Receiving current information from classmates has sure helped with MAIL CALL news. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
MAIL CALL
from Felicia (Hiatt) and David Petit (on the road in Alaska)
David and I both just recently retired. He worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for forty years. I taught in the Pasadena ISD for twenty years. We are currently in Alaska on an extended road-trip. We left home on April 15th and will probably return in August. We have a blog set up showing our journey.
http://www.davidandfelicia.blogspot.com/ It is called
Travels with David and Felicia.
from Georgia Peterson Winkler in Austin
I have a 2 year old grandson, James, and one granddaughter due on the 19th of June. This stage of life is FUN!
from Linda Eldemire Judice in Port Neches.
I am retiring on July 31st from Entergy!
from Jane Hoffpauir Frasier in Port Arthur
I am currently working for the PAISD as an AIDE and loving it. I wish I started into the education field right out of high school.
from David Nicholas in Scottsboro, AL
I left Edward Jones in April of 2011 after 21 years and set up as an independent Financial Advisor.
from Paul Martin in Cypress, TX
There is "no excitement" in our lives at the moment. We are just working and taking care of elderly parents. My wife's dad is 95.
from Tommy Thompson in Conroe, TX
Not much has changed around here lately. My sons are all married. Jason and Stephanie have two sons (12 & 10) and one daughter (5). Austen and Leah have one adopted son (18 months). Travis has a step-son with wife Simone who is 18. They all live in and around Conroe, so we are the built-in baby sitters, which we LOVE!
from Paul Nicholas in Los Angeles, CA
I'm still in L.A., newly engaged to the delightful Marilyn Phelps, and blessed with good health. For an update on my writing efforts, check out Yahoo! Voices and/or Natural Light Network.
Thanks for keeping me in the loop.
from Patricia Patrick Cunningham in St. Petersburg, FL
I still live with my oldest son and his family. His children, ages 12, 8, & 4, really keep me busy. I did get to spend the night at the end of January with Carl & Martha (Lipe) Bodin in Bridge City on my way back to Florida after a 5 week stay in Texas. There isn't too much else going on, just trying to stay busy.
from Darlene Turner Landry in Pt. Neches
It's been busy! Our grandson graduated from PNG on May 31st. The next day, a granddaughter graduated from Silsbee. The following day, we gave my husband a surprise RETIREMENT party. Our son was home for the graduations and it was the perfect time to party. Then, our youngest granddaughter was chosen for all-stars in softball! Whew
from Richard Daniels in Beaumont
I'm making arrangements for a summer vacation on Cape Cod this August.
from Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley in Bedford, TX
I am now retired and currently on a 5 week camping vacation in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, North & South Dakota, and Minnesota. We just spent 3 great days with classmate Barbara Bowers in Pagosa Springs, CO. We have been to Palo Duro Canyon, Santa Fe, the leaf springs broke on the RV on the highway...at least we weren't in the mountains, Creede, Crawford, Lake City, and the Colorado National Monument. Vernal, UT at the Dinosaur National Monument, and on and on and on. More good news....we are getting a new grandbaby in October!
from Dale Guidry in Nederland
Marilyn and I have 3 children. Our sons, Jason and Dustin, live in Nederland. Our daughter, Ashley, lives in Winnie. Jason has 6 children, Dustin has 5, and Ashley has 4 and a baby girl due in November. Ashley's children are the only biological grandchildren. So, when our granddaughter is born that makes....let me count....1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16 GRANDBABIES to love! When someone asks me if I'm retired, I say "Yes, I'm REAL TIRED!"
(Dale, I am so jealous! I only have two granddaughters that are growing up way too fast!)
from Prince Jerry Whittredge in Tampa, FL
I retired from the CIA 7 years ago to pursue my heritage. The Royal House of Windsor confirmed my heritage and granted me the title of PRINCE. In addition, it looks like I may be asked to join the administration in Washington, DC next year. I am looking forward to getting back to work. This retirement thing isn't for me. It is too boring!
from Jody (Hopkins) and Gary Barbin in Waco
(a note from their oldest child, Lori and her husband, Jaime Espinosa)
It is with great joy and thankfulness that we are happy to announce the birth of our son. He was lovingly brought into this world by his birthmother on June 14, 2012. He is healthy and perfect. God had us in mind when he made him. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers the past years as we have had our bumpy journey to parenthood. Please continue to pray for Ryan Matthew and his Birthmom who has shown so much bravery and love as well as her family who has walked with her through this journey.
(Jody and Gary....we are all so thrilled with the news of the birth of your first grandbaby! Congratulations to your daughter and son-in-law. They will make EXCELLENT parents for Ryan.)
from Betty Bernauer Waedemon in Sugar Land, TX
Kay King and husband, Dwayne Young, and Ron and I went to England in April. I had broken my elbow and had surgery in March so it seemed a good time as any to travel as I could not work. We went to London, Bath, Wales and the Cotswolds. The true adventure was Ron driving on the wrong side of the road! He did well and we only got ONE ticket! It was a wonderful trip in a beautiful country populated with charming people!
from Carolyn Bigler Hebert '58 (Alfred Hebert's wife)
Alfred is preparing for the Rose City Triathlon in September. But, first we are trying to make arrangements to go to Burlington, Vermont for the Nationals. That's in August. He hopes to qualify for the World competition in London next year. October is the Tri Andy's Tri in Sugar Land. He is always in training. We went to the Red Earth Festival (Pow Wow) in Oklahoma City. We will be making a trip to Branson soon. Then, back to Louisiana for the sugar cane harvest and more genealogy research.
CURRENT UPDATED INFO NEEDED
It has really been a pleasure/chore to update the class spreadsheet. Some of you have sent in your current information on your own. Others have procrastinated. Still others probably have never received my request since they have invalid e-mail addresses. I am now trying to send individual requests to you. My eyes are crossing with all the fine print of looking up and down through bi-focals to look at the old spreadsheet to type your information on the e-mails. I think you would be amazed at how many of you are not current. I am amazed! But, the UPSIDE of this task has been getting NEWS from you. I think you will see from today's MAIL CALL that you DON'T HAVE TO WRITE a lot. Some of you have told me that you like to READ others news but you aren't comfortable in writing about yourself. Even a sentence or two about what is going on in your lives is just fine. It has been a real treat to hear from you across the nation! I still have several messages that I will share in future MAIL CALLS on the NEWSLETTER. In the meantime, I need the following information from you:
full name
spouse
address
phone #
cell #
e-mail address where you want to be reached by Mike and I
We are needing to have current updated mailing info ASAP because we will be starting to plan for the upcoming 45th class reunion next year!!!!
4th of JULY INDEPENDENCE DAY
The Independence Day of the United States, also referred to as the Fourth of July or the nation's "birthday," commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776. This was to become one of the most powerful documents in American history. On this day, the U.S. claimed its independence from Great Britain, instituting democracy as its main form of government.
The streets are decorated with red, white and blue colored streamers and balloons, as well as the American flag. Countless public and private events are organized to showcase the history, government, and traditions of the United States.
On this proud anniversary of the nation's birth, Americans will celebrate as John Adams once predicted: "with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other".
Let us remember that FREEDOM is not FREE! Freedom is never given, it is won.
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
My sister has not had a good week. She has been "up" for awhile and I knew it couldn't last. She is now beginning her decent into the beginnings of a depression. Please keep her in your prayers. Being bi-polar AND having the early stages of dementia is really a rough life to lead. For your prayer groups....her name is Gerry Landry. Her husband, Ted, also has health issues and is not supportive of Gerry's conditions. Please remember both of them.
Murphy had a rough week, also. He came back from the beer camp, I mean deer camp, and a day later started running fever up to 104 degrees. We finally figured out what was going on with him. The trailer he sleeps in has several leaks and mold and mildrew spores have contaminated it. We will, of course, have to junk it! He went to the doctor the first afternoon after running fever for 14 hours and the doctor took blood, urine, etc and gave him a big ole' shot and a Z pack! He has continued to run fever even though it is a low grade at this time. Now, he is just grumpy from being sick!
He started physical therapy on his right shoulder this week, also. The doctor diagnosed him with a "frozen" shoulder. The therapist says that it really is a "de-ranged" shoulder. I could have told him that! I think he has been De-Ranged for years having to live with me!
The granddaughters have been busy with summer camps and will leave on vacation to Estes Park and Lake City, CO for two weeks in July. Hey, that means that Murphy and I will be on vacation from taking them to camps. Wait! Murphy has therapy scheduled 3 days a week, Dad will still have to be on the road to the sitter and my sister's house. Oh well. No vacation here YET. But, we are looking forward to our Hawaiian cruise in January. Keep your fingers crossed that we make it there.
Speaking of Lake City, Jud Hollingsworth (TJ '66) lives there and owns a lumber yard/hardware store. It is a beautiful, small town about 30 miles from Gunnison. My daughter and her family are going to spend several days there. Bailey, (9 years old), wants to meet Jud's granddaughter, Jo, in person. Bailey sent "FLAT STANLEY" to Jo this last winter as a school project. Only a parent or grandparent would know what a FLAT STANLEY is. If you don't, ask around or "google" it.
SUPPORT
Darlene Turner Landry's husband, Steve, had neck surgery this week. He is now home starting the recovery process. It will be slow going for awhile.
Richard Daniels' mother is under hospice care due to cancer.
(a note from Linda Yancey concerning her brother, Wilson Yancey, Jr.)
My brother got a great report from the PET scan, everything looked good and nothing new showed up. They will see him again in August. To GOD be all the glory, AMEN!
I thank God every night for loved ones, friends and those we do not evern know that are praying for my brother as believers of Christ. God Bless everyone. Keep praying.
Shelley Dettman's mother has returned from a hospital stay and is now under hospice care.
Molly Bigler '69 update from her sister, Carolyn Hebert '58
Molly has been moved to Magnolia Manor Skilled Nursing Facility in the Groves. She is enjoying being able to be out of her room in a reclining wheelchair. We are hoping for more response to verbal commands. She has a long way to go.
update on Janice Hebert Boudreaux's brother Alvin Hebert, '64
Alvin is out of the hospital and rehab and is still working on getting his strength back. He has an oxygen machine at home and a portable one for the car. He is going to a pulmonary doctor this week. He will still need the lung transplant. Keep up the prayers because I know that he came this far with the prayers from everyone. God is an awesome God and hears and answers our prayers.
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May you have a wonderful, fun-filled, safe 4th of July holiday! Until we meet again....
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden