MAIL CALL
Sept. 23
from Bill Horton in Austin
Retirement is going real well; I wish I had started earlier. I had two good trips this summer. First was a scuba trip to Bonaire with the group Eels on Wheels, which takes people who are in wheelchairs scuba diving. My brother Paul has been in a chair for 3 years and he invited me along. On every dive (15 in 5 days) we saw amazing reefs and fish. My 1969 scuba certification was still good!
In July I drove west and first stop was a few days backpacking in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico. I'd thought all of southern NM was as arid as I-10 but the Gila was green with water in all the creeks. It was beautiful. Then on to visit Gary Jones in San Diego. He's doing great and treated me well. We had local craft beer, fish tacos, and a nice bike ride up the coast.
I drove up to Taos yesterday to visit friends from college. The aspens are starting to get colorful.
Sept. 22
from Janice Jones Kelly in Bridge City
I spent a wonderful weekend in College Station with my children and friends. It was special having all three of my children together at one time. What more could a mother want? We ate BBQ and had homemade ice cream. We even had a non dairy ice cream which was delicious! My girls took me to get a pedicure. Thank you for the birthday wishes.
Since I didn't get any other mail this month and I need to use up space, I'll publish Mr. Rowland's LAST homeroom news, THE MAFIA MESSENGER, from the summer of August, 1967:
Editor: Linda DeCuir
Reporter: Jean Ann Virden
Two of our more “honored” classmates are Kenneth Bragg and Steve Baker, who both turned 17 years old this month.
Linda Olivier will be one of the forty-one CavOILcade princesses for this years' celebration. Good luck!
Donald DeLee is concluding his summer by attending the summer band session for the month of August.
Traveling with a new camper, Florence Woods, enjoyed a family vacation to Illinois.
Fred McCarty is, as usual, taking it easy by resting before school starts again. He also mentioned the “tedious” job of picking out school clothes.
Mixed emotions go to Dwight Larson this month. He was unfortunate enough to land in the hospital to have his wisdom teeth cut outm but had a speedy recovery thinking about this new Camaro parked at home. Dwight had also started a new hobby of photography. He plans to purchase a new camera before school begins.
James Miller has been busy also this month. He visited relatives in Lafayette, Louisiana and then entertained a cousin from New Iberia, Louisiana for a week. Around the house, he just goofs around and plays ping pong.
Phyllis Hargrove spent a day in the sun at Lake Tejas with friends. She also had her cousin from Fort Smith, Arkansas visiting her.
The “Toe” LaGrappe is practicing extra hard after the excellent write-up that appeared in the Port Arthur News about him. Keep Kicking, Wayne.
Jean Ann Virden has felt a little useful this summer since she has been sewing in her spare time.
Glenn McGee is trying to stuff everything in before school starts again. He was holding a job for the Coastal Marines, has been surfing at Cow Bayou, and swimming at Lakeview Pool.
Linda DeCuir spent a week visiting cousins all over southern Louisiana. She was also happy to have her brother home on a 21 day leave from the Air Force.
Alvin Jones decided he had worked too long and enjoyed too less. Solution? He quit his job to rest up before school days were here again.
Linda Gothia was fortunate enough to go to Market with her mother to shop for new clothes for L&R Variety Shop.
ATTENTION MAFIA:
YOUR LEADER (Mr. Rowland) SPEAKS!
This past year the Mafia struck again and again—posters every week, the food drive, school spirit, etc. We proved beyond a doubt that the homeroom with a purple thumb, (and the golden toe), is the best T.J. has. However, if you rabble-rousers thought you had it rough last year, you “ain't seen nothing yet! As the number 1 homeroom, everyone will be will be gunning for us—especially since we are SENIORS this year. This next school year, not only are we going to repeat last years performance, we shall surpass it! We will challenge all homerooms in school every week to poster contest. The food drive WILL be ours again. We will corner the market on school spirit. We CAN do it! We SHALL do it!
VIVE LA MAFIA!!!
Love, Your leader
(TMSA** The Mafia Strikes Again)
P.S. There will be a poster party from 3-5 pm on Saturday, August 26 at the Mafia hideout, 3839 Canal Street in Groves. Try to come. If possible, bring paints, brushes, paper, etc.
(Thanks to Lenny Larson for sharing these NEWSLETTERS he found in Dwight's papers. They really brought back some fun memories.)
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
The test results have come back and nothing was found to be abnormal! Yea. I see the neurologist in December to go over the results.
Murphy has been busy going back and forth to Wiergate, (his beer lease), getting ready for this deer season. I am looking forward to a few quite days every week for a couple of months to do as I please.
Dad is still doing well. I check on him a couple of days a week unless he has doctors' appointments. His neurologist decided he wanted to run a few tests on him to see what kind of damage might have happened with his last episode on August 30. The workers and other residents at his facility are teaching him UNO and CANASTA. Those are two games he has never played. They said he seems to really enjoy them.
My oldest granddaughter, Bailey, was awarded a certificate for being voted MOST SPIRITED 6th grader at Marshall Middle School in Sour Lake during RED RIBBON WEEK. We are very proud of her.
Thanks for the prayers for our youngest granddaughter (10) who had to go back on her blood pressure medicine. We are really happy that she is so active and physically fit.
Murphy and I took a road trip to Tennessee for a wedding in September. It was a great week. We started with a tour of GRACELAND and I can definitely say that ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING! He was everywhere. My regret, we didn't have enough time to read and enjoy every display. We were pressed for time.
We are going to the Lutcher Theatre in Orange to see Smokey Joe's Cafe featuring THE COASTERS! We are looking forward to hearing some good music.
Ernie (Castaneda) and her husband, Ron Bullion will be traveling with Murphy and I to spend the weekend in Dallas to cheer on our DALLAS COWBOYS! We have a tour of the stadium planned and also a tour of the Deeley Plaza where the JFK assassination occurred.
Diane Richmond Miller and I had a luncheon date at Bandos in Beaumont. We weren't rushed, had a great quality visit, and perused the wonderful gift shop. Guess who made lots of purchases? Shhh. Don't tell Murphy.
It is so nice to be able to go on road trips, have luncheons at will, and feel less stressed again and know that my dad is in good hands! God is good.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bart Darby has announced his retirement.
Anthony Roccaforte and Marilyn are vacationing in Rome.
Mike Lawson's son, Mike, Jr, is the proud parent of a new baby boy!
The class of '69 is having their 45th reunion Oct. 17-18. Contact Sue Ingo on FB for more information.
SUPPORT
September 30
Please pray for my sweet mom, Joyce Marceaux Abate, who fell today and broke her collarbone and three ribs and is currently staying a few days in the hospital on pain medicine and to assure pneumonia does not set in.
abate.joyce@yahoo.com
Janice Hebert Boudreaux's mother, Joyce, underwent back surgery in Houston. She is doing much better and has much relief from pain. She had 6 pinched nerves repaired and several spurs removed.
Joyce Hebert
5257 Landry Dr.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
CONDOLENCES
Don Daigle '67 and sister, Denise Daigle '69 loss their mother, Iris, last Thursday. She died from injuries sustained in a car crash on Hwy 73 and 32nd St. in Groves last Wednesday. Mrs. Daigle is also survived by another son, Dwight Daigle.
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I know some of you are retiring. Let me hear from you. If you spend some time with another classmate, send me a photo or a story about your visit together. If you think of something you did fun or even STUPID in high school, that would be good, too. How about a teacher who made a difference in your life or took time to appreciate you for you. Grandkids? I see lots on FB that you post but you ASSUME we know who they are. That doesn't always happen to a reader. We aren't always familiar with your family. Let us know more. Please take time to drop me a line. I would love to include you in the next NEWSLETTER in another month.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com