 |
FAYETTEVILLE-MANLIUS HIGH SCHOOL 1956 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER July 2005 Edition On the WEB at: WWW.FM56.ORG – Check it out!! |
 |
Summertime 2005 is upon us gang and it’s time for vacations, swimming, barbeques and overall good times. Of course here in the southwest it’s time for the triple digits and the familiar reminder “Don’t sit on the hood of your car!” (Ouch!!) A big “Thank You” goes out to those of you who responded with input for this ‘next to last’ newsletter before the reunion. I appreciate the info very much (however; a few photos would be nice for the next one) If you don’t have a scanner or digital camera to email them, drop them in an envelope – I’ll return them if you wish to have them back - honest!
Dick & Elaine (Soper) Marshall: As you all may remember, Elaine and I have been married now for 47 years and in 1993 we sold our home to travel in an RV. We have traveled in all of the continental US, all the provinces of Canada and half of Mexico. Last year, after almost 12 homeless years of travel, Elaine got the nesting “bug” and felt that she would like a house again. Since our children are in the Atlanta area, we searched for a home away from the Atlanta traffic snarl. We checked the area east of Atlanta on the South Carolina line and found it to be too hot in the summer. We then looked to the north Georgia mountains where the summer temperatures are about ten degrees cooler. We found a six year old 1,500 sq. ft., three bedroom house on 1.25 acres in hardwood trees in the northeast corner of Georgia. We are at the edge of the Chattahotchie National Forest near one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississipi. There are many waterfalls and trout streams to choose from and we have deer, turkey, bear and many migratory birds for company. We have a home again and are “happy campers”. I’ll try to keep you up-to-date on our past adventures when Elaine finishes her compilation of our travels. (Editor: Nice to know you’ve “settled down” (sounds like paradise) and I look forward to printing your next-to-be released travel tales!)
Keep Our Roster Data UPDATED !!!!!
Has anyone changed their mailing address, email address, telephone number or just hooked onto the Internet recently???? If so, please let us know ASAP so we can get your information up-to-date and ensure that you can be contacted whenever class information is disseminated or if information is needed. Contact Jay Hern at jrhern@aol.com or Stew Evans at pncstew@hotmail.com to get your information updated.
Florida Resident
I've
sure gotten old. I've had 2 by-pass surgeries, a hip replacement, new
knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear
anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that
make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia.
Have poor circulation, hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't
remember if I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends. But.....Thank God,
I still have my Florida driver's license!!!!! (Would I
pick on you guys down there????)
Don & Anne (Baister) Bligh We visited Vancouver, BC during the course of our last trip to Washington and crossed a long, high suspension bridge with the grandkids; also saw the marine zoo while we were there. We now have a new granddaughter in Philadelphia ( Margaret Mae Daniels) and she is doing well. Frank Giocondo is hoping to come up to do some turkey hunting with Dan Lynch and myself. Annie has discovered golf along with Louise Thayer so I get to hunt all I want. Manlius types might be interested to know that our 8th grade teacher, Bessie Snyder-Todd is still alive and kicking, and Wilma Monroe plays bridge with my uncle. Wilma still has that stare, or so I am told. (Editor’s note: Frank made it up there while they were in Philadelphia and bagged himself a turkey!)
Wal-Mart
An elderly woman from Brooklyn decided to prepare her will. She told her rabbi she had two final requests. First, she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted her ashes scattered over Wal-Mart. "Wal-Mart!" the rabbi exclaimed. "Why Wal-Mart?" "Then I'll be sure my daughters visit me twice a week.
Pat (Schai) Mackey Curran: I shall celebrate my third anniversary to Peter Curran in July. We have had a wonderful 3 years together. We both like to paint, travel and spend time with our families. Together we have 7 children and 8 grandchildren. We will be babysitting my son's 4 children (ages 6,4,2 and 6 months) in a couple of weeks. Last fall we traveled to Spain to the Costa deSol, and to Florida during Feb. and March. We rented a house in Sarasota, and ended up our stay on a Princess Line Cruise. We are presently in the progress of building a studio on the back of our house. What should be a good time has been very frustrating so far; however, we hope it will get better. Eventually most of the house will be opened to the new construction, so we will have to move out at that point. We are presently making plans for a trip to Italy in the fall. Life is good, especially sharing it with Peter. He is a very positive influence in my life, always happy about every thing, enjoys traveling, reading and boating. We live on the Cheseapeake Bay, and are active in the Coast Guard Auxilary. I hope you and yours are all doing well. Best to all.
The Penny
Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord. . "God, what does a million years mean to you?" The Lord replies, "A minute." Smith asks, "And what does a million dollars mean to! you?" The Lord replies, "A penny." Smith asks," Can I have a penny?" The Lord replies, "In a minute".
Erma (Lord) Barnhart: I'm not allowed to bore people about my travels unless they ask! You asked, so here goes! Since last I wrote we have sailed again on our favorite ship (a four-masted barkentine named the Star Flyer) from Athens to Istanbul. I tell people we went back to the "scene of the crime" (Barney and I met on a trip to Greece). January found us sailing around the horn of South America on the Holland America ship Amsterdam. Fun time that trip as we were stranded overnight in Stanley, Falklands because of rough weather. On May 23rd I head off for my annual trip to Russia with my Russian teacher (Barney has had enough of Russia!) Happily for us (and him), our fat cat Hutton has not pulled the hunger strike trick again! He just snubs us a day or two after we return home! Just a quickie for now but if you need details, just holler! (Editor: I’ll get more from her when she get’s back so it’ll be in the next newsletter!)
Ancient Ancestry
The following was overheard at a recent 'high society' party:
"My ancestry goes back all the way to Alexander the Great," said Christine.
She then turned to Miriam and asked, "How far back does your family go?"
"I don't know," replied Miriam, "All of our records were lost in the flood!!!"
Jay & Nancy (Hill) Hern: Last Spring Nan and I decided to blow some funds and sign up for a "two weeker" on the Cunard Queen Mary 2 in December ‘04 since it would still be in it's maiden year (QM1 is in San Diego now as a hotel). The ship left NYC on 6 Dec and returned to Ft. Lauderdale on 21 Dec. Ports of call were Puerto Rico, Curacao, Bonaire, Barbados, Martinique, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Although we had visited PR and St.T before, the other five were most interesting and we had a ball. Table mates were from NYC and Louisiana and were great. The ship is the largest liner in the world and is amazing. Huge doesn't come close. Stood on it's screws, QM2 is taller than the Washington Monument and only a few feet shorter than the Empire State Building!! Passengers and crew were almost 3,500 people aboard, but there was no feeling of being crowded at all. In any event, we returned just before Christmas so were able to do most of the normal holiday activities. Two weeks of 80s in the Caribbean and then 20s in VA sort of spoiled it however. Was a great trip but we are about "cruised out" so this year we'll probably do something else, like see the coast of Maine or take a train across Canada. Also have to save some money for R2006!! (More on that in the “Prez’s Corner” below) By the way, I sent Stew a couple of pictures from our aforementioned cruise as he had requested; however I have a feeling that he may be planning to use them in a gleefully devilish manner, as he won’t share his editorial thoughts with me at this time (please be kind!!)
Tom Jones
A guy walks into the doctor's office.
"Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home,'" he says.
The Doctor replies "That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome." "
Is it common?" the patient asks and the doctor answers "It's Not Unusual!!!"
Taxi Driver
A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window. For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then the still shaking driver said, "I'm sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me." The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much. The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Today is my first day driving a cab..... for the last 25 years I've been driving a hearse."
THE PREZ’s CORNER
One year and counting to R2006, REALLY. At times, I didn't think we would make it! I am very proud of the fact that 80% of the KNOWN, LIVING class are members of the Alumni Association and have faithfully paid their dues, in some cases for at least 5 years. In return for that, we are planning, what I believe, will be the greatest reunion (50th anyway) in FMHS history and there may be some surprises as well. Enough rhetoric.
Late this year, or early in ‘06 (depends on when I get all ‘06 prices and details-dates have been reserved), you will receive the ubiquitous "sign up sheet". A payment or deposit will more than likely be required at that time for the events you select to attend (banquet dinner dance, clambake, lake dinner cruise). Hotel accommodations will be up to you individually but you will be provided the info as to whom to call at the location where rates have been negotiated for our group and which will be our "center of gravity" and location of the banquet and first night reception.
There will also be a selection of "tours" to pick from, primarily for Thurs and Fri of the reunion. Golf plans will also be covered for the same days: course, greens fees, type game etc. A lot to be done, but I am determined to make this a most enjoyable experience for all in the Class of ‘56.
If you haven't done so as yet, please check the website (FM56.ORG, R2006 page) for further details and the schedule. Remember, June 21 through 24/25 2006. I look forward to seeing EVERYONE, and we should have a crowd of 90+ with spouses. Save your pennies gang!!"
Jay
Jay R. Hern, 8709 Litwalton Ct., Vienna VA 22182, 703-560-5273, jrhern@aol.com
THE VEEP’s NICHE (and bringing up the rear)
Can you believe it? Really, I only have one more newsletter to get out and BOOM six months later there we are all together in one place, at one time, for one purpose; kinda’ chokes ya’ up don’t it? All we gotta’ do now is survive the next year and we’re home free.
I hope everybody’s geared up for a great summer; I know I have my air conditioner turned up, my sandals shined and all my tank tops clean so I’m all set. The temp’s have already been over 100 (started late May – that’s when I got my first sunburn while planting my garden – peeled too!).
For those of you that have kept track of my kids, Scott had his colon removal operation and they hope to reattach in about a month to his “re-formed” lower intestine. He’s doing well thanks. Peg’s oldest boy Bryon has been temporarily approved for a liver transplant. This has been a touch-and-go situation since he was in a coma for 10 days over Christmas. Right now he is in good shape but it’s the meds that are keeping him that way. The VA has been great and they’ve paid for everything, even the recent evaluation trip to Pittsburgh and there will be more of those in the future.
Our craft show this year was a big success and we had a nice weekend seeing a lot of old friends and making new ones as well as getting a lot of new orders. It’s a show I always look forward to, of course, it’s the only one I do anymore. Mostly I just do custom stuff for those that call me and ask for something special. Well, Jay was right about the pictures, as you can see from those that follow, I just couldn’t resist using them “my way”!! Isn’t he photogenic and doesn’t she still look fine???? In case some of you east coasters have never seen what a beautiful blooming cactus looks like, here are a couple from my yard. Remember, photos are something I really would like to see more of for the last issue, think you can do something about that?
Lastly - Please, those of you that don’t have email, contact Jay or myself by sending us a note or calling us to let us know your intentions as to whether or not you will be attending the reunion from June 21 through June 24, 2006 and, if so, how many there will be. This is very important for us to know at this time for planning purposes. Please let us know by the end of June if possible. Same goes for anyone who hasn’t as yet responded !!!
Stew
|
|
|
|
“Yes dear you look wonderful but not tonight, that last one put me over the top – can you help me back to the cabin?” |
|
“Nan is so good to me, now I can get a good night's rest, but tell me honestly, don't I resemble the late Gen. MacArthur?" No, maybe a little? Huh? Nan, where's my corncob pipe?” |
