NEWSLETTER

from Billy Jordan in Decatur , AL
Just looked at the latest on the web site and find it just flowing with nostalgia. I was in the PA area a few weeks ago. My oldest sister has had Alzheimer's now for several years and finally got to where we had to place her in assisted living in Beaumont . She only has her daughter left and I came in to help with the move. It was a tough thing to do but went better then we hoped.

As you know my mother passed away last fall and just three weeks ago we sold the house that I lived in through my years at Edison and TJ. It was an icon for me and selling it just adds one of those big steps that we all go through as we pass through our life on earth.

I like the "I remember when" section. I will give it some thought and see if I can come up with a few remembrances.

Retirement continues to be enjoyable and my grandson is the light of our lives right now. He just turned 19 months old and is now talking a lot. He is going to be a girl's dream with bright blue eyes and blonde hair. He loves country music and knows how to turn the radio on and starts dancing. I am going to be taking him for his first haircut and a couple of weeks.

from Joe Pinell in Nederland
Hey Ya'll...Its Joe Pinell, just wanted ya'll to know this heart thing ain't what a retired person needs to be doing....lol.......funny story. This really did happen when I got back from Houston , so everything still hurts. Well, I fill up the pepper shaker and go to the front door just to look out and when I turn around I sneezed and coughed at the same time...... OMG It took a little time to get up. I don't mess with pepper ANYMORE.....just thought I would share that with those that were my classmates....

from Shari Louvier in Houston
Taking in this project to keep us in touch is so wonderful. It certainly was great to take a trip down memory lane. I laughed & even think there was a tear or two. What am amazing job you have done wiith the sight. I can tell I am going to have to go find Swingster pictures to offset Hussars. LOL I had a ball looking and remembering. I am not believing we are old.
The check is in the mail.

from Ernie Casteneda Bullion in Port Arthur
I just read the Aug. 18th update about Gene Baskin's trip to Minnesota , and it made my heart stop for a second! I am sure he had a hundred angels on his shoulders! Wow!
(Ernie is doing better,,,,not great, yet, and thanks all for the support and prayers during her "down" time.)

from Peggy Fontenot in Tomball
Steven Mundschau and I will be getting married at a place called the Fontenot Grand Mansion November 10. It is a beautiful place that Dr Fontenot, no relation, built 15 years ago for a home and the turned it into a place for events and weddings. When I was searching the internet and I saw the name I went right to it. It was faith. I never had a real wedding so this is going to be it. Wedding gown and all.
(Peggy wrote her wonderful, happy news when I contacted her for updated information. Congratulations sweet friend. )

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PREGNANCY WOES
Back to my story that I started up at the top......30 years ago yesterday I delivered an 8 lb. 6 oz girl at 4:19am on Aug. 31, 1977. Boy, were we happy! I had gone through years of infertility including 2 major surgeries, countless CLOMID fertility pills, writing out ovulation charts, etc. My labor started close to midnight of the 30th and was progressing very quickly. I was about to be sent into the delivery room when a scheduled C-section showed up in premature labor. Then, a Vietnamese woman who was to go to Galveston came into St. Mary's about to deliver her 12th baby, her 8th boy! Because of the emergencies coming in, another doctor had to be alerted. My doctor was not even on call but had to shaken out of a dead sleep. Okay, he was not HAPPY! He showed up after the nurses kept trying to SLOW down my labor. Dr. Marroquin had predicted that I would have a big ole BOY, so we had already picked out the name MARTY RYAN McFADDEN. While planning for the future, I had envisioned boys and more boys (maybe like my hero Mickey Mantle) playing for the NY YANKEES one day. OOPS....out came a girl and Murphy was thrilled because he envisioned girls and more girls WAITING ON HIM HAND AND FOOT for at least the next 25 or so years. Five hours after she was born, the nurse brought me my daughter to see for the first time (the dr. had given me a shot of gas when the baby was delivered). Well, to my surprise, I was handed a skinny, dark-haired Vietnamese BOY (watch what you wish for)! I had to actually READ MY WRIST BANDS to the nurse before she would leave with that baby and FIND the right one. LONG STORY shortened......it took me about 1 second to decide that I sure was happy with a beautiful, healthy baby girl. To bring you further along with the saga....she turned out to be a great softball pitcher (traveling with teams all over Texas and La.) and earning All-District and All-State for Bridge City High School, graduating in the top 5 of her class, graduating from Texas A&M in accounting, marrying a great guy, and giving me the two most perfect granddaughters (MORE GIRLS) in the world! (Now, if I can just teach them to play softball! ) You know I was wrong all along....GIRLS ARE THE GREATEST. I love you, Stacy.

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EXERCISE

(For the last 30 years I have been trying to lose my PREGNANCY weight. I found the following exercise routine. I am sending it to those of you that need to do some exercise but just can't find the time for a full exercise program. It seems to be really working for me. I know it will for you too, if you follow it religiously. Since you are over 50, you might want to take it easy at first. Then, as you become more proficient, you can do it faster. It may be too strenuous for some. You also may want to consult your doctor before starting any exercise program....)

SCROLL DOWN...

Now, SCROLL UP...

That is enough for today. Now go get some CHOCOLATE!

(Let me know how the program is working for you.)

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REUNION NEWS
Nothing to report except that the committee members are working hard trying to confirm addresses and trying to find "missing classmates". Those are the ones that we have NO IDEA where they wandered off to. We are still checking on locations for the reunion weekend and have no date scheduled yet. It will be next summer but not the first half of June. You will know details as soon as I find them out. Stay tuned.

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(I sent out an earlier message from Chrissy Dupuis Mullens asking for prayers for her husband, Richard, who was having surgery and biopsies. I received the following note from her.)

Thanks again for sending the message out..we are back and his tonsils are out, but he does have cancer and will need to go to MD Anderson for treatment. It seems that the cancer has gotten into his blood vessels, but I know that they do wonders these days with the big C. Please thank all for their prayers and responses....I have not had time to respond myself, but will do that soon.. Love Chrissy

Richard Mullens
(husband of classmate Chrissy Dupuis Mullens)
2521 Glenwood
Port Arthur , TX 77642
(409)985-6581
cmullens@gt.rr.com

Lionel Rowland (TJ history teacher)
430 11th St .
Port Neches , TX 77651
llrowland@sbcglobal.net
We just got back from MD Anderson where we met with one of our doctors. Looks like the treatment plan calls for chemo, radiation, and possible surgery. We will go back next week and they will probably begin the treatment then.
(Mr. Rowland has been diagnosed with esophogus cancer.)

Sue Miller
(wife of classmate James Miller)
176 Poinsettia
Bridge City , TX 77611
(409)735-6498
millerfrancis@sbcglobal.net
(received the following note about Sue from classmate James Simmons)
I went to visit with Sue & James Miller recently. Sue had gone to M. D. Anderson for blood work. Her platelets and other important components were at pretty good levels. They said that since they were that good, she would not have to go next week for blood work. She is really antsy about going back to teaching school, but the doc hasn't given her a timetable for that yet. She has to allow her immune system to build itself back up. She will also eventually have to take all her immunization injections all over again, since all that was destroyed by that last chemo. Feel free to call or e-mail. I'm sure they get a little stir-crazy.