I'm thrilled because I am getting MAIL from those sending me their updated information. They took the time to add a little something extra for me to use in my NEWSLETTER!
MAIL CALL
from Billy Fowler in East Mountain/Bridge City
In February, 2010 I returned to the Bridge City area to attend the funeral of the founder of a company I worked for many years. A month later the surviving children and now owners contacted me and asked if I would consider returning and help run the company. So, in June 2010, I returned to the area and took over as foreman and I'm still here and will be for at least a while longer. I still fully intend of returning to northeast Texas when my work here is done. This week I am in East Mountain, (Gladewater area), taking care of a few things, doctor visits, home repair, yard, etc. I am looking forward to the "mini-reunion" May 5th in PA.
from Charles Cramer in Downington, PA
We sold the Pennsylvania house and are moving up the road a few miles. Life is good. Hopefully, I'll get to Lumberton this summer to visit with the grandkids and we can meet up. I always enjoy the updates on the website.
from Arleen Lang Hulin in Houston
Thanks for all the updates. I don't usually send any news in but here goes:
Marlon was in the Navy when we were married almost 42 years ago. We had both children while living in the Panama Canal Zone. We have been in Houston since 1975. Our son and his family live in McKenney. He has two boys (6 & 3). Our daughter Melissa has a 2 year old daughter and is expecting a boy in July. Marlon was in jewelry retail for many years and retired three years ago.
I did not finish my accounting degree until the kids were in junior high. Health issues were conflicting with my work ethic so I retired from TOTAL as of 12/31/11 after more than 22 years.
In September 2010, I had a brain aneurysm clipped but I was back to work by Thanksgiving (with a black patch on one eye-too late for Halloween!). The eye problem is resolved; just takes a few months after brain surgery when "nerves" are touched. We went on our second cruise to Alaska in June. We had a wonderful time and our timing was just right. Shortly after that, there were a series of hospitalizations for the next few months. It appears the polycystic kidney disease which was the reason I had a kidney transplant in 2002, also causes cysts on the liver. I am now on the liver transplant list. I consider myself a true recycler! My brother Gary has had both transplants and is doing well, so I have an optimistic view of the outcome.
Gee-----I just read what I typed. Let's review: I have been blessed. I have a husband who takes care of me when I am sick but does not hover over me when I am well. In fact, he says that he knows when I feel better because I start bossing him around! Let's face it, when I am well, I take care of him! I have two wonderful children who made good judgment calls as they were growing into adulthood. They even stayed close when they were both in rival colleges (UT and A&M). My 3.5 grandchildren are smart, adorable, and loving. I have a wonderful family of origin and many close friends that have become family over the years. My immediate retirement goal right now is to clean out closets, drawers, etc. Somehow the closets are more full now than when there were four of us in the house for awhile, I cannot go far from Houston in case of a transplant call. After the appropriate recovery time Marlon and I hope to do more traveling. We have been to Alaska, Hawaii, London, Paris, Rome, Virgin Islands, Panama and many places in the continental US.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you that are able to come to the "mini-reunion" on May 5th in PA.
from Terry Watson in Richardson
Today, I'm just watching the Masters and reading TJHS1968 and the NEWSLETTER. I hope it is a labor of love for both of you. I'm not on Facebook yet, but I am giving Twitter a try. I read 'em, don't write 'em (no one cares what I'm doing in real time! Thanks for all you and Mike do.
from David Lapham in Sunset Valley, TX
John Wilson and I have been hunting hogs a few times this year. So far we've gotten one, but we're both hoping to increase the count. John suggests that I don't send photos of dead hogs to you. Upon reflection, I think he's showing intelligent restraint. After all, I wouldn't want my classmates to be confused trying to pick me out in the picture. I echo Bert Smith's comments regarding how busy retirement can be, although some of my former co-workers think all I do is hunt, fish, and garden. The last activity isn't really a hobby, but my wife and I do try to maintain a vegetable garden and we just finished planting it. If the weather cooperates, we'll have tomatoes, peppers, New Zealand spinach, squash, beans and okra.
Last year the drought pretty much wiped out the garden. No matter how much we watered things, the heat was too much. Even the okra gave up and died. One thing I've learned from my father-in-law, who was a rancher and farmer until he finally retired at age 95, is that you have to keep trying. If you don't plant, you get nothing. Nature may decide you get nothing anyway, but if you quit you are guaranteed to end up empty-handed.
Donny Moss in LaBelle, TX (outside of Beaumont)
I spend most of my time playing and teaching Bridge, traveling (usually to play Bridge), visit with my family (7 children, and about 16 grandkids at last count) and spend time with my church family. I am on long-term disability. I have a condition known as "Cranial Distonia". The most disabling effect is that my eyes close and I am unable to open them. It sure makes it difficult to drive, except in Houston, where closing your eyes actually HELP! The best thing about this condition is that the treatment is to take Botox injections every three months. So, I can't see, but I sure look YOUNG! I really do appreciate the work ya'll do on the website. I will be excited to see everyone on May 5th at the "mini-reunion" in PA.
from Carol "Canny" Babin in Arlington, TX
We are expecting our first grandchild in September and we're in the midst of a complete remodel of our home. We were right in the path of the tornadoes recently but they went back up and then back down 2 miles from our home. We're staying with my father-in-law while our house is under construction.
from Barbara Bowers in Pagosa Springs, CO
I am still in Colorado at least until the house sells. Then, we're off on the road again! We are moving to South America or somewhere else, who knows. You and Mike are doing a steller job keeping up with all of us!
"MINI-REUNION"
Tequila's Restaurant
8550 Memorial Blvd
Pt. Arthur, TX 77640
(in the Central Mall parking lot in front of TARGET)
May 5th, 2012
Noon
What started as a suggestion last year between Mike Lawson and I to get together has mushroomed. We are thrilled. Mike was getting ready to come to our last reunion in '08 when work called him away. So, this is his "reunion". Come gather and visit and eat some delicious food for a "Cinco de Mayo" celebration. It is "dutch treat". We have had a wonderful response so far and would love to hear from you if you would like to be included. Spouses are certainly welcomed! We have reserved a large area of the restaurant (including the "bar area" so that we can mingle instead of just sit and eat). Come be a part of it!
NEW BRAUNFELS
Well, Murphy and I survived the annual gathering of some classmates and their spouses. Jude Arisco was his usual "crazy" self with his take on lots of school memories. Jude spent most of his educational years in Catholic school until the nuns and priests HAD ENOUGH! So, TJ got lucky....hmmmm. Let me think about that "-) He sure can spin a yarn. Jude is from Temple. Lynn Eldridge got us playing MEXICAN TRAIN (a domino game). Lynn divides her time between the city of Dallas and the ranch in Tupelo (between Ennis and Corsicana)! It always reminds me of the sitcom GREEN ACRES! She also stays busy with 5 grandkids under 6 years old. Paul Colletti told of his travels to Sicily harvesting and making his OLIVE OIL. He lives in Fort Worth and is enjoying 3 new grandbabies.. Jim Andrus told us about his cattle and his volunteer work that keeps him busy in Jourdanton, (near San Antonio). Of course, we had to hear about UT this and UT that! :) That sure hurts my Aggie ears! His son dropped by and we all hugged on his newest granddaughter. David Williams joined us for an afternoon and evening of reminising. He is going to pull up roots in Wimberly and head to another "world". Since he and his wife have girls in college, they decided to try something different in a foreign land of MICHIGAN. Talk about a weather change. They are going to leave in June. We wish them the best of luck!
By the way, David told me that he didn't always check out our website and NEWSLETTER updates because they often were depressing with so much news of sickness and deaths! So, by the time he heard an earful from me about this matter, I just offered a "suggestion" that if more would write about other items it wouldn't be so top-heavy with saddness. Of course, that would have to begin with him since I did have news a year or so ago of his "heart by-pass"!
PS Jude's sister, Patsy, and brother-in-law always round out our gathering. They are also a lot of fun.
JEALOUS???
I don't want to brag or make anybody jealous, but.....
I can still fit into the earrings I wore in high school!!!!!
SUPPORT
(a note from John Scott '67)
One of our classmates need to be on your prayer list. Ronnie Cormier '67 has cancer. His wife, Cindy, (don't remember her maiden name), was in the class of '69. Thanks to your classmates for their support in this.
Ernie Castaneda Bullion broke two toes last weekend. Ouch! She is limping around but it hasn't stopped her!
CONDOLENCES
(a note from Fred Schneider '66)
The TJ class of 1966 mourns the loss of our friend and classmate, Arthur Lozano. He was a quiet and friendly fellow who always smiled first. His sister, Vergie, sent me the news below:
"He went to the hospital in Lufkin with pneumonia, where he lived and then had to be transferred to a Specialty Hospital in the Woodlands. He died from complications of pneumonia and Muscular Dystrophy. Please remember Arthur and his family in your prayers.
Hugh Weatherly
(death of his sister, Donna Jean Weatherly DuPlantis '66)
March 30, 1948-April 14, 2012
Dennis Schmidt
(death of his father, J.C. Schmidt)
7436 Circle 9
Orange, TX 77632
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That's it! I am going to watch Boston Red Sox play the Yankees on television. Our friend, Clay Buchholtz, is pitching. Hope to see you at the '67 class reunion this weekend. My husband is having his 45th Reunion!
Keep in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden