MAIL CALL
from Cherlyn Hebert in Houston
In May, some friends and I joined a tour of Michigan. The highlight was spending two nights at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Think “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. That was really a wonderful trip. Staying at the Grand Hotel was truly a highlight. I love that movie, and it was exciting to see places where some scenes were shot.
I just got back from my first (and I am sure last) trip to Asia. A group of friends and I booked a cruise/tour with Viking. We started in Beijing, where I actually walked on the Great Wall of China. That is something I never thought I’d be able to say. After a few days, we flew to Xi’an, where we saw the Terra Cotta Warriors. Imagine over 8000 of these mostly military figures that have been painstakingly reconstructed since they were discovered in 1974. No parts are reproduced; the workshop is like a giant jigsaw puzzle. We also had a five-night cruise on the Yangtze, where we saw the Three Gorges Dam. I am sure that was a lot more impressive to engineering types than it was to me, but I enjoyed it just the same. The pollution was terrible, coupled with cold, damp weather; and it didn’t take me long to get bronchitis. Our last stop was four days in Shanghai. My big complaint about China is that they eat WAY too much Chinese food. We had some variety on the ship; but on the land part, it was Chinese food served family-style for both lunch and dinner for ten days. For our last two nights in Shanghai, we were on our own for dinner; and we ate pizza at a nearby Papa John’s. I don’t think pizza ever tasted so good. LOL
(I went to Mackinac Island in 2001 and stayed two nights in the Grand Hotel!!! I love the movie and the location, also.)
hebert1220@att.net
STATE CHAMPIONS
Janis Hamilton Lee and tennis partner, Pat Wesfall won the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in 65+ bracket in New Braunfels in early November!
They beat Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas in the championship round to garner the trophy!
(Way to go, girls.)
markjlee@yahoo.com
MILITARY PICS AND INFO
Thanks to Joe Gongora and Fred Hollier, Jr and their wives for sending in information to go along with pictures I found posted on FB on Veterans Day. Mike Lawson will post pics and information in the ARMED FORCES section when we get new ones. I am hoping to get more. Billy Caldwell is in the process of finding pics to send.
CLASS LISTING
Now that I am able to sit a little longer in front of the desktop computer, I will be trying to update any changes on your name, location and e-mail address. Please take the time to check over this info in CLASS LISTINGS and tell me if any of it has changed. If you want to contact a classmate in this section, go to their name and place your mouse on their name and the e-mail address should come up. If we don't have an e-mail, none will show. Thanks for helping us.
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Good news. Shhhhh. I THINK I might have turned a corner in this back surgery dramarama! I had a few bad days before Thanksgiving and was really starting to feel discouraged. But, lo and behold, I started feeling better and stronger as the weekend grew closer. I didn't plan to have Thanksgiving here because I am still having trouble bending and lifting. I looked for a 1 lb turkey. Couldn't find one!!! So, Patti Kiamar Burress was nice enough to invite Murphy and I for a wonderful feast at her home in Port Neches. Now, I am spoiled. I might just have to be “sick” again next holiday. Shhh
My two good friends who live in Bridge City, Martha Lipe Bodin and Sharon Davis, and I planned a Crystal Beach get-away for the Thanksgiving weekend. I was really unsure if that would be a good idea until I was informed that the beach house had a lift and a recliner. We were able to go and spend 3 days doing NOTHING but lounging in our pjs and watching HALLMARK movies and sitting on the balcony listening to the waves. We did venture out to the supermarket there and I ran into Randy Landry! It was so good to see this handsome fellow. He lives on the bay side. We also went to the Stringree Restaurant and ate a fabulous seafood dinner. Just some good ole needed girl-time was what we all three needed.
Murf is not a happy camper. He hasn't been seeing hardly anything at his “beer” lease. So, if anyone has an extra deer, just throw 'em on our lawn here in Lumberton. He'll do the rest! He has gained weight, though. Just sitting and watching and sitting and watching. That will do it.
Dad has been enjoying the holidays....eating, sleeping and pooping. Just like a hamster! He is so cute. I went to see him recently and he was sitting in his recliner with his eyes closed. “Dad”, I said. Nothing. “Dad”! Nothing. Okay, I'll show him. “Dad, I have a tootsie roll pop for you but you have to open your eyes.” He did open.....his MOUTH, not his eyes! That little rascal.
Thanks to all for the support you gave me during my health stuggles this past year. I appreciate all of the notes, cards, e-mails, texts and phone calls checking on me. It has gotten me through it. Murphy also wanted to send his appreciation to all for the support he got after his heart attack.
SUPPORT
Loretta LaLonde Myers had a Labral Debridement to remove damaged tissue in the hip joint at the Texas Orthropedic Hospital in Houston Nov. 19. She is recovering nicely.
Lorettamyers@verizon.net
522 Beacons Hollow Ln.
League City, TX 77573
Charlotte Pace Thurston will have additional surgery to place 4 screws in two different disk in her spine to give her more support. These areas have been weakened by cancer leisons. She is working with a pain management specialist to help her be more mobile instead of so much pain. Her surgery is scheduled Dec. 7. Fingers crossed that this will help her to gain more strength because she will be in less pain.
2702 Mazur
Port Neches, TX 77651
Gene Ross has been released from the hospital to recupe for more operations in the future.
maling2@sbcglobal.net
7752 Hwy 365
Belmont, Tx 77705
CONDOLENCES
Donny Moss
(death of his son, Bryan)
don53moss@yahoo.com
13560 Wayside Dr.
Beaumont, TX 77713
I received a note from Donny after e-mailing him the comments you all made on FB when I posted about his son's passing:
Thank you for sending this to me. You will never understand how much this and meant to me. All of the prayers we received and the love shown to us, touched us deeply. I have often read the Sermon on the Mount, but never really understood what Jesus meant when He said "Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted." It is the love and prayers of others that bring us God's peace and comfort. God Bless you and all that have prayed and are still praying for our family.
Yours in Christ,
Donny Moss
Frank Mirabella
(death of his son, Frankie)
fmirabella50@yahoo.com
5514 Longmont Dr.
Houston, TX 77056
(death of a PAISD faculty member)
Roy Lipe
Condolences may be sent to:
cbodin@gt.rr.com
or
Martha Lipe Bodin
342 Roberts
Bridge City, TX 77611
A foundation was set up a year ago in memory of Laura Carter, daughter of J'Ann Rodriguez-Carter after she was killed by a violent criminal. Please read more on the front page of the website about the fellowship that is helping other graduate students.
jrodcarter77@yahoo.com
J'Ann Rodriguez-Carter
302 Larkwood Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78209
(Obituaries for Frankie, Bryan, Roy and Laura may be found on the front page under the section Obituaries. )
You won't be hearing from Mike and I until our next update in 2017. So, have yourself a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and blessings for a healthy and happy NEW YEAR!
Keep in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com
PS I was bragging way too much. I sent Mike a message last night about how I had just finished my NEWSLETTER but I wasn't going to send it to him to publish until the next morning. That way, if I thought of something else to add during the night, I would be still be able to. I got up from my brand new computer chair with lumbar support and I couldn't hardly walk!!!!! I'm sure it was because I sat in the chair writing this NEWSLETTER for more than 3 hours and only got up once. Dumb me. I had to hold on to walls to get to the den where I had my CANE. I took a muscle relaxer and headed to bed. This morning was worse. I almost fell even using my cane. Too much bragging, I guess. I took a long shower and have been inching along and hopefully, the leg will be better by this evening or tomorrow. It is a gully washer outside! It hasn't stopped raining here in Lumberton since 2:00 am. I think I'll go watch another HALLMARK movie.
Talk to you next YEAR!