Message Forum

Thoughts and prayers for Roma!

Thanks for letting us know Leroy and please keep us posted.

04/14/19 03:29 PM

#9567

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

It sure was a very fun get together at the Fall Fling last night. A great turnout and a lot of laughs. One of those nights that will keep me smiling for weeks. So good to see my old buddy Rod King, to be able to meet Janie Hartman’s lovely daughter, and to shake and hug and catch up with so many old friends.

Thank you Johnny for organizing it, and for all of your hard work for our class.

I think we could all feel Jackie’s presence with us in spirit, carrying on, laughing and catching up just as she wanted.

04/14/19 11:44 PM

#9568

Scotty Croom

..what a great time sat pm was.....lots of old faces returned...missed some because of ilness,conflicts, and other reasons...head back to bama tues. am.....

04/15/19 10:10 AM

#9569

Larry Reid '63

I am so sorry I missed your wonderful Spring Fling. Looks like everyone had a great time. Also, sorry to hear about Roma. She is in my prayers. Actually, all of you are in my prayers. I feel so blessed to be an Alumni of Waltrip High School and had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the finest people anyone could ever meet, both faculty and students.

04/16/19 12:14 AM

#9570

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Sorry I missed the get together. I went to the doctor two weeks ago and caught the flu. Yesterday was the first day I had been in street clothes for more than 2 hours. I tried to do my duty by quarantining myself. Didn’t want to get around any old people who might have been chaperoning the fling.

It is NBA basketball playoff season so we have watched a fair number of games. Does it bother any of you former players that traveling is not called in the pro league while you guys got called for it all the time?

04/16/19 07:38 AM

#9571

I totally agree about the traveling calls, Pat. Thanks for sparing us "old" chaperones the chance of sickness. You missed a great get-together. Lots of sign-ups for our 55th in October. Hope everyone notes the reunion information on our Home Page and please send your money to Lynn Wren Burkhardt. Hoping to get the Spring Fling photos posted this week.

04/16/19 10:07 AM

#9572

Yes, I will do my best to get the photos posted. I have not received all the pictures yet from our volunteer photographers. Thanks to Tom, Jimmie and Lynn for taking them. I wish we had not already had plans and could have attended, sounds like a great time was had by all. We got back in town yesterday and it will take several days to get caught back up, but the Fling photos are definitely a priority.

04/17/19 07:09 AM

#9573

Goooooood morning Chappell Hilllllllllllll......Ol deaf dumb and blind dawg here...."that deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball..." Aint talkin about this DD&BK, I could never play pin ball worth beans, or any sport, manual, or electronical, analog or digical. Prayers for Roma and Henny. In fact, we have a whole buschel basket of prayers should anyone be in need of !

I do believe this spring fling wsa the first get together of 64 I've missed in the last 10 years or so. Couldnt be helped, although it was close. On the one hand, go to our spring fling, on the other, walk my grandaughter Lucy down the aisle.....hmm, a close one I'll admit, but Lucy won out, or should I say I won out. Oh my what a beautiful bride she was and is. She is just a tiny slip of a thing, but oh so beautiul. Her wedding gown was so simple, but so elegant!

She has been planning this wedding for over a year, and I do mean plan, down to the last detail and second. SHE planned everything, music, food, decorations, everything. She even had an itinery printed up, "4:45, bridesmaids and groomsmen start the procession, 4:51 flower girls down the aisle etc...." She could make a fortune if she decided to be a wedding planner, in fact other brides and moms have asked her to plan theirs. Lucy said she really likes doing it, but would rather continue on with her chosen profession, Ocupational therapist.

Everything went accordion to plan at the wedding. It was an outdoor affair, and couldnt have been a more lovelier day if so ordered. As I escorted Lucy to the pergola altar, we had to descend a flight of stairs, which we did deftly and with aplomb, all eyes on us. May I interject here, I really dont like to be in the limelight or center of attention, but with Lucy on my arm, I'd break down the gates of hell and turn it into a gift shop.

I didnt trip her or fall down, yeaaaaa! I was so worried I'd stumble and mess stuff up, but I didnt. When we stopped at the altar, which seemed like a very long walk, but now seems to have been no more than a nanosecond, before I gave her hand to her soon to be husband, I kissed her on both cheeks, one for her mom and one for her dad and on the forhead for Diane and I. She gave me the tightest hug. About that time, we all heard a rumble of thunder, just one, and it was a clear day. Her Dad? Just about had us all in tears.

Rest of the day and eenin went as accordion to plan. I danced with Lucy, and I must say, these tired hurting old legs didnt fail me. I can still cut a rug, slowly, but cut one none the less. Didnt get to see them cut the cake, T-9 was hurting almost more than I could stand, and I can stand a lot, even after taking maximum dosage of meds, so I went back to the hotel to lie down. It had been a long day! Oh, bride and groom left yesterday for three weeks in Bali.

We stayed at the La Quinta hotel on the corner of 14th and Seawall blvd. What a perfect spot! The morning of the wedding, Diane and I had our usual carbless breakfast at Dennys right next door, then decided to go accross the street and walk down the beach a half mile or so to Murdochs. I havent walked on a beach or in sand that wasnt slated for landscaping, in 50 years.

Is anyone familiar with Murdochs? I'd never heard of them, and they've been there since the 19th century. It is a great place to shop for beach themed items, shells, shirts etc., which we did and stocked up plenty. The place is huge and on several joined piers out over the water. They even have a breezeway where you can sit in rocking chairs and just chill enjoying the breeze and view and sound of the waves crashing below. Might just have to go back again someday!

If it werent for my overly responsible feelings towards my animals, we'd go more often. We boarded the dogs and cats at our vets, they are in safe hands there, but yet I still worried about them no end. Just me being me! It's hard to have fun when youre worried about everything. I'm not a gloryhound, or a control freak, just feel responsible for everyones safety when together.

Left Galveston just about the time the sun decided to rise above the ocean. Wow, what a beautiful sight! Hadnt seen that sort in over 50 years. Made it home a couple hours later safe and sound, but missing our critters which we couldnt pick up till Monday Morning. When we did, lots of hugs and kisses and jumping about, and that was just me. I was worried about Little Miss especially, cause she is my little shadow. She clings to me whenever we are together. In fact, she is in my lap holding on for dear life lest I leave her again.

Ok, time to deplane. Sorry I missed everyone at the SF. I do so enjoy seeing and being with everyone. Maybe next time! I'd be interested to know if anyone would like to get Fudds up and running again. It doesnt have to be Fudds, it can be anywhere, but I really enjoyed that once a month meeting and would do so again if anyone were interested.

Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...
your frien and resident deaf dumb and blind dawg, Cephus T MaGoo

04/17/19 10:55 AM

#9574

It's me again Margaret ! ! ! Been thinking about it long and hard, the Fudds once a month meeting, and I think I'm going to be the one to instigate it this time. I think Teddy and or Jackie got the one going in the beginning, but no matter, there's really no reason why anyone cant just say, "hey, Diane and I are going to be at so and so's for the 2nd tuesday of this month if anyone would care to join us.

We're not getting any younger, I'll be 74 in June as will lots of folks, 73, 74 etc, and isnt it better to have the option of one or more dates out of 12 to get together? I missed the spring fling, so next October will be a year since I've gotten to see all yall. Not sure what our October looks like until it gets close. If we cant make it then, it'll be a year and a half till the next spring fling, and so on.

Lots of folks have health issues, or a spouse with health issues, or both, sometimes you never know if you can make a certain date or not till it comes. I think it's better to have 12 options than narrowed down to one or two, eh what!

I think I'm going to start the every 2nd tuesday thing up again, maybe start it in June, and here's the best part, if anyone objects, or doesnt feel like participating then just dont come, it's strictly voluntary like the spring and the fall fling are, so no nay sayers please. Simple, and I like simple best of all.

The 2nd tuesday would be open to other classes as well, just like the last 2nd tuesday fudds meetings. Really got to meet a lot of folks I'd not seen in 50 years, plus some of the ones that made it to fudds are with us no longer in body, spirit yes!

Ok, it's settled, gonna start up 2nd tuesday again, and if Diane and I are the only ones there, then we will have dinner in good company. I'll start looking for another place besides Fudds to have it. That part of town is just so crowded and busy plus they seem to always have on ramps and off ramps closed which make it hard to navigate in that part of the whirld. Maybe a little further out 290, Spring Cypress maybe. There's a plethora of places to meet out there.

Well we will see what we will see eh what! Signing off from the CHALPS and CHIMACS, for now,
your frien and resident deaf dumb and blind instigator, Blind Dawg Cephus MaGoo.

04/17/19 03:51 PM

#9575

Beau, I like your idea of getting together on the second Tuesday each month. I hope you will be able to find that alternate location around Spring Cypress. Keep us all posted of your progress. By the way, I just posted the Fing photos. Again, I want to thank our photographers, Jimmie Lee Smith Brawner, Tom Gann, and Lynn Wren Burkhardt. Jimmie provided the names to go with the pictures.

04/17/19 04:50 PM

#9576

Susan Howard (Bowman)

A big shout out to Beverly for posting the Fling pictures and to Jimmie Lee, Lynn, and Tom for taking them. Johnny, a big thank you to you for keeping us going! The Fling was so much fun.. great to see everyone who made it. Looking forward to October!

04/17/19 06:15 PM

#9577

"It's me again Margaret..." duh, who else would it be? When we got back from Galveston Sunday, I noticed all the deck furniture was not on the deck. (I'm pretty sharp sometimes) Instead it was stacked out in the yard nice and un-neat. That storm that came through when was it, Friday or Saturday? Well no matter. Nothing was broken, including the stone coffee table, and the glass top table, chairs were all ok, upside down, but ok. The onliest (east texas for only) thing broken was where the table had hit one of Dianes Easter lilies. Tjhat was some powerful wind.

Yesterday I hooked up the field shredder (mower) to the PTO of the tractor and mowed the south forty down by the creek. Just happened to spy a copperhead down there, so I ran over it with the front wheels and the big back wheels at least 3 times. Did not even phase that ol boy, in fact, he looked like he was having too much fun, and had a look like, "is that all you got?". No, I have more, hows a .44 special for you. So I let him have it, and filled him full of lead. No, literally filled him full of lead from one .44 special shot shell, otherwise known as "snakeshot". He was a big ol boy too. One less viper!

Just got in from walking a mile in my shoes, actually a mile and a half. Would you believe I'm down from 210 pounds to 176 now. My goal initially was 175, but accordian to the charts my weight should be 160 to coincide with my height. So, that's what I'm aiming for, 160. Once you learn how to eat, and what to eat and how much, and what to avoid, you get use to it and it's not too terribly hard. Still would like some chicken fried steak with a gallon of gravy and a biscuit or two, but gonna wait till I reach 160. (I would like to have a 7 layer chocolate devils food cake with chocolat icing and a couple O scoops O Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream)

I've really been thinking alot about the 2nd Tuesday meetings, and it can be actually any day of the week. I know some folks including me, dont like to drive after dark, so it can be a Saturday afternoon, or Sunday, and since most of us are retired, it can be earlier in the day on Tuesday.

Just been thinking alot about Jackie and how much I miss her. If' we'd had "Fudds" in 2018, I'd gotten to see her at least two more times after the fall fling. That really doesnt help, cause I should have called her, just didnt want to be a bother. If it hadnt been for "Fudds", I'd never met Jimmy Brown, rest his soul, or met Jimmy Robinson, Robert Hoppens and Sharon, or a lot of other folks. So whoevers idea it was to have 2nd Tuesday, was pure genius!

Isnt that just a shame that the Notre Dame cathedral burned. That was built sometime in the 12 th century, if memory serves me correctly, and no reason it should start now, eh what ! ! ! I'm surprised it survived WWII and Hitlers and Gorings evilness.

Well, I shall endeavor to persevere, so keep the sun at your six and the Son in your heart and "ride boldly ride..."
your frien and resident sooth sayer and blind mans bluff, Cephus T. MaGoo

04/17/19 06:56 PM

#9578

Cephus, for the genesis of the idea on our 8 years of Fudd’s gatherings look back at page 28 of the Forum, 12-9-08. Our beloved Jackie had started the website and we were all reconnecting and approaching our 45th reunion. People were saying things like, “I wish we didn’t have to wait until next October to see everyone, and I thought, We Don’t!

What changed over that period of time was aging, and traffic. Driving at night doesn’t get easier. As a kid I used to hear the older folks say, we’d better go so we can get home by dark. When you’re young that sounds strange. When you get our age you tend to understand.

Having said that, we totally enjoy getting together and will always make as many gatherings as possible.

04/18/19 04:55 AM

#9579

Yeah TJ, I totally concur wwith you about what's changed with our class. Arent life cycles funny! 20 years ago we were 55ish and most still working, and knew we were approaching oldhood, but still thought we were 10 foot tall and bullet proof. Well, maybe 9 foot tall. Now we're there, great grandpa and grandmahood. As I stated above some folks cant drive at night, me being one of them. Sometimes I cant see the forest for the trees! Hmmmmm heavy sigh ! ! !

What about we do it on a Saturday afternoon! There were a lot of guys, me included, that use to meet for lunch once a month during the week methinks. Hmmm, what did we call that group? WABEC? Waltrip Alumni Burger Evaluating Committee? Well no matter, we could do the same again! Or, how bout if one of us once a month put on the forum that we are going to lunch, and would anyone care to join us!

oh well, we will see what we will see. Of course everyone is welcome out here anytime. Still got a fridge full of beer and pina coladas and margarita makins, peanuts and popcorn and chips and salsa. Well ok, guess I'll have to rethink stuff. I didnt want to wait till October to see folks. What if I cant come then? I know, too bad doodad!

Storm just roared through here about 3:30 only got .63 of an inch of rain. Not enough, but we gratefully accept it. Thunder and lightning got all the critters upset, me too! So I'm up and dressed, obviously since I'm tipy typing on this here keyboard. Well duh...Sometimes I just amaze myself...!!! Suppose to be nice for the next 5 days or so. Got the inlaws coming out today for lunch if they're not flooded in or out.

Time to deplane! Keeep the sun at your six and the Son in your heart, and "ride boldly ride"...
Your frien and resident worrier, blind dawg Cephus Magoo, esq.

04/18/19 05:22 AM

#9580

How about trying 4pm, second Saturday of every month, pick a place, and give it a try. The secret to success I believe is having a standard place and date and staying with it!

Like you said we ain’t getting any younger! Except for me, I just had two cups of joe and my morning raisin nut bran and I’m ready to go.

04/19/19 07:46 AM

#9581

Received this notice from James Tumis. Harvey, class of "65, was a guest member on our website.

Let's keep Harvey's family and friends in our prayers.

Deceased Classmate: Harvey Tumis '65
Obituary Link: http://www.austinfuneralservice.com/deceased/harvey-tumis
Date Of Birth: 09-13-1947
Date Deceased: 04-09-2019
Age at Death: 71
Cause of Death: Cancer
Classmate City: Brentwood
Classmate State: TN
Classmate Country: USA
Was a Veteran: No
Survived By: Rita Tumis wife and three children Brian, James and Celeste.

04/19/19 12:37 PM

#9582

Scotty Croom

in searching thru old pics, i found pics w/many of us who attend flings..will make copies for reunion and share w/all ....most have changed little,but some faces i remember,but not names...i guess its my old age.lol...

04/20/19 08:44 AM

#9583

Johnny Sheffield

Good news on Janet Strickland. Rick called me

Yesterday and stated that Janet’s was doing much better.

She came home to vidor to be with her daughter for a couple

Of weeks before coming home with rick to shiner Texas.

Rick stated she will most likely be on a oxygen pack all the time.

Happy Easter to rick and Janet.

Johnny

04/20/19 08:48 AM

#9584

Johnny Sheffield

To all my waltrip class mates.

Happy Easter to all you and your families.

May you have a wonderful weekend

Johnny

04/21/19 09:56 AM

#9585

Larry Reid '63

He has risen!

04/21/19 10:04 AM

#9586

Bill Traill

Happy Easter to all my ole classmates !! Enjoy this beautiful day.

04/21/19 05:03 PM

#9587

Wonderful news about Janet improving. Thanks to Johnny for keeping us updated.

Also, thanks to Johnny Sheffield, Larry Reid and Bill Traill for thinking about our class and making Easter posts.

Wishing Easter blessings for everyone.

04/23/19 04:20 AM

#9588

Johnny, thank you for the report on Janet, it sounds like real progress for her. We will continue to pray for her, and Henny, and Charles Burkhardt and Roma and others.

And I got to thinking about our sweet Jackie and the joyful reunion she no doubt has had with her mom and dad and other loved ones who preceded her. I’m betting that as much as she loved people and WHS classmates and gatherings she has probably already organized monthly heavenly gatherings of classmates who have also arrived in Heaven.

04/23/19 01:49 PM

#9589

Pat Brantley (Ross)

I love the idea of driving into Houston on a Saturday. October is a tough month for me. Sometimes I am fine and other times I am in full retreat mode. I have been working on Ancestry for my daughter. Her husband’s family has put a great deal of work into his genealogy so I thought I would too. How old am I? My husband’s grandmother is from Grab All Tennessee and is related rather closely to the Spenser family. That is Winston Churchill and Princess Diana and her sons, William and Harry. What a hoot. This sweet old woman who spoiled my children rotten when my back was turned had relatives on the Mayflower. My side of the family is boring. I am spending my time on Ron’s family and ignoring mine.

I am now walking with a cane. This is a problem because my hands don’t work very well. Putting weight on my hand is slow going. I don’t drive at night. Ron has no problem driving at night because he doesn’t pay that much attention to his driving. He wants to discuss something we heard on C span book tv. We talk more than a lot of our friends. We can argue politics, economics or sports. We just like to talk. If someone had told me that the most important thing in finding a mate was finding a friend, I may not have believed them until I passed 21. We got married when we were 23. This June will be 50 years of saying “quote your source” when debating whatever.

Beau, I wish I could get on the paleo bandwagon. I really need to lose weight. I have read the books. Ron is losing weight. I think I am afraid of getting sick. So many foods make me sick.

04/26/19 08:24 PM

#9590