MAIL CALL
from Liz Tieskens Ellis in Sugar Land, TX
(May 16)
Just wanted to let you know officially that I will be retiring in June from Ft. Bend ISD after 34 years of service as an Educational Diagnostician (40 total years in education). I am so excited, and yet it is very bittersweet, as I am leaving behind many dear friends and colleagues there. To add to that, Butch and I, along with our daughter Ashley and her future husband, Joe, are planning to move to Colorado at the end of June to be near our son David, his wife, Chelsea, and our adorable twin grandsons, Elijah and Oliver. I am so very excited about this new chapter in our lives, but it is overwhelming as well, as we contemplate leaving Texas and all those we hold so dear here. Of course, our friendships are not based upon location, but duration- and these ties only become more precious and valuable with time. Having so many of us together in the Denver area will also make it easier for our son Josh, his wife, Suzi, and our darling grandgirls, Parker and Poppy, to visit us all at one time in a beautiful place, with relief from the hot Texas summers, and the lure of those winter sports that attract all these young folks to the mountains. Bringing our family closer together is very important to us, so this appears to be our next mission in life. Love to all our classmates, praying for good health for you all, and blessings galore!
(May 22)
This is surreal! I am sitting in the lobby at TRS in Austin, waiting for my 4:00pm appt. to make sure I know all the steps to retirement . 40 years, and a new chapter is about to begin. Where have the years gone? So many memories, so many friends and colleagues, so many students and parents....a road I have enjoyed...and now, a different direction to take...more later...stay tuned, folks!
(May 28)
Our faculty gave the retirees an amazing Texas-themed retirement celebration this afternoon at Highlands Elementary-my home away from home for the past 28 years. I was surrounded and loved on by so many dear friends who have shared these years with me. Oh, what memories...and what blessings you have all been to me. My heart is full!
liztellis@gmail.com
from Jan Russell in Spring, TX
(May 17)
I'm counting down the days until the end of the school year. (14 as of today!) You should SEE the happy dance that teachers do when the kids leave on the last day of school. We love them but by the end of the year we're glad to see them go! (Did I really put that in WRITING??) My big news is that next year will be my last year to teach. 42 years of teaching will definitely be enough. I've loved it, but retirement is now sounding very good.
jlrussell49@comcast.net
from Janette Light Norton in Cypress, TX
As always, this winter was the best and worst of times. Well, maybe not the Worst but definitely Long. Richard had his second knee replacement and is well into recovery. In April, my 3rd granddaughter Elise was born. She is a dark-haired clone of her big sister Claire. Our little Collette has wrapped her Poppy around her little finger; Richard finds excuses every day to go visit her.
hjn50beach@yahoo.com
(I apologize to Beth Anne that I neglected to put this in earlier in May!)
from Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley in Bedford, TX
Guess where I'm going? Around May 26, we are driving to Pagosa Springs, CO to spend time with classmate, Barbara Bowers on her organic farm. We will be combing the fields of Wolf Creek looking for medicinal/edible mushrooms! SOOOO Cool. We are also going fishing in a lake there. One of the other days we will make a day trip up the million dollar highway to Ouray.. MY 'FAVOREST' PLACE IN THE WORLD!! We will be camping in an old pop-up camper that my husband has updated/modified. In July, I'm going to a family reunion in Indiana to meet cousins I've never met before! I'm adding another 'notch' to my bucket list... going to RHODE ISLAND to see where my dad was stationed/lived during WWII and deployed on his ship. Trying to get closure after reading his war letters. To keep a little extra cash flow during retirement, I'm substitute teaching. YIKES.. I must get my head examined!!
eac2005@sbcglobal.net
QUICK TUTORIAL of a section of our CLASS WEBSITE
I receive an e-mail asking me a question about our graduation date from TJ. I knew JUST WHERE TO LOOK!
Follow me:
Go to our website www.tjhs1968.com
Click on SITE LINKS
Find MISCELLANEOUS
Click on MEMORABILIA
Other sections included in the SITE LINKS:
PHOTOS (don't forget to check out the 45th REUNION pics
MEMORIALS
MEMORIAL SLIDESHOW
AWARDS/ARTICLES
ARMED FORCES
MISCELLANEOUS (a treasure trove)
WEBSITES OF INTEREST
TJHS LINKS (other classes)
SOUNDS of the 60's
After you read the above list, it might jog your memory to send in info to add to any of those sections.
It is amazing how much information that Mike and I have gathered from you and other sources that are at your fingertips. Maybe you haven't perused the website in a long time. There are so many items that are interesting, memory provoking, and even sad at times. PLEASE take the time when family is not needing you, to just GO BACK IN TIME. Mike mentioned that we have really worked our hineys off to keep it current and we've noticed that the website isn't being viewed nearly as often as we would like. Mike has a way to look at the viewship on which pages have been seen and how often. Can you make us feel a little better?
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
I just knew by this update that my Dad would be moved into the private home (HOLLAND PLACE) in Nederland. That hasn't happened. The construction of the added wing on the home isn't completed so we are still waiting. Actually, we thought he would be moved in and Murphy and I made reservations in Katy for both of our granddaughters' soccer tournament. Well, Murphy had to go without me. Because we still have Dad I stayed home. On Friday, I went to a funeral of a 50 year old friend who tragically died too soon. The day tended to go downhill with Dad having some issues and I was already in a sad mood. So, I threw a “pity party” and “invited” Beverly Copeland Gaspard! She talked me out of my funk on the phone. Thanks friend! I later decided that night to take my Dad on a SURPRISE visit the next day to see my brother in Friendswood. I surprised my brother, also. He hadn't seen Dad since Christmas. It was a great day. Very relaxing. Dad pretty much slept through everything, but I felt better!
The next day was the 4th year death anniversary for Mom. Dad and I went to Greenlawn Cemetery to change out the flowers then went to mass at St. Joseph on Procter Street in Lakeview. Afterwards, we drove by our old house at 5016 8th St. where he and Mom lived from 1941-2007 (66 years!) and we reminisced while driving through downtown PA. We drove through the Gulf Refinery where he worked as a welder from 1951-1980. I showed him where he used to walk the PICKET LINE every other year! It was a bittersweet day but I have to keep reminding myself that she was READY!
My shoulder is better since the shot of cortisone, (not great, but better). I am trying to avoid having surgery for the torn rotator cuff.
My Boston Red Sox gave us a great year last year winning the WORLD SERIES but have been in a major slump this year. Hmmm.
Good news, though. Murphy and I are heading to Bastrop where we will meet some of our classmates and their spouses at the Lost Pines Resort this weekend. I know that will perk me up! It is fun being around Lynn Eldridge, Jim Andrus, Paul Colletti and crazy Jude Arisco. We always have such a great time on our annual get-together.
TRIBUTE to my heart, BAILEY ANN BOULLION
My first grandchild, Bailey is “graduating” to the 6th grade. Even though I am proud watching her grow into such a wonderful young lady, I hate to think she is old enough to go to that BAD STAGE of MIDDLE SCHOOL! I know that she has such a good foundation that she will make the right decisions and pick the right friends. She has always made us so proud, (as I know all of the classmate grandparents feel about their grandchildren), over the years. She is the tender-hearted one that always thinks of others first. She is so compassionate towards elderly, friends, and especially animals! She just had her 5th grade award ceremony at Sour Lake Elementary and received several. But to top it off, this week she was nominated by a teacher and was chosen by the CHANNEL 12 NEWS to be the Star Student of the Week! One of her teachers nominated her because of, not only being a terrific student in all her subjects and showing an extra effort to do well in all things, but for her compassion towards others, (she seems to gravitate towards the “underdogs” and the 'special' students). She was on the news and they talked about her All A's during Elementary school, her music and excellent efforts in running 5K's. She has even sang the “Star Spangled Banner” at some of the 5K opening ceremonies. The news showed her playing the piano. She also won 1st place in UIL for music memory this year. She plays soccer in the Houston area every weekend except in the summer. When she is between games she warms up her sister's team for them to be ready for their games. I am one proud NANNY! I love that girl “2 more than she loves me”!
SUPPORT
a note from Janette Light Norton in Cypress
My health is a see saw but much better at the moment. Thank you all who've wished me well. Take time, my friends, to stay in touch.
hjn50beach@yahoo.com
from Dianne Dupre in Groves
(May 23)
Update on my weight loss. I've lost 70 lbs as of yesterday! Feeling great and hope to continue on. My thanks to all my friends and family for your love, support, and prayers. Love you all!
(Dianne doesn't have a published e-mail but can be found on FB)
Please remember to keep Charlotte Pace Thurston in your prayers. She is on her 3 week break before going back to MD Anderson for more chemo, radiation and kidney surgery. She is fighting sinus and kidney cancer.
2702 Mazur
Pt. Neches, TX 77651
(409)720-8848
cthurston@gt.rr.com
Jack Etheredge is recovering from foot surgery. He will have surgery on his other foot later this summer.
thejet68@hotmail.com
a message from Rhonda Carleton Richey '70 (Bill Richey's wife)
One doctor said "your neck is a wreck" and another doctor said "you look pretty young to have such an old neck". Oh boy, oh boy ! Without detailing my woes, I ask for your prayers for a safe, successful surgery in Houston and a good recovery. This will be happening in the near days or weeks. In the meantime, my strength lasts only a few hours and then I am pooped and resting - a strange thing for this old girl. By early fall, I plan to be back in the game - I don't like the bench!
3695 Woodway Dr.
Orange, TX 77630
rrich@gt.rr.com
a note from Josephine Martinez in Houston
My son's fundraiser has ended and I want to thank everyone for their support and contributions and kind words and prayers. Plus, I want to thank my son's close friends and family that setup this fundraiser. God Bless You All...
(Josephine's son, Paul Martinez, has a rare cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma.)
jomama6758@yahoo.com
from Jan Russell in Spring
So what am I doing for my summer vacation? I having surgery on June 16 for an umbilical hernia. Since this is the 2nd time, it will be a more invasive surgery. The surgeon has stressed to me how painful it is going to be. Gee - I can hardly wait! But, I'll be fine and will have the summer to recover and catch up on my reading and watching old movies. So, I would appreciate prayers that it won't be as painful as I'm anticipating.
4545 Louetta Rd, Apt. 3902
Spring, TX 77388
jlrussell49@comcast.net
CONDOLENCES
Carol Olivier Nunez
(death of her husband, Randy Nunez '66)
3220 Rolling Oaks Dr.
New Braunfels, TX 78132
tootsienooner@yahoo.com
a note from Fred Schneider '66 (Randy's brother) about his TJ classmate, Randy Nunez
The Thomas Jefferson class of 1966 mourns the loss of classmate, team mate and friend Randy Paul Nunez. Nunez passed away today as a result of complications of colon cancer. He has fought this battle courageously for several years. There was no more competitive an athlete nor a more aggressive team mate. If we were running the power sweep, Nunez or White led the way. Randy's wife and son survive him. Please offer your prayers for Randy and keep his family in your thoughts. Meet you at the other end of the end zone old team mate.
I have one more item to put in my NEWSLETTER. My dad has had a sitter that has helped us out with Dad a few days each month. She is extremely trustworthy and has never once cancelled us in the last four years! Because Dad will be moving to the private facility that leaves her with room for a new client. If you have that need, contact me lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com or (409)755-1439 at home or Donna Halbrook (409)962-8044. She is a '67 graduate of PN-G and lives across from Taft Elementary in Groves. She is available in the PA/ Mid-County area. I highly recommend her. We will miss her very much. She has become another “family member”.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com