Message Forum

01/06/09 05:20 PM	#5
Thomas Hellmer Amy/Mark - are you guys going to transfer over all those other pictures we sent in for the other site (group shots, prom pics, etc)?

01/08/09 03:44 PM	#6
Cyndi Hughes (Myers) Hey what a great new site. I'm glad to see our classmates are starting to join. I love keeping up with everyone and what their doing now. Hope we can keep up the pace and have everyone on here soon.

01/09/09 10:45 AM	#7
Amy Goecke (Lane) Thomas, We plan to. Right now our order of transfer is: 1. Reunion photos. 2. Probably the old photos. 3. Bios that haven't already been transferred by the classmate. (Really hope more people take care of this on their own). :) 4. Not sure about the News page. Might just set up a new page on this site and not transfer the old news. Amy

01/15/09 11:53 AM

Lisa Haulmark

You guys are awesome!!! I periodically see your different websites as I'm surfing, and never cease to be amazed at the diligence you put into these things. I never seem to have the time to really participate, what with my job and family, but it makes me smile to see it out there. Keep up the good work and know that it is appreciated by those of us out here that have so little time, but love to skim through and read anyway.

Lisa

01/15/09 09:17 PM	#9
Amy Goecke (Lane) Lisa, We appreciate your kind words. Thanks! We don't have as much time anymore, so that is why we found this ready-made site. It seems to be serving our purposes though, and I'm glad that you are enjoying the site. Amy

01/28/09 09:32 AM

#10

Jeff Keeton

Well let me go ahead say I'm NOT impressed with our new president so far. In the first days he has put our national security at risk by shutting down the cuban base. What nobody is asking is what are they going to do with the detainees? A: move them to the U.S.? B: return them to Iraq? with A we have them close and if they get loose they are close to targets of oppurtunity. With B they are placed back on the battlefield to take more of our soldiers lives.
Since I'm bitching if the president decides to restore the ban on off shore drilling you had better be ready for $4.00 gas again. One of the reasons it dropped is because we started drilling and OPEC started to sweat so they didnt have a choice but to drop it.
Our church covenant states that we pray for our leaders and I pray our president makes good decisions based on christian principles.

jeff

02/23/09 12:44 PM

#11

Jeff Keeton

Just wanted to see if I could carry something over from the old site: THIS IS JUST A TEST, IF THIS HAD BEEN AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.....LOL

The Clique revisited
jeffrey keeton
Member

Posts: 31
Registered: Feb 2007 Posted October 13th, 2008 12:57 PM IP
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I remember when I wrote the thread called "the Clique" it was away to reach out to our classmates to leave thier comfort zones and to get to know thier fellow classmates. It was an effort that drew alot of response and new ways to look at our past and our future. Now our children are probably goin thru the same things we did in school, my advice to them is this: dont burn bridges behind you because you may have to go back over them again. In other words try to get know your classmates, you might not have anything in common with them now but you might in the future. I was really pleased at the out come of the reunion, I wont lie I was kinda scared about showin up, I didnt know how I would be treated. I was treated great and I think the Clique theory is slowly but surely goin away. Like I said in the thread, if your one of the last two standing are you gonna know anything about the person standing next to you? think about it. In 5 years we'll see if this has had any effect. If you have a different opinion lets hear it please.

take care
jeff

Gary Johnston
Unregistered

Posts:
Registered: Posted October 13th, 2008 03:59 PM IP
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Jeff,
Think you nailed it...I did not see any! Regards, Gary Johnston

jke
Member

Posts: 4
Registered: Oct 2008 Posted October 14th, 2008 11:31 AM IP
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Jeff's right. I was one of those a couple of years or so ago back when Amy and Mark started this website that felt more than a little uncomfortable at the 20th. This one was considerably different. The whole atmosphere was different and more adult. The planners wisely went for something more structured and I think more in tune with our ages. I think most of us have grown out of our attraction for dark rooms, loud music, and drinking excessively. I have to admit to some trepidation going into it that it would be the 20th all over again. My wife talked me into going after I'd made up my mind not to and I'm glad she did. A big "THANK YOU" to all those who planned, organized, and executed it.

jeffrey keeton
Member

Posts: 31
Registered: Feb 2007 Posted October 14th, 2008 12:40 PM IP
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Well I dont know about the grown out part, I still love my loud music, AC/DC, KISS...as Shirley Bowels once told me, if its to LOUD your to OLD..lol

dbalmer
Member

Posts: 2
Registered: Oct 2008 Posted October 21st, 2008 12:56 AM IP
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Jeff, I wish that I had read your post before I sent my lengthy letter out, you are right I didn't see the Clique as much as I thought I would. oh ya, loud is good!!! It keeps you alive. to everyone who helped out on this years reunion thanks alot!!!!!!!!

hendrix03
Unregistered

Posts:
Registered: Posted October 23rd, 2008 12:42 PM IP
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Your welcome! But my idea on this reunion was to be able to carry on a conversation with the person across the table. I had suggested early on to keep the music low enough to do just that. The arrangement of music was slow in the begining, then pick up the beat alittle lastly mellow toward the end. We all can use input/suggestions for the next reunion.

Tanya

02/23/09 06:02 PM	#12
Amy Goecke (Lane) Jeff, We will be disabling the other site soon. If you have any other threads you want moved over here - go for it! Thanks, Amy

02/25/09 04:44 PM	#13
Gary Johnston Jeff, Glad you moved that thread over to this site. It is the most important one for now and the future to bring people together. BTW, I have new orders, headed back to Northern Virginia at Fort Belvoir. So, my family will be together again. Cheers, Gary Johnston

02/26/09 12:17 PM

#14

Jeff Keeton

I think this thread is to important to let go away. This is a testament to what true intro-spect should be. I suggest everyone use this as an example and look at your self and see if you can be as honest as Don is in the letter.

reunion
dbalmer
Member

Posts: 2
Registered: Oct 2008 Posted October 21st, 2008 12:41 AM IP
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To everyone that was at the reunion, and at the park gathering,

I would first like to apologize to those of you I did not talk to. This comes hard for me because I am not a very talkative person and I don’t always say the right things. I was late for both the park and reunion which was out of my control but anyway, I was overwhelmed at the park when everyone yelled there’s Balmer when I finally showed up. I honestly did not think anyone even cared or remembered me. I didn’t say much to anyone because I was stunned and without words. I wanted to, but couldn’t get the words out. Gary got me over that when he just started talking to me and my wife, but by that time everyone had left and went home.
At the reunion I was embarrassed when I showed up late and under dressed, next time I will listen to my wife. Again it wasn’t until Mark and I started talking at the end of the night that I loosened up, again too late. To be totally honest with you all I didn’t remember a lot of you because in school we probably never talked or got to know each other for one reason or another, and we still didn’t get to know one another 25 years later, hopefully that will change.
I enjoyed the talks I had with John and Bill, Richard Weaver and with Mark and Amy Lane. After it was all over and we were on our way back home in the car and my wife asked me what was wrong. “I said nothing.” I was just thinking to myself why didn’t I just go up to someone and say,” hey I’m Don, I’m sorry but I don’t remember you, who are you and what are you doing now.” I was upset with myself for passing up the opportunity to try and get to know you all finally. Looking back now I must have looked like a snob or something like that. I hope that I didn’t, in a way it was like the first day of school all over again for me and I need to get over that .
As I listened to a lot of you talk about old times and who was doing what. I realized that I really wanted to get to know you all better, but I just said nothing. I don’t know if anyone else felt that way, but if you get an email from me or you are at the 30th please don’t be offended if I ask you “who are you and what are you doing now.” We have a great bunch of people in the class of 83 and I would really like to get to know you all. I hope to see and hear from all of you soon.

Sincerely Don Balmer

Amy Lane
Member

Posts: 36
Registered: Feb 2007 Posted October 21st, 2008 08:45 AM IP
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Don,

Please realize that you were not alone in having difficulties recognizing people. You hadn't seen anyone in 25 years! Next time I am going to vote that name tags are available at all events. Please take a look at the reunion photos once we get them posted. We are including names on most of the pictures, so that will help everyone in putting faces with names.

I am really glad that you are already planning on coming to the 30th. I am looking forward to talking more with you and Rebecca. By the way, I thought you looked great at the banquet!

Amy (Goecke) Lane

jeffrey keeton
Member

Posts: 31
Registered: Feb 2007 Posted October 21st, 2008 09:29 AM IP
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Don,

I am glad you didnt read my post first, by posting this you have opened up to our classmates with honest true opinions. If you had read mine first, you might have replied simply " yeah I agree or something of that nature". By writing what you have written gives us an insight into you. In other words packed full of emotions just like the rest of us, or if you talk to my wife she says I'm full of something else...lol

Only time will tell if the clique has been thrown to the side in favor of friendship versus the high and mighty why you talking to us attitude.

As for under dressed or over dressed, a reunion should have a church mentality, it doesnt matter how your dressed as long as you come.

jeff

jke
Member

Posts: 4
Registered: Oct 2008 Posted October 29th, 2008 12:07 PM IP
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Don,

Well put. I hope that with our gray hairs also comes wisdom. I find myself spending far more time "reflecting" now and with it comes some realizations. I'm not the person I was and I think that's a good thing. I look at people differently than I did 25 years ago and if the Good Lord blesses me with another 25, I'm sure I'll look at people differently then too. I now understand much of what my folks were trying to tell me when I was growing up and wish I'd listened. I guess that's just a fact about the human condition though that hasn't changed and never will change. As teenagers, we are all brainless bundles of hormones and its a wonder we make it to 30. I know its a miracle I did. I sure do wish I could go back and do it all over again knowing what I know now. I'd have done a lot of things differently and spent more time building relationships. I'm also pretty sure I'd have gotten into a great deal more trouble in high school now that I realize all the fun I missed out on!!!

03/02/09 11:06 AM	#15
Jeff Keeton This is just a suggestion, if you would like to respond to a paticular note that has been written. I would copy the note, then hit response then paste the note, go to the bottom and add your response. This way it keeps the conversation all together and you wont have to scroll up n down trying to keep track. Like I said its just a suggestion.

03/02/09 01:00 PM

#16

Mary Ebling (Cawvey)

Hello everyone! Life's been crazy crazy busy but I am happy to finally be able to post!!! This site looks great and the transition seems to have been smooth. Let's keep encouraging each other to stay in touch. I so understand how difficult it is to reach out and talk to others! It is definately a disadvantage when you don't recognize and remember people. That is why I ordered the '83 shirts for the reunion. I thought what the hell...if I don't remember others, at least you will have no doubt who the fat one is with Mary on the back of her shirt and maybe you would come talk to ME! I didn't get the idea until the last minute and I upfronted the cost of the shirts I bought...so that is why nobody else received the 'memo' about the shirts! Lol! But for our 30th, I will be happy to 'memo' in advance so others can order a shirt as well. It has made an excellent weekend shirt as well as a great conversation piece! As for now, stay in touch and remember...once an opportunity is gone...it is gone...so take a chance and live in the moment and don't worry about what others think.
Mary

03/04/09 12:08 AM

#17

Tanya Fields (Hendrix)

For those of you that have not joined FACEBOOK your missing out. There are about, just guessing 25 of us. Many of these give updates daily. You can stay caught up, on what everyones doing. Don't know about you but this is so fun I have really enjoyed it. FaceBook can be an added bonus to this website. It's user friendly, but if you have any questions just ask your kids. They might roll their eyes, but then they will think hey that's cool my parents are on F/B. So then you could join that club and add it to your profile.

Join the fun!

Tanya Fields-Hendrix

03/15/09 02:06 PM

#18

Jeff Keeton

I will title this Life Lessons

It is now 4 years since my dad passed away on this date. As parents we try to teach our kids lessons they will hopefully retain and pass on to their kids. I learned my final lesson from my father the day I walked away from his grave. It was this: He knew he was dieing from cancer and had to get right with the Lord and he did it, he was saved before he passed away. When I walked away from the grave it hit me, I was not saved I could die at any time and go straight to hell without passing go, a one way trip of no reprieve. When I got home to bama, some friends of ours invited us to church and I started my journey of getting right with the Lord. It happened on June 28th, 2005 at a night service during revival. I had learned my final lesson from my father and now both of my children are saved, so hopefully they will pass this lesson on to their children and make them go to church and get saved.

sorry folks feeling a little down today.

jeff

03/30/09 01:58 PM

#19

Gary Johnston

All, not much communication going on, so thought that I would say "hello." Of course Tanya, I'm not on Facebook, so I may be missing out. Just for the record, Tammy is on Facebook, so I'm indirectly linked. Do I get credit? Oh well. Jeff, great thoughts about eternal future that we all must decide...I will add that all decide at different times in life; some too late. Key as parents is to be role models for children...not just words, but deeds. I certainly do not have the corner market on child rearing...make mistakes every day, but I did start something last year that I'll share with everyone. On a single powerpoint slide, I put several things that I wanted my children to remember from their Dad that year...I plan on doing this again this summer. I don't care what they do with the sheet of paper. My daughter put hers in a book; one of my sons put it as a backdrop for his computer desktop; and my youngest put a copy on his desk in his room. Here are some of my first points on "What Dad thinks..." 1) Keep God first in all you do; build relationships for life ~ always think of others, 2) Remain humble in all things ~ let your work, character, & reputation speak for you. Never boast!, 3) Guard your reputation ~ do not compromise character for short-term gain, 4) Do more today, so you can do more tomorrow ~ no crisis, 5) Understand the world around you ~ know context for life; and 6) Must know how to write well ~ key to success is Executive Writing style—not High School English Class. Please share your thoughts; I look forward to learning from you. Sorry so long. Warmest Regards, Gary Johnston

05/01/09 11:54 AM	#20
Tanya Fields (Hendrix) Our Classmate Kathy Hanan lost her father this week, lets remember her and her family.

06/05/09 09:27 PM

#21

Thomas Hellmer

Melanie Titsworth passed away today, June 5, 2009 of an infection they believe went to her brain. She had been battling a heart infection and was in St. Marys trying to get over it so she could have a heart valve stint replaced, but the infection unexpectedly got worse and she slipped into a coma this morning and they med-flighted her to UAMS where she died this afternoon. Sad. She was a good friend back at school and for many years afterward.

06/05/09 09:44 PM	#22
Jeff Keeton I am sorry to hear that we have lost another classmate. Thomas if you would please forward a copy of the obit to Mark and Amy so they can get it posted in the memorial page please. Her family will be in my families prayers.

06/07/09 09:14 PM	#23
Danny Bradley great job amy and mark, the class owes you alot hi everyone my condolances to melanies family god bless her sole

07/02/09 11:35 AM	#24
Jeff Keeton This is wishing everyone a safe and happy fourth of July.

07/11/09 07:25 AM	#25
Jeff Keeton Happy Birthday Angie ( Burris ) Lyons

09/11/09 08:12 AM	#26
Jeff Keeton LET US NEVER FORGET 9/11/2001....GOD BLESS AMERICA

12/23/09 08:21 PM	#27
Jeff Keeton From my family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

02/13/22 07:35 AM

#28

KaKi Riley (McKinney)

The loss of Gary Johnston has hit me hard. Since I didn't get to attend the memorial service and reminence with everyone, thought I would share my memories here. Gary was my double's partner in tennis. We always lost my serve, cause I couldn't get it over the net! :-). But Gary never got angry with me...tease me, yes! He had a brace on his knee, but we played hard and had so much fun together. I think we made it to state actually and then lost, memory is a bit murky. He was a great friend to me. I enjoyed connecting with him at our 20th reunion. We talked about tennis, Coach Fryer and his English class. I am glad I had that time. I am so sorry this world has lost him.

12/31/22 07:47 AM

#29

Tim Vogt

Happy New Year!!! Any plans for 2023?

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