I think SOME of you felt sorry for me with my whining last NEWSLETTER. You took a deep breath and wrote me something to share with our classmates that wasn't on Facebook! I am almost tempted not to publish ALL of the responses this time in case I don't have any mail for the next update. Well, I believe in you. I think more of you will share. Fingers crossed!
MAIL CALL
from Bart Darby in Coraopolis, PA
We have had a cold winter, but we are definitely prepared for it clothing wise. It snows, stops, then the plows come out, clear and salt the roads and all is well. We really don't get that much snow here in Pittsburgh. I think the most we have had is 4 inches and the schools have only closed for 1 day this entire winter!!!!!!
bart.darby@yahoo.com
from Robert “Bob” Sewell in Colleyville, TX
Thanks for the newsletter and website update. I can't believe how long it has been. If you need stories for your next edition, I'd like to announce the publication of my novel, "A Surgeon's Heart: The Calling" It is the first of a four book series, all of which will be published before the end of the year. If you want more information I have a web site www.asurgeonsheart.com where people can read a little more about it. It is available in paperback on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel and CreateSpace, and as an eBook on Kindle, Nook, iBooks, etc.
I hope you are well and keep up the good work. "Sting 'em Jackets, Sting em!"
rsewell@robertsewellmd.com
from David Lapham in Sunset Valley, TX
I'm enjoying retirement! I retired in 2006, and I think I have the hang of it now. I sleep a little later and stay up a bit longer at night than when I was gainfully employed, but mainly I seem to be busy most of the time. These days, however, I do more things because I want to rather than because someone is paying me and that makes the time go by pleasantly. Keep up the fine work on the newsletter. My thanks to you and Mike for your efforts!
davel@lapham.us
from Martha Lipe Bodin '69 in Bridge City, TX
OK class of 68, please help out my bestie, Linda DeCuir McFadden. She
needs news to publish so she can quit acting the fool just to have something
to write about. Linda, I hope you are fully recovered from your spill in the
driveway!
cbodin@gt.rr.com
from Billy Jordan in Decatur, AL
I read your plea for news to place in the last website update. While I may not contribute much I always read the update. Okay, here is some of my latest news. A couple of weeks ago my oldest daughter and I had a date. She is 31 and I think this may be the first time in 15 years we have gone out on a father/daughter date. We saw a movie (The Monument Men) and went to Applebees and had a drink and appetizers. She is midway through the masters program in psychology at Alabama A&M and has a 4.0.
As I have for the last several years I spend a lot of time volunteering in local elementary schools. I am particularly having fun assisting in the STEM program this year. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mechanics. Right now we are doing robotics using a computer Lego program and parts to make different types of robots. The kids are having a ball with it and have a learned a lot about simple machines. These are second graders.
Finally, my wife and I babysit out 14 month old granddaughter a lot and it has been fun watching her grow up until now as she is into climbing on everything and opening drawers and cabinet doors. I do not remember my kids doing that as much as she does.
Looking ahead, we have a home rented for two weeks this summer in Destin, FL. This will be the first time we have spent two weeks in a row and looking forward to it.
Thanks for all you do and keep those updates coming and I will try and be better about providing news.
jwj6872@aol.com
from Sandra Nicks Kelly in Taylorsville, NC
Linda, you asked for what I do here. I am listing the BASICS!
1) Mend fences
2) Bush hog pastures
3) Round up cattle and return to pasture
4) Feed and water animals and gather eggs
5) Cut, fluff, bale, and put up hay for winter
6) In winter use the tractor and deliver hay to cows and horses
7) Mow yard
8) Quilt and Crochet and Sew
9) Pick fruit, can it into jams, or sell what ever I can
10) Garden 1 acre of the land- so till it, rake it, plant and grow vegetables, then when ready pick, can or freeze or sell produce
11) Fertilize and weed all acres
12) Spray fences and weeds in pastures
13) Trim fruit and nut trees (trying to build orchard to be self sufficient)
14) Chase rustling dogs off if cannot kill them
15) Raise beef for family usage
16) Raise, train, and attempt to sell horses
17) Ride horses
18) Sell eggs from the chickens
19) Looking at raising hogs so have own pork, will have own smoke house if so
20) Mending barns
21) Keeping the accounting and taxes for the farm
22) Constantly contemplating methods of protecting and increasing production of everything on farm
23) Winter time is the slowest time, so mending barns and fences are done then
24) Spring through fall are constantly doing something here
25) Swim in the pool in spare time and go to cabin in mountains in spare time
Well, this is the jest of it that I do here. I have assistance but I have the most of it on my shoulders at present.
I am starting to place a patio out by the pool this weekend. I will flatten and level the land around my brick fireplace out by the pool and then lay bricks down to make the patio. After that I will build some Adirondack chairs to place on it along with some tables and a picnic table.
Well, come visit and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains.
scotter04162@yahoo.com
(I'm exhausted just READING what she does!)
from Felicia Hiatt Petit (on the road again)
David and I are traveling in Davis Mountains, trying out our new travel trailer. From here we are headed to Balmorhea State Park for several days. Love West Texas except for the very dry weather which my eyes hate. Going exploring tomorrow and probably down to see the Marfa lights tomorrow evening. Have seen them before....they do exist.
texteach@yahoo.com
IRS
Bart Darby has been the treasurer for our Class of '68 reunion committee for many years. He has always done such a great job and we appreciate his efforts. He moved to Pennsylvania a year ago and has still kept his position, thank heavens! He prepared our income tax again year. THANKS for all you do, friend!
ANY INTEREST in a CLASSMATE LUNCHEON?
A classmate asked if we were going to have another get-together like the CINCO de MAYO “mini reunion” we had two years ago at Tequila's Restaurant in Pt. Arthur by Central Mall. We had 60+ attendees. Well, I'm game IF I have enough response. We could have it the same weekend, which is Saturday, May 3rd this year. That is very soon for someone planning a gathering. What do you think? If I get enough response in the next TWO WEEKS from you about wanting to do this, I'll have the INFO on the next UPDATE which would be April 4th. OK, let me know how many of you would possibly attend if we decide to have it.
Ways to contact me:
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
Face Book
(409)749-4879 mobile
NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT
No “hell week”! Yay. Murphy had a stress test and received the results today. All is good. No stents needed this time. A “leaky valve”. No problem. Dad had a carotid artery ultrasound and an echo cardiogram. He visits the new cardiologist this coming Monday. My MRI on my shoulder, (remember the bike incident?), next week, also.
My brother just returned from a 34 day trip to Australia, Fiji Islands and New Zealand. Shhhh. I haven't told him about Dad's hospital visit for TIA's and AFIB or my bike accident. He is scheduled to have Dad at the end of May for about 5 days while Murphy and I have our annual “classmate” weekend with 5 other couples. He also has him for about 11 days in July while Murphy and I go on a vacation to Seattle and Canada. Dad always stays upstairs when he visits my brother in Friendswood because he only has a master downstairs. THAT AIN'T HAPPENING ANYMORE! The last time my brother saw Dad was at his daughter's wedding in January. That was the night Dad fell at the reception and since then has had a lot of trouble with his walking. He uses a cane or I hold his arm. Then, with the TIA's and AFIB he is quite a bit worse on everything; his memory, his walking, his understanding, tends to sleep or have his eyes closed most of the day, confused about the clothing, etc. I am biding my time before I tell him ALL that went on while he was gone. I have to let him get over his jet lag, get back into the groove of working, etc. Maybe I'll have told him by the next NEWSLETTER update and I'll tell you the outcome. He is a sweetie. He won't let me down. Thank heavens he doesn't get my NEWSLETTER!
Due to a death in my niece's family, my sister came for 3 days. She has never stayed at my house since we moved to Lumberton 5 years ago. Listen carefully, NEVER, never have two dementia family members together if possible! Even though I loved having her here, it was WORK! It was like having a baby and a toddler. Maybe that works when you are young but not so much when you are my age. I was wiped out when she left. Love my dad and sister LOADS but it was tough on this old broad! Another reminder to myself; don't plan on them taking showers at the same time even it is in two separate rooms! I was having to go back and forth like a chicken with his head cut off!
Murphy and I are leaving in the morning for a weekend get-away. DO I GET AN “AMEN”? Our sitter keeps him one weekend a month. We are heading to Dam B to go camping and you would think we were going across the US. We have been packing and planning meals all week and just been excited to be able to get away. Did I tell you it is only 50 minutes down the road from where we live in Lumberton? We have to take advantage of the opportunity to get away while we can. We had planned a sitter for 6 hours yesterday to have lunch and a movie and she cancelled an hour before she was coming. Maybe another time.
We have been eating healthier for the FIRST time in many, many years. We have been cutting down on SWEETS and eating lots of healthy snacks and meals. So far, so good. Just happens to also be Lent so I can't “slip” back anyway. Keep your fingers crossed that we stay on the straight and narrow.
SUPPORT
(update on Cherlyn Hebert)
I am doing really well after my left knee replacement on January 20. I spent a few days in the hospital and then a week in the in-hospital rehab unit. I only used the walker for about a week and was driving the day after my post-op doctor visit. Of course, since the surgery was on my left leg, that really wasn't an issue. I am now doing outpatient physical therapy twice a week and have resumed bowling, my water aerobics classes and my Houston Ground Angels M. D. Anderson transports, so life is back to normal. Of course, I still have to get my right knee replaced later this year, so that hopefully I can stop "crabwalking" down the stairs (sideways with each foot landing on each step). I am a little lopsided, since the surgeon corrected my bowed left leg, so that leg is probably a half inch longer than the right. Which is good, since that more than makes up for the quarter-inch I've lost in height over the past few years. And I'll even up when the right knee is done.
hebert1220@att.net
(update on David Lapham)
I had shoulder surgery on January 22. My shoulder is progressing well. I had a 6-week checkup this week and the doc said my range of motion is "better than average" for this stage of recovery, and that I was probably in the 75th percentile — so he seems pleased with his work and I think I am too. I'm getting cabin fever and am ready to be getting out and doing things again! I'm kind of glad this happened during winter since I would have been staying indoors during the cold and rainy periods anyway.
CONDOLENCES
It hurts my heart every time I have to write about a classmate death, much less TWO in the same update.
HUGH WEATHERLY
June 30, 1950-March 15, 2014
RIP friend
JANICE AMES BREAUX
September 12, 1950-December 25, 2013
RIP sweet lady
(I was sadden to hear about Janice's death THIS WEEK! I obviously missed it in the paper during the holidays maybe because the obit only said “Janice Breaux”. PLEASE, please notify Mike or me when you find out about a classmate's passing! I would rather have 10 people tell me than NONE. We could have sent out a message to the classmates to support her family at the tragic time of her death. Thank you to Cecelia Trevino Esqueda for this info. She mentioned to a cashier at Wal Mart in Groves about a fellow classmate who worked as a greeter there. The employee told her about Janice's death.)
(a note from Donny Moss)
On Feb. 25, 2014, My wife and I lost our granddaughter, Kyla Mott. Any prayers would be appreciated.
Yours in Christ,
Donny Moss
don53moss@yahoo.com
Donny Moss
13560 Wayside Dr.
Beaumont, TX 77613
Carol Bonin Hammonds
(death of her mother, Ellen Bonin)
7885 Buttercup Lane
Beaumont, TX 77713
leehamm@swbell.net
Dwight Larson
(death of his mother, Lou Ella Larson)
Jo Ann (Duplant) and Lenny Larson
4430 Alamosa
Port Arthur, TX 77642
starparty1950@yahoo.com
Betty Bernauer Waedemon
(death of her father, Milton Bernauer)
1818 Cheyenne River Circle
Sugar Land, TX 77478
bbw1m@aol.com
PLEASE check out the MEMORIALS section for the obits for Hugh and Janice AND the OBITUARIES section for obits for Milton, Lou, Ellen and Kyla.
I am Happy, Happy to have the chance to write a NEWSLETTER twice monthly AGAIN! If you read the MAIL CALL and SUPPORT and didn't see your name then it is YOUR TURN to write me.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com
PS. I have to go watch the Red Sox play the Yankees at 6:05. Our Lumberton hometown boy, Clay Buchholz is pitching for the Sox tonight!