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Sharon Allen (Richardson)

Gary hope all is well and you have a very Happy Birthday.  

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Glad you all had fun...Houston has gotten too complicated to manuever the super  highways, missed my '65 event I just won;t drive the crazy freeways, just too used to the country roads out here.  And love it. I am blessed to have this 100 yr old 14  acres, never sprayed w.herbicides, a pond that flourishes, because of an underground spring, old oak trees, and peace and quiet.  Just sayin, it is just a blessing from my inheritance, God, my Aunt who bought a 100 ac, from the Germans, and my pastor.. Land I have enjoyed since I walked it with my Aunt and Uncle and fished their, and now my pond, listened to the birds, who I still hear early mornings. calling who, who, who...coyetes which still cry,  I'm just addicted to all of this.  Blessed, and so fortunate to have my church 1 mile down the road, and to have made such friends and fellowship with the old Germans,  invited and made a part of their homes and families..  I'm the treasurer of my Grimes County Senor Ctr.  with my Lutheran s which still remember my Aunt.and have  continued our family history  here  and enjoy our older folks.  Who would have known. how I would have turned out.  I enjoy seeing Tony M. and enjoy Beau and Diane's venture at Chappel Hell, ha ha. New kids on the block  We are both experiencing real countrylife. 's musings.do enjoy and relate to Beau.  Just memories.

Suzy Jones '66

Hey Ted. Thank you for offering the walker. I can meet you somewhere tomorrow afternoon. It’s for Carol from Surfhouse. She fell and is having a bit of trouble getting around. Let me know what is good for you

Teddie Jordan

We can do that, we are getting together with some friends in Houston at 11 am tmrw and can meet you somewhere mid afternoon if that works. Call or text me at 713-882-2849.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Howdy all yall !   Hey Kay, yup, Houston is toooooo complicated and convaluted to try to maneuver.   All my, or most of my landmarks are gone.  Well, if I were at the corner of DuBarry and Oak Forest, standing in the park, I'd recognize where I was, or maybe the Front of Waltrip or Sears on North Shepherd.  However, getting there would be worrisome.   But the spring fling was in TOMBALL this time, so not too far for you or us to travel. I do believe you are closer, maybe.  I've been that back route 249 to Anderson on my bike, and it is a beautiful drive, unless you get behind a concrete truck. Aint no passing, just a two lane blacktop.

    I'm with you on living in the country, but sometimes folks dont have the option, or dont know they have the option, or are smart enough to know that with country, comes endless work.   Sounds like your place is ideal, especially with all the history in your family.  Maybe someday me and the missus could come a visitin, take you to lunch.  Sounds like a good idear to me.  

     Got down to 58 yesterday morning, and up to 91 bout 3 or 4 oclock pm. Will this summer never end!  Oh the humanity!  Beautiful days all. Forecast shows beautiful days for another week or so, I'm good with that.  Been working on the Cooper/Waltrip Memorial Ice house.  Got everything moved and a loose semblance of order.  My Restaurant owner son Kevin, is suppose to help build a bar for me.  Maybe soon mehopes!  

    Been perusing the pooltable sites to find a suitable one, and also shuffleboard table.   Pooltables go upwards to 50K, which is rediculous, shuffle boards go upwards to 10K.  I have however, found some more reasonably priced ones.  I know what a regulation pool table size is, but what is a regulation shuffle board size?   I've found 7ft, 9ft, and 12ft.  Seeing as how the 9ft is in the middle, I figured that one to be a good size.  I dont think they use the sand or sawdust anymore, now they use wax.  Oh great, I've waxed both vehicles, now I've got to wax a shuffle board?   I've waxed a surfboard on more than a zillion occasions, I've waxed poetic, and watched the moon wax and wane, but never waxed a shuffle board.

    I have however, shuffled off to buffalo, maybe, and been bored, and sawed boards etc.   As soon as I find out what size my son has in mind for a bar, I can order the Pool table and maybe the shuffle board.   Then when it's all done, LOOK OUT.   Diane and I want to have a trial Fall Ball this summer, which of course doesnt count towards a Fall Ball.   No one needs do anything cept show up, unless Diane says otherwise. I've pretty much got her wrapped around my finger anyway, so she will do what I say...unless she wont, then of course I will acquiese to her expertise in the merry making.  

     We just want to have a party, and dont know if we can wait till October.  WE WILL STILL HAVE THE FALL BALL IN OCTOBER, WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO, SO DONT WORRY.     We're  thinking maybe the last week in October for the Fall Fling since the class of 63, (we're invited) is having their do on October 13th.   Still need to talk the date over with  Johnny. He mentioned either before the class of 63 date, or after. I'm thinking October 27th.  But still need to get with Johnny though and seal the deal.

    Ok, time to deplane, and go into town, pick up the mail, stop by the cigar store and talk to the wooden indian, only one that will listen to me on a regular basis.  Saw where WALYMART  made a vet sit out in the rain while collecting donations for VFW.  Bad form walstupidmart.  I dont shop there anyway, and havent since in the 90s, but another good reason not to shop there.  They did, however,  try to make amends by providing a canopy for the vietnam vet to sit under out of the weather.  Gee, that wasnt so hard was it wallymart !   A little common sense works everytime.

    Oh yeah, I believe I was going to sing off...Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride....
Your blessed beyond all belief frien,   Beaucephus Wally Wann, esq...   

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Aaahaaa. I have felt bad about that posting of Chappell  Hell  what was I thinking? .

.  It certainly is not, thought it was cute, thanks for forgiving me. Well I'm not a pool player, but have fun trying., shuffle board ...not too good either.  Guess I'll just eat and bring wine

Beau Wann, Jr.

   Hey, That;s ok Kay.   No skill at playing games required. In fact, if you let me win, I'm your best frien. Of course dont let me know youre letting me win, make it look like I'm a professional, yeah, that's the ticket.    I'm not good at any games atall. I just like to play and enjoy the banter.   

     Heard from Johnny, and October the 27th is the date for the fall fling and GRAND OPENING  of Coopers Memorial Ice House.  BUT,  me and me beloved are going to have an unofficial opening of the ice house sometime this summer.   This will be a pre-party party, so it wont really count. That means the carbs dont count, the calories dont count, the gmos  and cias and fbis and pdqs, none of that counts atall.

     Ok, time to deplane...keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...
your crazy frien and resident whacko   Beaucephus King O Samwann hill, esq...

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Hey Beau, since I was raised at the Dutchman beer joint I spent a lot of time playing shuffleboard.  Haven’t attempted to play since I was 12, but I want to try.  I think his board was about 9 ft.  It couldn’t have been much longer.  Wish I had gone by there before it closed.  I know it would have been much different from the 50s.  I am sure I could sketch the inside and outside of that place.

I really want to be there in October.  Hope my body agrees.  

Our newest critter is 97 lb of laid back and sweet old dog.  We got her Saturday and took her to the vet Monday because she has had a hard life.  At the vet’s office two little children came over and started hugging her.  They could have put a saddle on her.  She loved it and tried to follow them when they left.  I thought of Cooper.  Maybe when she gets healthy I can find out about the visiting program.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hey Pat, great to hear from you.  Ok, methinks 9ft is what I'll be looking for.  Say, why dont you try to sketch the Dutchman?  You're probably a pretty good artist eh what !   If you could draw stick figures, that would be an improvement over my sketching. 

     I remember Ms Hawkins gave an assignment to draw our bedrooms, but once you started drawing you couldnt pick up your pencil or whatever you were drawing with.  I can tell you the drawing of my room was amazing.  Not MY talent in art, but what I had in my room that I drew.  Not as factual as I would have liked, but accurate to what I WOULD have liked it to look like.So, when you draw your sketch, should you take this assignment,  YOU CAN pick up your pencil and not have everything joined together. 

     That's great that you rescued an unfortunate critter. Now because of you his fortunes have changed for the better.  Health aside, he is receiving the love he needs.  It's amazing how ones health improves when love is added to the mix.   He sounds just like Cooper. The kids just loved to hug him, and he them.   I can still see the children surrounding him and he grinning like a cheshire cat (dog).  The love he received from all that met him was more important than food to him.

     The rule of thumb was that only the child or children he was to work with could have contact with a therapy dog or cat or whatever animal was trained.   Me n coop threw that rule out the window when we went to work visiting wherever we went.  I saw right away, that by him greeting everyone, and I mean everyone at a school, that only made him want to work that much more.  

     We did 2 demonstrations at Harvard elementary, 150 people at each demonstration. 150 was all that the little library could hold at one time. It was really a converted classroom.  They spare no expense at the old neighborhood schools. (sarcasticly speaking).  I'm surprised they allowed them to have books. Well, that's another story. 

     It was Cooper and Bonnie, a lassie collie,  that put on the demonstrations.  They were magnificent, and the kids were on their best behavior.   There were no shortages of volunteers that wanted to "read" with Cooper and Bonnie.    Coop and Bonnie went through their paces and wowed the kids and parents.  The love coming from that room towards the two castoffs was so thick you could cut it with a knife.  I must say,  the love was flowing both ways.

    After the two demonstrations and greeting EVERYONE, and walking down the hall to go home, still greeting folks, it was the only time I saw them drained and tired, but still game to greet anyone that came up to them.  Cooper and Bonnie still had the energy to smile.  When we got home, Cooper and I went straight to bed. I slept with him that night on his pillow, probably both grinnin like two cheshire cats as we slept. Of course this was  back in the day when I could get down on the floor and get back up again. 

     Now how did I get back on the subject of Cooper?  Sorry folks, didnt mean to carry on about Cooper as I know you've heard it all before.   I've had lots of cats and one other dog, and miss them all.  But I miss cooper so much, guess I will till my dying day.  Why was Cooper so special?   Other than the good he did for the humanity that he touched, I guess because God chose me to be Coopers companion and trusted that I would take care of one of his special angels.  God was so right!  I'd love to do it again, and again....

     hmmmm, I'd better stop talking about Cooper, dont want my eyes to start leaking....Pat, dont know if there are any therapy dog programs where you live, I only know of the one in Oak Forest at Oaks Presbyterian Church, BACKPACK CRITTER READING PROGRAM.   There are others I dont know the name of, but they are so hard to get in to.  Some of them, the window to sign up in is barely a couple of weeks long, and you cant do it via computer. Everything is hard drafted.  You'd think with all the obstacles they place in front of you,  they really dont want the program to succeed. Well that probably isnt true, but it's my take on some things.

     The therapy training for the BakPak critter reading program is in July for a couple of weeks. They dont really train them to do any one  particular thing as much as it is to evaluate the demeanor of the dog, or cat. There was  a maine coon in the program that was as good with kids as was Cooper. 

     Good luck with your new pup.  Does he have a name? Oh, you didnt say what kind of dog, other than "all heart".  I do hope you and Ron can make it to the FALL FLING. Hope everyone can. 

Happy trails all yall   

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Finally found the regulation size for champion shuffleboard playing.  22 ft long, 20 inches wide (playing surface) and 30 inches tall.  Seems they use silicone in lieu of sand or sawdust and wax.  Common household and icehouse/tavern sizes vary from 9 ft to 14 ft.  Methinks I will search the 9ft tables. 

Teddie Jordan

To all of you wonderful ladies of our class of '64, have a happy and blessed Mother's Day.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also and he praises her" - Proverbs 31:28

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Good Morrow, myne lads aand lassies.  Today is the day! ! !  Yup, I can cut the hill,  bluebonnets and all.  BB seeds are ready to be dispersed, yea!    Took care of too many lawns over the years to let my hill look raggedy. Dont mind the edges to be frayed a bit, that's where the fireflies hang out.   Me and the pups been staying out half the night every night,  just to gaze upon one of natures wonders.  (wonder how they do that)     Lots of stars at night!  Havent seen a shooting star as of yet, but still watchful. 

    Sunday went into the big city for Dianes moms mothers day celebration.  Went back to our little country church in the city.  Still there in all it's simplistic saintly beauty.  There was the usual 30 folks in attendance.  Good to see some old familiar faces.   Couldnt help but notice some of the pews were roped off.  Diane says they are broken!    Well boo!     For all you gracious folks that were married in that church, as was Diane and I,  it still has it's simple presbyterian charm and beauty.  You can tell the different denominations by the architecture.  I never noticed till my beloved pointed that out to my dumb self. 

    Except for the million dollar homes among the 2k dollar homes, the old neighborhood still looks familiar.  I cant believe I got homesick for the old neighborhood.   Well, I spent the better part of 3 quarters of a century there. Diane and I have discussed when we HAVE to sell this place and move on to something smaller and less complicated, about moving back into Oak Forest.  Somewhere within walking distance to the shopping center at 43rd and OF streets.  Well, just a thought.

    Went to the dollar store to buy some "wind socks" and other wavy flags and such, to keep the birds out of the ice house.  Two hummingbirds got trapped in there, both banging their little bodies on the skylights trying to get out.  Finally they fell to the floor exhausted, but little hearts beating a mile a minute. I scooped one up and Diane got the other.  We placed them in the shade of the garden, where they promptly flew away.  Still a bit wobbly, but alive.

    The fake owls didnt work, birds just flew around them.  Oh, the fake owls came with instructions:  "move the owls from time to time so the "critters" will think they are real" .  Been there done that!   Got the idea that the birds and critters were mocking us. And to think I feed the little toerags. What gratitude eh what!

    Our container gardening isnt going so well.  Plants look anemic, or over watered.  When th soil gets dry, you water, RIGHT?  That's what we've been doing.  Diane fertilized them yesterday. Hoping they get some color back.  Beans and peas look burned up. Squash is blooming, taters going nuts, Onions? eh, who can tell about onions!  Lettuce and cabbage doing great though.  Everyday for lunch or supper, we just go out and snip off couple leaves of lettuce and voila,  salad!

    I think I am going back to the old way of gardening.  Ring the garden in RR ties and fill with garden mix soil and letter rip.  Had one of those, and was best garden ever.  Had 36 tomato plants, corn, beans, squash, melons, cantaloups, pumpkins, blackberries, and even brussel sprouts!   Well, we would have had brussel sprouts if I hadnt cut them down.  I saw all the little bumps on the long stems, and thought those were bad bugs or disease, so I cut them down to save the rest of the garden.   IDIOT ! ! !

    Turns out the bumps were the sprouts!   In my defense, I'd never seen them growing before, so really didnt know what to expect.  Well, with me, expect the unexpected!  Why did we have 36 tomato plants?  Simple silly!   When I read the almanac, it said to plant one seed or plant for the birds, one for the bugs, one for the weather, and one for me.  Seems the birds, bugs and the weather didnt want any of our plants, and that's a good thing.  However your friends turn and run when they see you carrying bushel baskets of maters squash and assorted veggies when you come a visiting.

    We just have 3 mater plants, and they are producing more maters than we can eat.  Guess I could chunk em at the idiot birds invading the ice house.  One cheeky devil was building a nest in my tool belt pouch!  Wonder if it was trying to tell me something, "hey lazy bones get that tool belt on and get busy" or cheeps to that effect.  Little ungrateful toerags! ! !

    Time to deplane.  Happy trails....(how you like that smiley face?  Just figgured out how to do that. It's amazing what one can do if one would only read the instructions, eh what! ! ! )

    Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...with the AC on max cool of course.
Your blessed frien and resident farmer,  BeaucephusMacDonald esq... 

James Hilsher '65

Hey beau,I noticed your front needed mowing yesterday, and I know u have that hot rod mower.I guess since I don’t live on blue bonnet hill I was not thinking about seed distributional.

Teddie Jordan

Cephus that’s really sad about Oak’s Presbyterian Church getting down to such low attendance and having pews roped off. My family worshipped there for all of my growing up years. Back then we were a thriving church with at least several hundred worshippers on an average slow season Sunday. It all started with a few families meeting at the old fire station on 34th,  then we met at Oak Forest Elementary for a few years before buying the property on Chantilly and building the first structure, which is what is now called Payne Hall. That was our sanctuary. My dear mother was the church secretary there for about 15 years, and my dad was an elder and member of the session for many years. And of course Francine and I were married there in ‘66 by our beloved minister and lifelong friend Rev. Hudson McNair, a good, good man.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     TJ, the church is still pretty, just some minor flaws, old age, on a few pews.  Lots of work has been done over the years, bringing it up to code and asthetic appeal.   They  sold the old manse on Latexo, and has that money working for them.  Plus,  oaks is renting out the two sunday school wings to a daycare center.

         A very profitable daycare from what I've heard, with a waiting list of customers.  The daycare has agreed to take care of all costs on upgrades and repairs, permits, insurance etc.  That just might save the church and allow it to have a scant 30 members in attendance on any Sunday.  The cornerstone was layed in 46  or 48 methinks. There is a plaque on the front of the church comemorating that occasion.

    Diane tells me that in the 70s or sometimes whereabouts,  Oaks had about 800 members and had two sunday worships.  Then came the split over........????  Who knows?     When I joined in 82,  I think we were down to 200 members and got worse from there, then got better, then worse etc.   Well, life goes round and round.  But, I certainly do love that old church.

    The Baptist temple down along 19th or 20th has sold some of it's property.  I remember several funerals there that I attended as a young DuBarry lad.  I recollect Jimmie Lee and a few others talk about being members of that church. The times of our youte....where has it gone?  Long time passing!

   Very nice eenin tonight. Wind still out of the South Southwest, and coolish as well.  Fireflies winking at me and the pups.  Sitting on the deck, had a pup on either side of me to pet. Good thing I have two hands.  Outside Kitty, "Miss Kitty", likes to tease the pups. She comes over to the base of the fence and jumps straight up and sits on a fence post.  Jack and Dixie have a fit when she does that.  

     She seems to be a regular here at the wannderosa, lucky us.  I see her little footprints here and there. We have a lot of dirt that she seems fond of and rolls in it with an air of joy, graceful joy.   I've seen about 3 or 4 other cats prowling about the premises.   "Good", I say! The more cats, the less vermin.  Dont see them much in the daytime, so they're not after birds, just snakes and mice.  Yea! ! ! 

    I guess our bobcat has widened it's home range.  If he was still around, wouldnt be any domestic cats scampering about.  Went into town today.  Voted for one of two candidates running for state office, then on to the courthouse to renew license plates for the trailer.  What a joy that is here, and a trip to hell in harris county. 

    All those familiar with Royers Cafe in Roundtop, will be pleased to note that they are expanding to a location in old downtown Brenham, just off the square on Market street, and in another location on 290 next to the South Texas Tack Shop.  They say late 2018 and sometime in 2019.  Projected plans for expansion generally dont realize on or about the date projected, if they ever really materialize.  We will see what we will see!

    I remember Goodsons cafe up towards tomball on Huffsmith Korville road.  There was a fantastic place to eat.  They expanded and had a satellite cafe on the northwest corner of Gessner and I-10.  Food was good, but it just never caught on for some reason.  Now they are in Tomball proper. Dont know how they are doing but hope all is well.  A really great place to eat is Als Diner in Tomball. Finest  southern comfort food in the whirld.   Here I am talking about food, and me on a diet !

    tried to make some Gumbo, and opened the wrong package. Turned out to be creole!  Opened the Gumbo package anyway and we had both.  YUK... The gumbo and the creole are supposedly creations of Tony P from houston. Cant remember his last name, but it was on the package.  I certainly wouldnt put my name on something that vile.   Too much salt in it.  Wasted a package of shrimp and a link of sausage in that crap. 

    I tried doctoring it up to make it edible, and only thing that worked was 1/4 cup of catsup.  I love catsup. It made it almost palatable. Finally just chunked it all out. Took it down to the creek to see if the coons would eat it.  It was still there this morning!  Now that's bad stuff folks if the coons wont eat it.  We know how to make a roux, just thought we'd save time if we got a prepackaged one.  Well that didnt work out now did it!  See what happens when you take shortcuts.

    Zatarain and Tony Cacheres are not any better.  I've forgotten what real good gumbo and creole tastes like.  Oh well that's life on the funny farm I reckon! 

    Here it is past midnight and I'm dragging my feet on going to bed.  I just hate the night time. Cant sleep, waking up almost every hour.   Went to see mah sawbones,  Doc Holiday,  for a regular checkup and he's ordered a sleep test.   ANOTHER STINKIN TEST?  I asked if I would have time to study for it. He tried to ignore me, but laughed anyway.    Plus he gave me a pop quiz right then and there on the spot.  "On a scale of 0 to 3, 3 being most likely to doze off, and 0 being least likely";
1: Sitting down?  Well, that's a 3.
B. Watching TV?  That's a 3 for sure.
3. Conversing with someone?  Depending on who it is, most likely a 3.
E. going to bed?   Depends on where bed is.  0 if it's actually in bed, 3 if I'm between wherever and bed.
5. Driving. would like it to be a 3, but glad it's not.
7. Riding in a car.  0 but would like it to be a 3
Here's one they left off, so I wrote it in.  Sitting on the tractor, stopped with motor off. a 3 of course

     Doc says It's some kind of device you hook up to yourself, he didnt say where.    I already cant sleep now, how am I suppose to get any shuteye with some tarnation of a contraption clamped to me?   I think I'll call and cancel it, just tell em I'm sleepin like a baby...a colicky one, but a baby nonetheless.

     Guess I'll deplane for now.  Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...with the AC on max cold of course.
your frien and Rip Van Winkles sleepless cousin Cephus Van Wannkles esq...

Post script:  The Official CHIMACS (Chappell Hill Intergalactic meteorological and cornpone society) equipment registered 99 on Wednesday.  Methinks the temp gauge has gone dodgey on us.  Gonna have to order another one from Earls Lucky Feed store in Houndsduck Kaintuck.  Oh bother!    

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Howdy!  FYI  They, someone, is building a 14 field (2 lighted) international standard CRICKET FIELDS just west of Prairie View a mile on north side of 290.  Just wondering if anyone would like to start a cricket team club.  We have lots of crickets up here, but dont know if they would cotton to the idea of being on a team.  They're kind of hard to talk to when they're jumping around all over the place. 

      I've watched a few CRICKET matches over the years, and cannot figure out just what the heck the rules are, scoring, and fielding etc.  Also of concern, has as of yet to see one cricket in the entire process.   Never knew there was any interest in the game of CRICKET here in the USA, let alone TEXAS..... Just saying ! ! !

   Peace and love to you bros and sisters...

Beau Wann, Jr.

     It's me again Margaret ! ! !   Well, duh, who else would it be?   Just in from those old cotton fields back home.   Been workin like a madman, and for the life of me dont know why.  I do get a lot of work done being a madman and all, but there really is no need.  Use to be, I'd work like half dozen madmen back in the day, but have slowed considerably.  It is really nice to not have deadlines and schedules to keep.

     Hmmmm, I got on here for a specific reason, but for the life of me can't recollect just why.  Been watching Jupiter in the southeast sky at night and Venus in the northwest sky.  If I dont have my glasses on, then there are two of each. More for the money so to speak.   Fireflies been lighting the dark on the hill.  Sure does take one back to one's childhood those FFs. 

     Guess it's not going to come to me about what I wanted to speak with you about, so  guess I'll be on my way.   Peace and love to youse youtes, and happy trails...

Larry Reid '63

I thought Cricket was a cell phone? 

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Hello!  It's me again Margaret !   I'm getting to be a regular here arent I.   Hey Larry, yes, that too!   Sort of a sticky wicket.    Today was the last of em !    Yup, all grandchillin have graduated from High schrool, 2 from college.   Haley, our youngest GD graduated today from Cinco Ranch.   I got a new camera and wanted to take some pictures of her, but that didnt turn out too well.   Seems she's not the only beautiful blonde in that class of a zillion kiddos.

    I was just snapping away at who I thought was Haley, only to find out it wasnt.  Found anothe blonde, surely that's her!   Nope, and dont call me shirley.   Ok, where the heck is she?    Finally found her!   That's got to be sad when you dont recognize your grandaughter.  But I'll swanee,  she has changed so much, she's absolutely gorgeous, a term normally not used in the same sentence with me.  And, havent seen very much of her the last couple of y ears. 

     Well, that's all really. Just wanted to share that.  Next graduation, 4 years from TAMU. I'll be 77 then.  Where has the time gone?   I dont remember my graduation, or the prom.  I didnt get to graduate with all yall, I graduated in the summer, July, August, dont remember much about it. I remember I rode the bus downtown to the Music hall methinks. I walked across the stage and got a piece of paper.  Rather had a piece of pie.

    Dont really know why I went down just to walk across the stage, guess I was hoping I'd see someone I knew, but saw only strangers, and Since no one was there to see me graduate, and waiting to take me back to the neighborhood, my time was my own so I walked around downtown and smelled all the wonderful smells from whence they came.  Now I dont remember whether it was day or night. I was leaning towards the night, but not sure.  Hoping I went to Woolworths and had a .29 cent hoagie. Man those were great samiches.

    Things have sure changed since our high school days that's for sure.   Today, I saw more leg and boobs than at any skinflick or strip show I'd ever been too.  Not only that, if the girls werent showing leg or boobs, their dress or lack of it left nothing to the imagination.   Where it was eye candy for sure, I'm old, not dead,  WHERE WERE THEIR PARENTS?  I guess what I was hoping for in highschool finally came, 55 years later. 

     Far be it from me to tell folks what to do, how to dress etc, but all the nose rings and metal studs in folks faces and the tattoos made me think I was watching walking coloring books.  I'm pretty easily distracted, especially if some beautiful girll has a couple of bolts sticking out of her head, and her back and chest look like a disney comic book.  Come on man, get with the times....No thank you sir, I'll stick with the 19th century, where I was suppose to be.

    In the service I was never even tempted by the tattoo parlors.  Lot's of guys got a tattoo everytime we pulled into port, where ever that might be. Now, I kind of wish I'd gotten a small one. Nah, dont need one, somethings are tattooed on my pea brain that I'd like to have removed.  Well, time to deplane as I'm very tired.  two hours in the truck are not good on my back and stuff,  and only got to see Haley for a couple of minutes.

     Happy trails youse youtes 

Post Script:  Hi Larry, glad you checked in.  Hope you are fairing well from the MG. 

Teddie Jordan

I just saw a post on FB from classmate Beverly Hengst Allen asking for prayers for her husband Jim, who is in ER and being transported to a hospital. He had a surgery last week to repair complications from an old hernia surgery, but there were more problems and complications once they got in there and it lasted much longer than planned. And even after being released to go home several days ago he had continued to go downhill.

Please pray for Jim and Beverly.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

We're all praying for our Jim and Beverly!   Jimmie Lee received this from Beverly on latest update:

From Beverly this morning - "Jim was transported to St. Luke's IMU in the Woodlands.  They have 3 specialists looking at his problem.  The ER diagnosed it as a condition caused by trauma from surgery that destroys his muscle and releases toxins that can shut down kidneys and liver.  His liver count was 500 times the normal.  Prayers are really needed."

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Lots of prayers and thoughts forthcoming...

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Praying for Jim and Beverly.  Hope the doctors are communicating with her.  Please keep us updated.  Beverly is a great person.  

Beau, my blonde granddaughter graduated from high school last Thursday.  That was our youngest grandchild.  She is having jaw surgery tomorrow morning so most of us are in Houston for that.  My husband has stayed home to take care of all the animals.  He is a sweetie.  Our latest rescue animal is a Great Pyrenees who follows him around.  She is good to me, but adores him.  He didn’t want to stress her out with a long car trip.  That is really why grandpa stayed home to care of the animals.  

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Yes more prayers for Jim and Beverly.   Pat, hope your grandaughter fairs well from her jaw surgery.   You and Ron are angels for your rescues and to your rescues.   Great scott, a great pyrenees?  The king of dogs. Dont have much time to go into one of my long dissertations about a Great Pyrenees I knew named BEAR. 

      Funny you should mention that breed. Our Cooper was part Lab and GP.  Of course I've bored you to death talking about him.  He looked like an oversized Lab,  GP influence and he was all heart, again GP influence.

     Here's something you didnt know, and if you do, then bear with me please.  Since it's Memorial day past, I was thinking about one of the friends that was kia in Kien Hoa province  vn,  5/26/68.   Fifty freakin years ago!  He was just 23, we were born in the same month.    He was just about as good a man as you could ever want to be or know. He would introduce himself as "Jerry Williams from Picher, Ok" .  He was so proud of his town. 

     He always had sort of a shy sheepish grin and an impish twinkle in his eyes. I can still see his smile to this day.  He had a wife and of course parents when he was kia..  One of our group got in contact with some of his family somehow and they were inviting him to all sorts of family reunions. 

    Seems all the feelings and emotions have come flooding back in from thinking about his death and the deaths of other friends in vn.  It's something that never leaves you, ever.  What a waste of human lives that war was. I've always thought that NOTHING GOOD EVER CAME FROM THAT TRAVESTY.  What a horrible waste...

     But you know what,  something good did come from Jerry's death, however indirectly, COOPER! ! ! !   Yup!    I rode my MC to east tidwell park where they set up the traveling VN wall memorial, when I found Cooper.  I had been to the real wall in DC twice and twice  failed to find Jerry's name or the names of others. Seems I transposed first names with last names, etc.  So I thought with a little luck, I just might find those names.

    Guess luck was on myside after all.    There was a trailer set up with computers inside with the VN Wall Memorial program of all the names on the wall.   With help from a very kind and patient vet, he helped me locate all the names I knew.  He even gave me some paper and crayolas to sketch or shade the names.  Well, not being arts and craft inclined, I tore the paper and broke the crayons, but got some semblance of the names on paper.  (I'll bet Ms Hawkins or Ms Cook could have sketched the names no problem).

     After visiting all the panels where the names appeared, I walked around visiting all the Veteran booths, ie purple heart Vets, native american vets, army, navy, airforce, marines, coast guard, national guard etc.  I saw a lady siting at a table next to a DUCE AND A HALF (2 abd 1/2 ton troop transport truck) and she had two labs tied to the truck, one chocolate and one yellow, COOPER.  That wasnt his name when I met him, and I could tell he didnt like the name they had chosen, cant remember what it was though. It'll come back to me.

     I ask Lisa if I could pet her dog, and she said he wasnt her dog, but up for adoption.  We had just lost our dog, Rocky and werent too keen on replacing him, but it  didnt take more n a nano second to say "I want him".  She let me walk him about on a leash  trusting I wouldnt steal him, and guess since I was on my MC it was a safe bet I couldnt.  Had I a sidecar, I'd a been hard pressed to leave Cooper behind.

     To make a short story even longer, I walked Cooper back over to the wall and we stopped at each name and I gave each one a final salute.  Cooper sat down at each name as well.  I knew then there wasnt any way I was not going to adopt this fine pup.  Took him back to Lisa, president of the K9 association and Lab rescue league and started the ball rolling on the adoption proceedures. And the rest is history as they say.

    You all know that Cooper went on to become a legendary therapy dog for children, regular ed and special ed and autistic.   Dont knwo how many children and adults alike that he brought some comfort and connection to normalcy, but it was a lot.  He even helped me as well, and I thought I was beyond help!

    Did Jerry die in vain?  Was his life wasted?   No, I dont think so. He shouldnt have died, but he did.  If he had not died, and there was no VN, or Vn wall, I wouldnt have found Cooper, and all those children Cooper visited would not have advanced some in this life.   

     I went to the park SPECIFICALLY  to find Jerrys name on a cold stone wall.  I found his name and much more, some sort of peace seeing Jerry's name, and a big hearted dog named Cooper.  Because of Jerry, Cooper and I found each other, because of Jerry, we were able to help countless children who might otherwise still be stuck in their small prison.   I dont know if all this was mapped out in the heavens, but it seems miraculous what all transpired because of the death of a friend.

    Jerry's town has long since disappeared.  It was a dying lead mining town with just 75 people left in it, and to add insult to injury, an F5 tornado finished the job and completely wiped the town off the map.  Jerry passed 50 years ago this month, and Cooper passed 2 years and 4 months ago.  A lifetime ago.  

       I'd like to think Cooper and Jerry are together waiting on me to show up.  Cant wait to see both grinnin at me when I do finally make it.   Cooper with his grin and outstretched paw....Jerry with his g rin and his "hi I'm Jerry Williams, from Picher Oklahoma...what kept you brother"....

     RIP Jerry and all my other vet friends....and rest in peace my very special friend, COOPER....

til we meet again....

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Please keep your prayers flowing for Jim Allen, Beverly Hengst's husband.  Heard from Beverly this morning and she appreciates everyone's prayers and says she is truly Blessed to have all of you!   Hugs

Update from Beverly this morning via Jimmie Lee -

"I hope to get an update this morning.  The doctors can't agree on if he has air or blood in his abdomen.  However, they don't think he is up to another surgery. 

Right now he has 2 IVs with 2 bags on each line.  They are trying to get the toxins out.  His liver numbers were 500 times the normal. 

Prayers are all I need"