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JEAN:
Here is a little tid-bit about our 1974 trip to Florida that you will find interesting.

We stopped at the rest stop at Mont Eagle, Tenn. at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. We knew that your Dad and Bill were coming back from Florida with a load in your Dad's truck.
As we were standing around our car, Jeff looked across at the other rest stop on the opposite side of the interstate. He remarked (jokingly) that that was his Dad's truck over there because the trailer had marker lights all around the back of the trailer, just like Speed's. The more we thought about it, the more we thought...."could it actually be Speed and Bill ?"

To make a long story short, we proceeded to scale the chain link fence next to the highway and ran across to the opposite rest stop. Can you believe it, at 1:00 in the morning in the middle of Tennessee..... it was them !

I think we probably scared them half to death when we came up to Speed's tractor and pounded on the doors !

Eventually, after a short visit, we made our way back to our car at the other rest area. We had to make a quick get-away, as Jeff and Bill Boy were being pursued by the "rest area police" for lighting M-80's in the bathroom ! LOL !!!

That was "wild weekend", for sure. Our vehicle was a 1966 Dodge station wagon that we bought from Jack Wheeler Ford for $100 ($20 each). Jeff painted it metal-flake grass green and blacked out the rear windows with spray paint (this was pre-tinting days). He put his Keystone mags on it, jammed 2X4's in the leaf springs, so the rear end was jacked-up (remember when that was cool ?). To expidite our trip, we didn't want to stop to use the bathroom, so we drilled four holes in the the floorboard (each sitting position) and equipped our "family truckster" with a hose/ funnel combination that could be passed around.

Jeff or Rantoul still have the pictures somewhere...I saw them several years ago. Oh, to be young and stupid, again.

06/15/08 09:32 PM

#77

Jean Ann Miller (Schroeder)

For those not living in Indiana, like me, here are some pictures of the flood that my sister sent me. I have been flying from Charlotte to San Francisco this month. Today, I flew between Terre Haute and Vincennes and got a bird's eye view of the water. I did not realize it was so bad. I hope all affected can get back to normal.

06/16/08 07:43 PM

#78

Tom:
I'm glad you guys survived the trip. I had heard some about the weekend but sisters would be the last to know!!

Dick:
The floods were something I never thought could happen here! To think we are only a few miles from Westphalia & Edwardsport where they were devastated. Basements were flooded and water heaters, furnaces, & water pumps, etc. were lost. Corn stalks & trash were everywhere. Now they are trying to clean up. Some roads were washed out. This week, the weather is to be dry and maybe, we can finish planting the soybeans....

06/16/08 08:35 PM

#79

Judith Kay Stout (Anderson)

Tom, Please keep treating us to your stories. I simply like all of the stories that many of you are sharing. I wish I could go back in time and spend a couple of weekends with some of your old crowd. Mike Land and I were talking recently when I was in Indiana. Mike told me how his twins were at NC State in Raleigh, NC. One is in Pre Med and the other is in Pre Vet. He said they were both nerds just like "you and me were". I think I did miss a lot of fun in high school. I made up some, for it in the Air Force, sometimes making up too much, but I do wish I would have had a little more fun in high school. I will never forget one night after basketball practice, Steve Neal, Joe Bubenzer, Tim and Tom Kirchoff, and myself were driving home from practice in I believe Steve's 57 Chevy. They headed off to somewhere in the country to partake of some PBR in the trunk of Steve's car. Of course everyone had a sip or two but yours truly. If I had to do it over again, I would have had the PBR. Anyway, Tom, without causing any divorces, keep the stories coming. I like hearing your thoughts.

06/16/08 10:38 PM

#80

Luellen Byrer (Miller)

Tom: Jeff has been reading this dialog and at the moment is looking thru pics to find one of that Green Machine. If he finds it, I'll try to post it. Meanwhile, do you remember eating at some joint on Cedar Key that was up on stilts which Jeff says served delicious turtle steak? Bill & Jean did not find the place, so it may be gone now. Maybe Jeff & I will go looking for it someday.

Most of us made goofy mistakes "way back when". Compared to today, those were days of innocence. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father is a God of second chances, third chances.....

06/17/08 03:19 PM

#81

Hi to Jean Ann (Miller). It was so good to see you last weekend in Carlisle. I would have liked to chat longer; however, my family was waiting for me. I think back to our high school days and I remember that you always had a smile on your face.

Tom - you have the memory of an elephant! :)

Rich - As always, thanks for keeping up all connected!

Lu - loved the wedding pictures on the beach.

06/17/08 07:33 PM

#82

LU:
I believe Randy has the pics of the 1974 Gatornationals trip. Last time I saw them was at New Years Eve party when "Rantoul" & "The Vonda-nator" were still living on "Miller's Hill".

While I'm thinking about it, you might wanna ask Jeff why the clear-coat laquer was about two inches thick on the roof of our Green Machine.

I believe 1974 was the year that "Grump", "Bine" and "O.D." (Dave Doane) also were there (made the trip in Bine's AMC Gremlin). That was the year of the infamous interview of "Bine" by Chris Economacki of National Speed Sport News. (That's a whole story in it's self....you gotta hear Grump tell it !!)

Yes, I recall eating at a seafood joint at Cedar Key that extended out over the Gulf waters. I did not have the turtle steak....I think the rest of the guys did, though. I recall that all of us were barefoot and left wet footprints as we walked across the floor to be seated.

DICK:
You wanna hear stories ? Jeff, Pat and I could tell some that would have you rollin' on the floor in laughter !!

*Moon races/ Burnout King/ at Indy Nationals.
*Bailing Craig King, Curt Kixmiller, Bill "Wheat" Wilson, Gary Robbins and Tim Hise out of the "big house" at NHRA Springnationals at Columbus, Ohio.
*Jeff and Summytime's trip into East St. Louis while we were at races at Gateway Raceway.
*The wildest and scariest ride ever (in a hearse, no less), going to the Salem Speedway's "Frostbite 200".
*The Snake Pit at 1972 Indy 500.

I could go on and on and on........

P.S. --Lu, tell J.W that I e-mailed Mr. Ready-Mix and told him he needed to chime in here with some thoughts and memories......that is, if he has recovered from crashing his Top Fuel car years ago !!!

06/17/08 10:55 PM

#83

Lu
To this day, that was best turtle I have ever eaten. The plate was a big meat platter, with the fried turtle falling off the edges. It did sit on stilts in the
Gulf. I remember it if it were yesterday.

06/17/08 10:58 PM

#84

Hey Dick
I am back amongst the living again.

06/17/08 11:43 PM

#85

Kathy Watson

I am really enjoying the wild stories...Tom, I don't know why you're alive! Just kidding...and Rich, I must place myself in the same group as you and Mike..I missed out on way too much fun in highschool. Thanks for the pix..it's hard to believe even after seeing them...Hey Henry...that was a great description of Mrs. D.

06/18/08 01:57 AM

#86

Kathy, I found some picutres of when we went to the Junior prom together when I was home. You looked fine, but I looked so bad in this black and white tux that I couldn't put it on the site. Maybe I'll put it on if I get brave.

Henry, Tell Nancy Hagemeier to sign on sometime. I hear she goes to your restaurant some time. Also tell Brenda to sign on.

Pat, Good to hear you are back again.

I am in San Fran again tonight. I am staying inside thought with all the gay marriages going on here today.

06/18/08 08:00 PM

#87

Luellen Byrer (Miller)

Tom - who is Mr. Ready Mix? (Jeff isn't here right now to ask)

Pat - where have you been?

06/18/08 10:29 PM

#88

LU:

I sent an e-mail to Mr. Ready-Mix asking him to join in on this discussion forum. And he did.

MR. READY-MIX: Please step forward and identify yourself.

DICK & KATHY: If you feel that you missed out on some fun times in your younger days, then you two are offically invited to attend the Annual Freelandville Dutchmen Reunion that is held the first Saturday of the new year in January.
The reunion had it's origins years ago at Buddy Thompson's cabin at Pine Bluffs, but has since found a semi-permanent home at Flintstone's house. Live music featuring Ray Hatton, Kurt Brocksmith, myself, Sam S. (on the washtub bass) and Pat (when we can get him to show up). Also, free food and free beer. Jon Singleton also has free sampling of his own Singleoski Brew. And don't forget the annual performance of "Blue Christmas" by Elvis !
So, will we see you there next year ?

06/18/08 10:49 PM

#89

Lu
Just trying to keep the ights on, kinda hard to do with all the water.

06/19/08 06:16 PM

#90

Luellen Byrer (Miller)

So....
What does anyone do now for fun?
Jeff & I don't take many long vacations, but we'll do a weekend here and there. We really like to stay at B&B's if possible (yes, Jeff likes it). For instance, last summer we went to the Nostalgia Drags at Columbus, Ohio, and stayed at the Front Porch B&B in the nearby town of Granville. Beautiful little college town with restored homes everywhere. It was like stepping back in time.
We also like to go to plays put on by Old Town Players in Vincennes - preferably the comedies. Do you remember Terry Garner ('68, Bruceville)? He acts in some of their productions, but I don't think he's in the current one "Bye Bye Birdie".

06/19/08 09:49 PM

#91

LU:

Next time you go to an OTP production, look for cast member Robin Overby. We worked together for several years and continue to be good friends and keep in touch. Please introduce yourselves to him after the play. He will be thrilled to meet friends of mine. Couldn't ask for a nicer person. I want very badly to go see him in an OTP play, but as with everything, my job and the hours required get in the way.

Uh, did you say you guys went to the Nostalgia Drag Races at Columbus, Ohio......without me ! I'm so hurt ! I coulda brought my sleeping bag and slept in the corner. I'd been no bother !!

As far as what we do for fun............hmmmmm.....
not very much. I'm still working 6 1/4 days a week, so that prohibits any extended vacations.
We enjoy the simple things, like going to our grandkids' Hunter & Bailey baseball, basketball and football games throughout the year.
I like working with the oldest grandson, Corbin, teaching him bass guitar. I just bought him a new Fender bass amp, so now he can really rattle the windows !!
Every other weekend is spent baby-sitting the youngest ones, Gracie (27 mo.) and Gavin (15 mo.).

I guess our lives sound kinda boring, compared to most others here.

06/20/08 09:56 PM

#92

Tink
All you need is your family and a well loved guitar.

06/20/08 10:03 PM

#93

Tink
As for the Gatornationals trip, I also remember that we did not stop for anything but gas, we changed drivers at 80 miles an hour. But a very memorable morning was waking up under the stars in my cold sleeping bag at 31 degrees, somewhere in Georgia at a KOA campground.

06/20/08 11:03 PM

#94

Kathy Watson

Rich: I think you have that backwards....I came across our prom pix some time ago and thought you looked great, but I looked awful!! Can't believe what I had done to my hair! And then I found a second grade pix from when I lived in Hanover and I suddenly realized why I don't mind at all paying to avoid those bad hair days as much as possible...I can't believe you ended up in San Fransisco this week!

Tom: That January reunion sounds like fun...I am tempted...I can't believe you play with Ray Hatton; my mom has been friends with Bessie Hatton since school, and my parents played cards with Bessie and Bill for years, until they moved to SC.

Henry: Talking about my mom reminded me that she just told me a few weeks ago that your mother was her favorite teacher, ever! She must have been awfully young when mom had her for a teacher...she must have been very patient because mom was quite the pranster.

As for fun, hmmm...I do more short vacations, usually to the North/South Carolina beaches...I live in the South Mts. in NC, so I get a great view just driving to and from work....

06/20/08 11:27 PM

#95

Well, well.....Mr. Ready-Mix !!!!

Had forgot about the high-speed driver changes. Slide-in behind the driver, then the driver would somehow slide out. How the hell did we ever pull that off !
KOA Kampground was on our way home Sunday night. I recall I slept on a picnic table and IT WAS COLD !!!!
We did make one stop on the way there, other than gas. Remember we ran out of beer at just about Valdosta, GA. Pulled into liquor store, but it did not open until 8:00am and it was only 7:30am.......we waited til 8:00 !!
Loaded up on "Red, White and Blue" brand (cheap) beer.
Memory is kinda fuzzy, but didn't you get thrown out or asked to leave a club in Gainsville on Saturday night for "inappropriate touching" of a female customer ? (Or something along those lines). LOL

We could write a book about all the places and crazy things we did back then !!
Remember the '73 Springnationals in Columbus and the Canadians....Skip & Maurry....eh ? I still have pictures of them.
'70 Indy Nationals brings back thoughts of Wally "Don't **** in the Trailer" Walker from KY.
'73 Indy was Bill Boy streaking naked in the rodeo arena at the campgrounds, infront of hundreds of people. And Mark Jones shooting bottle rockets into the opposite grandstands, pissing people off !
'75 was the Burnout King 1968 Chevelle. A Jeff Miller creation. Burnouts until the tire blew out.........and the crowd at the campground loved every second of it. I still have pics of that one !

So many memories....late night trip to The Rod Shop at Columbus.
Miller passing Craig "C-1" KIng and his buddies on I-70 at 100mph on the shoulder of the highway....driving my car, no less...YIKES !
Unfortunatly, we had to bail Craiger and his buds out of Columbus City Jail later that day. Even more unfortunate (for C-1, at least), when he "tasted freedom" again, he couldn't find his truck.....well, actually his Dad's truck. And what was really, really, really unfortunate, Craiger was going to have to go back home and tell his Dad that he not only had been thrown in jail in Ohio, but he had somehow "lost" his pick-up truck !!!

Jeff and Rantoul climbing out second story window of Columbus, Ohio City Hall for me to take their picture on the roof ! (I still have that pic.) Also, sneaked into courtroom and took pic of Jeff in the witness chair, but pic did not turn out.

And how about all the craziness right here in Kraut Town ? Blocking the intersection on Halloween so nobody could get through on their way to church on Sunday morning.
The irate Ind. State Trooper who had to get out of the shower and drive all the way from Jasper to Freelandville to subdue the rowdy youths of our city. To say he was upset would be an understatement. And then as he is lecturing us about the error of our ways, five tractor tires come rolling out onto the street from behind the IH shop building, accompanied by several load shrill yells.......(Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!)

I better get busy writing that book.........

06/20/08 11:35 PM

#96

KATHY:

I only play with Ray at the Dutchmen Reunion. I am way out of Ray's league, skill wise. He is a top of the line bluegrass banjo picker and superb harmony vocalist. He does have a bluegrass band he plays with on a semi-regular basis.
I am a oldies picker, although those songs do not seem like "oldies" to me. I learned to play guitar on those songs. Today's music doesn't come close to the music of the late 50's / 1960's.
Now, if you choose to attend the reunion, you do realize you will be the only female there ? Will that be a problem ?

06/22/08 09:12 PM

#97

The seafood place at Cedar Key, FLA. is called "Seabreeze On The Dock". Found a photo of the place on-line. Only restaurant in town that overlooks (or stands on stilts, if you prefer) the Gulf. Pretty sure it's the same place we ate at way back when.
Sorry to say the on-line rating was not good. Slow service and food not great. Also, mentioned that the restuarant's reputation took a hit back in 1974, when they let five loser's from Indiana in the place !

06/23/08 12:53 AM

#98

Kathy Watson

Tom, Sorry I'm late to respond...spent the weekend in S.C. for a belated Father's Day get-together....

YEAH.....I think I might have a problem being the only female at the January shindig....hmmmm...if I show up and something goes wrong...I'll be the one that jinxed the party...on the other hand, if the party goes coed, that would be different....wait a minute...if something goes wrong, I'm STILL the one who jinxed the party by suggesting it go coed...but thanks for the invite....see what a little worrywort I am!!!

Rich, I know...you can go and take pictures....but first, you've got to survive this month in San Fran in that uniform....see, still worrying! :)

06/23/08 08:41 PM

#99