Gettin' It Done

Well, I'm still comin' down from the high of being with beloved schoolmates in Eufaula.
These visits illuminate several things-

1. Chatting with Hawk and others at the gathering I'm convinced retirement won't be such a difficult adjustment.
And 2- I didn't allot nearly enough time to feel satisfied when we had to drive away. We need to do more of these sorts of things, and from the outset plan for more than a few days together. I know I say this every time but ask around and you'll find it's true-

If you miss these minis, you're really missing great memory-making times.

Now, some new business:

We're all lookin' forward to our next chance to meet, and right now that opportunity looks to be the Alumni Banquet on Saturday, June 12. Last year we effectively closed the banquet down and moved to a new venue, then closed that down too. Along the way we picked up some new Vandy's Kids, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed the chance to really visit with one another. I've said before that I love these banquets because it's entirely likely you'll run into a schoolmate you haven't seen since graduation, or earlier. (You may remember last year I ran into my cousin Jim H., and I hadn't seem him since '64.)

But none of these events... the Alumni Banquet, the formal class reunions, or the minis, happens without someone taking the reins and getting the horse pointed in the right direction.
Yesterday I received this note from Mr. L. :

"(Greybeard),

I recently had correspondence with (Hatchet), a former student at CG. He informed me that a Mr. (Jack R.) who is in charge of the banquet was having trouble getting people to help with the 2010 CG Alumni Banquet, and wasn't sure if there would be one. Hatchet's health of late has prevented him from helping as he has in the past with the banquet. It might be wise for you to e-mail Hatchet by the e-mail address at the bottom of this correspondence.

Glad you all had a great time down south recently. My Franklin High School Class of '51 meet once a month at the Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin, IN for a breakfast get-together. WE, too, have kept close to one another through the years. I represent the communicator of the class keeping news, etc abreast of what is going on by e-mails, phone calls, and regular mailing. We have between 20-25 including spouses too. Our class graduated 66, 21 are now deceased. I also appreciated reading from Vandy's Kids all who had passed away. Behave but know that is hard for you to do.

Mr. L"

First, I'm sorry Hatchet is having health concerns. I know he stops by here now and then, so Hatchet-

Get well soon!

Secondly, I complained last year about the way ticket sales were handled...
That tickets were not available for purchase the night of the banquet. I understand why the committee did what they did... running out of food the year before was an embarrassment. But how did anyone know beforehand they would not be able to buy a ticket at the door? The Alumni website is a farce. (Most information there is over a year old.) Where must we go (other than here) for accurate information about Alumni activities? If the committee wants to attract larger crowds to these events, there needs to be a place to get timely, accurate information.
I suspect those on the committee may already feel overwhelmed by the tasks they must do to get the job done. So I suggest you do what I'm gonna do-
I'll email Hatchet and BobWhiteDan tomorrow to see if there is anything I can do to help. If you have Jack R's phone number or email, you might want to contact him and see if you can help pull the wagon. We have no right to complain unless we have tried to be part of the solution.

Now...
Friday has once again rolled around with no help from any of us.
Spring is springing and the Mayapples are popping up everywhere. I bet TC is out searching for Morels!
What about you? What are you doing?

Old Friend...New Friends

The drive was longer than it should've been, but Spring got a little farther along with each mile south.  We rarely see wysteria in Indiana, but here it grew wild and abundantly, often reaching the top of the tallest trees.  And it was in full bloom.  Taking the "scenic route" to avoid the stopped traffic on the 65S entrances in Nashville, we passed through a couple of beautiful towns we never would've seen otherwise.  It was worth the extra hour or so on the road.

When we reached our destination, a guy was in the front yard.  I asked him if he was with the Center Grove group, and he verified that he was.  After he introduced himself, I asked if he had any brothers.  Sure enough...I had graduated with his brother Terry.  Although Terry and I never ran in the same circles, I knew he was a nice guy.  His brother was bound to be the same.

We met everyone else there, and they were in the final stages of supper preparation.  We gladly accepted the invitation to share in the meal.  It had been a 12-hour trip and we were hungry.  The ham, green beans, and taters tasted great--so did dessert.  After the cleanup, we waited for the last couple to arrive.  GB and his wife were the only ones we'd met before.  We were strangers to the rest of the group, but I had a common thread with them--we were graduates of Center Grove High School.

Over the next few days, fish were caught, fish tales were told, and the fish was cleaned and fried.  We played "Hand and Foot" and I loved the card game so much that I've already ordered all the stuff I need from Amazon.  (I can't wait to teach my family.)  We toured southern mansions, gardens, and a plantation.  We enjoyed a few bottles of wine, and gave away a few bottles.  And although my husband and I planned on fishing, we enjoyed just sitting and visiting so much that we just stayed on land.  Besides, the real fishermen of the group were doing a great job, as you can see by the photo above.

I've met a lot of nice people in my life, but these old classmates were among the nicest I've ever met.  Not once did I feel out of place.  I think my husband and I have another set of friends, and we're looking forward to seeing everyone again and again.  Before the trip was over, I was thinking about the next trip.  Wherever it is, it's bound to be a fun time.

Thanks to all of you for extending your hands in friendship to us.  It's a blessing to get to know all of you.  And I've got a feeling that Mr. V. had a hand in orchestrating this whole thing.

Love to our new friends,

~Cissy (AKA: Helen)

OTD Eufaula

"Out The Door"

We're all on our way home. What a GREAT TIME!
Sara Jean and I just finished lunch here in the Krystal restaurant in Montgomery, Alabama. We have another 10 hours or so to drive, but it's wonderful weather for the trip.

Several VK's got great pics, to include the 6 ib. 6 oz bass Harry caught. Beautiful!

Open forum time.
Tell us your news. We'll fill in more details about Eufaula when we unwind from the trip.

Eufaula- "Coming Attractions"

I haven't discussed it in a while. I thought we had the problem licked but it's a tough one, and she has regressed...
QVC addiction.
And one of the main problems is that I am sometimes "co-dependent".
"Look at this!", she'll exclaim. "Isn't that a GREAT deal?!!"
And when I look, of course IT IS a great deal.
Example:
I LOVE Belgian waffles. For a long time I had my eye on a waffle maker at Macy's. The price was too dear for me to pull the trigger, but I went in one day and they had reduced the price. I commented to Sara Jean that if they reduced it further I'd buy the thing.
Next time we were in, it was sold...
No plans to restock it.

Late January, she gave me a big box to open for my birthday.
When I opened it, there was my Belgian waffle maker!
QVC was selling them, and they had them at a considerable discount over the one I was watching at Macy's. I found a "Best" recipe online and we've made waffles with it almost every weekend since January. They're so good they make you want to smack your Grandma!

We're bringing the waffle maker with us to Eufaula. We'll take a consensus vote, and one morning we'll be making breakfast and Belgian waffles will be served overlooking the lake.
Do you want to miss that?
I didn't think so.
But... if she's still living, you'd better warn your Grandma.

When It's Windy It's Wendy or Windy:

And boy has it been windy here! Last night, a flight that normally takes 40 minutes took almost an hour... I was buckin' a 30 knot headwind. The only thing good about it? The 42-year old female stroke victim was the beneficiary of almost a 30 knot tailwind on the way to get the help she needed. In the midst of a terrible situation, she got a little blessing.

Are you counting your blessings on these windy days?
Tell us about it.

A Sad Update

TD has been in touch with Louise (A.) F., CGHS '64, and she updated him with the names of several folks she knew that have passed that were not on our Memorial. TD added the names there.
Reading many of them brought back a flood of memories.
See if you have the same experience.

Open All Night

I've always been a nightowl. Back in the days we were walking the creaking floors of the old middle building my Friday and Saturday nights would find me awake until 3 A.M. or so, then sleeping in until 11-12 O'Clock.
(And that sleep schedule made Monday mornings mighty difficult.)
But thinkin' about those days dredged a couple stories up from 'way back in the grey matter-

The Greybeard garage was a place to congregate.
A great tool inventory, plenty of available light, Jacks/jackstands, a lift for pulling engines, and a radio for top 40, news, weather, and sports.
Near perfection.
It was perfectly normal to find several teen-aged boys changing a clutch/pressure plate/throwout bearing at 1 A.M. Saturday morning at Greybeard's folk's place. We'd listen to Rock-n-Roll on WIBC until midnight, then when "Dawnbeat" came on we'd try switching over to WLS out of Chicago so we didn't have to listen to the elevator music Dawnbeat offered. Sometimes Dick Biondi would be on WLS... (Remember "Greasy Kid Stuff"?)

Fond memories...
And part of the reason they are fond memories is because IF, in the middle of our mechanic-ing efforts we broke something or found something worn out that we didn't expect, we knew we could call "Hi-Way Parts" and check to see if they had what we needed. Hi-Way Parts was "Open All Night"!
I wish I had a nickel for every muffler and tailpipe I've changed in the wee hours using parts procured from Hi-Way parts...
I could now buy a fine cuppa Joe!

When the wrench-twisting was done and our stomachs were growling, we'd head to the newly opened "White Castle" on Madison Avenue...
Open All Night...
What an interesting place to be at 3 A.M.! It's understatement to say the clientele there at that hour was "diverse".
I can remember standing in line with TPO one morning when he informed me the reason White Castle's burgers were so cheap was because they were made from "lame cows". White Castle got 'em for bottom dollar 'cause no one else wanted 'em!
At the cash register, the name-tag on the gal said "Betty", and beneath that it said "Manager".
From that point on, any time we saw her we referred to her as "Betty Manager". Betty Manager tolerated us with a big smile.

It may have been that same morning that a VERY drunk, mid-twenties black man in front of me started singing...
"La di dah di di... La di dah di die." (Sonny's part from Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On".)
He turned to me and with a mostly-toothy grin and said, "I wrote that!"
"You wrote what?"
"That part of that song. They couldn't figure out what to put in there, so they called me. I told them what to put in there."

So now you can imagine what I think of every time I hear Sonny singing on the radio:
"La di dah di di... La di dah di die"... even these fifty or so years later.

Now...
Echo is knee deep in a Real Estate deal.
Cissy is thinking about going postal at her new/old job.
Rita is overworked and she and Bob need a trip to Alabama.
HF is thinkin' about catching fish.
GB and Sara Jean are headed to L.A. to visit Big Bubba this weekend.
Many of us are looking forward to fine fellowship and an adult beverage while overlooking lovely Lake Eufaula.
It's Friday Forum time.
Tell us...
What's upcoming on your agenda?

See The Eufaula Alligators!

H&C warn that expecting your GPS to get ya there may getcha in trouble. I've personally come to depend so heavily on "Carmen the Garmin" that I frequently cannot tell you which direction I'm going, (and for a pilot, that's a Cardinal sin!) But GPS leading us astray? I'll wager this is one of those situations where the GPS will do fine until we get onto some of the uncharted two-lane roads down close to the Lake.
SO.... in order for ya to arrive safely and non-frazzled, instructions are provided:

From the South:
Take Hwy 431 North towards Eufaula, AL out of Dothan
From the Headland Hardee’s on 431 go 33.3 miles
Turn Right on Hwy 95 – Go 4 miles
Turn Left on Old River Road (Same as Hwy 97) – Go 4 miles ( Turns in front of Church on Left as you start to go up hill)
Turn Left (stay on 97… hwy 93 goes straight) – Go 2 miles
Englewood entrance located on left side of road
Turn Left on Galaxie Drive
Take First Right on South Galaxie
Go to dead end stop and turn Right on Englewood
5th cabin on left just around the curve (459 Englewood Drive)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the North:
Take Hwy 431 South to Eufaula, AL
From the Eufaula Wal-Mart located on 431 travel 5.7 miles South
Turn Left on Hwy 95 – Go 4 Miles
Turn Left on Old River Road (Same as Hwy 97) – Go 4 miles ( Turns in front of Church on Left as you start to go up hill)
Turn Left (stay on 97… hwy 93 goes straight) – Go 2 miles
Englewood entrance located on left side of road
Turn Left on Galaxie Drive
Take First Right on South Galaxie
Go to dead end stop and turn Right on Englewood
5th cabin on left just around the curve (459 Englewood Drive)

Don't be confused... use of the term "Cabin" above does not mean we'll be staying in "Cabins".
We'll actually be in tall cotton. We have two full-size, gen-U-WINE homes reserved and we're still looking for schoolmates to fill vacancies. Why not do something out of the ordinary, you "stick in the mud, boring person"? Surprise yourself and everyone else by doing something a little crazy and spontaneous... head to the Deep South for fun, relaxation, and ALLIGATORS!
From previous experience I know the week will start with smiles and hugs and from that point will only improve. And you're gonna risk missing this?
Are you CRAZY?!!

Once again it's Friday open forum time...
Let 'er rip!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN-Tampa, Fl to Greenwood, IN

Hello everyone, Mrs. Hawk here, today is the morning after.....Hawk and I left Tampa yesterday at 9:11 AM and I was driving. We knew there was rain ahead before we got out of Florida, but did not realize how much. Sheets of gray pouring rain made driving 15 to 20 MPH the best we could do. Stopping for gas just before Gainesville, FL when the rain let up a little and being blocked in by a fire truck and an ambulance at the gas station was our first blessing (a lady in the bay next to us had some kind of medical problem and the emergency trucks were there for her). Back on the road, and rain not so bad, but traffic soon came to a stop. As we edged forward slowly, we came upon an accident with 9 cars smashed like coke cans. The cars were scattered for maybe 1/4 mile on either side of 75 North. Only one police car had arrived on the scene, the accident had just happened. Had we not stopped for gas and been blocked in by emergency trucks........

During the rain, I was driving. I kept commenting to Bob the way we were bumping along. I thought it was caused by the heavy rain I was driving through. After the rain slowed down, I could still feel the bump, but reasoned it must be the road.

I missed our exit for 10 West and we had to turn around. At this time the car gave a warning message of "low tire pressure". We stopped, Hawk checked our tires and found a bulge on the left front tire. A steel belt had separated. Using the GPS Hawk found a tire store 1.7 miles away. We got a new tire and were back on the road at 3 PM. It was 6 hours after we left Tampa and we had traveled 175 miles. Our second blessing was not having that tire cause us to crash........

About 5:30PM yesterday, March 11th, and in beautiful sunshine we passed through Chipply, Florida, home of Carol and Harry F. Such a nice town. We had to get to Montgomery, Alabama where our overnight reservations were, or we would have made contact with them. We will see them in 3 weeks in Eufalla and will visit then.

This morning we see again rain ahead for our trip home up 65 North. Looks like the bad storms are now over Atlanta. By God's Grace we will be home to Greenwood tonight.

Peace and love, Mrs. Hawk

vacations

Moribund?
Dormant, maybe, but not moribund (I hope).

Anyhow, I haven't been on in awhile and then I find I'm listed as dormant & moribund.
Ha ha. I don't mind, at least I'm not alone.

I have a little story about Lake Eufaula, it goes like this:
My ex-husband has relatives in Southern Georgia and every year (sometimes twice a year) he and his fishing buddies would take his bass boat and head to Eufaula and stay with his cousins. They caught tons of bass. He would take the video camera and tape the dead fish they caught lying on the picnic tables. A simple picture would suffice, but he had to use the video of dead fish lying there! Then all summer, here in IN, he would go fishing on weekends at Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake, or wherever he heard the fishing was good. He even entered contests.
I was never asked to go to Eufaula, not that I would have anyhow, but it would have been a nice vacation for me and the kids.

Meanwhile, my sister-in-law (she being a single mom of 2) and I, with my 2 kids, would make a yearly trip to Disney World in Orlando. Now, don't you think a husband & wife should take vacations together? Especially when they have kids? In the whole 18 years I was married, I think we took, maybe, 4 or 5 vacations as a family.

I'm not trying to be a downer and I'm sure Eufaula is beautiful; all I saw of it was a video of dead fish lying on a picnic table, but I just had to put my 2 cents worth in. Ha!
I hope you all have a wonderful time, really. But for me Eufaula leaves a bad taste in my mouth and is definitely one of the reasons I am no longer married.
Joker

It's March!

Well, here we are. Time flies, doesn't it? Buds on trees here look ready to burst. We've had a couple 50+ degree days here when the breeze blowing out of the South made it impossible to deny Spring is just around the corner. Soon the Willows will be green and Dogwoods will be in bloom...
A wonderful time of year.

The countdown to Eufaula has also begun. I've been working 56-hour weeks for what seems to be forever, so I cannot tell you how much I'm looking forward to rising in late morning, pouring a cuppa Joe, sitting in a chair overlooking the lake and visiting with whomever happens to be within arm's reach. If that sounds like good duty to you, we still have plenty of room for you to join us. Get in touch with me, TD, or H&C and we'll add your name to the list. Details are available at links in posts below, so check it out and get the ball rollin'!

Ferdy left a comment at the post immediately below this one about Jim Robinson's Mother. Anyone with more information, please update us.

I'm convinced Sara Jean has a mild case of pneumonia. She's been hacking now for more than two weeks. She feels fine until she climbs stairs or otherwise taxes her body. TD said he has something similar, and the last time I chatted with him he said he believes he's finally on the road to recovery. There's still lots of stuff running around to catch, so take care of yourselves and don't let your immunity get weak. Obviously, we can thank God the predicted Swine Flu pandemic was another false alarm.

Now... it's Friday again. You've got news to share, haven't you?

Suzan/Tsunami

Suzan and Ken woke to warning sirens this morning. They have evacuated their home in Ewa Beach and are now at Pearl Harbor. Waves are forecast to hit Hawaii at 11:19 their time, and there is evidence the warnings are valid.
Pray for them.
Her words:

What do you gather up to take with you in 2 hours time? Important papers, photo albums, food, water, some clothes, and off we go. On MSNBC they mention our town, Ewa Beach. Updates all the time, sirens went off at 6am, waves due to hit at 11 am and for hours there after. No one is taking a chance, be the waves 35 ft or 3 inches. Keep us in your prayers please. I am now sitting at Pearl Harbor hoping for the best.

Update:
At 3:30 Eastern time, The Weather Channel is predicting 1-3 foot waves at Oahu within the hour.

Another Update:
Apparently Suzan and Ken are on their way home... a little after 7 P.M. Eastern, major danger is gone.

Good News/Sad News. (Let's Celebrate Life!)

First, the GOOD news...
Today is Ferdy's birthday... her 39th I believe. (Ferd, I'll let you decide if you want to tell us how many oak-leaf clusters to add!) Trying to lie to our group is not fair though, 'cause we've all watched as mucho water has passed beneath the bridge, right? Still, it's in our mutual interest to keep her secret isn't it?!!
Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY FERDY! Come to Alabama and I'll buy you birthday cake and ice cream!

Now the sad...
As you've read below, O.J. is gone. Shouldn't we hesitate to call that BAD news? He brought us all joy. We were blessed to have him as a teacher and friend. Godspeed O.J. and thank you...
My life is better for having known you.

April is just around the corner. You still have time to make your plans to join us in Eufaula, Alabama for the "Pilgrimage" there.
Those that want to fish, can fish.
Those that want to eat fish... will eat the FRESHEST fish, providing our fisherman have any luck at all.
Those that want to tour BIG antebellum homes can lay their money down and do just that. This is a BEAUTIFUL little Southern town that took my breath away just driving through it!
Those who are like me and just want a few days off the treadmill... will find like minds willing to help spark old memories of school, neighborhood, mutual friends, and shared experiences. Bring your cares and stresses and we'll iron them all out... I promise you'll relax, take a deep breath, feel your blood pressure drop, and be glad you came. This promises to be another of those events that bonds us all together stronger than we ever were "back when". And this time we'll be adding new members to our VK family. You know you want to come, so get off your backside and make it happen! We have great lodging scheduled there starting the week of 5 April I believe...
(Please correct me if I'm wrong, anyone).
This is one of the rental properties we've reserved, and it will sleep 8 in various beds. We had hoped to bring Lucy with us and this unit is pet friendly, so Sara Jean and I will be staying here.
This is the other unit. It has beds to sleep 12 so you can see, we still have lotsa room for more VK's. (Money is not a big deal here folks... if you can make it down and want to come, let me, TD, or H&C know and we'll make it work!)

If you have it, send H&C your deposit check for $200... it's not too late!
I promise... you'll be GLAD you did.

Another Friend Gone

O.J. Sloop, Friend and Mentor to many - will be missed

O.J. Sloop, 88, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in Franklin. He was a resident of Bargersville.He is survived by his wife, Lorene (Baker) Sloop.Services are pending at Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home in Franklin. Information: 736-5528

Will have more information as it comes out.

Bonehead.

She called me at work...
"We have a problem."
"What's wrong?"
"We have no water."
"Uh-oh."

I pay the water bill in person. The water department is right along a route I drive almost daily, so why waste the postage? I pay the bill three or four months in advance so I don't have to do it often.
Most times, the bill comes with green printing indicating I still have a credit balance. This time the bill came in red with a "Disconnect!" warning...
If the bill wasn't paid within 10 days they'd shut our water off.

I extended my hands and fingers in front of me and counted...
When I was done, I figured I had until today to pay the bill.
I counted wrong.
I had until yesterday. Since I've worked straight days... a 12 hour shift for the past week, there was no time to drive past the office and pay the bill.

So I paid it first thing this morning, to include the $25 reconnect fee.
I ran a couple errands, came home, and flushed the toilet...
Having water pressure in the house is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Anything exciting or irritating, (or both) goin' on in your life?
Surely I'm not the only bonehead in our group!

Not Just "Missy Cissy"-

Eyes wide open... it's still dark. What time is it?
I raise my head off the pillow to see the face of the alarm clock over the blonde head lying next to me... it's 2:30. Here we go again!

We push the doohickey on top of the thermostat all the way to the left before we go to bed, so the temperature in the house gradually drops to 50 degrees overnight. On top of this we have a floor fan stirring the air to make some white noise, so the wind chill in the bedroom could be even less than 50. At this temperature my 12 pound, furry, "living hot water bottle" finds it most comfortable to burrow beneath the covers and curl up in my crotch. So far she hasn't budged... another indicator that the room is mighty chilly.

Oh well. I'll lie here quietly. The waterbed is heated. My living hot water bottle is in place. I listen to Sara Jean snore... wait, that's a misnomer... HUM. It's actually a comforting sound, not irritating at all. Over the sound of the floor fan I hear the refrigerator motor kick on downstairs... my hearing surprises me sometimes... I'm not deaf to all frequencies quite yet.

We're half a mile from the railroad tracks. I hear the drumming of the big diesel locomotive idling. In the distance I hear the approach of another train. It reaches the crossing and blows the horn and I smile. In the wee hours of the morning the engineers cheat... they're supposed to blow "Loooonnnnnng, loooooonnnnnnng, short, loooooonnnnnng", sustaining the last long toot all the way into the crossing. At this hour, in deference to those living right next to the tracks, most of them pull the rope for their horns about halfway and get a half-volume toot. Sometimes their horns sound more like goats crying out for a mate. After this train passes, the engine I heard idling speeds up, then I hear another half-hearted horn bleating. He was waiting for the other train to pass so the track would be clear. Maybe one was going Northbound and the other South? I can't tell from my listening point, but I bet that was the case.

I gently raise my head and glance at the clock... 3:05.
The alarm to wake me will sound at 5:40... I have a dreaded day shift today. I lie and listen to the wind blowing outside and I'm glad I don't have to work in it. Twenty-five degrees with a 10 knot wind does not make me happy. Lying in bed next to this beauty with a loyal dog helping keep me warm is what makes me happy. The thought of having to get up while it's still dark outside is stressful to me, and is what is causing this insomnia.
Head raised... 3:47.

The last time I raised my head before dropping back into slumber the clock read 4:11. I woke five minutes before the alarm went off and took care of my bathroom needs before waking Sara Jean. She has a big day today and needed to be up early too.

Coffee.
Egg sandwich... yum!
Lunch bucket and thermos in the car, along with other work needs, I'm on the road a little after 6 A.M.. Flying weather this morning will be nice, but the forecast for this afternoon includes rain and snow... normal for this time of year.

At work my mechanic announces he has "phase inspections" to perform on the aircraft, and it will be "out of service" until Noon. We start the tug, attach it to the BK117, and carefully pull it into the hangar. When I finish this post and push "publish" I'll lie down and catch a nap...
Remember, "E.M.S." means "Earn Money Sleeping".
I hope you slept better than I did last night, but if not I hope you can make a little money today while taking a nap!

So let's hear about selling homes, giving away kitties, working out at the Y, doing the same old work for a "new" employer, recovering from the tragic loss last weekend, and anything else that might be happening to our beloved VK's.

Friday, 5 February 2009

I woke to a cool, gray, rainy day today...
The last two nights have pretty much been non-flyable due to weather. Wednesday night the risk was fog formation. Last night I got to work to find the helicopter already in the hangar...
Ceiling and viz too low to go, and the forecast was bad for the whole evening. Still, hospitals call to see if we can come transport some patient in desperate need and we have to tell 'em NO!
When I hired on for this job, one of the pilots that brought me on board here had a saying-
"Some days it just sucks to need a helicopter transport. Pick your days to get hurt or sick carefully."
The forecast for today and much of tonight is still schmutz. I'm taking my tax information to work with me to start getting it in order, and the neat part about this job is that I'll be paid pretty well while doing that.

I chatted at length via Facebook with Tools yesterday afternoon.
He's still doing well... sounded to be in great spirits. But his Dad is not so good. Tools indicated he could die at any time. The route Tools takes to come home brings him within a few miles of Casa Greybeard, and he has stopped to spend the night here before on his way home. I reminded him we have a perfectly good empty bed downstairs, and cold beer in the 'fridge. It's another of those situations...
I liked and respected his Dad, so naturally you hate to hear he's perilously near the end of his life. But when Tool's shadow darkens our doorway there will be good times and once again great memories will be shared. Again, even the dark clouds have a silver lining.

Echo has her home for sale. DJ has a cat that needs a good home. Hawk and his bride are safely in Florida enjoying weather that I hope is much better than what we're experiencing here at home. And let's see... seems to me something out of the ordinary is happening Sunday, isn't it?
(I get paid well for watching TV too!)

I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Bring all of us to speed with your news!

Madison Ave Memories

Pokin' around again, and once again you benefit from the fact I have a job where I can sit and surf...
A job that makes it nearly impossible to keep that slice of cake from ending up on my tush.
Lucky you. (Lucky me too, I guess.)

I ate there once, and it was a bad experience.
Next time ya see me... ask.
But we all drove by the place for years, and I was wondering if they were still in business...
They're not, but the family has opened another restaurant in Madison, Indiana.
(The review is a good one.)

And... GUESS WHAT?!!
I had an absolutely delightful chat with Carol C. (or Casey B.) this evening.
We talked for a half hour or so and still need some time to catch up.
I invited her to meet with us in Eufaula, so you guys need to join me in the "full court press" here.
Casey, you out there?

How Things Have Changed!

It would normally be on a Summer Friday or Saturday night-

"(Greybeard), check the total for me!"
The old cash register at the "Frostop" had a little door just above the keys that you could lift to expose a window that, when reset the night before, would show the day's total receipts.

"$112.oo"...
And there would be a celebration... business had been wild and we were exhausted from pushing hamburgers, pork tenderloins, and ice-cold root beer out the door, but WOW!
$112.00!

And from that total would be paid rent, insurance, power, gas, supplies to replenish inventory, cleaning supplies, wages, and a maintenance reserve.

Today, $112.00 covers a good meal and tip for two people at a 3-Star restaurant.
How times have changed, huh?

We're still shy a pilot, so I'm still working my tush off... (except the weather has kept us on the ground for three days straight.)
I wish I had good news to share, but in my opinion the best news of the decade happened last Tuesday, and you may not agree with me at all on that issue.

April and the Eufaula pilgrimage will be here before we know it. Remember H&C need your $200-per couple deposit by 28 February or so. YOU ARE PLANNING ON COMING, AREN'T YOU?
(Don't make me come over there to talk to you personally!)

Okay VK's...
Surely one of you has something exciting to share, right?
Click "Post a comment" below and spread your news.

To Casey (Carol) Bade-

If you are stopping by and visiting here, Casey, PLEASE leave a comment below and let us know!

Friends In Need

I'm tryin' like crazy to think of something lighthearted to say on this Friday Forum.
If you too are watching the National and International news right now you know...
It's hard.
But... "I get by with a little help from my friends".
So, friends... a little HELP, please.

Baby Boomers - Feeling your age yet?

Wait until someone asks if you’re still driving. That’ll make you feel it. Well, it’s happened to me. My vision has never been good, only corrected by glasses/contacts. Recently, it seems to have gotten worse. Some cloudiness. My right eye also had acquired a ‘floater’. That happened as I was driving and all of a sudden – I noticed what looked like small raindrops on the windshield. It was a clear day and I knew it wasn’t raining. I covered up my right eye and the ‘raindrops’ disappeared. Arrived at my destination and after a while, I wasn't seeing the spots. But I was left with a ‘floater’. Every time I tried to focus on it, it moved. It was like a ghost. Was I really seeing it? I did a little research and found that this was not unusual for my ‘age’. It happens… I don’t really notice my floater now. It is still there but, No big deal…. By coincidence though, I received a note from the Eye Doctor office saying it was time to come in for a check up. OK – normally, my thinking is “If it is not broke, Don’t fix it.” But, my insurance now covers eye exams and ‘helps’ a little with new glasses – so with some spousal encouragement, I made an appointment. Doc asks if there had been any change in my vision – I told him about the floater, but not about the cloudiness – my floater didn’t seem to be a big deal to him at all. But about half way thru the exam – he stops – steps back and asks if I am still driving at night ….. Well, after getting up off of the floor and sitting back down in the chair, I said “Yes, I am. What’s Up?” Cataracts.. Both eyes – right eye is worse. He set me up with a specialist. Went to him and he confirmed.

Good thing is – they are doing refractive surgery and hope to leave me with monovision. That means I will be able to see distance with the right eye and near with the other. I have been doing this for years with my contacts – just wearing one and it seems to work well. Because of the cataracts, Insurance will pay for most of it and I will not have to wear glasses or contacts. I have not been able to be without one or the other for a long time. BTW, first surgery went well. Back home within 2 hours. Next day follow up - less than 24 hours after - vision in my 'new' eye was almost 20/20. Get the left eye done in two weeks. I did tell the Doctor that I was a little disappointed. I now have dark circles under both eyes and I didn’t think that they were like that before the surgery. He didn’t buy it….

Now - Cinders says I need to get my hearing corrected next. Can your ears get cataracts? After that - What will be next???? I really don't want to think about it...

2010 – Everyone stay healthy and have a great New Year… Hope to see everyone soon.

Quiz

I didn't do well here.
Rita and other younger VK's will no doubt do better.
Give it a shot, then let the rest of us know how you did!

2010 !

Here we are...
The beginning of a new year and a new decade.
There's a lot of uncertainty around, but we all know that can lead to opportunity for those that are willing to take the risk and step through that "open door".

I just got back from helping my son move to L.A..
While there I got a call from Carol... she and Tracy were on their way home from Arizona. Bo just wrote to say Clint is driving to Mesa, AZ this week, and that she and her Mom will be headed that way by air. Safe travels to all!

For me, and for at least one other person we all know, 2009 has been unsettled because of workplace changes. Those changes continue for me, producing stress and nudging me toward retirement. I'm now fearful of the economy and the possibility of having to live on a fixed income, so I'm trying to hang on at work until the future is more clear.

Uncertain times are troubling.
It's nice to have friends that have become almost family when stress surrounds you.
Thanks everyone for your caring and concern.
Here's hoping the future is bright for us all!

Now, look into your crystal ball and tell us what you see.

The Kink In Morgantown Road

It's gone... Changed so much I can hardly recognize my old neighborhood when I return.
I know you remember it.
Southbound Morgantown road intersected Smith Valley road and there was a stop sign. Smith Valley and Morgantown roads then joined Westbound for about 100 feet before Morgantown assumed its own identity again and headed South past CGHS, then on in the general direction of Morgantown. Our house was the fifth house on the East side of the road, South of that intersection. I sometimes wonder if the amount of time I spend reflecting on that house... on that neighborhood... is a mental illness. I try to convince myself that what I'm really doing is trying to revert back to a simpler, safer time, when everything seemed clearer... happier.

At this time of year, life would slow down. We'd be out of school for the Christmas break. Those that were traveling to be with family would be cocooned with those loved ones at their destinations. Businesses would close.
I can remember going outside on Christmas Eve and listening to the quiet. It'd be so quiet, you could hear the leafless branches in the trees complaining about being pushed around by the slight wind. A car, almost always headed South on Morgantown, could be heard coming long before you could see it... the sound of its approach louder, and taking longer, than the sound of its retreat. And if we had snow on the ground, the quiet was even more noticeable... the snow acting as a natural insulation and sound dampener.

"You can't go home again"...
Those days are gone, aren't they? We're separated from that place by time, and "progress".
The kink in Morgantown road has been straightened. The stop sign has been replaced with a stop light. The neighborhood has grown, and traffic has increased.
But our memories remain.

I remember the quiet.
And it brings a warm stillness to my heart.
Have a safe, happy Christmas everyone, and thank you for being a part of my life.
For that, and for so much more, I thank our Lord on his birthday.

The Edge of Night

Home from school... dump the books and get ready to deliver "The Indianapolis News" to 47 customers. Of course the TV would be on in the background, whether or not someone was watching it. At that time of day the last of the day's six or so hours of "Soap Operas" would be on...
If my "recollector" is correct, it would be "The Secret Storm", or,
"The Edge of Night" playing as I got ready to go back out the door.

I no longer watch much network TV, but I heard the reports when "The Guiding Light" and "As The World Turns" were taken off the air.
I used to watch "The Young and the Restless" because there were a couple actresses I found attractive on that show... (Does anyone else watch TV with the sound muted?) A quick search shows it's apparently still a part of CBS TV's lineup, and for heaven's sake, I see the gal that played Mrs. Chancellor when I first saw the show is still part of the cast! She must be taking her Geritol!

Soap operas, game shows, children's programming, News, Weather, and Sports...
We've talked about it before... the role early TV played in our lives. Captain Kangaroo and Mr. GreenJeans were aimed at a younger audience than the class of '65, but we watched as we got dressed for school and Mommanurse loved that program. (Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose, and Grandfather!)
Got a memory you'd like to share?

It's a week until Christmas, folks.
Be safe, please.

CenterGrove.org

I signed up for classmates.com not knowing what I was getting myself into. If you've also signed up there, you know most of what you'd LIKE to do there cannot be done without ponying up extra cash. I'm still glad I signed up there...
Signing on there put me back in touch with two or three classmates, and for that I'm grateful.

When I'm sitting around at work waiting on the phone to ring I frequently enter "Greenwood, Indiana" or "Center Grove High School" into a search engine just to see what turns up. Two nights ago when I did that, this site came up. The fact that it has a .org address means it's a non-profit, and I'm hopeful signing on there will beat a few schoolmates out of the bushes.

Drop by and take a look, then sign on if you're of a mind to.
But first... what's goin' on in your life?

_ _.. (Dah, Dah dit dit)

Short night, and I'm fighting sleep as I post this one.
I'll publish this much, then add to it later.
Got a clue?

ADDED LATER:
Spring 1967?
I've finished Basic Training and Advanced Training and I'm a holdover at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina waiting for my orders sending me to O.C.S. to be cut. I hear this Dude from my High School class is on the base, so I go to visit him.
He's living in this G.P. medium tent!
Now ordinarily that wouldn't be so bad, but it's ********* cold outside right now! They're heating this stupid tent with a stove in the center, just like it's 1867 and his next assignment will be with George Custer out West somewhere!
And what's he doing while he's enjoying the ambience at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina?
He's learning Morse Code, for heaven's sake!
Morse Code!
That's like... a foreign language from outer space, isn't it?
Jeez!

Eugene Jinks

Sad news arrived this morning from Mr. L.-

(GB), I read the obit of Everett Eugene Jinks' obit in today's DAILY JOURNAL. I taught Eugene in the sixth grade at Center Grove in 1958-59. He lived on Smokey Rd., not far from school. He was a likable kid, and he was one of my special kids. He had a talent of singing. I had purchased a tape recorder, and on occasions, would bring it to school, and play around with it. Everett had a nice voice but would not sing in front of the class, but would sing in the closet with the tape recorder, then come out and we would play his singing to the class. He invited me to his birthday party.
We lost touch but when both of us were older I did get a telephone call from him wanting me to come to INDY to hear him sing in his band. I didn't make it, but now wished I had.

Gene was in the class of '65 for a while and was set back in either our 5th or 6th year. If I recall correctly he had a brother about a year younger named Ernie.
Ron S. and I also had a standing invitation from Gene to come see him at a downtown club, and we had the pleasure of seeing him perform. His band was a Country and Western band, and I remember being impressed with Gene's voice and presence on stage.

As you have more information, please post it in comments here.
He was a good guy. I'm sorry he's gone.

Ten Guys From Indiana University-

These guys were selling a Christmas CD on QVC today. Why have I never heard of 'em before?

I Am Thankful

Today is a day to reflect and be thankful for our blessings.
My son is home. We HAVE a home to which he can return. We are warm, dry, and relatively without worries. In just a few hours there will be a feast on the table we use only two or three times a year that a large percentage of the world's population cannot even fathom, yet we can (and do) take this blessing for granted.
I have grown to know many of you better than I ever knew you years ago because of our shared thoughts here at VK. I have met and will meet some of you in the future because we share a common geographical and, for the most part, a philosophical bond.

I think we're all concerned about the near future. But we know we have the will and the resources to get this ship of State turned around and headed in the right direction, eventually.

So I'll share my prayer of thanks with you:
God, thank you for the strengthening relationship I have with my schoolmates and their spouses. I know I am blessed, and I give you thanks not just today, but EVERY day, for the gifts you have given us.

Everyone... classmates, schoolmates, friends and family...
If you are traveling today, please be careful.
From our house to yours...
Thank you for sharing.

"I Will Have Milk"

It's a phrase that has stuck with me all these years. Someone still in contact with Rick P. please ask him if he still remembers saying it...
He heard it in a movie or cartoon and liked it enough he said it over and over...
Apparently the character was in a bar and was asked what he wanted to drink. The response?
"I will have milk." And the phrase was said in a lilting way...
The first three words in rising pitch, with the last, "milk", at a lower pitch than the first. It WAS funny when Rick said it!
(Another phrase he picked up that I know he heard on some cartoon was "Why-for did you bury me in this COLD, COLD ground?" )
Isn't it odd that those things are memories that pop up for me now and then?

Do you remember the "Golden Guernsey Dairy"?
Someone help me with exactly where it was...
My vague memory of it was somewhere in the Southport area on the West side of a major arterial street. I thought the cows were beautiful... a golden caramel color and white. The milk was good too. But maintaining a dairy is hard work for little money, so I'm not surprised "Golden Guernsey" is long-gone, and that land is now covered with homes.
But the memory remains.

Got something, anything to contibute?
I think TD and Cinders are in Southern Florida.
Tonight is the night of the B-Ball game in the old gym.
Me? I'm stuck in an endless loop... work, sleep, work, sleep, work...

You can brighten my day and stimulate our lives by sharing your news!

CG 125 years

I received this from my cousin this morning, Shiela Crump.


Friends,

On Saturday, Dec. 5, in conjunction with a boys basketball game, we will honor many individuals who have had a part in the rich history of Center Grove High School. The game will be held in the West (Old) gym. Game time is 6:00 p.m.; tickets are $5. Please plan to be in the gymnasium by that time to enjoy all of the festivities; parking will fill early.

We plan to honor National Merit finalists, choral and band directors, former cheerleaders, all former coaches, former Administrators and Principals, former School Board members, Former teachers and staff, alumni who have served in the military, the oldest living male and female alum, state champions in all sports, boys and girls silver anniversary basketball teams, boys 50 year basketball team, all former male and female athletes. What a group!!!!

A reception will be held following the game in Room 333 at the north end of the gymnasium. An extensive display of CG memorabilia will be on display.

Please share this information with everyone you know and plan to attend. Please let me know regarding your plans to attend by November 29 by contacting cstdmt1941@aol.com, or tumeyc@centergrove.k12.in.us, or by phoning 317-888-1676 or 317-627-0971. We look forward to seeing all of you for this celebration.


Carol Summers Tumey
Secretary, Center Grove Board of School Trustees
1952 Skyline DriveGreenwood, Indiana 46143
317-888-1676 / 317-627-0971

Jason, Freddie Kruger, and...

It's the 13th of November.
It's Friday the 13th!
It's a Happy Day, 'cause TwoDogs and Tools were born years and years and years and years and years and years ago!
Happy Birthday guys...
Watch out for Freddie and Jason.

Too Good Not To Share:

Tip O' Hat to Life Is Good.
(Good stuff there... go see.)

Spontaneity – VK style

It was to be a short, fast visit home – one more of hundreds of blitzkrieg trips to Indy over the past 30-odd years. Aunts, uncles, dozens of cousins, friends of the family – try to visit all. Pitch-in dinners, meals at Greys, Dentist, Doctor and beauty shop appointments for Mother, (pant, huff, gasp).

Then comes the house cleaning (windows, curtains, carpet, knick-knacks, screens replaced with storm windows , gutters cleaned, car care too) fix house for winter, rake leaves --- feel guilty because I’ll never get even half of this done and it will all be left for my brother and other family members.

I’m not complaining - not at all! That’s just the way it is when you live far away.

I will admit to a major case of resentment because there was never time to see friends from HS. I tried to keep quiet about it but smoldered all the way back to Texas

As always, the best part of visiting home was the wiener roast at Rosie’s. Listening to conversations, looking at the stars, feeding hot dogs to real dogs, helping little guys with s’mores ,,, well, that’s just my favorite part.

Then came Vandy’s Kids! Reconnecting with life-long friends became a reality. Mini-reunions were like discovering a treasure trove of priceless gems – memories, friendships, laughter.

This is a long way of telling a short story; it’s a gift – it’s plagued me all my life.

Just before we left Texas, an email to/from Rosie suggested a wiener roast for HS friends. IT WAS JUST TOO PERFECT. Well, it was perfect for me but a last minute notice for others.

Mr. PT and I called everyone we could think of who lived near Rosie. Some of those VKs called others. And WA LA! On the spur of the moment, we had a party!

Of course, it poured down rain that night. In fact it rained side-ways. But it didn’t seem to matter. We sat around a pool table, shared food and laughter. I can’t believe everyone FOUND the place --- so many twists and turns south of Banta and mostly in the middle of nowhere.

Jane Ann and Guy made it all the way from Kentucky,,,, in the pouring rain,,, with a puppy. Puppy-sitters are not spur-of-moment people. I can’t believe they drove so far, braving so many obstacles, for a nuked hot dog. Ya gotta love it!

Jeanie and Steve came (LOVE my new Indy Coaches club wardrobe and coffee cup AND the books about General (Wishard) Hospital history. OH and the pictures of a new grandbaby boy! What a cutie) I stand ever-ready to help carry luggage to Sweden. Five minutes notice is all I need

Two – dogs and Cinders made it. TD is already planning the 45th Class Reunion and I would humbly suggest that it is too soon to plan if the Spur of the Moment Wiener Roast on A Rainy Night is an indicator. Cinders brought some killer brownies too

Mr. & Mrs. Hawkeye made it also with pictures of a new grandbaby boy. AND so many funny stories! Both are retired but busier than ever donating time and skills to needy folks in the area.

Dan & Edna found Rosie’s, too. Both are still working, enjoying grandkids and looking better than ever. Dan helped catch-us up on local news and the fun of being the Class Treasure. What is our balance? Pretty close to Zip. (easy math, huh Dan?)

David J made and we had a long conversation but I only understood half of it. Seeing my perplexed faced he told me we had changed subjects a few minutes ago. Whew! Otherwise TopCat had become a totally different person, had a totally different job,,, and I was totally confused. Alzheimer’s makes my life so entertaining

Mark G and Robyn made it. Mark made me feel so much better about the monkeys he cared for at Lilly’s. He often made popcorn for them – something they really enjoyed. And Robyn was like so many VK spouses -- so easy going, funny and familiar I could swear she was in our class (her youth gives her away though)

The result of our last blitzkrieg trip! Lots of laughter. Jeez Louise it was fun.

For a good time on the spur of the moment, call Vandy’s Kids. For me, it just doesn’t get any better than that. Rosie and Mike never have to get me another Christmas or Birthday present.

Early TV

I've blogged about being excited at first, hearing they'd be airing all the old "Lone Ranger" episodes a few years back, then being disappointed at how the acting was terrible, the story lines predictable. But when those programs first aired when we were kids the medium was in its infancy and we only had a choice of a couple channels. So we'd rise in the morning and watch the "Test Pattern" until that lame programming came on. I think part of the reason those old shows seem lame now is that we've seen the same story lines over and over again.
The plots were rehashed SO often...
"Lassie" did amazingly intelligent things, which were later repeated by "My Friend Flicka", then modified slightly so "Flipper" could do them in the water.

But the commercials...
They frequently were better than that programming, weren't they?
How many of them had a strong effect on ya?
"Sugar Frosted Flakes", "Ovaltine", "Buster Brown Shoes"...
I can remember those well. I know I pressured my parents to buy "Ovaltine" after watching "Captain Midnight"...
Do you remember the "Magic Decoder Ring", with which you could decode the message at the end of the program every week? (The message was always another commercial, like "Drink your Ovaltine for good health!") I was always sending 25 cents for shipping and handling along with my name and address to receive some "free" trinket advertised on whatever cereal I happened to be eating at the time, then day after day I'd check the mailbox to see if my new treasure had arrived.

Remember any commercials that motivated you?
What about the early TV programs?

Facebook

Harry and Carol do it.
Carol and Tracy do it.
Marilyn F. does it.
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkeye do it.
Ferdy does it.
Bomargirl does it.
Tools does it.
Mommanurse does it.
Cissy does it, and by using it just reconnected with several old classmates.
Rita does it too, as does brother Mike.
I wrote in this post how I got back in touch with Bob P., and via him and others hope to find other schoolmates and friends.
Let me re-emphasize...
Don't be frightened to "stick your toe in".
Facebook is wonderful, and it makes "reaching out" to find old associates easy and fun.
Take a look. Try it.
I bet you'll be glad you did.

Vandy's Kids-Class of '71

Last Friday night I was sitting at Buca di Beppo's with 21 other "girls". I haven't seen them in 38+ years. Two were fellow classmates. The rest were from the classes of '72 through '75.

Wow...

I really didn't have the time to go, but I wasn't going to miss this for the world. My son, Mom, and I were leaving for Nashville, TN at 5:30 the next morning. I didn't care--I had to see these old friends. I packed my senior yearbook into the car that morning before I left for work. Leaving from Crane cut off about 20 minutes driving time. I arrived a couple of minutes after the 6:00pm meeting time. There were only two girls there, and I didn't recognize either one of them. That's ok...they didn't recognize me either. But we had a common thread. We were graduates of Center Grove.

Before long, the huge round table was filled with 22 chattering women, all anxious to catch up on the lives of each other. We each took a turn standing, introducing ourselves, and giving a short synopsis of our lives since Center Grove. One had a Phd, one worked at Center Grove, some were retired. I wish I'd written in all down.

Later I asked everyone to go around again, stating the most unusual thing they'd done since graduation. I started, telling the group that I had ridden a camel in the Thar Desert in India. The next two, including the one with the Phd, were "Harley" girls. One of my classmates had ridden in the Goodyear blimp. Another girl was on the verge of producing a children's TV show when 9/11 hit and the plans went south.

Most of us had decided on dessert and coffee, when the waitress brought in a gorgeous cake she said was delivered by a man who requested it be sent to our table. The cake read, "Center Grove Sweeties". We all thought it was the husband of one of the '72 graduates; later we found out that it was a member of the class of '71, and he was "lurking" around to see the reactions. Thanks, Tom!

After cake and coffee, there was an open invitation to Janet's house...but I really needed to get on the road and head back to Loogootee. I think most of them went, and I heard it broke up at 1am. That's almost a slumber party!

Saturday I'm meeting up with my best friend Brenda, and maybe even her folks. I haven't seen her in probably 20-25 years. I can't believe time can go by that quickly. Gosh...I can't wait. I think this is what we both need--a reconnection with the past, and the tearing down of an imaginary wall between us. This blog inspired me to step out and make the effort to find my old friend and my other classmates. Mr. V would be proud to know he was still making a difference in his students' lives.

Above is my class photo from fifth grade--Mr. Stewart's class. My best friend is sitting next to the window behind the tall kid in the plaid shirt. We weren't friends that year, but by 7th grade we were inseparable. If I remember right, this was taken in November. There was snow on the ground. The year was 1963, so this was taken right about the time Kennedy was assassinated...

...46 years ago? Is that really possible?

"Cissy"

Telstar!

When this tune first hit the airwaves, Tools called excitedly and asked, "Have you heard it?"
...Satellites bein' launched, and the first music being augmented by synthesizers.
We had front-row seats to history, folks. Later generations take this stuff for granted.

It's Friday forum time.
Do you have news "for'em"?

Frankly Scarlet...

My Dad and I had been down to St. Petersburg, Florida to attend a cousin's 50th wedding anniversary celebration and were on our way back home. When I'm not in a huge rush I like to drive different routes from point A to B in hopes of seeing something out of the ordinary.
Not far from Harry and Carol's house I looked at the map and decided to get off the Interestate and take the most direct "blue highway" route back home. That decision lead us to the bridge between Georgetown, Georgia and Eufaula, Alabama, about midway across the "Walter F. George" reservoir, AKA "Lake Eufaula".
We turned North on highway 431 and almost immediately I was sorry
I was driving and couldn't take my eyes off the road more. On my left, overlooking the lake, were some of the most beautiful old homes I had ever seen. One after another, they were breathtaking. I made a mental note to pass back through one day with Sara Jean in tow so she could see them. (And the day that happened it was pouring down rain, so she couldn't enjoy the view and I was once again disappointed.)

Eufaula, Alabama has an interesting history that you can read here, including the fact that Eufaula is home to the largest "state of the art condom production factory in the United States"! (I wonder if they give tours?)
In April every year they hold an event called "The Eufaula Pilgrimage" where you can tour these beautiful anti-bellum homes. (At that link you can see that Southern Belles also dress in Civil War era costumes for the celebration... neat!)

So we've begun planning on another VK mini next April, and you have plenty of warning to start juggling your schedule around to attend. H&C are beginning to look at rental homes to accomodate us, and many of these are located on water with an available pontoon boat so we could cruise or fish as desired. We obviously cannot make firm plans about housing until we have a fairly solid number of how many would like to attend, but one unit we already looked at will sleep 14 and would cost $140 per night which, seems to me, would make staying at Eufaula cheaper than staying home! (And this cost included access to a pontoon boat, didn't it Harry?)

So if you have an interest in viewing these old Southern homes, or if you love to fish, or if you just want a chance to meet and greet old/new friends once again, we'd like to begin to get a feel for how much interest we'd have in a "Gone With The Wind" mini.
Think you'd be interested?

Once again, Friday befalls us,
so let your comments fall on willing ears!

CG celebrating 125 Years

Tonight was the homecoming game at CG playing against Ben Davis. CG kicked their butts.

They had a full front page write up last week in the Daily Journal.

This is one of the pictures that was on the front page.

This is some of the article:

At Center Grove High School, a four-room schoolhouse has become a 2,000-student building. And the barn for students' horses has been replaced by acres of parking lots. The original school nickname, Swedes, has become the Trojans. Among all the changes, though, a spirit of community and pride has remained. Those qualities will be on display all year long, as generations of Center Grove students mark the 125th anniversary of the high school. "You need to know where you came from. You need to know why things were the way they were before you can know where you are," said Meresa Girdley, a 1975 Center Grove graduate.

The first year of high school classes in White River Township came in 1884, in a two-story building that had four rooms. Dubbed Center Grove, the school was named due to its location in the center of the township amid a stand of trees. When the first class graduated in 1888, four students received diplomas. More than 500 graduated in May.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In 1915, teachers could not be married or dress in bright colors. They had to sweep their classroom at least once daily and start a fire for warmth by 7 a.m.

• The school nickname during the 1930s was the Swedes, a nod to the heritage of the boys basketball coach, Swede Chambers. After Chambers left the school in 1938, the student council voted to name themselves the Trojans.

• Men in the early 1940s were granted diplomas as soon as they turned 18 so they could enlist in the military if they chose.

• The first graduating class of Center Grove High School, in 1888, consisted of four students: Edgar Shufflebarger, Paschal Earl Dorrell, Harvey Harrell and George Ballard.

SOURCE: "Center Grove: Unveiling the Past."

Forty-Four Years?

Yeah... Summer of 1965.
Look at those young faces!
Got thoughts to share?
Please do.

Yes Virginia, There IS a Cissy Apple!

"How do you know this gal?"
My wife, oddly, is afraid of people. Getting her to meet others is like pulling molars. And just as oddly, she's outgoing and fits in so easily once the ice is broken, she always admits her fears were a waste of time when we say our goodbyes and get on the road. Such was the case on Sunday as we drove away from Cissy and Leroy's house.

No, I'm not ashamed to admit I invited myself. Cissy mentioned something about making a great cheesecake and I couldn't avoid saying "Prove it!" We took advantage of the fact that Loogootee is not far off the route we normally take home from Echo's and pulled into Cissy's drive about 3 P.M.
Cissy's smiling face was the first we saw, followed by Rudy the Miniature Pinscher. Leroy wasn't far behind.

There's a normal period meeting anyone where it's a little uncomfortable finding out if you really like them. With Cissy and Leroy that period lasted about 15.5 seconds...
Big smiles, lovely home, and typical VK hospitality. Cissy DOES in fact make a mean cheesecake. On top of that, Leroy is a winemaker, proud of his fine product, and willing to share it. Let me emphasize that... Leroy likes to give out samples of wines he's made! I tasted none I didn't like and a couple so good I was ready to grab the bottle. (Leroy offered and I gladly accepted one we particularly liked.)

Cissy knocked us out with some of the beautiful Rosaries she is making and Sara Jean was impressed with several, finally selecting one as a gift for her Catholic niece. Cissy initially refused payment for it. We forced her to at least take money to cover her costs. (I looked at it again today Cissy... gorgeous!)

Greybeard and wife needed to be home before dark, so we cut our visit shorter than I would have liked. In the car, Sara Jean said "That was TWO HOURS?"
I responded "Yeah, and as usual your fears were unfounded!"

"I know. Just shut up, okay?!"

IndyEcho's Annual Fall Mini

This year's Fall Mini - put on every year by Indy Echo and Shifty - was a great success. As always, it became apparent early that we would have lots to talk about. Some of us do not see each other during the year, but the conversations are always easy. Echo had her home sparkling and Shifty had prepared for the bonfire by gathering fallen tree limbs and smaller branches through out the summer. Just as he was heading down to light the fire, though, it started to rain. A few scattered drops at first, it appeared that we may still be able to sit around the fire and tell tall tales. Well, the rain picked up and it soon dashed any hope for a bonfire. No matter.... The food was delicious and the desserts were just waiting to be 'sampled'. Yep, you guessed it - I must have sampled every one of them and they were all winners - and it is beginning to show... IE and Shifty's home is large enough for every one to find space to enjoy the wonderful food and talk with others at the same time. A few of us went to the patio (before the rain), others at a table set up in the family room and the rest were able to sit around the kitchen table. After dinner, those of us on the patio came in from the rain and found places in the family room. Everyone seemed to have a great time. My count was 17 - help me out if I have missed anyone. A good group, but, the numbers were down a little this year. We missed those that were not able to make it this year. Thank You, Indy Echo and Shifty for your enduring and endearing efforts to put this on year after year.

Next year - 2010 - will be our 45th year. Any suggestions regarding (our 'every 5th year reunion' ) the how, what, when and where will be helpful for planning purposes. Some earlier suggestions was to have it in conjunction with the Alumni Banquet. This is always on a Saturday night - think about a possible late afternoon Reception before the banquet - somewhere not far from the school and then moving to the school. Last year, the banquet was held in the old gym. This was a great venue for it and brought back some great memories.

Edinburgh Bound?

Added to comments in the post below:

Hello All,

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow Sept. 26.

I sent directions to those who requested them. If any of you need directions or get lost just call 317-729-2440. Shifty will put up signs again to guide you in.

Didn't hear from a lot of you on what you planned to bring so Shifty and I are gonna start cooking tonight. Rest assured there will be plenty. If we have doubles of anything we will all just have to eat more.

This weather is not working to our benefit. (IF) weather permits we still plan on the fire. So bring chairs and jackets. Never know what to expect. If to wet and muddy we will just have to suffer and swap stories around the kitchen table instead of the fire.

Look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow.

Shifty & Karen

PS> If anyone needs a place to roost bring an extra blanket there is plenty of room.

Campers welcome. Can park by the barn and there is electric you can hook up to.

If you're coming, we'll catch up on all your news there. If not, please tell us what's goin' on in your life in comments here.
I left my camera at work, so someone please bring theirs and get photos to share.
...News of Echo's mini coming here ASAP.

Greenwood

Ever wonder why towns started where they do? I know many form because of access to resources... water mainly. Some form because the railroad needed water... steam engines had to stop frequently to fill their boilers. Certainly some towns form because of mining... coal, silver, gold, or because they sit on an oil field.

Greenwood seems to have started on an East-West oxen trail. Among the very first settlers was a family named "Smock", who lent their name to the first settlement there... "Smocktown".
The Smocks apparently owned an Inn on the trail. The area was heavily wooded, so a sawmill was another of the first businesses in what is now Greenwood.

The town took another name after it was Smocktown, but that name didn't last long because there was already an Indiana town carrying that name. I think you may be surprised to learn the name residents had to discard. I certainly was.

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

I mentioned we spent a few days in Destin last week...
Cinders and TwoDogs established a beachhead there on Tuesday. Sara Jean and I left home on Wednesday, then stopped off in Pensacola to pick Nellie up, arriving Destin 2 A.M. Thursday morning. We all had coffee while watching for dolphins on the fine morning that dawned.
Shrimp Creole, Blackened grouper, Red Beans and rice, gumbo, and Shrimp St. Charles met their demise over the next few nights as we frequented "Kenny D's" every evening we were there. (A few Margarita's gave their lives in service to our bunch too.)
Harry and Carol arrived Friday to help me avoid a catastrophe by trying to install a porcelain-covered cast iron sink on my own. (Thanks Harry. After you left I realized how over my head I'd have been without your work!)
I think all are agreed-
We're all better friends now than we were 40+ years ago!


In just a week many of us (Harry and Carol too), will once again gather near Edinburgh for Echo's annual mini there. If you've been before you know what an enjoyable, relaxing time this is. Echo and Shifty have a lovely home with enough room for most to spread out and visit in case of inclement weather, but in years past we have been blessed with clear, cool, crisp weather... perfect for gathering around the large bonfire Shifty builds for the occasion. If you intend to attend, please let Echo know by calling her at 317 729-2440, or toll free 800 974-2441, and coordinate the dish you will be bringing for the pitch-in.
Lawn chairs are necessary. Weiners/buns, marshmallows, and roasting sticks are optional.

I know Hawk and his wife will be travelling so we'll miss them next week. Cissy, Rita, C&C and family will be camping at Loogootee, so once again we'll not be meeting them. (Sara Jean and I hope to stop by Cissy and Leroy's to try Cissy's cheesecake.)

So once again it's open forum time.
I know I seldom get responses to my plea, but I'll continue trying until you guys get it right...
You've got news to share...
We want to hear it.
So share!

A Friday For Comtemplation

Odd.
A small contingent of VK's find themselves in paradise, eating spicy foods and consuming pleasant beverages. It's hard to imagine the anger and confusion we all felt just eight years ago. We're watching Fox News coverage of the memorials in New York and are suprised to see reporters there in heavy jackets, bracing against an uncomfortable wind, while we here deal with sunny skies, 85 degree temps, and the milk green water dashing against the shore. Sara Jean, Cinders, and TwoDogs have already staked out a spot on the beach while I'm here at Kenny D's taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi. H&C are probably on their way to Destin as I type this. We'll all dine at Kenny D's this evening.
Life is tough.

It's hard to be angry under these circumstances but unfortunately we must keep a small fire stoked, lest we forget there are plenty of evil people out there that don't like our freedoms... don't like the way we live.
Three thousand of our brethren died eight years ago today.
Never, never forget!

Now, take a deep breath, reflect on those fighting for your freedom of speech, and speak!