Aging

I bet most of you have seen this before, but I think it's brillliant and worth repeating.

George Carlin's View on Aging :

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?

If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!"

You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five!
That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are you?"

"I'm gonna be 16!"

You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . . .
YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling.
What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes,

it's all slipping away. Before you know it,

you REACH 50 and
your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70!
After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30;
you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90's, you start going backwards;
"I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100,
you become a little kid again.
"I'm 100 and a half!"

Lost Until Found

(I stole this image from www.podunknowhere.com,
and feel obligated to identify 'em in order to ease my guilt!)

I bet most of you had this experience at least once-
Back in the days of 25-cent per gallon gas, Willy, Hawkeye and I would fill the tank, then point his '56 Ford sedan South on Highway 135 until we got to Highway 44, where we would turn Westbound. From that point I don't remember details very well... maybe Hawk can fill in some of my blank spots, but somewhere along the line there we'd find a gravel road and just see where it lead. The goal? To see if we could get ourselves really, REALLY lost. Willy's car had a six-cylinder engine which got great gas mileage, thank God, because we sometimes found ourselves in the "boonies" to the point where the roads narrowed to one lane... truly "Podunk Nowhere"... in the dark of night you couldn't see much, but there wasn't much out there to see. Even so, we did this often enough that there were places we began to recognize, and we became more and more comfortable with driving there. Still, as an adult I look back and wonder what might have happened if the old Ford had suddenly quit running, for whatever reason. No cell phones to call AAA to come help... heck, no phones of any kind were available around there!

But what a great time! Of course we were bonding... we had the radio blasting, and we had one another to bounce ideas off of.
We'd drive until we finally came out somewhere we recognized... the little roads almost always lead us to Highway 37 somewhere around Martinsville. We'd feel some sense of accomplishment and head back to Jerry's or the Kitchen for a Cherry Coke.

Help me here-
There was a shopping center up nestled between Highways 31 and 135... "South Park Plaza"? I'm really unsure of the name. It was just North of 465 if I recall correctly. There was a miniature Golf Course on the Southwest side of the shopping center that we used to drop by and check to see if any hot Southport gals were patronizing. We were leaving the place when a car with four huge guys came into the drive. For some reason they took offense at the way Willy was departing and shouted something at him. Willy of course responded to them by signaling that they were "Number One!" They quickly turned to come after us. Willy, realizing we were outnumbered and outsized, put the throttle to the floor. We headed South on 135 as fast as that six cylinder engine could go, with the four "Hulk Hogan" types right on our tail. At probably just over 100 miles per hour, I'm amazed we didn't have a close encounter with law enforcement along the way. Past County Line Road... past "El Dorado" Country Club, past Stone's Crossing road. Right turn on Highway 44... find that gravel road leading to Podunk... and now we have the advantage!
Following someone at night on a gravel road, all the dust bein' kicked up by the preceeding car, making all those twists and turns, finally got the desired result. The big guys backed off considerably and started honking their horn.
We grinned and made them suffer for 15 minutes or so. Willy finally slowed down enough for me to hang my head out the window to see what they wanted.
Yeah, you're ahead of me, aren't ya?!
They were scared to death. Scared we were gonna lose them somehow, and they'd be lost in Podunk to be eaten by Bigfoot or some other big, hungry creature.
"C'mon Dudes, just lead us outta here... PLEASE!"
And since the request was so nice, we did just that.

Podunk...
Been down in that area lately?
If not, don't go. Keep your memories alive and vivid .
And for me, what wonderful memories!

Turning 60 in Japanese

Today I received a wonderful letter from my friend in Japan that I would like to share with all of you.
We had been talking about turning 60 and what it means. I know today, they say that today's 60 is the new 40 and they might not be far off.
Sachi told me that in Japan turning 60 means you will be re-born. That your second life begins at 60. They consider it a turning point in one's life.
They often give red clothing as 60 is a special birthday, because red expresses best celebration.
We will be brand new people with sophistcated brains.
What a smart friend I have.
It would be nice if we could start it over without the wrinkles though.
So, today my friends, with my 60th looming ahead come August, I am going to go buy some red clothing.
I wish you all the best and I hope we all give this new life a real go.

Harris' Annual Mini Reunion

I guess most of you know I have been "a little" under the weather.

I want to thank all of you for your e-mails and get well wishes. Am doing "pretty good". Got
back to work this week. Have me on "Coumadin" and 325m Asprin daily. Been trying to get the dosages figured out. Constantly changing it. Had a little set back last week as they "got my blood (to thin)" and I had to be really careful not to get any hard bumps (could cause internal bleeding) and of course not to cut myself. Shifty was so scared I would hurt myself he was almost carrying me around on a pillow. Went to Hemotologist today and the took (12) vials of blood for testing. Trying to confirm why I am having blood clots. Next will have to find out why I am anemic.

But all is well now and we can start planning on our
NEXT ANNUAL HARRIS MINI.

Last year and the year before we had it the last week end in October. Some of the gang who are in the teaching profession couldn't make it because of school break falling around then. The ones I heard from said they were hoping to "make the next one".

S - O - O- O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK OF PLANNING IT FOR THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER?????

Some of you Lucky One's will be off to Hawaii the first of November. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT??

Anyway how about some feed back on what everyone thinks would be a good date?

This years festivities we would like to center around the "pitch in dinner" and "the Bon-Fire!!
Shifty is already stock piling some (BIG) logs. For those of you who have never enjoyed the
fire at the last two mini's you have really missed something.

The guys have had some real fun keeping that "fire burin" in the past. Last year there was even some "bets" goin on with it. You gotta talk to GB about this one. It was a hoot!!!

SO PLEASE SEND BACK SOME COMMENTS SO WE CAN GET THE DATE CONFIRMED.

Oh yes, Of course we will want Jamie and her better half to provide their great music again.
Ginger and Johnnie was able to make it last year and said they want to come again this year.
Johnnie said that he also plays music and would like to join in. So if any of the rest of you has any musical talent let us know. It would be so much fun to have more.

Shifty & Echo

WOW WHAT MEMORIES

Holy Smokes Guys. I never dreamed that you all (Shifty rubbed off on me (Ky)) would have so much fun with this. Funny when you are just laying around you have so much time to think of silly stuff. I had a tablet laying on the coffee table beside (my couch sick bed) and just started writing down old shows. Then I thought why not get the (gang) in on it.

Gee I feel special!!!!!!!!!! HAHA

You know I always heard that the first thing to go with old age was your memory. Well this has sure proved that to be wrong. I never did really agree with that. I found that the first thing to go was the muscle control in the cheeks of my b _ _ _ !!!!!!!!! But I still stand by the fact that I have the same things I had in high school. They are just in a different place than they use to be.

I have had so much fun reading all the comments to my post. I can't believe that there a (50).
Now I am going to have to get out the list that I made and see if I had any that you guys have missed. I doubt it.

But I do have a question. Does anyone remember a show that had a woman on it with some funny puppets. One had a big old tooth right in the front. And I think there was a little lamb too.

Here is this week's little ditty!!!!!!

Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, and Quasimodo were all talking on day.

Sleeping Beauty said, "I believe myself to be the most beautiful girl in the world".

Tom Thumb said, "I must be the smallest person in the world"

Quasimogo said, "I absolutely have to be the most tacky, rude, crude, gross & disgusting person in the world".

So they all decided to go to the Guiness Book of World Records to have their claims verified.

Sleeping Beauty went in first and came out looking deliriously happy. "It's official: I AM the most beautiful girl in the world".

Tom Thumb went next and emerged triumphant. "I am now officially the smallest person in the world".

Sometime later, Quasimodo comes out looking utterly confused and says, "Who the hell is Rosie O'Donnell???????"

Echo

A Night Out

Beef and Boards opened their doors in 1973. “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” doesn’t quite go back as far as that, but, close. For those few VKs that don’t remember that far back, it opened on Broadway in 1978. That seems like such a long time ago. Not long after graduating from Center Grove, a few of us were wondering ‘What the heck just happened?’. A few of us were trying to figure out just exactly where we were, still a few more were wondering where we were heading. Most of us were listening to the Animals “We’ve gotta get out of this place”. Some of us did just that. But here we are – 40 plus years later and most of us are still intact. By the response that Indy Echo’s latest post got, I can tell that most of you still have a very good memory. Great Post, Some Great memories. I remembered most. Although, I have been told that I have a very short memory. Could that be?????

Back to the subject. A Night Out. “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” starts a run at the Beef and Boards Dinner Theater in Aug. Sara Jean and GB and Cinders and TD are planning a night out for Saturday September 15, 2007. GB and I think it would be great to get a group together and have A Night Out. Singles, couples, it really doesn't matter - you will be with friends and everyone deserves a night out once in a while. This is still a couple of months out – plenty of time to clear your calendars. But, don't wait too long to decide. Right now, there are plenty of good tables available. And they should be able to group us close together. It will be fun so, Check your calendars and let me know as soon as possible. Call me or email me if you have questions. You can also go to www.beefandboards.com/ for information. Respond via VKs or email and I will be in contact.

HOW GOOD IS YOUR MEMORY ?????

In past postings we have talked about "old songs" so thought that this would be
fun for everyone.

How many shows can we come up with that we USED to watch that are no longer on TV?

A friend of mine (I do have a few left) sent this idea to me. It had a great list and I was surprised at how many was on the list that I hadn't thought about in years.

I am only going to put down a few just to get you started. Let's see how many more your guys
can come up with. After we see how many we can come up with I will fill in any that was on the list that we missed.

Sky King
Land of the Giants
American Bandstand
Have Gun Will Travel
Car 54 where are you
Ozzie and Harriet
Laugh IN
Route 66
Captain Kangaroo
Hit Parade
Father Knows Best
My LIttle Margie

Ok guys, so being sick has taken some what of a toll. I'm getting enjoyment out of some really odd things. But everyone has been trying to send me things to keep my mind active. Guess they think that having "blood clots" keeps me out of touch with reality. HAHA.

Indy Echo

Wishing you all a wonderful 4th

Today we took our yearly pilgramage to Pearl Harbor. Like so many of our parents, my dad served in the military and served with the US Navy and was at Pearl Harbor and Tokyo Bay among other places, after the Dec. 7th attack. He joined when he was 17 and my grandmother had to sign for him. He also got to cross the equator and in return got to do the rites of passage and have his ear pierced. I still have his earring.
I am not sure why, maybe we go every year because it makes me feel closer to him in some way. He was a torpedoman on a submarine, but didn't really talk about the war much.

As we were driving throughout the base, I always see new things from the trip before.
When we get to the old buildings, I almost expect to see Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, or Jimmy Stewart coming walking down the sidewalk in their summer whites.
Since my husband works for the Navy here, he knows Pearl Harbor like the back of his hand and I enjoy his tours. We would come across old buildings and imagine what went on in them. There are the old Marine Barracks and the hospital and so many others. Thank Goodness they are on the Historical list and can't be destroyed. I can't imagine this place without them.
There is the little house on Ford Island that John Wayne used while making In Harm's Way.

Today, we actually had some ships and subs in, they have been pretty busy lately and have been to parts unknown. When in port like today, they dress them up with banners and flags and it is quite a site to see. We had in several Japanese Ships and they too, dressed their ships in honor of our holiday. They love coming to Hawaii and we have the largest Japanese cemetary here outside of Japan for sailors of so many years ago. They come to honor them.

So today, I wish you all a wonderful 4th of July.

VANDY UPDATE

Sorry it has been so long between updates. I go to see Vandy about every Thurday or Friday. He has been about the same for weeks. He seems to be feeling OK. He still has his sense of humor and loves to tell stories.

He had some tests a couple of weeks ago. His daughter-in-law, Carol says that some of his tests didn’t come back very good. The tests were on his heart and something to do with his hemoglobin.

I don’t think he will be going back to Country Charm. He needs so much help now. I saw him last Friday, 6-30-07, and he had fallen off of the “throne” and has a very black eye “a shiner” and a badly bruised arm. He was taken to the hospital for x-rays and nothing was broken. He sure looks bad with all the bruising on his face. He told me, AS ONLY Vandy could, that I SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE OTHER GUY.

He tells me about the “kids” who visit him. He loves the cards and care packages that he has received; keep sending him stuff, you make his day! Again his address: Village Pavilion Health Care Center, Melvin A VanDermeer, Room 109, 283 S. Smock Drive, Greenwood, IN 46143 – Telephone 317-881-0890.

Sorry I missed the Destin get together. Sounds like you had a ball.

Sorry about your Dad Bo.

Yes, Greybeard and I are related. We are brothers, right bro?

Barb and I are going back down to Florida this Tuesday, July 3rd to work on her mom’s Tampa house. We will be back the 10th of July. We have the outside done and now begin to work on the inside.

Are we all somehow related?

Here’s something that may be of interest and hopefully some of you will add your knowledge and/or comments:

I’ve been doing some research on my ancestors and actually got all the way back to the early 1700’s on some of my ancestors. Anyhow, Alva Surface’s (born 1888) father was Benjamin Franklin Surface (born 1860 in Indiana). Alva, as you may remember, was a janitor at Center Grove for many years. Here’s the interesting part: Benjamin F. Surface was married to Lucy Ellen Doty (born 1859), which makes Alva Surface – half Doty. So I’m thinking if the Surfaces and Dotys are related, how many other families in the Center Grove area, that were established in Johnson County over the last 150 yrs or so, are related?

Alva Surface’s 3 kids went to Center Grove when it was just one small building. The only town close around was probably Bargersville and downtown Greenwood (at the corner of Main & Old 31). Smith Valley wasn’t even heard of, yet; it was all farmland. So it only makes sense that way back then most of those farm kids didn’t have the means to travel far so they ended up marrying kids from neighboring farms. For all we know, most of the class of 1965 could be 2nd or 3rd cousins (once or twice removed).

As the population grew in Johnson County, after WW II, it brought new blood of course, but most of the established bloodlines remained in the area. It would be very interesting to know, who is related to whom.
Anybody out there got answers?????

Also, I came upon a copy of an 1880 US Federal Census report that listed the head of household as my great-great grandfather on my mother’s side and here are a few questions that were asked on the report that needed a yes or no answer:
Cannot read/write? Blind? Deaf and dumb? Idiotic or insane?
These questions were not answered on his report, probably because he was “all of the above”.
I don’t know, I just thought the questions were pretty humorous.

Frustrating

I've said this before.
I've heard the excuses, and that's all they are- excuses.

"Too busy."
"Computer/blogging is too complicated. I can't figure it out."
"Can't write."
" Can't spell."

Sing it with me if you can remember the tune:
"Oscar Meyer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A!"
... that's pronounced baloney, but means B.S.!

Thanks to GH and Joker for contributing here...
other than their posts, this blog has turned into "All Greybeard, all the time."
Check the sitemeter. Lots of folks stoppin' by here takin' a look. Three of us.. count 'em... THREE, have posted over the last month.

Let me reinforce what I have said before, this time maybe a little more emphatically...
If you enjoy coming here and reading the thoughts of others, and you are not also sharing your thoughts, in my opinion, you are a very selfish person!

Today I'm taking a hiatus from VK in hopes it will become what was originally intended:
a place for all of us to share what is going on in our lives with our classmates. A place to express yourself and get feedback from classmates and friends. I'll be leaving comments to others' posts.

"Too busy"? Join the crowd.
"Too complicated"? I knew nuttin' when I started, but I'm learnin' every day.
"Can't write"? Who cares?
"Can't spell"? Oh come on! The machine will fix that!

C'mon VK's... "when the goin' gets tough, the tough get goin'."
Fingers to keyboards, please!

Just Sharin'

Flying machines at rest as the sun sinks low...
I was on a cross-country flight with my student, and landed at the airport where the helicopter ambulance I fly at my full-time job is based.
I'm so foolish... I carry my camera with me much of the time, then leave it behind and frequently miss the chance to take some very interesting pictures.
That's gonna change... I'm going to make a concerted effort to remember the camera and start taking a bunch of pictures, then delete those that are not worth keeping, and share the good ones online.

I like this one, although this perspective is not good to compare the size of two machines I fly most...
The R22 in the foreground is the machine I teach in, and it's also my "goose chasing" helicopter. It can carry two people, and it weighs about 850 pounds empty.
The BK117 in the background is set up to carry me, my nurse, paramedic, patient, and maybe a ride-along observer. It weighs just over 5100 pounds sans fuel, cargo, and passengers.

The smaller bird chops it's way through the air at 115 miles per hour. In the bigger machine, I carry sick and injured people to get the help they need at 150 m.p.h.

A neat vocation. Neat machines and a neat photo... don't you agree?

Oahu Island, Hawaii

Just wanted to pass on this link that I found on CNN.com about Honolulu, Waikiki, Chinatown, etc. on the island of Oahu.

I know Golden Horse told you about many thing to do there and here are more fun things to do and see for those of you going to Hawaii:

Click here.

Also, here is a link to some beautiful pictures of Hawaii

at this link.

Enjoy.

A Forward/Update:

I hadn't heard from Indy Echo in a while...
that's not out of the ordinary. I know she and Shifty have been busy stayin' on top of her business and dealing with the other factors goin' on in their lives right now. So I was more than a little shocked when I got this email from her yesterday:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello Stranger !!!
Bet you thought I had forgotten you or something. NOT !!!!!!
I have been REALLY ill and in the hospital and haven't had a chance to get on VK or answer the numerous e-mails from some of the gang. Things had been hectic as usual around here. My business had taken off to a fantastic start for the new year. Landed a couple of BIG Japanese company accounts. Things were lookin' good.
Then the unexpected happened. On Sunday June 3, (Shifty) and I had worked outside most of the day and then went to neighbors for dinner. Felt fine all day, nothing out of the ordinary. Went for dinner and not too long after we got there I started to feel an odd pain in my right hip. Didn't think too much of it at first as had been working in yard etc., but the pain kept getting worse and spread down my entire leg to my foot. The pain just wouldn't let up and I noticed some numbness starting. Within an hour I told (Shifty) I needed to get home that I thought I might be in some big time trouble. By the time we drove across to our house my foot had gone completely numb all the way up above my ankle and I had to really bad painful spots in the calf of my leg. I told (Shifty) he had better get with my vascular surgeon and then get me to a hospital. Well, when I said that, he knew it was serious and got through to the doctor. Doctor said to get me to hospital immediately as he felt for sure there was blood clots and no time to waste. He said he would have the hospital waiting for me to get me on blood thinners and tests.
Well, it was blood clot(s). One completely blocking the plastic artery from previous surgery and a couple more in the calf area of leg. They of course admitted me and started me on blood thinners, antibiotics, IV drips, heart monitors etc. I had tubes running from one end to the other. Got my blood thinned and running to my leg and foot. But had some muscle damage in the mean time.
Took me to surgery on Wed morning. Didn't know what to expect as the doctor wouldn't know until he got in there if a new bypass was needed or if the blockages could be cleared. Well, God was on my side and he was able to clear the clots. But after the surgery my blood pressure bottomed out and they couldn't get it to stabilize so that prolonged my stay in ICU. Finally got everything stabilized and they wanted to keep me for a few more days but I talked them into letting me come home early. One exception, I had to give myself injections in the stomach to control my blood clotting. Never thought I could do that, but I did and got pretty good at it if I do say so myself.
I am still full of stitches - get them out next week. Feeling lots better but going crazy having to stay down. (Shifty) has been great!!!! I think he may appreciate me a little bit more after this. HAHA !!
He has had to do the cooking, cleaning (what little has been done) the laundry, grocery shopping, and even pooper scoop the dog kennels. He has really done good and now that he has proven he can do all this -
W E L L - I'M THINKIN ------ HAHA
Anyway that's the scoop around here. Drop me a line and fill me in on anything - something - truth's - lies - I just need something to fill in these l - o - n - g boring days.
(Indy Echo)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So this story is unfolding as I bring you up to date, but folks- this is serious stuff...
Echo may find she was experiencing DVT... Deep Vein Thrombosis... and that is a critical, frequently fatal condition. She may not feel fortunate right now, but when she reflects on how this happened she'll realize how lucky she is.

Anyway, when you have time, drop her a note and irritate her, please!

Can't Get No Satisfaction?

A damn good year, 1965, wouldn't you agree?
Click here for a musical trip back to the Frostop, the Beehive, or another memory that will spread a smile across your face.

The lower right corner of the site's main page gives you access to earlier or later years and memories.
Enjoy!

Just Some Thoughts for Hawaii

Two Dogs and Greybeard have both written nice letters inviting fellow classmates to the mini reunion. If you haven't made your flights yet, these might be some things to consider. Please keep in mind that each island is totally different than the others. Each has her own special treasures to show you and share with you. You are coming at a quiet time, so flights should be better. Last minute flights can be a great buy.
Here are just a few thoughts:
For those who have never been here and think this might be the trip of your lifetime or even if you might want to come early or stay later and experience another island or two, I want to let you know that the 5 airlines here have been having price wars going on for a bit now. Last week one airlines was having $9 flights each way to the outer islands. Most generally they run around $29 or $30 each way now, which is a huge improvement over a couple of years ago when they were twice the price. The flights generally run around 20 minutes or so and very nice. Easy in and out at the airports. The flights can start very early in the am and the last flight to leave most of the islands leaves around 9:30 pm for those that might want just a day trip. Rental cars pick up right at the airports. Just arrange ahead of time.
The volcano on the Big Island has been very active lately and quite a sight to see. There are a few ways to see her. Walk in, boat trip, helicopter or drive to a vantage point for a view. Last year we took a 5 hour hike around one, it was amazing.
Also, on the Big Island you can take a trip and dive or snorkel with manta rays at night.
You can take a trip up Mauna Kea for a sunset you will never forget. They drive you up and stop part of the way up at the sheep station and it's chow down time, then the rest of the way up for the telescopes and sunset. You will be up 14,000' and it is cold.
You can take a trip in a hummer through the rain forests and to waterfalls that is nice.
On Maui you can bike down Haleakalau, they drive you up to the top and you ride down. Breathtaking. From up there, I swear you can see Kansas. Well, almost.
You can stay at the most Hawaiian Hotel in the Islands on Maui and you won't be disappointed.
They have the best of the Luau's in the Islands in Lahaina, Maui and some shows that rival Las Vegas.
All the Islands have wonderful dining, so don't be timid about the food.
If you want total quiet time and relaxation, then consider Kauai. Romance at it's best.
There is horseback riding on most of the islands.
Just a tip of the iceberg, but if you are considering any of this, please plan ahead and make reservations for some of the tourist sights.
Several of the travel agents can do a resonable package trip also. Flight, car and hotel.
If you get the chance to visit you can actually travel through 11 different climates here.
If anyone would like any info, please feel free to ask and consider joining us.
Until then, Aloha.

Classmates?

A friend sent this and it made me chuckle, so I thought I'd share it with ya...

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, "SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD?" WELL... YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE!

I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST. I NOTICED HIS DDS DIPLOMA, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME.
SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 40-ODD YEARS AGO. COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?

UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT. THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE. AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL "YES. YES, I DID. I'M A MUSTANG," HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.

"WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?" I ASKED.

HE ANSWERED, "IN 1959. WHY DO YOU ASK?"

"YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!" I EXCLAIMED.

HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY. THEN, THAT UGLY, OLD, WRINKLED, BALD,FAT, GRAY, DECREPIT JERK ASKED, "WHAT DID YOU TEACH?"

Have a great weekend everyone!

2007 Alumni Banquet, Mr. L's Report-

(Names edited to protect the innocent, (and a few REAL scoundrels!)

Monday, June 04, 2007
With several sleepless nights with excitement and anticipation of attending my first Center Grove Alumni Banquet it finally materialized on Saturday evening.
I began teaching at CG in 1957-58, and taught there for seven years. I did come back about three times after that time. The past couple of years either by telephone or e-mail or both I have kept in contact with several of my former students at CG, Jeff B.('67), Lanna M.-F.('66), Bill Y.('66), Kathy R.-W.('65), David R.('65), and Vernon W.('64),
Mary Lee and I arrived at the banquet about 5 p.m. with 4 posters in hand. Each poster had pictures of my sixth grade students for the classes of 1957-58, 1958-59, 1959-60, and 1960-61. Mary Lee and I had brought pictures from WV and we put the posters together so that the people at the banquet could enjoy them.
Jeff B., from my fourth year teaching, gave me a tour of the high school. I could not get over the enormity of the school, and how the school had grown in 50 years when I was there. I got to see where my first classroom was which was in the tunnel by the old gym. Then when I moved to teaching junior high, I saw the room that I taught before I left CG.
I returned to the cafeteria where the banquet was to be held, and I met Mary Lee there. It was so wonderful to be in that atmosphere. The attendance at the banquet was around 170. Mary Lee and I got to meet my first year student Vernon W. and wife, and his older brother, Ruel. I can still remember seeing Vernon for the first time in the seat in front of me with his wonderful grin. A table was designated for the Legan party at which we sat. It was such a pleasure to see Kathy R.-W., from my second year class, with others from the class of 1965 Danny F. and David J.. Jeff B. would come around frequently.
After the meal the program began. The classes of 1957 and 1967 were honored. Jeff did acknowledge before the group my attendance there which I appreciated so much. I did talk to other students from other classes in which I never taught but remembered them. We had such a great evening, and it was hard to see it end. It was also sad that more of the former students of my era were not in attendance.
Mary Lee and I will hold dearly the memories of that evening.
Mr. Legan

Thanks for the nice visual, Mr. L.!
Others that attended... got anything to contribute?

Hawaii- For Your Consideration

I've already been to Hawaii.
November 1st of 1968... a stretched "World Airways" DC-8 with 300 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines landed in Honolulu to refuel on its way to Tan Son Nhut Airport, in Saigon.
Told we had about 45 minutes before reboarding, the horde found its way to the airport bar. Two Scotch and Water doubles later, having seen all of one square mile of Hawaii scenery, (it was nighttime), I was back in my seat on that flying cattle car. So much for visiting paradise!

I've wanted to go back ever since. Other than one hapless soul that found herself arriving just before someone called Iniki came to call, everyone that visits the "Aloha State" raves about it.
Like any other adventure, time, money, and inclination all have to come together to get me back to that airport at Honolulu.

The dates are November 1 through 8. As was the case with Destin, arrive early, stay late, if that meets your needs. But the reason we are talking about this trip so far ahead of time is that we hope you'll block off the time, set the money aside, and begin leaning toward meeting the rest of us in paradise in November.

I have to say I'm PLEASANTLY SURPRISED...
I really thought this trip would be a budget buster.
Big Bubba is coming along with us. He booked tickets for us from Phoenix, round-trip, for less than $400 each. I purchased tickets to get us to Phoenix for less than $250 each. So the cost of 2 round-trip airfares for Sara Jean and me is less than $1,400!

On top of that, we're working on housing that one way or another is gonna knock your socks off!
Go here and take a walk around the site. Bein' retired military DOES have it's perks! I can reserve rooms for all of us at the Navy Lodge Inn, overlooking Pearl Harbor. Looks like the cost of Suites with two Queen-sized beds is gonna be less than $90! (For those arithmetically challenged, that means $45 per night if two couples share a Suite, and we are actually looking at a couple of rental houses that will put all of us under one roof for considerably less than that!)

I just want to shout-
Don't dismiss this trip just because you think you can't afford it...
YOU CAN AFFORD IT!
How long have you wanted to visit Hawaii?
For me, it's been since I got a whiff of the air there in 1968.

I'm goin' back...
Wanta come along?

If you're on the fence, call or email me so I can do some convincin'!

A Good Time Was Had By All

Now that I've figured out how to use the scanner, I can torture you with stuff you may have no interest in!
But if you didn't make our 30th... (this was our 30th, wasn't it?),
or you haven't attended any reunions at all, you may have an interest in this one.
I had forgotten how tiny Mrs. V. was!