TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                                06/09/07    
         

Hello and  "Happy Father's Day" early to all of you Dads, Step-Dads, Uncles, Grandfathers, & Parrains.  I am so glad that we are "together" again to enjoy what our classmates have contributed.  I am very tired from a short vacation, but wanted to be sure to get this NEWSLETTER out on time.  Enjoy.....

 MAIL CALL 

from Terry Watson in Richardson , TX
Since we last spoke, I have changed jobs.  After almost 5 years with Jacobs, I left to return to my previous employer, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.  I started at KHA in February, so I have been there 4 months going on 13 years.  I am still doing transportation planning and engineering.  Nancy is still at the Mesquite Public Library, 13 years in November.  Our daughter, Liz, just finished her third year at McKamy Elementary in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD.  My mother (87 last February) lives with us. On a recent business trip to Houston , I had dinner with Bob Sandoval and his wife, Carol.  We had a great evening, but we'll need a lot more time to visit so that we can talk about PA, TJ, and Lamar.  Carol was delightful and very patient with us.
 

from Jeanette Constantine Morgan in Groves
Thanks for the website address of our class.  I am glad that I found out that we had a website from Janice Ames Breaux.  I never seem to see anyone from our class and I am anxious to know more about what is going on.  I haven't seen you since a Bridge City football game in the 80's. 
(Okay, Jeanette.  That means you will need to attend the 40 year class reunion next summer to see me and LOTS of old, dear friends.)

from Janis Hamilton Lee in Port Neches
Greetings to all!  My husband Mark and I and about 14 couples from mid-county are leaving June 9 for Honolulu .  We're going to see the sights there.  June 11-18 will be a cruise around the islands on NCL.  We're going to snorkel on Maui and take a helicopter ride on Kanai.  The ship also stops in Hilo and Kona on the big island.  I've heard the helicopter ride is amazing.  In July, my son who lives in Euless , my 6 year old grandson who lives with us (never say never), and Mark and I are driving to Iowa to visit his parents and relatives and relive his youth!  He's from Iowa City where the University is located.  My tennis team won in this area, so we'll go to Dallas Aug. 9-12 to play women from other Texas cities.  Pray for a cool front that weekend.  We'll play twice Fri, Sat, & Sun. if we are in the semi-finals.  We play in the morning and again between 12-5, which is a killer.  It's amazing what we do for FUN!  Thanks to you and Mike for doing a great job.  Keep up the good work.
 

from Dianna Caillier Lewis in Port Arthur
I heard from James Simmons.  He sent me a CD with our 2nd grade picture we took on the steps of St. Mary's Church.

(So, the website is really reuniting classmates!!!  Yeah!)

from Allen Baldridge in Hideaway, TX
We're blessed with good health.  We're both retired at Hideaway Lake near Tyler .  I'm  playing golf most days it doesn't rain and Wanda plays tennis, line dances, and we both are taking square dancing lessons.  Ryan is  a band director in Dallas and we see him quite often.  We still travel down to Southeast Texas on regular basis taking care of two aging Mothers with houses that constantly need repair.  Life is good.
 

from David Lapham in Sunset Valley , TX  
I stumbled across the TJHS '68 website somewhat by accident and I thought I'd update my personal information.  Also, I noticed that Gary James Smith is listed as "missing".  I don't have a current address, but he was living in Plano several years ago and had been there for quite some time.  I hope to make it to the reunion next year.  Please keep me posted.  (Well, I am GLAD you stumbled.  We love new classmate listings and really love having updated addresses.  I appreciate you checking out the MISSING list.  Thanks) 

from Bill Richey between   Bridge City & Orangefield
Greetings to all.  Our house is dried in and Rhonda (Carleton, class of '70)and I  expect to move in about August or September.  We have a trip planned to Bandera Days at the end of August.  Asleep at the Wheel will be in town then.  In October or November, we plan to shop and maybe sell at Canton .  My little garden is doing ok and I am enjoying the wild blackberries.  Rhonda will be making a cobbler. Our second granddaughter is coming at the end of October.  I am known as Papa - as in Papa Bear !!  Macie giggles when she adds the "bear" part.   Rhonda retired from education in May from the PAISD.  Now we are BOTH retired.  

(Bill and Rhonda are living in their travel trailer on their land as their new home is being built)

from Norma Guidry Rose in Breaux Bridge , LA
You haven't heard from me yet & I have lots to say.  I have a brand new beautiful baby grandson from my middle daughter, Misti.  He had so much hair that my husband is jealous of him.  Ha Ha.  No, I didn't have to buy him some hair gel and some sunglasses.  His name is Christian Austin.  I also have a granddaugter, Meagan, who graduated June 1st in Kentucky .  She is getting a full throttle softball scholarship in Florida .  She belongs to my oldest daughter, Lori.  The only one I don't have any grandbabies from is my last daughter, Danessa.  There's still time.  Happy graduation to all, be careful whatever you do on that night.  Take care all......   

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SENIOR MOMENTS

(This is a new section of the NEWSLETTER all because of Janice Hebert Boudreaux's "senior moment" looking for her cell phone in the last  NEWSLETTER.  I will add any of YOUR senior moments in each publication.  Don't be shy!) 

  • In response to Janice's "loosing" her cell phone....get this.  I called my husband on his cell phone to ask if he had turned it on yet!!  How's that????  We can only laugh.       Beth Anne Sutherlin
  • Tell Janice not to feel badly about the cell phone incident.  I wear contact lenses.  Well, I took them off to rest my eyes, put glasses on, & was running around the house searching away.  Finally, my husband asked me what in the heck are you looking for?  I said, "My glasses.  Do you know what I did with them?"  Of all people to screw up in front of....HIM!  He died laughing and then said, "Well, go look in the mirror."  Made me mad!    Anonymous (Okay, everyone take a guess from our class list.  Good luck.)
  • I raised my hand to my face the other day to get my glasses off to wipe them.  I thought they were smudged!  OOPS.  No glasses on.  I guess I just had a bad case of bleary ("smudgy") eyes!       Linda DeCuir McFadden

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BABY BOOMER BLUES
   

(contributed by Martha (Lipe) Bodin (class of '69).  She is married to classmate Carl Bodin.)    

Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate Aging Baby Boomers.......

They include
:

  • Herman's Hermits--Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.
  • Ringo Starr--I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
  • The Bee Gees--How Can You Mend A Broken Hip.
  • Bobby Darrin--Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
  • Roberta Flack--The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
  • Johnny Nash--I Can't See Clearly Now.
  • Paul Simon-- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
  • The Commodores--Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom
  • Proc of Haren--A Whiter Shade of Hair.
  • Leo Sayer--You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
  • The Temptations--Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.
  • Abba--Denture Queen
  • Tony Orlando--Knock 3 Times on the Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
  • Helen Reddy--I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.
  • Leslie Gore--It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To.

and my FAVORITE.....

  • Willie Nelson--On the Commode Again.

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FLASHBACK TO 1957

The June 9, 1957, Daily World carried the optimistic news that a tropical storm named AUDREY was expected to strike the Florida panhandle later that day.  If wishing made it so.  Audrey lingered and strengthened, and by June 26, areas of southwestern Louisiana began to tremble at the approach of the massive Category 4 storm.  When Audrey made landfall the next day, 400 people died in low-lying Calcalsieu and Cameron parishes, where waters from the Gulf of Mexico inundated areas 25 miles inland.  The storm, which carried wind gusts of 145 miles per hour, caused $150 million in damages.
              (contributed by Debbie Borres)
 

Send in your memories of Hurricane Audrey in 1957 & Hurricane Carla in 1961.

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************CLASS OF '67 4OTH REUNION
June 8-10

 http://www.tjclassof67.com/reunion.htm
I will be attending with my husband, Murphy.  I hope to see some of you there. 

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SUPPORT NEEDED
:

from Ronnie Hollier
I have diabetes Type 2.  I had my big toe amputated last week.  But, this is not as bad as some other's problems. 

 Send your support to:
 
Ronnie Hollier 
3031 Saba Lane
Pt. Neches , TX 77651
 

I heard from the grapevine here in Bridge City that Johnny "Pookie"  Montange was hospitalized last week with pneumonia that just about did him in!  Glad to hear he is better.  His fourth child, Jason, is getting married June 23. 

 Johnny "Pookie" Montagne
PO Box 602
Bridge City , TX 77611

 REPEAT CONDOLENCES to all who lost a FATHER since last summer.  I know that this will be the first FATHER'S DAY that they will have to spend with just MEMORIES.  I hope that they are good ones!  Please keep them in your prayers at this time.

 Sally Fitch Strunk
Sharon Gary Peters
Jeanne Painton Cain
Jenny Havens McCormac
Terry Skaro
Doug Norwood
Barry Boudreaux
Lyn Frasier Lee
Linda Dillingham
Mindy Marburger Lawrence
Karen Giles Hopper
Phyllis Fett Abshire
Linda King McComas
David Weldon

YOU MAY  ORDER THE MEMORIAL DVD OF OUR  DECEASED CLASSMATES The cost is $9.00.

 Order: 
Mike Lawson
 
2119 Twin Lakes Blvd.  
West Columbia , TX 77486  
(979)345-5901

miklaws@embarqmail.com
If you have previously ordered on of Mike's Memorial DVDs, drop me a note telling me what you think about it. 

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WEBSITE CONTRIBUTIONS
 

Betty Bernauer Waedemon
"Thank you--thank you--thank you for the work you and Mike have done.  I enjoy reading all the updated info on the website."
 
Ronnie Hollier
"Please let me know if you need an additional contribution for the website."

 I had postcards printed at a printing shop that I will send to classmates that are not currently listed with an e-mail address.  I will also purchase postcard stamps next week.  I am using a portion of the website contributions for this.  I am hoping to inform lots of our classmates that aren't aware of our website.  Wish me luck.  I will keep you posted with results of this effort. 

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CARD SHOWER
.....WOW!!!
  My mother was BLOWN AWAY by the response to the "CARD SHOWER" for her 85th birthday.  I have even starting going to her home in the mornings when the mailman delivers the mail to see her expression.  Many of you wrote a note inside of the card.  It has meant so much to her and ME!  I brought my senior annual to her home to look up faces of those who have sent her happy words. 

I will update you in the next publication on how many of you actually were able to complete this request.  They are still coming in.   I love you for taking the time to make someone who is so special HAPPY.  I went to my sister's home and she was talking to my mom.  My mom was reading EVERY single card to her over the phone!!  You're the best! (Check out the NEWSLETTER dated May 25th for info if you  still care to participate.)

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WHAT GOES ON IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS (kinda).....

Even though my mom has been on the "puny" side healthwise for the last couple of years, she hits me up a month ago with the following request: "Your dad, (remember he is the 91 year old with dementia), and I were talking and we wanted to know if you would take us to LAS VEGAS for my 85th birthday."   YIKES.  "Mom, you haven't been there since 1976."  "I know, but "we" thought it might be nice to do one last vacation."  Now, I think you can figure out there was no "WE" in the conversation.  Dad doesn't even remember if he has eaten.  Well, I decided to go for it BECAUSE I am lucky enough to still have both my PARENTS.  We left Tuesday and returned Friday, TIRED, BROKE, and Dad asking 3,999 times "Where are we?"  I answered 3,999 times, Las Vegas .  He won't remember that he went, but my MOM never complained about feeling poorly for 3 days.  Maybe we should have gone sooner.  Time is short, but precious!  I don't regret it for a minute. 

 PS  Guess who forgot something?  Yep....me!  I left my cell phone and charger in the bathroom at the hotel and didn't realize it until after we were at the gate to board the airplane!   Mom and Dad, (well Mom anyway), didn't forget ANYTHING!! 

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 Now, don't start getting lazy on me and think that someone else will send in items for my NEWSLETTER. Mike and I had great response this time even if I did have to call in some "markers".    I know that you enjoy hearing from everyone.  Please send in for all the sections for the website.....ARMED FORCES, I REMEMBER WHEN, BIKERS, PHOTOS, etc.  Also, don't forget to check out the WEBSITES OF INTEREST on the home page.  The PORT ARTHUR NEWS is listed as PA NEWS.  It is a valuable tool to just keep up with your hometown.  Also, check out the MISSING section, again.    I hope that you all are enjoying the summer. 

Until next time....Take time to LIVE because TIME passes QUICKLY & NEVER RETURNS!
                                                                                                                        anonymous

                                                                       Stay safe and keep in touch,
                                                                       Linda DeCuir McFadden
                                                                       lindasuemcfadden@sbcglobal.net
                                                                       www.tjhs1968.com

 

 

         
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