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Pat Brantley (Ross)

Beau, venting to people who have known you is called support, not whining.  I sat down after Beth committed suicide and wrote to my classmates because I knew you all would lift me up in prayer.  I am praying for you and for Lucy.  I have tremors now that have reached my vocal chords.  I love singing along to loud music while I cook or drive.  I sound like Jeremiah the bullfrog and I look like a human bobble head I shake so much.  I have no excuse like brain surgery.  I don't drive very far from home anymore because my eyes blink so often that I feel out of control.  
Haven't thought about prom in a long time.  I went with Jimmy Hilshire because the guy I was dating was in basic training at the time.  Jimmy was sweet enough to take me.  I had measles so badly I had to paint my fingernails and wear heavy makeup on my neck and hands.  My fever was very high.  Rule said you had to attend school if you wanted to go to prom.  several couples went to Jimmy's beach house.  I just remember the outfit I changed into and falling asleep.  Just like an old woman.  I remember my clothes but not events.  

Get together is on my calendar.  Jenny- I would love to get Ben's address.  You can email it to me:  patross61@gmail.com.  

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hwy Pat, so sorry you are havingk the shaky problrms.   Mine started a few years back and been on Metro sumping or another. I call them my shaky piills.  For the most paert, they are not alway affective.   When we meet this August, I'll try to face away from folks, watich me east is not a pretty sight.  Although it is fun to watch me try to eat peas or beans with a fork.  Need a protection net for the folks around me. 

     A bullfrog singing sound a whole lot better than Forrest Gump trying to sing.  Every now and then I catch myslef singing or trying to, and the critters will look at me and like they are saying,  " ok, you need to stop that racket, or we'll bite your butt".

     Of course most if not all of youse youtes know about medical probs, having goine to them your self aor a loved oned.   The meds, expecitally for cancor, you trade one prob or side effect fro another.  Seems I run the full gamet of them.  But thats ok, there's worser problems.   Fridsay finishes my first round of chemo,  off l for 23 days, than back on for 5 than off for 23, bout a year worths.

     Down at MDA, I've seen a little girl, problly about 6 or 7, maybe 8, (not a good age gesser), anyway, she has a prostthetic leg and no hair, and walks good, and clutching her purse and a teddy bear.  Now that there is a trajedey,  mine is not.   I just want to go hug her, but dare not. Wish I could do something for her and her family.

   Got the hill mowed yesterday. Hooked up the big tractor and field shredder.  you can mow the blueblonnets down afer mother day.  Looking at the seed pods, didnt look like many of themm had sprumg upen.  Well, they are down now,  maybe we'll get some rain.  Weather idgits say we get 4 to 7 inches of rain this week.   Well, we will see what we will see, eh what.

    Falling asleep, so I will sing off for now.   peace an love and good health and wealth to all and to all a good day.             

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, so glad to hear this is the last week of this chemo round, and know you will enjoy your 23 day break. Just try not to over do. . Yeah I know, easier said than done!I

I enjoyed my tractor time on our place in S.Texas and found it good for my mental health as well. Something about the roar a our 60 year old Farmall  70 HP diesel and the vibration and noise of our 10 ft Rhino shredder. When we sold the place I gave the tractor, shredder and other implements to a neighbor and good friend down there who helped me maintain the old iron through the 24 years. He uses it a lot and enjoys it too! i had rifle boot mounted on the tractor and kept an old single shot 12 ga shotgun with me and killed several big rattlesnakes without getting off of it. 
 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     hey TJ,  both of my tactors hurt my back someting awfull as does my truck and bike and jeep, and little Miss's easy chair in her pink bedroom., as  Yeah, my kitty has her own bedroom and it's pink, and her own couch and "rear back" easy chair, and her own chifferobe and water fountain and stash of food and catnip and her very own screen in porch.  Aint nothing too good for my "Little Miss".

     I cary a mossberg youte 20 gauge pump shottcgoon.  Bouth it for Diane and Haley and Lucy for clay pigiouns, only it's too short for an adult even if the adaut is small.  Got it on the tactoe in a scabards behine the seat, plus I carry a 38sp Rossi with the blue tip shot shell.   Dispatched a few copperheads over the years, but no rattlesnales, thanks goodness.   

    Found memories of you place in Freer.     You could see every star on the universe out there.   And the mexican eagles that rootsed doen there.  And wathing Gus hunt or retrieve.

     Dont know how I'm going to get this place ready to sell, expecsilly packing up abd moving where ever we're going to move, whereever that be.

   Oh darm, just for got, I put some gumbo on the chostove, and walked allff and left it,   If i'st not burned, I'll be back....

     Nope wasnt burned, Diane turns it down in the St Nick of time, then made us a mess of jalopena cornbread...hooooweeeee sure was good.

     We got a whole eench of rain this nateroom, lots of wind, ligtling...

You know in April and May of last year we had already had our first 100 degree days of he summer, then it got worse, no rain the whole summer.  Been a drought for last 3 or so years.   

    sure hope we dont have our typiclal hot dry summer.  Nor the polar vortex we had in February.   I find it hard to fathom that kind of cold and snow we had.   Use like winter, until then.   

     Time to deplane, I'm blathering on about nothing.  

see ya...

Teddie Jordan

Beau, ten four on your comments on tractor seats. I always said that about bicycle seats. If I ever tried to ride a bicycle from Houston to Austin in the MS -150 in 2 days I would show up in An ER along the route with my bike seat stuck far up my behind where the sun don't shine. And that I would have to put a tractor seat on my bike to have a chance. Well when I bought my old 63-64 Farmall tractor it had a metal seat that I couldn't live with, so I went to Tractor Supply in Tomball and bought a good seat with cushions and back support and arm rests and it solved the problem. I don't know how much you can tell from this old photo but it was a perfect fit for my old rear end and back.

Teddie Jordan

And Beau if y'all decide to move, I will guarantee you there will be an Army of us that will show up to help you!

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hey TJ,  I had a farmall or some such tractor at our other place, 1939 model. I would have liked to kept it, but it's just one more thing to take care of.  Were I a young man, say 70,  I might have.   Nah...

     Got 4 inches o  rain and wind, lightning, tunshuder, 2 nervous dogs  and 1 sassy cat all in one eening.  Spent half of the night in the long interior hallways.   Bag full of flashlights and batteries,  a blow up twin mattress, (has it's own plump). gonna buy another one from Acadeny for 20 dollars.   Just the thicket.

     this was like the first 2 or 3 three years we were up here.  Violent spring storms, that, lasted all night lone.   Spent many a night in the hallway with Cooper and Jack and 3 or 4 cats, that I might add, were none too happy with the accomadations.

     Got to thumbing through one of our many bibles, and opend to Psalms 35 verse11..."Malicious waitresses rise up and ask me about things I do not know"... Of course it was "Malisious witnesses..."  since my brain downgrade, I read things that either are not there, or not in the right order.   I feel sorry for folks that dont have my sense of humor.   I fine humor in things that arent particularly humorous to the masses.

      Competed my first round of chemo last friday.   Taking anti-nausious pill and steroids with them, as weell as my shaky and bloodpresser pills.   The steriousd had increeadesas my appetite to the point I've ginesd 20 pounds.   I hate that.  Plus the docs said to eat eat eat whaterver I want. it halp the healing process. 

         At this rait, I could grouw a new brain, which on the surface of things, aint a bad I dea.   As Long as it's not the "criminal brain" marked on the glass jar, that igor drops whind to Doc Fraukenkteems laboratory.   

        Did some wardrobe shopping today for me today.  4 pairs of jeans and 2 t-shirts later,  they are in the washer.   I generally wear things out thread bare, before I move on to new stuff.     Cant see quiting on a garmet just beceause it's old.  But you know the time has come to replace said garmets when your wife says..."is that what your wearing?..." or "your not weating that are you..." and of course my reply is , "what's wrong with it...?"  

     "It has holes in it..." comes the retort..."and it frayeds and faded..."   "WHAT, NO WAY, COME ON, THIS IS MY FAVORITE tsirt..."   "here I'll wear another shlirt over it, no one will be able to even notice..."   "Well, which shirt are you goinna wair over it..."  Lady Di says.    "I'll wear my tartan plaid shirt..." says I.

     "Oh no no no,  that one looks like you were with William Wallace in the battle of whaterever..."   Lady Di responds.    "Here, wear this nive shirt,   It's dosent looke like it's been the battle flag for the freedom fighters of Schootland".

      Why do you ladies always get to win.?   Here, I've got an afflicted brwain, and still I dont get to win.    I have to take Diane with me now wvery where, wich is a good thing, becuse she not only has to to interperter for me, she has to be the interperter for whomever I'm take to.   Gets tedious ater a fashion.

    "Oh phine..."  say  say a guy who knows when he's been out jousted.  I also start phiscal thereay and speeck sterepy next friday. Been triping over my toes and stumbiong around just a might.   Hasnt fallen yet.     And my beloved Lucy is cometing doen nest week to work me,  her being an occupationsal threapist and all, that loves me as much as I lover her.

    Ok, Need to deplane and deconpress so as not to decompose.  

     Saw a fawm still in spots, run across the hilll up close to the house, and them make a lefft turn toward the ballfield...   Hated seing that.  That's means it's lost it's mama, well duh, right!.   I looked for it in the rain this moring for about and hour.   Hated giving up, but that little fawn cnad hide in plane site. you coud almost step on it and not see it.

    Our resident expert on "little doey eyed deah" TJ, said that only about 25% of the deah population make it to maturaty.   and not because of Hunters, but because of vehiches and coyotys and bobcats and humger and disease, and pouchers and othere stupid people.

     Keep the sun at your six and "ride boldy ride..."

your frien and resident resident,  Cehphus Throckmorton P, Gildersleave esq.

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Beau, all tractors hurt our backs, but we keep on mowing, it's the beauty of the the sculpture and maintenance, so glad you and Diane chose to build a home, and live your dream.  You were pro-active and built a baseball field, and all.  I hate for ya'll not to be able to stay, even built a cat house.  I guess you and Diane will move back to  Houston to care for her parents and your visits.  Just remember the country, here. Also Brenham is building a mall and their Senior club is great, think you can dance with Diane there as well as eat wonderful meals, meet others of your age who have lived well and done the same things as you.  May land there myself

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hay Kay...sitting on any vehicle hurts my back,  standing hurts my back, laying down hurts my back.   Might have to try to hang from the rafters like my ancesters did back in the "old kountry"  Transylvania, Romainia.   

     Thats a negatory on moving back to Houston, even if it were free and they paid me.   I'll not move across the Brazos River ever.   Hope those are not famous last words.   Houston is coming out this way, unfortunatly.   Wouldnt suprise me if this world last past this year or the next, and I have some diffenet thoughts about that, that Houston and San Antone and Austin and DAllas Ft Worth will all be one big city.   shudder to think of that.

    No, I think we will move a shade further west.  I like Navasota, but then again it's on the othere side of the B river.   Diane wants to stay on this side close to CH and Brenham, for the convenice of getting to the CH Gargen Club.  She's made a lot of friends there, plus they geet up updated on the going on of the county and surrounding thereof.  

     Who out there, loves good Italian food?   Show of hands please...Upe here are a about 3 THAT ARE ANYTHING BUT GOOD.  Joes is probably one of the worse places I've ever eating no matter what the fare they are serving.  The hoity toity place in Brehnam is not a lot better.   STAY AWAY FROM JOE ITALIAN RESTAURANT.  THERE NOT ENOUGH BAD ADJECTIVES TO APPLY TO THIS CRIME AGAINST HUMAMITY. 

      However,  Russos NewYork Pizzaria in Cypress, next to academy is one of the best I have ever encountered in recent memory,  my memory being supsect and all.  I fancy myself loving to cook Italian food, and that it is somehow edible.   I usually put too my garlic of basil or rosemary or mosty garlic.    Russos NYP is so good,  I highy recomend it, and I dont recoment any place.  Almost never!

      Anothere place to stay away from is Bevers in CH on main street.  foodd come out cold, and service i surly.  A new place opened up next to the BBQ jount is AJs sea food and steak house,   no no no no , run, dont walk away from that place, RUN.  Not enough space here to say whats wrong with that place. 

    Wll anyway, got to go run errands with my lovely wife and care giver.  Thanks goodness for her.  I wouldnt have gotten this far without her.

     Thank you all for your indulgence on my ramblins.  

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Beau, i cook m'y own Italian food.  There is ONE Italian place in New Braunfels.  We have Mexican food and barbecue joints and that's it.  We are considered part of the San Antonio - Austin corridor!  Ridiculous to me that they think we will disappear.  I feed our deer on the patio.  It's illegal, but no one can see the courtyard from the street so this is my rebellious old age.  I am having surgery on a blocked carotid artery tomorrow.  Prayers appreciated.  
my husband wears tshirts older than my grandchildren.  He rarely wears long pants.  I don't think he changes his clothes when I complain.  Sometimes he will put on long pants if I beg.

my grandson and his wife are settling into their néw home in Austin.  So glad to have them back from California.  They have both been officially transferred.  Google is moving lots of people to Austin.  Their home is considered South Austin but is actually Dripping Springs.  Urban crawl. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

      Hey Pat.  I am talking to God now about your surgery.   Will be thinking of you, and then some, till you get back on the forum to let usins know how youse are doiong.   You are always in our praiyers,  as is everyone esle. 

     I try to cook my own attialyian food, and generally thinks its good, untill I find some genuine real eyetalian food.    I generrlyy add too much of this and that, garlic and rosmery and basil and stuff.   I make good meatsuace/meatballs.   Generally use ground chuck.   Or Bob, if you will, and even if you dont.

     Maybe someday you can coook up a mess of eyetalian fare, and we can beak break bread tobethere.   Love garlic bbread, and I dont care what kind of braed it either.   It can be biscuits for all I care, just serve em hot with garlic...   

 Good nobbin hobgobblin...and all thats sips tea...Look out, it's me again Margaret....Hey Kay, and all that are suffering from back pain, I found a back brace at Walamagreens that has thingamabobs in the back that you can freeze for 2 hours or more, and or you can microwave them for heat thereapy.   I've found that ICE Thereapy is more better for me.    I think it is Walamagreens brainds or anothere, and it's ceaper than the one are are advertized on the tube.

     It's not a cure, obviously,, but a temp relief from a lot of pain.   Meds dont touch my pain,. Any hoo, just thought I's pass that abloneg to youse youtes.

     Dreary overcaste rainy day here on the hill, in Challelle Hill.   All the critters are down for a late moring nap, where I plan to be shortly, or longly depenind on how lont it take me to type this out, and correct it, and type it out and corredt it ad infinitum, etc also too...I know, if I'd just canel this out, I could start my nap eariler, righto..

     Seems I had something to discuss whcigh youse youtes, now the life of me, dont recollect just what.

     Diane has gone in to H toun today for church, and visits with parents etc.   I'c love to go, cept an hours dricve in, is hell on not just my back, but my whole perseon being.   

     Things are going ok,,, for us anyhouse...I get moments of feeing overwrought in the "feeling" bad departement.   Whatever that means, I guess thast mean, feeing down, depressed etc.  Sometimes it's hard to bounce back when I conderer what I'm going through, so Diane tells me.    I am so lucky I have her.   But I'm ok, I'm good yeah!   Cant wait for the summer flang sose I cant see youse youtes again. 

     Ok, my eyes are wanting to close for now, so move over girls, Dixie Belle and Izzydorable and Little Miss, I'm comeing to jound youse.

     Maybe Next time I'll have something more substantiacl to say,  I know, why start now eh! 

Teddie Jordan

Pat you mentioned Dripping Springs, my great Grandfather, Wm. Martin Jordan MA, was a Baptist minister and moved to Texas in 1880 from Alabama and founded the first school in Hays County. Supported by the Perdernales Baptist Association who reached out to help what then was described as  a poverty stricken county. It resulted in the Dripping Springs Academy. I have a picture of Professor Jordan in front of the building with his students, it ultimately became a boarding school. The last time I drove through there the building is now the home of the Dripping Springs Masonic Lodge, an organization of which I am proud to say I'm a long time Member. In 1883 G Grandfather Jordan moved to Kyle where he assumed the presidency of the Kyle Seminary, and as the report I'm reading from says, "which school he built up wonderfully." 

Ruth Ellen Winters (Schmidt)

Pat prayers for successful surgery and a speedy recovery.  

Marcie English (Nolan)

Praying for you in surgery and for a speedy recovery “Brantley”.  God bless.

Lloyd Pond

If this is a repeat story, I apologize. Mrs. Barden, my favorite English teacher always encouraged me to write and the edit, revise and write again. Another benefit is that the retelling gives another chance to stretch the story a little bit. My companion for the evening will be given a pseudonym.

The Waltrip 64 Class Graduation Ceremony were finished. The graduates clothed in Silver robes with Red tassel filed across the Music Hall stage. From Aaron to Zaring they received their last token from their education mothers and fathers. Like eagle fledglings they walked to the edge of the eyrie and stepped off into the air, gliding to the floor. “Our Waltrip High’ was sung. Prayers were said. The band played “Pomp and Circumstance”.

I rode a school bus back to the campus. Filing off the bus, I dropped my cap and gown into a box. Other students came and went and we exchanged hand shakes and hugs.

 “Good luck, you are going to need it”.

“I will write.”

“Come and see me at Baylor.”

The band instruments were unloaded and stored.The busses pulled away and the parking lot cleared out. I walked over to the ”Chuck Wagon” Drive Inn and got an extra large pink lemonade. By the time I returned, the parking lot was empty.

I got into my car, turned the ignition key and pressed the starter button. Click click the battery was dead. I looked in the trunk. No battery cables. Oh well sometimes, if you waited a while, the battery would get just enough spark to start the car. So I left the car and walked over to the sidewalks leading to the school’s front doors. The sidewalks had a very strange cast concrete “modern” cover built over them that allowed students to walk from the drop off curb to the front door without getting wet should a rain shower come. At the drop off curb, the cover swept up higher, extending to points like a hen’s wings to shelter the little chicks coming to school. The school was designed in 1958 and opened in 1960. Our class had been there all four years, enjoying the new facilities. The entrance hall exterior wall was all glass and although the lights were on, no one was home. I peered to my right. The auditorium. I thought of Pep Rallies, SoundTrack Performances with Justin Wilson or the Southcoasters. I thought of Scared Straight presentations by prisoners. I remembered films of car wrecks, and drama class and stage band  performances. I turned to my left and walked along the porch to the door next to the three story classroom wing. Offices, mostly empty trophy cases and Mrs. Kennedy’s Latin class. Down the hall way I could imagine the noise of the juke box and smell of meatloaf coming from the cafeteria. Walking along the sidewalk along the classroom wing, I saw a small, weed filled area. Soon there would be, thanks to the Class of 64 legacy gift, flowering pear trees planted here to shade the classrooms exposed to the afternoon sun. I arrived back to the drop off curb, dropped my extra large pink lemonade cup into the trash can and sat down on bench.

I looked down to W34th street to see headlights of a car pulling into the parking lot. The car rolled slowly past my car and then noticing me, pulled up to the curb just a car length or so from where I was sitting the lights were shining in my eyes so I could not see the driver. The driver’s door opened and a voice from the silhouette called out,

“Lloyd? What happened? Your old piece of junk leave you stranded?”

W. A. Trippe walked over and sat down beside me. Laughing, he said,

Part One.....To Be Continued

Lloyd Pond

Got cables? I’ll give you a jump start.

“Nope”, I replied

Friends, there is a big difference between a rusted out 50 chevy covered in black primer with holes in floorboard and the dazzling 62 impala in chrome and red.

“Graduation present?” I said enviously.

“It is my brother’s. He is in the Army now.  Said I could drive it while he was gone.” W.A. replied.

“Now there’s an idea. Maybe I should join the Marines, like my Dad did in WW2.”

“No man, don’t do that. My brother says something big is coming over in Viet Nam. Remember those dominos falling we heard from Mr. Leonard? Well that domino is about ready to come crashing down. Besides, I thought you would marry your girlfriend and be off to Austin.”

Suddenly, uncontrollably, tears welled up. “W.A., I think she is through with me. I asked the fortune teller Prom Night, and she said to start looking for someone new. Austin? Man, I probably won’t last til Christmas.” I began to just spill my guts to this friend. Every doubt and fear about the future rolled out. Every insecurity was confessed until, blubbering, I saw that W.A. was not quite ready for this surprise role as counselor and confidant.

He sat there looking at me with a cocky grin on his face.

“You might do well to remember the novel “The Old Man and the Sea”. See you’ve been fishing here in safe waters. You caught a few good fish and mainly stuff that could be cut up for bait. But, look out there, get in your little boat and row out beyond the reef to the deep water.”

He pulled a package of cigarettes from his front shirt pocket, put a cigarette in his lips and lit it. He took a long drag, leaned his head back and puffed out a smoke ring. He offer the package to me.

“Go ahead, take one, your days running track are over.”

I shook my head no. My Dad was just home from lung surgery. So no, I would not start smoking that night.

W.A. stood up and walked to his car. The V8 started quickly and quietly and he eased the car up to the bench I was sitting on. Then, Vrrooom, Vroom! He reved the engine and yelled out through the open window.

“Cmon, Let’s go fishing!”

I got in and we drove I45 exiting off the freeway’s wide turn and along side the City Hall and the downtown library to a quite and empty downtown. We made a left on Louisiana drove past the Old City Auditorium site. The Auditorium was torn down in 1963 and now the block was ringed with construction barricades and sidewalks for a new Performing Arts Building financed by Houston’s Visionary Jesse Jones. Why any one would put an arts building here in this run down section of town eluded us. A few blocks later, W. A parked along the curb at Preston Street.

Part Two.... To Be Continued

Teddie Jordan

Please do continue Lloyd! I am enjoying your writing, and all I can do is thank dear Ms. Barden for all that she taught me and let me discover on my own about myself. I have already mentioned it elsewhere on this site, but she is my favorite of all of our blessed Waltrip teachers, and as I have commented on her "In Memory Page on this site, she had the most impact on my life!

And I think I know who the mysterious WA is , but we will see if I'm right!

Lloyd Pond

Part Three

Where you going, man?” I asked

“Your shoes look awful man, they need a shine.”, W. A. replied.

In this section of town, close to Buffalo Bayou, the streets often flooded. Builders raised the foundations higher to avoid flood waters. As a result, when we crossed the street, we had to climb up four or five steps to reach the sidewalks. The sidewalk was covered with an awning held up by cast iron columns and shops and hotel entrances faced onto Louisiana Street. The business shops were closed, of course, but we turned into the hotel entrance. I guess it was flop house. A cheap room for men who drank too much. A few such men sat in chairs along side the walls of the narrow lobby. They looked at us or I guess through us. Wondering what these kids were doing here. A question that was also running through my mind.

“Nope, this isn’t the right place.” W. A. mumbled. We made a quick retreat back to the street that was littered with trash and wine and booze bottles. There was the pungent smell of urine. A skinny guy with no teeth stumbled out of the store front shadows.

“Hey! Hey! Guys I need some help here. Can you spare some money? Anything? Please?”

We hopped off the high sidewalk down to the street and walked down the middle of the street back toward the car.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here.” I urged.

“That was just the wrong side of the street.”, W. A. offered.

So back up four steps to the sidewalk where the storefronts were mostly the same.  A liquor store was opened. In midblock, W. A. found the place he was looking for, and we went into what at one time was a barbershop. Four barber chairs were one side of the room. The floor was black and white checkerboard squares now yellow and grungy with age. Bare incandescent light bulbs provided light to the room. Across the room from the chairs, the wall had been painted with a jungle scene that Paul Gaugin would have been proud of. The jungle started near the door with trees plants and vines realistically rendered. But as the scene proceeded to the back wall, the jungle animals begin to be seen peeking around leaves or hanging from the branches. Then almost to the back wall, fangs and claws became more pronounced. Blood dripped from the mouths of crocodiles and hyenas. The back wall was the masterpiece. Two chairs were set up for shoe shines. Beside the chair on the right, Adam was painted in all of his innocent glory and anatomical correctness. One arm extended to receive the fruit from Eve. Likewise, beside the chair on the left, Eve was portrayed holding one arm out to Adam with the forbidden fruit. Her beautiful body, in every detail masterfully painted. Between the chairs, a tree was painted. Around the tree was the snake, a huge, python type, whose eyes were fixed not on Adam or Eve, but on the approaching viewer. I moved to the left but the beady eyes followed, no matter where I stood the snake seem to be staring at me. No one was in the room, so I turned to go out the door. An ancient black man blocked the door way.

“Shine ‘em up, shine ‘em up. Sit down, sit down.” He said motioning to the chairs.

We climbed into the chairs and he started the shoe shine, working on both of us at the same time, applying soap, polish and then buffing, popping buffing and popping the shine rag.

“What you boys doing here? He asked as we paid for the shine.

What you boys want?” he grinned as his eye shifted to look at Eve.

“No, nothing like that, man!” I stammered as I almost sprinted to the door.

As we got back to the car, W.A. tossed me the keys. “You drive. I tell you where to turn. Time to see if the fish are biting”

We made our way over to Main Street and turned toward Congress Avenue. He rolled the window down go slow here , near the curb, turn the radio up.”

As we cruised, a Lady of the Night came out of the shadows and walked to the car. We slowed to almost a stop.

“Your Momma know where you are tonight?”, the girl spoke.

W.A. held a dollar out the window, she was keeping pace with us.

“How much?” he said and waved the dollar at her.

Just as she was about to reach us, W.A. yelled for me to hit the gas and we sped away, the dollar floating in the air and colorful language she was shouting piercing our ears. He banged on the side of the car and yelled back at her. We turned on Congress and then turned south onto Fannin Street.

To be continued....

Marcie English (Nolan)

And then what happened? Lloyd, my heart is racing and my emotions are bouncing around. What a gifted writer you are. Glad I didn’t read this last night as my mind would have traveled down the many rabbit trails of Graduation. Thanks for sharing.

Lloyd Pond

Part Four

Although Santiago lashed his giant marlin to his boat, I was just as glad to let this fish get away.

 Our adventure continued as we explored our hometown. Places like the almost completed Mecom Fountain reinforced the realization that things were changing. Playland Park was replaced by the Astrodome. Sleepy little farms around Friendswood and Dickenson were being gobbled up and being replaced with cities and people who would take us into earth orbit and to the moon.

Places like the Washburn Tunnel where we smelled money in the air from the refineries along the channel brought an urge to be part of the energy sector, to give power to the future.

The night was over and early morning dawning before W.A. dropped me off at my home. My family was still sleeping and I was glad to slip in my bed to dream of the future. I awoke after lunch. No one was curious about my night or where I had been. See, a new niece had been born while I was out and the commencement of her life overshadowed mine. Life does not wait for new graduates to figure things out. Life flows like the ocean tides. Yes sometimes, a person must row their small boat out beyond the reef and set their hooks for the leviathan, but more importantly, every day a person must row and fight the attacking monsters of fear, doubt, and criticism to build a life of confidence and satisfaction of their life’s work.

 Doug came by later in his big green truck and took me to get my car, “The Bomb”. W.A and I never saw each other again.

Tom Britton '65

Wow...Lloyd Pond you have a real gift for writing. Thoroughly enjoyed your Graduation Night adventure.

Bennie Schielack

Lloyd can and does capture your attention and does a fine job of holding it, also.  Thanks for sharing your adventure with us . . . . . Sad that you have not seen your friend since . . . . .          

Beau, we be missing you all this week.  Hope you are feeling ok and winning the battle.  Hopefully, the rain has not washed anything away. 

We went dancing near Katy last night, and on the way home, we were blessed with maybe 50 mph winds and rain so strong that many folks were driving less than 30 mph and using their flashers.  RainX works miracles, once you reach a certain speed.  I could see just fine, even in hard rain and doing 45 to 65 mph, depending on roadway.  We had almost 2" just last night.  Praying for everyone, for their health and healing, from simple colds/alergies to ailments that require medical care, including surgeries . . . . . Looking forward to UH Football, and Basketball.  Drove to Indy 3 times this past NCCA Tourney and certainly looking forward to another successful season.  Spring cleaning is not fun (just an editorial comment).  Glad my SO is so energetic . . . . . 

Jim Taylor

Lloyd, by any chance is WA Bill Ansley?

Lloyd Pond

W. A. Trippe code for What A Trip! Unfortunately, there are so many friends I have not since 🎓. Isn't it grand that we have a website to look in on and see photos of our classmates. Bill Ansley certainly ticks some of the boxes. But he is not my boon companion in the story. I enjoyed seeing Bill at one of our Reunions. Hi Bill! If you are reading this. 

Looking forward to seeing folks at the August get together!

Jane Rhoads (Spring)

Lloyd, You are an interesting writer and I loved your description of graduation night for some midtermers...probably not many except boomers know the meaning of that word.  I had my tonsils out that week so no fun for me to remember.  I had forgotten Washburn Tunnel!  And Playland Park! Keep writing!