TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                                01/19/08    
         

Cold and rainy here in Bridge City.  I would rather be in bed reading the great book that I am enjoying, BUT it is NEWSLETTER deadline.  I wouldn't want Mike to FIRE me.   So, here goes..... 

MAIL CALL

from Rachel Burton Wheeler alternating between Bridge City and Kerrville
I've been keeping up with the happenings of our class and friends thru your website and just had to drop you a "thank you line".   I am in  Kerrville, where I live most of the time, and I don't get to keep up with hometown news like I would like to.....BUT,  then I go to our website and get back into touch again.  You guys do a really great job and I love seeing pics of the old gang.  It is especially nice to know what everyone is doing, where they are, and if they are well.

I am out on the ranch about 35 miles from town, raising foreign deer and oddball animals these days.  My son lives about 10 miles from me and he is the one that really had the dream of turning our little neck of the woods into a real menagerie.  It has been really interesting and fun, to mention nothing of a lot of work, but I really love it.  I think we have around 60 or 70 different species now, but I can't keep up, I just feed!   If you would like, I will send you some pictures sometime.  Meanwhile, thanks for all your hard work and dedication.  Lots of us appreciate it.
(Thanks for the kind words.  Yes, please send photos .  That would be a treat for the classmates.  Tell fellow classmate, Nancy Decker, "hi" for us in Kerrville.)
 

from Shirley Moreau Betar in Nederland
Just wanted to let you and Mike know I'm enjoying the web site very much.  I like knowing where my classmates are and hope things are going well with them.  I am looking forward to more information.  God bless and take care. 

(Great hearing from you.  Now, send us some information on you and your family, also.  I know others would like to hear about you, too.)

from Carole Oubre Reeves in Groves
After serious & cautious consideration....your contracts of friendship have been renewed for the New Year 2008!  It was a very hard decision to make.  So, try not to screw it up!

My Wish for You in 2008

May peace break into your house.
May thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become magnets for  $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May laughter fill your home like the air around us.
May your clothes smell of success and contentment.
May happiness slap you across the face.
May your tears be those of joy.
May the problems you had, forget your home address!

In other words ... May 2008 be the best year of your life!
 

from Carol Stubbs Moser (class of '67) in San Antonio
Great job on the website and so much fun to see. I graduated in 1967 with Janice Jones' sister, Kathy. We all  lived on 10th Street in Lakeview before their family moved to Griffing Park. You knew me as Carol Stubbs and my younger sister , Jennie Stubbs, was from the class of '72 .
 

I recently found a scrapbook from Woodrow Wilson Days with photos of  friends on Check Day and an outing of The Red Cross Club. Didn't remember that at all ,but apparently we had a party in Rose Hill Park and beautiful Mrs. Pitts was our sponsor. 

Warm best wishes  for continuing success with your work on the web and thanks for the  work that brought it to this point.
(It is great to have you as a new viewer of our class website.  Keep in touch.)

from Mike Soileau in Atlanta, TX
Hope you survived the holidays.  Time for me to get back on the diet!   I wanted to mention that I did get a chance to meet up with
Louvier, Shari at her farm The Garden of Eden. I bought some blackberry, blueberry, cherry and peach preserves from her farm and gave them out for Christmas Gifts (well, not all of them :) ). They were great and I recommend everyone get in touch with Shari and order some.  It was good seeing and catching up with her.  Also, I got a Christmas card from my old friend and classmate in San AntonioFred Hollier and his wife.  How good it is to keep in touch.  God Bless to all and here's to a healthy and prosperous New Year.  

from Janette Light Norton alternating between Amarillo and Cypress
I
am still living in Amarillo and will until the end of the school year, but Richard and I have purchased a home in Cypress, TX where he now lives.  He and I both have half a house of furniture.  My "winter home" address is in Cypress, TX.

(You'll get back to the Golden Triangle SOME DAY!)
 

from Kathleen Rosenthal Phillips in Groves
I
enjoy keeping up with our class and really look forward to reading the newsletter and viewing the updated website.  I will be retiring from my job with the City of Port Arthur effective January 31,2008.   I am retiring after 30 years at the City. I have had the pleasure of helping many of them that still live in Port Arthur or their parents with various things here at City Hall .  I am so much looking forward to my retirement and am counting the days.  If anyone would like to come, the City is hosting a reception for me on January 30th from 3 until 5 at City Hall 444 4th St Port Arthur on the 5th floor. 
(Congratulations on your richly deserved retirement.) 

from Paula Iles Restrepo (class of '69)
I love the website and the letters.  I look forward to them each time I get your e-mail.  It's really relaxing and fun to sit down and go through it.
 

from Nelwyn Comeaux Blanchette in Kingston Springs, TN
All is well here in Tn.  Still recouping from holidays!  So fun, but so much work. All of the children were here for one full week.  So, needless to say, we really enjoyed them & the babies, but, like a friend once said, the only thing better than seeing your grandbabies drive up, is watching them pull out .There just might be a little bit of truth to that one.Although we do love them so so much but,  just can really wear you down quickly.

I want to tell you that Cynthia Marshall found me through you.  I was so surprised to have received her email.  I have been trying to find her since 1986!!  Have a wonderful & healthy New Year!!

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MARDI GRAS TIME IN SE TEXAS

THURSDAY, JAN. 31
Courir du Mardi Gras Parade
, 4:45 p.m.
Rose Hill down Lakeshore Drive.

FRIDAY, FEB. 1
Krewe of Krewe's Parade
, 7 p.m.,
Rose Hill down Procter Street ending at Houston Ave.

SATURDAY, FEB. 2
Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade
, 6 p. m.,
Rose Hill down Procter Street ending at Houston Ave.

SUNDAY, FEB. 3
Munchkin Parade
, 1 p.m., inside Entertainment Area on Procter Street
Truck Parade
, 2 p.m., Rose Hill down Procter ending at Houston Ave.
For more information
www.mardigras.portarthur.com

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HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!! YUK
(maybe NEXT YEAR!!!)

 
Click this Link:     http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/
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THE OLDER CROWD

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. "Is it true," she wanted toknow, "that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor told her. There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied,"I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS'."

***********************

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son. "Yes, Dad, what is it? " "Don't be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife...."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
----------------------------

The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
----------------------------
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me! I want people to know "why"
I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

********************

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.
----------------------------

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change
from being young.

<><><><><><><><><>
Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
<><><><><><><><><>

First you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pull up your zipper.
It's worse when you forget to pull it down.

----------------------------

Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft... Today, it's called golf.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two old guys are pushing their carts around Wal-Mart when they collide. The first old guy says to the second guy, "Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." The second old guy says, "That's OK, it's a coincidence. I'm looking for my wife, too. I can't find her and I'm getting a little desperate."

The first old guy says, "Well, maybe I can help you find her. What does she look like?" The second old guy says, "Well, she is 27 yrs old, tall, with red hair, blue eyes, long legs, and is wearing short shorts. What does your wife look like?" To which the first old guy says, "Doesn't matter, --- let's look for yours."
********************

Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

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REUNION COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS

We are still confirming names and addresses before we spend $$$$ to send out postcards.  We had a thought that maybe FIRST we would send the post card with information electronically (by e-mail for US DUMMIES!).  If you respond to that one with your money for the tickets, that would allow us to save $$$ on stamps and printing.  Hey, maybe I might even talk the committee into VOTING for giving an INTERNET DISCOUNT for the EARLY BIRDS that respond.  Don't know if that will pass mustard, BUT I'll try.  We REALLY need to have a quick response on buying tickets so that we can plan and pay LOTS of deposits.  We know many of you are in the business field and can FEEL OUR PAIN.  More about this later.  Keep your eyes and your pocket books open.

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SUPPORT NEEDED

from Mr. Lionel Rowland (history teacher) with a health update
I am feeling fine.  I will start a new round of Chemo Wednesday at MD Anderson
llrowland@sbcglobal.net
 

from Sharon Gary Peters concerning her mom 
Do keep my Mom Marie, in your prayers. She underwent chemo this past year and has been struggling to get better. 
sharong.peters@hotmail.com
 

from Darlene Turner Landry concerning her husband
My husband is having surgery on 1/10...he has a cervical disc that's blown and he's put off the repair for a while and it's time

he tries to fix the problem.  He'll be in the hospital overnight  but off work for 8 weeks...lordy!

Update:
As far as the 'discectomy'....that went well...it was almost instant relief.  He had problems with his blood pressure and
anesthesia and the tube had to be pulled out and reinserted twice.  Once that was under control, they could procede
with the surgery....his throat is quite sore and the therapy sessions....some, I have to help him with are coming along.  Each
day he's getting better and that's all we can ask for...right???
gran0901@yahoo.com
 

from Janette Light Norton concerning her mom
The decision to start over again came unexpectedly as you know and now we know why--my mother fell ill on the 2nd day she was in Houston and had to be hospitalized for some pretty serious symptoms that she's been experiencing  in Sherman for a number of years.  The doctor in Houston discovered the cause right away--adverse reactions to medications she was taking for her diabetes and hypertension.  As a result, she has some kidney malfunction but we think that dialysis has at least been prevented for the short term. 
 

Anyway, the blessing is she is with my sister and good doctors.  My other sister will be there soon, Richard is just around the corner, and I'm getting there as fast as I can! To tell you how many ways this move has been orchestrated outside of me are too numerous to tell, but suffice to know that each day we are reminded of God's grace and wisdom and our need to stay out of His way when He is working. Please keep my mom in your prayers.
hjn50beach@yahoo.com 

from Walter Jones (class of '67) concerning his wife, Linda Messer Jones (class of '66)
Writing this from MD Anderson at 6:30 pm. Still 3 hours to go. All is going well. No reaction. Linda's tests all look good. Brief visit with Doctor went well.  Blood work was good. The main cancer blood test, CA 125, is down to its lowest point - 13 -  since October. Excellent. Normal is 30 to 34. In some people this number can be in the hundreds and not be responsive to the chemotherapy. Trend has been down which is also good. Linda has responded. We will be coming over in late Jan on 25th for Cat scan and follow up planning on Jan 29th.
 
Please pray a prayer of praise, thanking Jesus for these results.  I thank the Lord for each of you.
wdjrel@hotmail.com

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CONDOLENCES 

Carole Oubre Reeves
(death of her mom) 
6535 Jefferson

Groves
, TX 77619

(409)962-8618
creeves@talonins.com
 

from Maureen Murphy Coleman
Thank you for sending out the prayer request from Carole Oubre.  I saw in the paper that her mother passed away and I was glad that prayers had been offered up on her behalf.  The best thing friends can do for one another is pray.  Once again, thank you for allowing me to be a part of lifting her and her family up. 
 

Correction to an address concerning the death of Deborah Welty's son mentioned in the last NEWSLETTER:
I noticed the posting of a death in your NEWSLETTER on your class website:
Deborah Welty Stewart ('69)
(death of her son)  
2711 Miller
Port Neches, TX 77651 

Please note the correct address is:
813 Cherokee
Pt Neches, TX
Thanks,
Tim Welty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Again, A SAD TIME FOR OUR CLASS....our 65th known deceased classmate! 

Vera May Taylor Spears
10/8/49-12/29/07

May she rest in peace with the Lord.

Condolences may be sent to her sister:
Darleen Vidrine

421 N. 11th St
.
Eunice
, LA 70535

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That is it in a nutshell.  I am tired trying to move boxes and furniture from two houses!  Did I mention that Murphy's mom's house is for sale? She is in a private nursing home.  Well, maybe I'll have more time to spend communicating with all of you when the garage sale is over!  Oh, I forgot to mention that I was so thrilled with the MAIL CALL items this time.  Please keep sending them in. 

"A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."
      Anonymous
 

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

 

         
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