ADDICTED to GLASS from over 400 juried entries! It will be featured in a full page layout. Several artists are featured on two full pages. The anticipated publication date for this book is: January 1, 2012. Thank you for taking the time show us your amazing work! The selected work along with many artist's statements compile a collection of unique glass art at its best!!!
(Congratulations Christy!)
from Pete Lippincott (Jane's brother)
Mike has certainly done a wonderful job on the class website. I wish he could build a site for my oil company?
(Oh no you don't! He is all ours! We don't want him to get a "big head". He might want a RAISE when he hears this request! "-)
2012 CONTRACT
(contributed by Ernie Castaneda Bullion)
My wish for you in 2012.....
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had, forget your home address!
In simple words.....
May 2012 be the best year of your life!!
WEBSITE DONATIONS
(FYI....the following is from Mike explaining what the donations have been used for.)
"We have secured our Domain (tjhs1968.com) and Private Registration Service for the next 5 years. I also renewed our Hosting Plan. The Deluxe Hosting Plan, I would have perferred, was a little too expensive for our budget. The tech did give us two free months of it to try (very nice). I upgraded our web page editor which was 5 years old. I felt that keeping the website up to date with the latest software is a must for us.
Mike
You may send donations made out to me.
Linda DeCuir McFadden
7699 Boardwalk
Lumberton, TX 77657
SUPPORT NEEDED
(taken off of Face Book)
from Norma Guidry Rose in Breaux Bridge, LA
Please say a prayer for my husband, Ed. He has been feeling poorly for a short while and he's never sick. They are doing tests at the hospital to see what is wrong. They found something on his lungs in an x-ray. Please remember him (and me). I'm praying lots.
CONDOLENCES
Barbara Evans Hanley
(death of her mother)
3001 Madison
Nederland, TX 77627
(Be sure to read her obituary listed on the front page of the website. Her accomplishments included Red Hussars Drum Major, MISS PA and MISS TEXAS)
Ann Hefley Boriskie
(death of her mother)
355 Guildhall Grove
Alpharetta, GA 30022
(Her obituary on the front page mentions being an avid Aggie fan and traveling to ALL 50 states)
from Fred McCarty concerning Miss Jayne Smith's memorial service held two weeks agol
"I went to Groves and attended the Memorial Service for Miss Jayne Smith. It was a very nice service. A number of speakers told of various experiences and interactions they had with her over the years. There was a consensus that she was an excellent teacher, mentor and friend. She encouraged all of her students to gain a greater appreciation of literature and to improve their writing skills. Her dry wit and occasional sarcasm were the subject of a number of stories. She was never afraid to take a controversial position with the TJ principal or with the district superintendent, if it concerned an issue which was important to her.
She was active in the community and spent a good bit of her time attending plays, performances, encouraging culture and the arts, and traveling both in the US and overseas. It was said that she had traveled to about thirty different countries. She was always interested not just in sight-seeing, but also in learning about the history, culture, and interactions with the locals.
Many of our former TJ faculty were in attendance, as were a number of teachers who started their careers at TJ after we graduated. Miss Doris Crisp (English dept head) lead the program. I also recognized Mr. Tolar (Physics) and Mr. Sell (Chemistry). Miss McMillan (Math) was also present. I am sure there were others I just didn't recognize. Two former principals and some district staff members were there. Several of her former sturdents spoke, one also sang several songs during the service. Others described how they stayed in touch with Miss Smith after graduation until the time of her death. It was a lengthy service lasting almost two hours, but it was an appropriate celebration of the life of a great educator. I was happy to have attended this service.
from Joel Levy also commenting on Miss Smith's death
When I think of what the exemplar of English teacher should be, I think of Ms. Smith. I feel myself very lucky to have been assigned to her class. She, Mrs. Devall, and the tragically taken-to-early Mrs. White were bright spots in my English education from PAISD.
from Linda DeCuir McFadden
I was sorry I missed the memorial service. Murphy and I planned on going but I was in "down in the back". I spent a couple of days nursing it. My memory of Miss Smith is not of long ago in high school but more recently. I never had her as a teacher but traveled with her a couple of times in the last few years on bus tours. It is funny that Murphy and I still had that "scared" student feeling when we first were around her. But, we learned that she was a very fun person to interact with. (Sorry, Ms. Smith. I ended the sentence with a preposition!) Yes, she had a dry wit. I told her, "I didn't have you as a teacher.....wasn't smart enough. But, I hung around with lots of your students. Does that count?"
We CANNOT leave 2011 without remembering the TJ '68 classmates who passed away this year.
May they REST in PEACE.
Pedro "Pete" Thomas Guerrero
January 7, 2011
Edrice Joseph Malveaux
May 22, 2011
Doug Norwood
September 24, 2011
Phillip Walter Bodin
December 5, 2011
(This might be a good time to check out the MEMORIAL section listed on the front page and remember all of our eighty three (83) known deceased classmates. Please contact me if you know of someone else that we have left off of the list.)
Wishing you and yours....
12 months of LUCK
52 weeks of PEACE
365 days of WISDOM
8,760 hours of SUCCESS
525,600 minutes of LOVE
31,536,000 seconds of HAPPINESS
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Take care and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden