MAIL CALL
from Elizabeth “Liz” Hall in Prosper, TX
Ms Stubbs taught English. She was one of the best teachers I ever had. We communicated a little a few years ago as I tried to let her know what a profound influence she had on me.
Thanks for the newsletter and website updates.
Elizabeth.hall@ttu.edu
from Beth Anne Sutherlin in Bedford, TX
On May 16, Ron and I will be traveling to Pagosa Springs, CO to spend time with Barbara Bowers and Dani. We will be camping in Priest Gulch which is close to Telluride. We have a “new” 4 WD so we will be enjoying some side roads and quiet getaways in the mountains. We can't wait. I'm taking Barbara some NICK'S BOUDAIN.
I'm still working but hoping to retire for the 3rd and FINAL time in 2018! I'll be in PA to help you guys decorate for the 50th reunion. I can't wait!!!
eac2005@sbcglobal.net
50th REUNION for the Class of '68
Bobbie Williamson has been doing leg work looking for the venues for the reunion in the summer of 2018. I will be contacting the committee to have an organization meeting soon so that we can vote on a venue sight for the Friday night social and the Saturday night dance/social.
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Dad made his 101th birthday April 22nd. I kept it low keyed and a few family
members that could make it and a couple of friends came by his assisted living. He celebrated with all the residents and caregivers that have also become FAMILY. He has been doing pretty good until last week.
He has starting to digress backward in his mind and thinks he is in his earlier times. He is talking outloud and jumping up and taking off down the halls. The problem is that his legs aren't in the shape they were a long time ago. Therefore, he fell last week and cut his head and tore lots of skin on his left arm. Of course, he is all bruised up. He started to heal and he took another nose dive out of the bed yesterday.
I got a call early telling me that he got up and tried to climb over the rail of his bed. He obviously didn't make it and he landed on his nose, while almost severing his pinky finger, ripping the skin on both arms and busting his elbow. Now, he had his SUPERMAN shirt on with his pajama bottoms but I don't think he had his CAPE on when he leaped over the railing in a “single bound”!
He looked pitiful when I met him at the ER, but I had to smile because he was lying there with his bright SUPERMAN blanket that my granddaughter made for him last year.
He has such a high tolerance for pain that he NEVER complained at the assisted living OR at the ER. They redressed the wounds (skin was too thin to put stitches on the pinky) and they took a CT scan of his head and an x-ray of his elbow. All negative.
I brought him back and he devoured a big bowl of homemade chicken and dumplings and then strawberry shortcake. Afterwards, I got him situated in his recliner and spread that SUPERMAN blanket on his lap and he was out!!! I know he had to be hurting! I hurt with a paper cut!!!!
ROAD TRIPS
Because of my spinal surgery last summer and complications, Murphy and I haven't made any “vacation” trips. Well, that finally changed this last two weeks.
April 30 - May 2 was our yearly “classmate” weekend. This year Paul and Lori Colletti opened up their beautiful, yet very welcoming home in Fort Worth. Lynn (Eldridge) and Jim Gill and Jim and Jane Andrus also made the trip. We reminisced and then Paul acted as a tour guide of the city using bluetooth as we rode in a vehicle behind them. We went to a farmer's market that had a booth selling Paul's award winning FRATELLI COLLETTI Olio Extravergine di Oliva (extra virgin olive oil). Paul and his family go to Sicily and pick the olives themselves and process them there. This oil is a single varietal, made only from Buscionetta olives grown and harvested by hand and pressed in Caltabellotta, Sicily. He showed us how he puts the oil from larger cans into the bottles and puts the lids and labels on. Pretty cool.
We were excited to also take in a Texas Rangers/ Los Angeles Angels baseball game. We were worried about the weather forecast which predicted really rough weather. We lucked out but Canton, TX didn't. They had bad tornadoes go through that area. Good news, though. The RANGERS won and we got to witness Carlos Gomez hit for the CYCLE!!! Thanks to the Colletti's for a wonderful weekend.
2nd Roadie trip was to a WOODMAN of the WORLD convention held in Waco. We were so excited to find out it was being held there because that is where fellow classmates, Gary and Jody (Hopkins) Barbin live! Yea. We had free time on Saturday afternoon and night to reconnect with my BFF from high school, my Matron of Honor at my wedding, my friend who always has my back when I am down! NOOOOOOO. Gary had a vacation week in Galveston already planned. Jody said that she can hardly get him to take off of work and then he did and my vision of a weekend of just being together didn't happen. I was bummed. They were not able to come to the 45th reunion so I haven't seen them in 9 years. Oh well, I guess I will have to wait until next summer to get my hugs.
I was hoping that Murphy and I could go on a vacation to Oregon going down Hwy 1 (on HIS bucket list) but with Dad's health and dementia issues, I think we will have to stay close to home and make that trip another time. Sorry, Murf.
SUPPORT
Randy Blanchard had rotator cuff surgery in April.
3810 Lexington
Port Arthur, TX 77642
Marilyn Jackson Williamson had cataract surgery May 4th.
marilynsjw@yahoo.com
Lynn Eldridge Gill is going to have double total knee replacement surgery June 8th. Her husband is having shoulder surgery May 22nd. Now, who is going to help who???
lgill29@gmail.com
CONDOLENCES
Dennis O'Quinn
(death of his sister, Connie O'Quinn Melancon)
108 Sunnybrook Ln.
Hemphill, TX 75948
Adela Cantu Martinez
(death of her father, Raul “Roy” Cantu)
mimiacts@hotmail.com
3590 Grayson
Beaumont, TX 77713
WE SEND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO OUR CLASSMATES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR MOTHERS SINCE LAST MOTHER'S DAY:
David Petit
Kay Campbell Netherland
Gary Hammond
Jeanette Constantine Morgan
Terry Watson
(I apologize if I left your name off.)
This edition isn't very “newsy”. I know that summer is upon us but don't forget to contact Mike and I so that we can spice up the next website update.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968