MAIL CALL
from Leonard Hilliard in Stonewall, TX
Nov. 3
I am completely retired from my neonatology practice as of Sept 2013. Kathy and I are living on our country place near Stonewall, TX. We've done some travel. I'm building a double kayak from a kit. I and an old college/med school friend of mine are trying to learn how to fish the bays around Port O'Connor, TX. Praying for big rain in Central Texas. Trying to stay healthy for a while longer.
lhilliard49@sbcglobal.net
from Linda Blanton Murski in Montgomery, TX
Nov. 6
We are living in Montgomery, Texas now. Out in the piney woods. We finally got some rain last night. Heaven sent. We could use a lot more here. We are losing so many trees in this area from the drought. Getting all ready for the holiday season, cooking, baking and having lots of family around. They are around a lot since we have been back but it is always nice to get them all together at one time for a big meal, bonfires, hiking in the woods, riding motor bikes, etc....
lbmurski@gmail.com
from Shari Louvier Parker in New Boston, TX
Dec. 3
I am so thankful for so many things. My new home, that is slowly coming together. And I mean slowly. Trying to get over bronchitis, and editing books for our 4 new authors. I have a wonderful man in my life, a office manager/editor I adore and my son, Clint Commander, just picked up his beautiful daughter, McKenzie for Thanksgiving. God is so great!!
sharipar@yahoo.com
from Gloria Faye Burks Scott in Bryan, TX
So much is changing! I am now officially retired from the City of College Station. I left a great group of people there and hope so much to stay in contact with them. The day before my official retirement day (November 30th), I had to let go of my sweet dog, Encores GI Blues Gabriel (Gabe). It has taken me this long to even comment on the passing of this sweet, lovable boy. He was the best dog one could ever want to have. He loved me without conditions and saw me through some really tough times. God gave him to me and I knew it was time to let him go. Rest in peace my precious Gabe! You are and will be missed by me and a lot of other people who shared.
from Carla Castro Stewart in Pt. Neches
Dec. 17
I'm heading to Mississippi tomorrow. I'm going to see my Kendyl and Austyn in their Christmas programs. I love my granddaughters!
cah0722@yahoo.com
from Becky LeBlanc Robinson in Conroe, TX
Dec. 19
The birthday celebration continues. My beautiful daughter and I are celebrating my "special " birthday in New York.
brobison@harc.edu
from Gene Ross in Beaumont, TX
Dec. 19
The past 35 years have been very rewarding, to say the least. The day I met Jacque, I knew she was the one for me. It has been a tremendous ride. Happy anniversary to my beautiful wife.
maling2@sbcglobal.net
from Felicia Hiatt Petit in Texas City, TX
Dec. 19
44 years ago at this time I was a nervous wreck getting ready for our wedding. Today David and I are blessed with great kids, wonderful grandkids, and awesome friends. I think that's pretty wonderful for loving the same man for 44 years+. Happy Anniversary David Petit!
textteach@yahoo.com
I noticed that all my mail was from TEXAS. What is going on with you “out of staters”?
“MINI REUNION”
What started as two classmates planning a luncheon has GROWN. Several classmates wanted to join in and it is planned for TOMORROW!
Casa del Rio
Beaumont on IH10
noon
Saturday, Dec. 20
Reservations are under TJ, class of '68
RSVP (important)
Sissie Woods Kilcrease
sissiekilcrease@aol.com
or
Mary Wells
(409)460-8828
PAY IT FORWARD
After my story and request to the classmates to tell me their “pay it forward” story, I got this from Lynn Eldridge Gill:
“I loved your story about picking up tabs. Your story about your dad made me cry! My husband, Jim, picks up servicemen's checks but you've inspired me to do it more often!”
lgill29@gmail.com
(Thanks for sending in your story. Maybe other classmates will now remember to do the same.)
MY MOM TAUGHT ME....
RELIGION...”You better pray that comes out of the carpet!”
LOGIC...”Because I said so, that's why!”
IRONY...”Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about.”
WISDOM...”When you get to my age you'll understand.”
JUSTICE...”One day you'll have kids. I hope they turn out just like you!”
GIRLS' CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
Four years ago a tradition was started with four classmates. Diane Richmond, Debbie Borres, Ernie Castaneda, and I met at Diane's home and had a few hours of quality, non-stressed time of food, fellowship, and fun. We met again this year for the fourth time and also visited for three hours. Most all of the visit was about fun things and a lot of laughter between bites! Cute grandkids photos were passed around with Diane finally getting in on the action by sharing her photos of her first grandchild, Christian Miller! I hope we can continue this tradition for a long time to come.
(and speaking of GRANDPARENTS....)
Lynn Eldridge Gill sent this to me. I will only include excerpts from the article considering it was too long to include the whole article. It is written by Friedman, a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, in Moorestown, PA:
New grandparents smile more. They get misty often. They become dazed wanderers in an exotic, foreign, but altogether wonderful land.
This is life's bonus. A second chance to get it right, something most of us ruefully admit we didn't always do the first time around.
Just when you think you're at the best stage of all, along comes the next one to prove that, indeed, there is more joy to be had in this life. There is no moderation in this love. It's all-consuming, totally irrational, and for those very reasons, absolutely splendid.
Grandchildren are an affirmation of life's longing for itself and the flow of the generations.
No, we can't hold back the tides of time. But we can rejoice in each stage of grandparenthood. There's nothing quite as marvelous as knowing that out in the world there are children of our children.
WEBSITE DONATION
A Christmas card came which contained a donation to help with the website expense. A big THANK YOU to Cynthia Marshall Devlin for her check.
cynjad@msn.net
Every so often we need to update the website softwear. This is Mike's explanation of what he recently bought and why:
“Linda, I did a little shopping a few nights ago and this was what I
came up with.
Right now we have Expression Web Professional, no longer sold, and
was able to get the latest new Expression Studio Web 4 Professional.
This new software is a year old, so we are a little behind, but
mainly it's supported.
Fling FTP is supposed to be one of the better FTP programs available
and at a decent price. It has quiet a bit of new upload features. The
present FTP we're using was bought in late '05.
I found an upgrade to Imagevue, our photo slideshow on the web, at a
good price. It also has a few new features that might be helpful. I
decided to update what we have.”
miklaws@embarqmail.com
(Now, I think this is funny because I have NO CLUE what all that means! My job is to be a SNOOP REPORTER and send it to Mike!)
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Dad is very content at the Holland Place Senior Living in Nederland. It is so cozy and not crowded. It is perfect. It takes me about 28 minutes to get there from here in Lumberton. Doable. He has had a few health issues lately that needed more time at doctors and an ER visit and visits from me. He is still hanging in there. They moved his room closer to the den. He doesn't like to take naps in his bed, just the recliner. He has been a happy camper since the holidays. He LOVES sweets. They have plenty of those lately.
I am going to invite my sister to spend a few days after Christmas. She really enjoyed it here at Thanksgiving. Please continue to pray for my sweet Gerry. Some of you remember that she suffers from dementia and she is bi-polar. That condition can be exaggerated during the holidays.
Murphy is not doing very well at the “beer lease” concerning getting a deer! He has gained 7 pounds though. Does that count?
My doctor check ups have been mostly good. Just need to work on this weight to maybe help with some problems. Not a really good time to think of “health food” when everything looks YUMMY!
Too much has been going on and my CHRISTMAS tree has yet to be decorated! It IS in the stand though. I am not too worried. I keep it up until Valentine's Day. That is a fact. I feel like I am living the HALLMARK commercial each time I put up each of my ornaments! They all have some kind of meaning. 64 years didn't come in a day. My Christmas cards are being written a few each day. I am still OLD SCHOOL. I like my cards. I take time to pick them out each year and enjoy writing them. It brings me pleasure thinking of each person and how they are involved in my life.
HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!
( Grin!!! I just thought I might throw that in. Oh, did you know it is only 3 ½ months until spring training for MLB baseball?)
A Christmastime NYC TRIP
I went with four other women to NYC during the holidays! What an experience. I don't know if I'll be able to do it again but it is now a check off my BUCKET LIST. We arrived there on a late afternoon on a Saturday. Our stay was for 6 ½ days! Awesome. We stuffed everything in possible except REST AND RECUPERATION. Geez
Highlights of the NY experience:
Taxi Cab rides (Yes, just like in the movies!)
NY pizza
Central Park (We went to Strawberry Fields on the anniversary of John Lennon's death. We also saw the doorway where he was shot and killed.)
Grayline tours of the Bronx, Harlem, Chinatown, Times Square, Wall Street, etc
Empire State Building (King Kong had left the building!)
Rockefeller Center (Saw the ice skaters and the TREE!)
Yankee Stadium (tours were closed by the time we got there)
Top of the “Rock” (during the night time)
Christmas Window Scenes ( Saks, Macy's, Lord and Taylors, etc)
Sidewalk vendors (hot dog, bagle, roasted nuts)
First SUBWAY ride (I was nervous at first then it got “old hand.” Really great way to travel.)
Famous La Familgia restaurant
Rockettes (Christmas musical)
9-11 Memorial (on the day a Noreaster came through)
Macy's on 34th (Sat on Santa's lap. POOR Santa. His knee probably has to be scoped now.)
Broadway show (“Beautiful, The Carol King story”)
NY cheesecake
Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty (Walked up to the Crown 162 steps on a spiral staircase. Still recovering!)
Heavy SNOW flurries one day
Oh, it must have slipped my mind! Insert WINK here. The DUKE and DUCHESS of Cambridge, (aka WILLIAM and KATE), were at the 9-11 Memorial exactly when we had tickets purchased two months ago. We were as close as 20 yards at times. OH, that had to be the topping on the cake! Don't be a HATER.
(Thank you to Martha Lipe Bodin '69, for including me on this trip of a lifetime. Love you, bestie.)
DID YOU KNOW....?
that you can look on the front page of the website and click on CLASS LISTINGS and find out where your fellow classmates live? If you put your cursor on their name it will also show you their e-mail address.
Now, your assignment is to check out YOUR name, also. Make sure it has the most updated E-MAIL address where you want us to send these updates and important info and also make sure we have your updated LOCATION. Send me any corrections that you find, even for another classmate.
SUPPORT
Arlene Lang Hulin (family health issues)
Nov. 22
Yes, it has been quiet a week. Marlon had an angiogram a week ago Friday and was admitted to the hospital the same day. The word we were given at that time was he needed 2 small procedures to take care of his afib and 2-3 by-passes. He had to get one blood thinner out of his system and start taking another one. In other words, keep his blood thick enough to not bleed out during surgery and thin enough to prevent a blood clot, (retired accountant's view of medical conversation). Surgery was Friday with five by-passes! I see him every day and I have stayed a couple of nights but our kids think I am pushing my liver transplant recovery time.
Thanks to all who sent cards and emails after my transplant.
Please keep prayers going for my family,
11402 Sageperry Dr.
Houston, TX 77089
mhulin46@gmail.com
(Also, recently, Arlene's brother had a stroke that affected the vision in one of his eyes.)
Charlotte Pace Thurston had a battery of tests at MDA the first week of December to see if the surgery, chemo, and radiation was working in her battle with sinus and kidney cancer. All clear! Here's to your better health in 2015!
Charlotte Pace Thurston
2702 Mazur
Pt. Neches, TX 77651
(409)720-8848
Janette Light Norton
(on a waiting list for a liver and kidney transplant)
20219 Sweetgum Way
Cypress, TX 77433
hjn50beach@yahoo.com
Ronnie Boneau (colon cancer)
Dec. 4 (update from his wife)
Two years ago today was a tough day for Ronnie & me. He had surgery at MD Anderson to remove colon cancer, & then 2 months later begin 6 long months of chemotherapy. We cannot thank our friends & family enough for your continued support, positive thoughts, & keeping us both in your prayers (please don't stop now, though). We are truly blessed!
5000 Bellaire Ave.
Groves, TX 77619
rwboneau@gt.rr.com
Lana Oliver Baker
(update on husband, Al's health issues)
Nov. 12
I have received many blessing in my life from God, but today is one of the best days that was long awaiting. The medication OFEV (nintedanib), was recently approved by the FDA for idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and even though it has not been approved by our insurance as of yet, the drug company has made it available to my husband to start today. This is not a cure, but it suppose to slow the progress. Right now we are thanking God that Al has made it to get a chance for a longer life. Our prayers are for families who lost their loved ones to this horrible disease without having the save opportunity, and for those that will be soon on the medication. Pray for a cure, a reversal to lung scarring! Pray that the side effects are minimum.
We have hope and are thankful that this medication was approved earlier than anyone expected! To God be the Glory!
8813 S.92nd E. Court
Tulsa, OK 74133
lanbak@yahoo.com
Barry Boudreaux
(recovering from heart issues)
3319 Highland Laurels
Kingwood, TX 77345
bwboudr@yahoo.com
mbsjanice@aol.com
Charlie Fontenot
(update on grandson, Little Ray)
Dec. 18
Since the surgery for his kidney his last test was the first one that his creatinine levels were under normal levels. Still will continue monitoring levels and kidney functions. So things are looking up.
412 Brookdale
League City, TX 77573
cajunfont@aol.com
CONDOLENCES
Sharon Lewis Forrest
(death of her husband, Jim on Nov. 29)
207 Scarlet Ridge Dr.
Boerne, TX 78006
sharonaforrest@yahoo.com
(a note from Sharon)
Dec. 3
Following the loss of my husband, Jim, these last several days have been the most difficult of my life. I've been trying to find the words to tell all my family and friends how grateful I am for their support.
For all who were able to attend either of Jim's services, thank you for honoring him and our family with your presence. For everyone who has called or sent messages, I will treasure the comfort of your kind words, hugs and tears for the rest of my life. We all appreciate so much each of you who have taken time to bring food or to send cards and flowers. I don't have words to express how much each of you mean to me. "Thank you" and "I love you" is just going to have to do.
Jimmy Alvin Hebert
(death of his mother, Mae Hebert)
436 Tall Timbers
Burkeville, TX 75932
hebert340@windstream.net
This will be the last NEWSLETTER of 2014. Let me know if something touched you or made you giggle. Maybe you have reached out and renewed a friendship. I would love to hear about it. It has been two months since my last NEWSLETTER. Sometimes life gets in the way. May you have a blessed Christmas and a healthy, happy NEW YEAR.
Keep in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com