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Beau Wann, Jr.

HEY BJ, OUTSTANDING POST...see, you fit rahght in wif the rest of us, uh, waltons...camo shorts as barter???? hmmm, gonna haf to rethink my position on barter..."how much for the sack o taters" says I..."three pair o camo shorts, one pair o flip flops, and some efferdent" says he...

oops, having a crisis here. Jack just jumped on the couch, and Cooper got off and is standing in the middle of the room drooling...I have tried to get him back on the couch, but I guess he thinks Cat Jack has cooties...Cooper is just so exasperating with his eccentricities...ok, finally got him back on the couch...if I dont try to help him out, he will stand for hours in one spot and just turn in several directions...poor boy...good thing he has me for a bud...

Ok, back to when the "shtf". BJ, talk to your friends, and get em lined out with corn beef hash, and spam, and great northern beans etc...most all that stuff is comparably cheap...great northern beans at K rogers is about 62 cents. Probably could get a case of em for one pair of camo shorts...

But your right about "Texans dont let Texans go hungry"...yall are all welcome here should there be a crisis...of course, you would all have chores...ie cleaning out litter boxes, cleaning the cement pond, polishing my Harley, mowing the yard etc...but our generation is use to chores...and hard woik...

You live in a retirement community????? like for old folks???? I'm too mean for that sort o life...I have to have something to tear up and or destroy, or chunk in the cement pond...yall have a cement pond???? and golf course???? I could deal with that...if of course I get to drive the golf cart into the cement pond...did that once with a lawnmower, and earlier on in my youte, I drove a golf cart into one of the water hazards (aptly named) at Treeline golf course...throttle got stuck, and couldnt stop it, and kersplash, rat into the drink she went, me and my bud, and golf clubs and all...Course management didnt think it was funny, and as a matter of fact, neither did I, but they were mad at me, gasp, go figure...it's not like I planned to do that, with malice aforethought...oh well, some folks are just ol poop heads...I was banned for life from playing at treeline...oh big whoop...It's not like they were Augusta or anything...

Ok, I owe my grit benefactors a apology (I know it should be "an apology", but I see news papers do that all the time, put "a" where an "an" should go, and verse vicea. I thought they had a command of the english language, but seems they dont, just a command of who they want elected and or ruined, or convicted of a crime, guilty or not)
anyway, I reread the distructions, and actually followed them to the letter, and voila, the 5 minute grits turned out to be wonderful...that was my problem in school, was not reading the distructions...now I read them, but dont follow them...at least I have it half right...given another few years, I just might catch up to those of you that got it 60 years ago...
But to my grits benefactors, YOU HAVE MY MOST HUMBLE AND SINCERE APOLOGY...I already sent them an email with an apology...That was very nice of them to send some grits to me like they did...see, that old adage, of "a Texan never lets a Texan go without grits" woiks...

IT'S RAINING!!!!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL SOFT GENTLE RAIN, GLORY BE AND PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

Cooper just cant stand it if Cat Jack is on the couch with him...so now Coop has gone into the library...heavy sigh...I sure wish I knew how he got the way he is...he isnt cowed, never lowers his head as if he is afraid of me or anyone, so I dont think he was mistreated...I really think he is an anomaly of nature, and is A REAL AUTISTIC DOG...I have asked vets before, and folks that seem intelligent, but they look at me like I am pulling their leg...I couldnt be more serious...
Coop doesnt know how to play, or do tricks or any "dog stuff"...when he does get playful, it lasts for about 10 seconds, and he jumps about like a "puppy", then it's stop and stand still and stare...

Plus, when we try to bring him in the same door he went out of, he sometimes will get all the way in, and then leap straight up about 2 ft in the air, and backwards about 4 feet, out the door, and backing up like the devil was after him...then we have to get his leash to get him to come in, and sometimes even that doesnt woik...Oh well, we accept our special ed child, just the way he is....Oh, also, I have never heard him yelp in pain....I have stepped on his toes and tail, purely by accident, and never a sound...the cats have tagged him good on the nose, brought blood, but never a yelp or a whine, just a grin...although one time at the vets, he was getting his nails done, and they were using one of those electric trimmers, and he doesnt like any electricle noise, so he peed on the floor and tooted...but not a yelp or whine or whimper...He got a cut on his face this morn from something around the cement pond...I cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide, and had to scrub the dirt out of it, real hard, and never a yelp or even a cringe...a doggie angel???? thats what I'm saying...!!!!!

Ok,time to take a mid morning nap...gotta rest up for my trip to sears service center to pick up my eedweater and then take my boys to get their nails trimmed...might just take em to Sonic, and get em some chicken nuggets and TATER TOTS, they love both of those...well, who the heck doesnt...last time I took em to Sonic, the waitress skated out to the truck to bring us the aforementioned, and I told her they were for Coop and Cat Jack, and she looked at me so weird....what???? musta been anti-dog person, a doggist...

BJ, et all, keep those posts coming...
your frien and hydrophonic gardener, coupe de gra and mow de lawn 

Bj Brady '65

Thank you Beau-

I see that we touched a creative nerve with you on the camo shorts. Allow me to tell the whole story: A new neighbor here was told two weeks ago that he could not wear his pajamas to breakfast...  So he took the senior bus out shopping and got a great deal on those Desert Storm colored camo shorts. Bought 'em out. Sez he's been looking for more, but none to be found which assured him that they must be scarce and thus valuable. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any lately myself. Yep, I live in a retirement community... What a hilarious bunch of neighbors. They average in age about 80. I bought a patio home next door to my parents who are 90 and 89. They have become a Summer project. Actually they are plumb worn out. Just duct tape and meds holding them to this planet. My Dad (who has forgotten my name) introduces me as his next door neighbor. Hint Pop : "B.J." Brady stands for Bernard Jr. It's your name... He is unable to tell you what day of the week it is, or Month, or year, but knows exactly when it is chow time. And he can tell you accurately every event that he experienced in WW2. I've now spent nine months with him and Mom. I could write a book....

Hey- Treeline Golf Course!!  My Mother used to play golf there every week on ladies day and took me and my brother with her. Started golfing in about 1957 and she was a natural. Just loved it and was fiercly competitive. She would not allow gimmies or Mulligans - so my brother and I took up snake hunting out there.  Saw some doozies! My brother Jeff was fearless. He went off to Vietnam the week after he graduated high school in June, 1967. Came back a basket case but we still get along just fine. He moved to Terlingua, TX (gate 7) in 1971 and still lives there. Does his grocery shopping in Alpine,TX a mere 90 mile drive one way. Loves it. His wife did not love it, packed her bags and left 5 years ago. He still phones her once a week. They never did divorce as they have 3 beautiful children. She is a school teacher - Terlingua for 15 years and Sacremento,CA for five years. She loved her family, but hated the Texas summer heat. Brother Jeff went to Waltrip but changed to Lamar high his final year.

Great to visit with all of you.  Keep up the marvelous postings.  I love 'em- BJ

Richard Meek '65

Well Unrip Unvanwinkle I've got this figgered out for ye. Stop shocking your pool. Right off you save the cost of chlorine. Then you can turn the cement pond into an algae pond. The grand kids probably won't be too keen on swimming it it but who knows. Then depending on what form of algae you're growing you can eat it or turn it into fuel. You know Exxon is spending great sums of money on algae research. You can become their competitor. Are Commorants any good to eat? They look pretty scrawny. 

I thought it was kind of interesting that you talked to your grandson on the telephone at wilderness camp. Isn't that sort of an oxymoron having a phone at wilderness camp?

BJ, I don't doubt that you could profit from buying from gold and siver coins. You would know better than I would with your in depth knowledge of that area. It's like most investing there are many paths to the destination.

BJ and Cephus after reviewin' all postings and thinking about "stuff" I've read about surviving the collapse of America it seems most people are focused on food and clothes. So I think Cephus is right ,stock up on whisky, but don't go too heavy on the cargo pants. I would say put in a water purification system. Clean water would be highly barterable. But the ultimate commodity would be to stockpile a warehouse full of toilet paper. Nobody mentions that. That's what you're looking for that most people forgot! But don't forget to stockpile enough guns and ammo to kill people that will try to take your tp!

I have a friend whose grandfather and later his uncle ran a genral store in Gary Texas. During the Great Depression a big percentage  of his business was through bartering. There just wasn't much cash around.

Don't forget the WABEC meeting next Tuesday, Beaucephus will be holding court!

Keep on dancing,

Rich, LH

Stay Calm, Carry On

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey BJ, sorry about your dad and not remembering...my dad would have probably welcomed not knowing who I was...but taking care of parents is a hard task, but luckily yours has a GREAT son that thinks enough of em to move next door and take on the task...I've tried to help my mom, she is 92, but my two sisty uglers, here in after known as "tha drill sargents", have been driving a wedge between my mom and me, and of course my mom thinks it's ok because they spend an inordinate amount of time with her...I try to go visit mom when the drill sargents are away...

I try to take care of moms house here, whilst she lives in Las Cruces...she hasnt been here in over 2 years, but still wants to keep her house here...which is good, but things break with non use as they do with being used...

So, BJ, write that book!!!!! eh hoser????? I've been trying to get one written, but writing is a tough discipline...and sounds like we have a few good writers in our group, Bunny Paine comes to mind, and...and...dang, now I'm forgetting names...well, you know who you are, and you have our deepest respect and admiration...

ALGAE ???? I think I went out with her sister, Fungi oncet...

Golf??? I found I could throw the clubs further than I could hit the ball, if I could hit the ball...too many "gotta dos" to be able to play golf...keep your left arm straight, open your stance, tighten your grip, overlap your pinkie etc etc...just too many things to remembger...I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time...I've been trying to bementer where Treeline was...spring cypress??? Well, no matter...

Ok, took my meds, amoxicillin and a vicodin for my tooth, so I am heading for a nap...maybe...

Big Oliver has taken up the couch, and Cooper got his feelings hurt and is now in the Library, and Catahoula Jack is in the love seat/chair...how about a picture of my new family room???? I've moved my headquarters back down to street level...I know, I know, up and down, up and down, cant make up my mind...like I've said, "a mind is a terrible think to wit"...
I'm a visual person, so when yall post, I try to think where you are posting from, so now, in case you're wondering, and dont know why you would, but I will enclose a picture of COMMAND CENTRAL...

Took forever to put this picture on here...I forgot I was in 18 megapixals...
As you can see, Katy the grey cat is in my chair, and Lacy is on the cat tree beside it, and Big Oliver is taking up the BIG chair...This wall is where the entertainment center was...now it is to the right and behind me, and the fireplace is to the left of the chair with Katy the grey cat...
I know yall were in a tizzy wondering about all this, so, rest easy now...if your lucky, I just might take you on a picture of our wonderful abode and all of it's...things...and, who knows, yall can start picking out what you would like to buy, or put in a request in my will for stuff...heck I can see that you get it before I croak...hows that for service...
Well, nap time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Paige Talley (Meek)

 I am well stocked for the bartering craze. As you may recall, one of the Silly Sylum Alumni's favorite pastimes is pilfering those fleece lap blankets and other leftovers in the "lost and found". I have recycled, donated and left by the dumpster for the "tricycle man" (he is the local dumpster diver in our neighborhood) more little blankets than I care to consider. I am beginning to think that the SS is a major manufacturer of fleece lap blankets. The Tricycle Man seems to know the value of a good lap blanket as he collects the bartering items quickly. I think it is like the ants building for a hard rain or severe winter, Tricycle Man must have a feeling about a cold winter and is preparing with the blankets. Anyway... I have plenty of them and along with the other interesting and might I add life saving stuff that is in the storage unit, I am prepared for the coming events... well not really, but since there are so many of YOU who are prepared, I thought maybe we could survive together. I'll bring blankets so we can be warm while eating spam and grits from Beau and chasing it with whatever beverage is at hand, all the while counting gold, silver and confederate valued dollars. Texas Hold-it just got a boost and the game is on !

In the mean time we will continue to enjoy our lives, laugh "with" each other, reminisce as long as we're able and keep a sharp eye down the road. 

Look for joy in all things... 

Caney Creek, Sargent, TX 4th of July

Beau Wann, Jr.

I am in shock and almost speechless...Kevin, my youngest, house just burned to the ground...they lost everything, except for the clothes on their backs...two cats died, but they were able to save their two dogs...I know, it can always be worse, and no one was hurt...but...wow...

his mom is on the way there with money, and his brother and step brother and crew are on the way to board up whats left if anything, and maybe sift through the ashes...a lifetime of things, and just things, but some cant be replaced...at least they are alive and unhurt...on the outside...

Haley and Taylor and Diane, my beloveds, dont know yet, they are on their way to the Denver Airport to fly home...be in about 1 AM...thats my job, to pick them up at the airport...Kevin wants to tell the kids...I'm glad, and relieved that I wont be the one telling them...dont think I could maintain my composure, and I dont think it would look too good for them to see their Beaupa cry...

Taylor lost both his guitars and amps etc and of course everything else he had...same with Haley...whatever they have in their suitcases from their Colorado trip, is it...I feel so bad about it...Kevin has suffered so much the last 4 or 5 years, lost his wife, lost his business, lost his othe rhouse and his motorcycle, broke his leg and almost lost his life and candys...I wonder, have I missed anything???? I hope we are enough to help he and Candy and the kids get through this...times like this, a body feels so inadequate...Kevin is such a great guy too, and not just because he is my son...always willing to help any and all, always upbeat about things, even through all that he has suffered...

When I talked to Kevin, he was hysterical, and well he should be...luckily his mom was there, and she is a rock...he said they were home all day, and left for one hour, and when they got back, the whole house was in flames...

They say, that this sort of trauma is at the top of the list of tragedies, along with the loss of a child and grandchild...which I know some in our Waltrip family have suffered...my thoughts and prayers have always included them...wow...I am just shocked beyond all measure...

Guess I will get back later for an update...once the initial shock and trauma wears off, hopefully, they can get on with their lives...maybe...with a little bit of help from...God...maybe...I know Diane and I will do all we can, little as that might be...

Teddie Jordan

Beau, so sorry to read that news! I've met Kevin and you deserve to be proud of him. And you're right, even though some of our treasures are not replaceable, at least whatever it was didn't happen in the middle of the night when everybody was there and asleep and claim one or more lives. The rest of the stuff can be replaced. 

We will keep Kevin and his family in our prayers.

Susan Howard (Bowman)

Beau, I am so sorry about your son's fire.  It is hard to keep things in perspective when bad things happen to good people!  He is fortunate to have a wonderful family to surround him and his family during this time.  Thank goodness no one was hurt!

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

Beau,

I saw your sad news right after you posted it last night, and I was so shocked and crushed for them.  Kevin and his family will definitely be in our prayers.  I imagine it will take a long time for the full enormity to hit them, but please let them know how much we all care.    If we can be of help in any way, let us know - really.

Paige Talley (Meek)

Beau, the prayer warriors are on it.

Having had family that has been through such devastation, I know first hand the trauma and struggles that are ahead. Please let me know any immediate needs and I will certainly gather and bring/send what I can.

What is your address? I am guessing we can send encouragements and monetary contributions to your house. Don't be shy, Beau. Ask for what they/you need!

Love ya’ll

Paige 

Richard Meek '65

Beau, I'm really sorry to hear about Kevin's loss. Anything I can do please let me know. Your whole family will be in my prayers. The main thing is that no one was hurt. The material things are just stuff. They're in for a long road to get their life back on track. If I can offer assistance on the insurance settlement all you or Kevin has to do is call. It takes great character to keep going through difficulties. It sounds like Kevin is that sort of man. Let us all know what we can do.

Rich 

Beau Wann, Jr.

Thank you waltrip family, your response is a comfort and a blessing, thank you...
Dont know the particulars yet, but kevins stepbrother owns a remedial fire and water damage company, and he and his crews, plural, were johnny on the spot to try to salvage what they could...Kevin salvaged some of his small gun collection, because it was in a fire safe...his brother brought them to my house so I can take pictures of any damage, plus, let my expert hands take em apart and clean em...at least he well have that...

Billy, Kevins brother, has his dog carly, so she is safe, and candys mom has the other dog, Buddy. They will probably stay at candys moms house, she lives just around the corner from their burned out shell...took the kids out to Jills house, kevins ex, to get taylors car and to meet their dad so he can tell them about the fire...what a hard job thats gonna be...the kids are gonna freak out, and rightly so...

Talked to Candy, and she says they were very heavily insured...we will see what we will see I suppose...Rich, we will most assuredly take you up on any insurance assistance...safety in numbers...Kevin has an enormous friend network or base...so I think he is gonna be covered there, plus us family...Candy is an assistant principal at Cy Fair HS, and was/is suppose to go back to work today from summer vacation...and what a vacation it was too...but, her school loves her, both  staff and students, and whats not to love...she is good people...

I feel so bad about her two cats...they were brother and sister, and just as sweet as they could be...but, when frightened, cats hide and wont come to you...

Just heard, that Taylors guitars and Haleys computer were at their moms...whew...I know insurance would have taken care of it, maybe, but it's still good somethings were not damaged...They're saying now, the house isnt a total loss, but pretty heavilydamaged, plus smoke and water damage...hmmm, dont know what constitutes total loss, but I have a idear what I think it is...

I will up date the situation as it progresses...thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers...it does mean alot, and it helps...as my beloved has said many times, "your class has a lot of class" unquote...

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hello my waltrip family...well, looks like everything is under control...less than 24 hours after the fire, house all boarded up, plans in the works to restore it, and it seems it is restorable...insurance company putting them up in a hotel/motel till they find a house to rent...gave em more than adequate cash up front for expenses...so they wont need any help in that dept...Looks like they got that "duck" insurance agent, where they give you cash, which is the same as money...

The folks doing the restoration, kevins step brother in law, and also his brother, seem to think they can have the house ready in 4 to 6 months...they are shooting for 4 months...if anyone can do it, Billy and David and Kevin can "git er done", under budget and under time...

They are all more upset over the loss of their cats, as I would be...THINGS, can be replaced...beloveds cannot...

Looks like we all are not gonna be needed for anything physical or material, just thoughts and prayers, which wont be a problem...but..."back in the day", should there be a fire, all the womenfolk, dressed in fine aprons and such, would gather together and make a huge succession of meals for all, so tastily wonderful, and worthy of any 5 star restaurant...the menfolk, all dressed in overalls, weilding hammers and saws and totin materials would work till the job was done...now, you just get on line and "git er done"...but it helps to have lots of good friends and competent work force...

The firefighters did a magnificent job, as usual...they had to cut a hole in the roof to let the heat out...dont think I'd like that job, standing on the roof of a burning house, but then again I'm not trained to do that...they said that the heat got to around 1200 degrees...dont know how they know that, but again, they are trained to know...

They were able to salvage some of their clothes, but they will need to be cleaned, however they get the smoke out of clothes...I found, putting them in a washing machine works pretty well...but they say it takes a special process...all the camp fires I have been around, I got the smoke out by just using tide and the old kenmore, but what the heck do I know...

anything plastic turned to plastic butter...the TVs all melted from the inside out...but hells bells, there aint nothing on the tube anyway...

Sat down with both grandaughters, one on each side, both sniffling and sobbing over the loss of their cats...I was trying as hard as I could to stay composed...not an easy task, when the loves of your lifes hearts are broken...they were asking me if the cats suffered any pain...hard to find my voice, but finally, quavering, I replied that they probably did not know what happened, because the heat was so great, it sucks the oxygen out of where ever they were, and they just went to sleep...crossed over that "Rainbow Bridge"...I said they were probably playing with Rocky, Libbey, Callie, Goldie and Angel and all the other little kittys and pups that have crossed that bridge...at least one hopes so...seems to have helped them some...Rocky was our first dog, and Haley loved him so much...she was just devastated when he died...cried for months after he died...I would find her sitting and crying and little shoulders just heaving, heart hurting...mine too...I would ask her if she was hurt, and she would reply, "no, I just miss Rocky so much...yeah sweety, me too...

They still havent found the cause yet, or at least they have not told me...

Things sure have changed from" back in the day", seems like it would take months, even years to get any progress done on something of this magnitude...I guess it all depends on who is doing it and how aggressive they are...the folks across the street that had a fire 2 years or more ago, still have not progressed very far...they are still hagling with the insurance company and each other...insurance company probably waiting for the statute of limitations to run out...

Thank you one and all for your concern and thoughts and prayers...really means a lot to me, as I'm sure it does to each and every one of us...

Oh, an aside here, Kevin was/is one of those "EXTREME COUPONERS"...most all the items that he got for nothing, or little or nothing, perished...most all the items he acquired over time, he shared with his kids and step kids, and friends and us and family...he just liked the challenge of trying to see how little he could pay for stuff, legally using coupons...looks like that skill, is gonna come in handy...

Time to rest, methinks...Hey Rich LH, been watering the Meek Memorial Orchard every thursday...takes about 45 minutes to an hour...Looking good...Steve waters a couple other days a week...got some limes or lemons on a couple of the trees, as well as blueberries...gonna be a fine orchard...

Jennie Anderson '65 (Dylan)

 Beau,

How tragic to lose so much, especially the little kittens, but luckily not any human life.  Prayers from here.  Kevin sounds like the modern Job.  It is hard to understand why so many bad things keep happening to the same people sometimes.

I want to thank each one that has sent a note online about my eyes.  I am so hopeful people like each of you will bring this out of the closet as a primary reason the elderly fall.  They fail to see depth on different kinds of of ground.  I'm finding out that my relatives that were always falling and breaking parts of themselves, probably weren't seeing mild differences in parking lots,  the ground, and steps.  I am still in shock that so many people are filling up each retina specialist office with this disease everyday.  How could this have been such a broad problem without me knowing about it.  I received my first bill from the doctor for my test and 1st injection.  $5, 465.00.  It made my liver, shiver, when I saw it,  that's for sure.  Thank goodness for insurance, and soon, medicare.  

What is Richard and Beau's garden and where is it?  I love fresh produce!

Off to play a little before school starts again!  I've seen "Midnight in Paris" twice in two days.  I am so in love with Heminway's words in the movie and Daleigh, Daleigh....  I would highly recommend this clever movie!

Jennie

Teddie Jordan

While going through a box of old stuff this week that I had packed from my mom's house after she died in 1993, I ran across an old Waltrip Rampage Directory from '62-63. It appears to have been an Imperial Guard fundraising effort and contains a directory of all faculty and staff and a complete student directory with grade, High or Low, home address and phone numbers. Things you forget, all of our phone numbers had the old style listing, Overland, Oxford, Underwood. etc.. Also, I really doubt that teachers and administrators today would want all of the students to have their home phone numbers and home addresses. But as we all know, times were much simpler back then.

It contains ads, from small to full page, from most of the local businesses, including most of the banks, retail stores, service stations, churches, dry cleaners, barber shops, doctors, dentists, etc.

It is a real stroll down memory lane. For instance, it lists Frank Sharp as the chairman ( and apparently the majority stockholder ) of Oak Forest State Bank, has ads for Fairchilds Menswear, Talley Music Store, Hilsher's Furniture,  The Walkin' Chicken,  The Gizmo, Millers Drive Inn, and many other local businesses of our youth. It looks like the guard girls did a good job twisting a lot of arms to sell the ads.

There was also a memorial page to Sue Collins, class of '63 I believe, who had recently passed away at that time. I remember Sue and as I recall she went into a diabetic coma and died.

All in all it is a nostalgic peek at our area as it was back in the good old days.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Waltripmonians...more nostalgia fixin to be behind us...Harolds in the Heights is set to close in the next 2 weeks or less...think I'll mosey on over there and see ifin I can buy some "TEX-SLACKS" and maybe some "DRAPES"...I have a suit made by them some 20 years back...dang thang is deffective...it shrunk...seems thats what happens to most clothes hung in a closet...I'm thinking there's somethin to just throwing your clothes on the floor, like most younguns do these days, clean and dirty...

Methinks they advertised in our yearbook, and other Waltrip items that needed supportin...I have some old Reagan poster/calendars, with lots of advertisement from businesses in the Heights, and around Waltrip Proper...Like Jennys moms flower shop, Lynns Flowers...and others...

I dont know if I could relive those days again...Oh, maybe if I were wiser and knowin what I know now, I would change a lot of things...mostly bout me...but, we all know, you can never go home again...but I sure as heck wouldnt want to be a youngun today...well, not that we're not all young, at heart...but I guess sometime in the future, the aches and pains will begin to be too much for a body and mind to even think about our youte and younguns...

Talkin to my mom, she is always conjuring up the good old days, of when she was a youte, not our youte...I told her about Kevins house fire, and she said their house burned down when she was 3...lots of my kin have seen their houses go up in flames, "back in the day" of course...

lots of tragic events in most everyones life, certainly not unique to just anyone of us, for sure...

Might not be able to make the WABEC meeting tomorrow...got to go to the dentist today at 3...BOOOOOOOOOO...I HATE GOING TO THE DENTIST...like anyone does!!! Got a broken tooth and a loose tooth, and dang little teeth left to chew with...he's gonna remove two teeth, and fill one, and fet me for a bridge...66 years with good teeth, and now look at em, gone south, first sign of trouble...

If I dont feel too bad, I'll be at the WABEC meeting...wont be able to eat, but maybe they'll have a malt or milkshake...SAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY, you want nostalgia, I had a BLACK COW yesterday at the little country church in the city...Yall remember a BLACK COW dontcha????

A rootbeer float....thats what...it was so good and refreshing on such a hot Sunday...try one next time you think about it...I suppose a coke float would be just as good...I think some of the menus from some of the DRIVE-INS had BLACK COW on em...I even think there was a drive in down on Washington Ave called THE BLACK COW...I could be wrong, or not...I thought I was wrong once, but I was wrong...

guess it be time to sign off for now...Hope all is well, or as well as can be expected with our Waltrip Family...sure do like to see people prosper and happy...

Heres some nostalgia...and something cool...snow at Oak Forest Elem circa 1960...
Happy Trails...

Richard Meek '65

Morning Waltripians, hope your week is off to a good start and it progesses into a good week! Over on the '65 Forum, BJ Brady posted that Lynn Kiel had a serious stroke and is in the hospital in Livingston. No more information at this time, just fyi.

Cephus sorry to hear about your extensive dental work that is afoot today. Hope all goes well and that we see you at the WABEC meeting tomorrow. Isn't it good though that you can go and get those problems taken care of instead of just suffering?

Ted, the days when we were growing up were great days. However, I think we all need to focus on today as a good day. Is it the same as "the day"? Nope. In some ways it is better! In some ways not as good but more good now if you just pay attention. One of the joys of life is that as we're moving on the bad days for the most part fade away and we remember the good ones! I think in the great community we grew up the IG girls didn't have to twist arms to get advertisements. They just had to ask. A lot of that same community spirit is still in the OF area today.

Well, back to the grindstone, shoulder to the wheel, stay calm, carry on,

Rich LH

. . .or yeah, keep on dancing!

Gloria Hornick (Walker)

Beau, so glad things are looking up a little for you.  Must be really hard seeing loved ones hurting.  It helps us all to remember how much we take for granted and have to be thankful for.  Will be praying for you all.

Beau Wann, Jr.

hmmmpf mummmmpf wummmpf...rummmpf zummmpf cadummmpf, or words to that effect...

Just back from my dentist, Doc Holliday, and it was not fun...the above line, is what you would hear if I were talking to you, so it's good that I can let my fingers do the talking...Hey Rich, What was it you were saying about going to the dentist and getting our bobos fixed up and that we werent suffering...HA AND BAH HUMBUG...next time, you can go to ol Doc Holiday for me...that ol boy just pulled his 6 shooters and blasted them teeth out...He says next visit will be a good one...YEAH????, FOR WHOM...FOR HIM, THATS WHOM...

Man, he had to throw a whole 55 gallon drum of novacaine at my punkin head, and it still hurt...some...not as bad as if I hadnt had the joy juice, but still I WAS SUFFERIN, AND AM STILL SUFFERIN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER LONG UP INTO THE NEXT YEAR, POSSIBLY TWO YEARS...THIS WOULD HAVE KILLED AND ORDINARY MAN...

Oh, thanks Gloria, for your good thoughts and cares...Thats more than I got from Rich the LH, whom I thought as my dear good friend...and besides that, he doesnt want us to reminiss or nostalgisize...what kind of prevert does that...Ol Rich, ever the pregnatist and internal optometrist...and me in pain, not as much as I am gonna be in when this joy juice wears off, and I'm bleedin to death...hell, coulda gone down to the blood bank and just let em syphon it off...jeese loueese...AH HATE DENTALSADISM...

Ah know, I'll be a better man because of all the pain endured...if pain makes you a better person, we'd all be right up there with Jesus, which aint a bad idear if you think about it...

How the blue blazes am I suppose to eat now...SOUP???? APPLESAUSE????TAPIOCA PUDDING, ICE CREAM...HMMMM well, I suppose I could suffer those delectables, but I wont like it, so there, ptttthhhuuubbbbssss....

My beloved called, and I cant talk...You ever see "10"???? well thats me...Not Bo Derrick silly, Dudley Moore, after he went to the dentist...mmmuuummmph hummmmpf gabummmmpf etc...
had to text my beloved and tell her not to call, just text, and tell everyone else in the whirld, DONT CALL...Oh, and hey, she bought me a new vacuum for our anniversary, a Dyson...now aint that sweet...she asked me if I had tried it out....good thing I cant talk, cause I'da said something I'da regretted, for dang sure...yeah, thats the ticket, go to the dentist, vacuum the house...I want some by God symphony from her and everyone else on the planet...

Had a thought, I wonder if I'll ever stop bleeding!!!!! Ol Doc Holiday, said it was hardly bleeding at all...if this is hardly bleedin, I'd hate to see someone really bleedin...and I had my shootin ahrn on me to...I shoulda blasted that varmint, maybe put a round in one of his legs, see how he likes limpin for awhile...ah hate the tast of blood...guess I wouldnt make a good vampire, or a bad one for that matter...

This is the first time I have been without front teeth since the last time I was without front teeth, when I was 10???? maybe...sounds like a good age...Oh scuse me Rich, I was nostalgasizein again...I'm gonna find me a gypsy woman and put a hex on your hamburger at tomorrows WHIRLD AFFAIRS AND BURGER EVALUATING COMMITTEE meeting...

Oh great, my beloved just texted me and told me to take a pain pill...what part of AH CAINT FIND MY MOUTH DOESNT SHE UNDERSTAND???? I would sure love to take one o them little white pills, but my whole head is numb...THATS NUMB, NOT DUMB...and ol Doc Holiday, doesnt have one of those swing in spit sinks, noooooooo, he has one in a wooden cabinet, that if you dont get your head in there just right, and I didnt, WHAM, gonna need stitches in my head to boot...I am not going outside to the cement [pond, yall probably see on the 10 oclock news about a crazy cat man drownin!!!

Ol "Doc H" gave me some gauze to stick where the teeth were...that would be great, if I could find em...he used so much novacaine, I cant find my mouth, let alone where the teeth were...did get some gauze stuck in my nose...only reason I knew it was there, was I couldnt breathe...

Some day, I will look back on this minor episode of traumatic dentistry and laugh...HA...see, I feel better already...one good thing, at least my house didnt burn down...thats always a plus...

Ok, finally took a pill, at least I think I did, might a just shoved it in my ear...I'll know here in a fortminute or three...
Houston, we have a problem...my ear is happy, but I'm not...It would appear I missed my mouth...and I'm still missing it...as we speak...

All the critters are taunting me...all are sleeping soundly, and snoring and purring, tha sadists...
Ok, I'm gonna take another pill, maybe I'll make the other ear happy, or my nose...at least something on me will be happy...

Think I'll go outside and get the garden hose and squirt it in my mouth, to rinse the blood out...either bleed to death, or drown in the cement algae maker...take my pick...

adios amigos...happy trails...nice knowing ya...go on, leave me, save yourselves...

Oh great, I hear a cat "selling a buick" (throwing up), you know, BUUUIIIICCCCKKKK...oh goodie, something for my beloved to do, Peaches just threw up on the mail...I had something to mail, to the city, Catahoula Jacks license, and peaches threw up on it...how appropriate...gotta love them critters...

Richard Meek '65

Oh Beau you poor baby. I hope you're feeling better after you put your pain pills in your ears. I know you need a lot of sympathy to get over your excruciating dental surgery you just endured. I know it would be much better if you could go back to the 19th century where everything was perfect. So if you'll just get one of those pain pills in your mouth you'll probably get to start that trip or wind up running down 43rd Street nekid (whew that's not a pretty thought. . . especially since there's a city ordinance that you can't even appear in public in a Speedo). I'm sure it's an ordeal that you will be years getting over. Get used to the soft food you'll probably have eat it until you fully recover! Now you just rest and take care of yourself.

Your frien an compadre

Rich the Consoler

(lord it nearly gagged me writing this)

Jennie Anderson '65 (Dylan)

I just saw this posted on Facebook by Lynn's daughter.  Evidently he had a couple of strokes, but the doctor's are pleased with his progress.

My dad is out of ICU and in a private room. He is recovering nicely, and they are moving him to a rehab facility Monday or Tuesday. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

I always appreciate Lynn for his years as a firefighter.  Those guys deserve a good life protecting ours, that's for sure.

Jennie

Beau Wann, Jr.

Here's hoping that Lynn makes a full recovery...thanks for the update J A...Hows your eyes??? Find anymore about MD???? Your right, there's not enough out there to alert folks about it, not enough info in the news media about it...in fact, I cant remember ever seeing anything in the media about Macular degeneration...maybe yall can start a MD society, or fund raiser or something...My mom has the untreatable dry kind, at least thats what I thought I heard...she keeps saying for me to wear sunglasses when I go outside, because me being blue eyed, I;m gonna get it too...OH GOODIE...something else to look forward to...

Well, Gumby here, just back from the WABEC meeting at Jax bar and grill...We had a quantum, so meeting was called to disorder...had lots of folks at this meeting...so if you werent there, we talked about you...tried to read the minutes from the last meeting...couldnt find em...voted a new sargent at arms...got rid of old bidness and then got rid of new bidness...and on to bidness at hand...I, MR. President, of the WABEC, had fillet of mashed potatoes, well, a baked potatoe, that I smashed all to heck and gone...seems they dont serve Gerber Hamburgers, or poi, for all you Hiwaians...(yes, I know it's spelled wrong...my stab at poetic license)...never liked poi...the Hywahians, think it is finger food...I have a hard time trying to eat soup with my fingers...plus poi is some kind of bashed in root or something...

My baked potatoe at Jax, was not very big at all...cost 7 dollars and some change with a drink...a 50 cent tater for 7 dollars...whats this whirld coming to...
I got to gum it to death...it was good, but I dont think I'd like a steady diet of just potatoe...
I did try to eat one of those kettle kooked potatoe chips when I got home....YOW...not exactly the kind of food one wants to eat with sore gums and not teeth...But you know what, things can always be worse...So, I'm just glad to be alive and kickin...

Rode Pegasus to the WABEC meeting, and it was cool as long as you stayed moving, but we all know that aint gonna happen in big H...102 greedees, and when I stopped, I felt all 102 of em...

But, I'm not complaining, just reportin info...

Found out at the WABEC meeting that one of our members, I wont mention his name, just in case he doesnt want me to, is a member of or chair of SCOUTS HONOR, a dog rescue organization...they do wonderful work...they have a swaray down at 11th and Heights Blvd on the first Saturday of each month, and try to get dogs adopted out to good homes...methinks me and me beloved will attend that, plus it's first Sat in the Heights event...lots of other dog rescue groups attend also...See, lots of good folks doing good things....

We adjourned WABEC meeting kind of early this time...guess it was too loud in Jax...I'm gonna try to pick the next place, maybe Gabbys, they arent noisy at all...or some other place thats quiet...even with me new ears, I still cant hear the conversation if the place is noisy, and Jax is very noisy...

Cooper has school tonight at 7, so we have to be there by 6:30 to help set up...so guess I will sing off for nap time...

Happy trails, your frien and brother...Gabby Gumby

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

We have several prayer requests today.  RJ, Skeeter's brother, said Lindsey's doctor took her off her meds.  If you haven't been keeping up with her journey via CaringBridge, you might check it out for her courageous fight through the course of this disease.

Richard Brimberry started hospice on Monday.  We saw him last Friday.  He's in St. Joseph's Manor House in Bryan, Room 309.

Sheryl Knight's daughter, Kim, is currently in remission from ovarian cancer after treatments for over a year.

Donald and Karan Brawner's daughter-in-law, Julie, lost her baby girl yesterday after carrying her for 9 months.  She was due this week.  No explanation yet.  Arrangements are pending for burial next week in New Braunfels.  They have another daughter about 2.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Please keep all of our Waltrip family and their love ones that are going through these critical times in your prayers ---

Richard Brimberry, his daughter, Christina; Lindsey Apostolo; Sheryl Knight's daughter, Kim; and Julie Brawner and family.  Kevin Wann and family -- 

Request for prayers for Richard Brimberry and his daughter, Christina from his sister, Cherry

Today is a sad day as the doctors call in Hospice for my brother Richard Brimberry. Please keep him and us in your prayers.

His daughter - Christina is in ICU after complications from an early delivery.

Our hearts are heavy and we need your prayers.
Thanks, Cherry

Jennie Anderson '65 (Dylan)

 So many sad happenings.  I hope Richard will have a peaceful journey.  We had Hospice with my Dad and it sure made it easier on all of us. 

Precious girl journaling her journey of cancer.  What magnificent grace and courage to be able to face it head-on.  I was a homebound teacher for years with Cy Fair ISD and taught students with cancer.  They touched my heart like no other.  I carry them with me every single day.

As for Julie  and her husband ,facing such devastation at losing her baby girl at 9 months, I can only say I know that pain.  I lost my first full term baby boy on my 25th birthday, December 7th.  They didn't have groups to share the loss, nor therapy back then for that...you were expected to just pick up and move on.  BUT I so wish a grieving group or therapist.  I would recommend both for both parents.  I spent years in therapy later dealing with overcoming the pain of that experience, even though I had three other healthy children afterwards.  Not talking and sharing about him was the hardest.

I wish all those struggling my prayers and my hope for a brighter tomorrow, where ever that may be.

Jennie