Kay Manning (Elrod)

Laurena Hutto Taylor is working for Allstate as a Catastrophy Team Lead in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and experienced the fear of the Texas tornados about two weeks ago. She tells me the devastation in Oklahoma has been reported as the worst ever seen and the claims are starting to come in.  She asked that we pray for the victims of the horrible storms as they grieve for their lost loved ones. A new post has been put on Prayers and Gratitude to remind us all to keep these good people in our thoughts and prayers as they try to recover from these devastating circumstances. Laurena deserves a blessing for surviving the storms herself and working to help all those in need.  Kay

Kay Manning (Elrod)

5/28/2013  Below is a note from Laurena Hutto Taylor written after the big Oklahoma tornados:

"It is one of the worst for damage. Looks like a war zone. I am an hour away from OK, but I am getting all the claims that are coming in from the losses there. We have lots of boots on the ground there and it is just unbelievable what they are reporting back. We have some listed with fatalities on the claims so we have special handling of those. It is just devastating. We have been under warnings here, and had some all around Dallas-Fort Worth week before last. They touched down in Granbury and Cleburn. I put my purse and shoes by my bed, my cell was on by my side. I finally got in bed about 2am fully dressed. I figured if something happened I was not going to be that woman on the news with a blanket around me and no clothes on. It is typical for this area in North Texas less than an hour from OK border. We had 75 mph winds and storms last night within 20 minutes of my apartment. Scary stuff. We just need to pray for the victims as they grieve for there loved ones and get through the shock of the tragedy."
 

Mary Alice Reeves (Davis)

We were here for the May 3, 1999 tornado and this one is considerably worse.  It is unbeleiable how devestating it is.  Our youngest daughter barely got out of the area with her 7 week old baby before it hit.  Luckily her home was spared and they only loss 2 fence post, but the devastation starts about 1/2 mile from her home.  Now there are more on the way this evening as Blake Shelton is preparing for the big concert to raise funs for the tornado victums.  Pray nothing happens during that time.

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Ernie Wright

I am saddened to hear the news of Mr. Beachs passing ,My thought and prayer go out to the entire  family.God Bless and keep the Faith.

                                                                                 Ernie Wright.

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Fellow Bearcats, below is an update from Ernie Wright. Please plan on attending the party on June 29th if possible. This would surely lift Charlie's spirits to see a cadre of Bearcats show up! Cards are always welcome.  Becky

Message from Ernie:

Just a few notes about Charlie Soles, Charlie is about the same as last reported. He has good days and bad days. He does sleep a lot and that's probably due to severity of stroke. The family has been extremely happy that Charlie has been getting Cards from classmates and a couple visits. Larry Soles is Charlies, Brother and he informed me tonight that they have planned a Birthday celebration on June 29th at White Oak Manor, Rock Hill around 10:00 a.m. If anyone is available at that time please drop by for a short visit, Short visits are recommended between 5 to 10 minutes. If unavailable please send him a card no gifts except encouragements. Charlie really enjoys Bearcat Memorabilia especially sports, if anyone has some old sports poster or small signs and they would like to part with them ,the family thinks Charlie would really like to see them, they perk him up. I will keep everyone posted.

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

All, I posted a video a few days ago of various Youtube videos that my husband thought would be inspirational for our Sunday school class over July 4th. I combined them and made it into one video about 36 minutes long. Hopefully some of you were able to view it on our homepage before it was blocked. There are various laws now that protect copyrighted material and I honor that and appreciate that as a songwriter, so I removed the posting. 

I know these laws are to prevent  individuals from using material for commercial purposes and profit. Certainly, t his was not the case with  us since all the videos came from Youtube and our intent was to share this only with friends and family. If you would like a copy of our special video, I can mail you a copy since it would be for your personal use only. Just email me and I'll send it out to you. The message is that "Freedom Is Not  Free." We need to honor our soldiers who serve and who have served our country, and to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Thanks, Becky

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Hello friends! I've been on vacation for two weeks, didn't mean to be gone that long, but it just happened. I know I missed some birthdays and I apologize. I'll try to make it up.  While working on my emails and the web site, I'd been home about an hour when I heard a horrible crash. I thought it was another earthquake.  Much to my horror, our 27 year-old Bradford pear tree split down the middle and landed on the house. It appears that the gutters suffered more than anything else. We have such great neighbors, they all came out to say hello and inspect the damage.  One of them called a friend who builds houses and can do anyother kind of job and he called his friend who works with trees and they came out and removed the limbs from the house and chopped up the branches. There is still half a tree standing, just pray it doesn't fall into the road before the insurance adjustor gets here. What a nightmare! But, I met a great man named John who works for the State of NC and cuts trees on the side and confirmed what I have known for years - that we have the best neighborhood EVER!  I met my other neighbor's little red-haired twin grandsons, 5 months old- what little angels. So, in spite of the roof damage and the assault on my elderly nervous system, it wasn't such a bad day.  Oh by the way - did I mention my daughter got married on 6/28 - YES!!!

George Crow

What a summer thus far, Kay!  May you have the most boring and tranquil of times for the rest of the season.  And congratulations on the wedding.  Can't think of much that is sweeter..

George Crow

Kay Manning (Elrod)

George: My summer has thus far been very boring, but that is about all I can handle. From time to time, someone wants to shake me up and motivate me to be more productive.  I have plenty to do now. The man that cuts our grass had just finished mowing about 30 minutes prior to the tree falling. I thank God he wasn't under it when it fell. I'm sure he'll appreciate the extra work when he comes again and sees the mess.  As my husband said, we needed new gutters!  From the photos you might be able to tell it got both sides of the house. I am very grateful it didn't push the windows in.  As far as I can tell there was no roof damage other than that.  I mourned the loss of the first pear tree that went down about 10 years ago.  This one, not so much. I could tell it was becoming a hazard to the neighborhood. I just didn't attend to it when I should have.  We are very excited about the new son-in-law.  I told him I passed everything to him and I hoped he was up for the job.  I was a mother for 40 years and it's time she had a chance at another kind of relationship.  I'm sure there will still be a need for me someplace.  I told my husband, she never calls anymore.  He said, isn't that what you wanted?  This is all new, but I can get used to it.  Hope you are well and having a great summer.  Always enjoy hearing from you !

Kay Manning (Elrod)

7/24/13 - From time to time we encounter incidents that substantiate the fact that our generation is dying out and we are no longer of this world.  Besides the electronics that separate us from the new generation, there are inventions of our generation that separates them from us.  One such encounter happened at the beach on the 4th of July.  It was my husband's 65th birthday, and I wanted to make him a cake.  The kitchen at the beach is very basic and I realized there were several things I would need to produce the 65th birthday cake.  Food Lion was right down the street, so I went in search of a sifter and some baking powder.  A young woman around the age of 17 was working on the baking aisle and I asked her if there were any sifters.  She looked at me strangely and replied, "WHAT IS A SIFTER?"  I explained the concept of sifting the dry ingredients together before adding to the butter and sugar concoction.  Hooray, I found the sifter.  As I was checking out, the checker was another young woman about the same age.  She picked up the sifter and asked, "WHAT IS THIS?"  Once again, I had to explain the concept of combining the dry ingredients and making the flour lighter.  Having given it very little thought, it is clear to me that not only have the schools eliminated cursive from the curriculum, but entire home economics classes.  So, people don't get homemade birthday cakes anymore?   Maybe some of you have experienced similiar encounters.  These kids today may not know how to cook, but they do stay in touch with their 500 friends on Facebook, which is more than I can say about my two best friends who live in the same city.  To my knowledge, they have sifters and can produce some fine birthday cakes.

Kenneth Reid Hinson

Kay, it won't be too much longer when such things as an oven will disappear! Then the refrigerators! Fast food is taking over!! Families are seperating, children have little respect for their parents. I have seen alot of this in recent years. I just returned an entire box of old photos to my relatives that they never knew existed. Nothing in response. Oh very well. I can continue on with my life without most of them anymore. I have made it this far!    Ken Hinson

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Hey Ken: Thanks for the response.  I understand what you mean by the photos.  We are making some small effort to downsize our belongings and photos are a big problem.  I have pictures of my great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, cousins - no one wants them.  This is their family history and some of these old timers were very talented and gifted people.  One of them founded a church in the 1800's, some were artists, some just good people doing great things.  The family is fragmented and if children feel detached from their families, it could be that this is their own choice. There is certainly enough documentation in todays world to teach the young about where they came from, but, sadly, they are not showing the interest in learning about it. My dad spent most of his adult life researching his side of the family and we have several notebooks full of interesting facts and stories.  Most of his findings are in a computer possessed by his widow in Indiana, but hopefully someday we will get those things back.  One story indicates that one of his ancestors ran a tavern up around Bodie sound and Blackbeard was an acquaintance of his.  Mother said that in her family history in some way she is related to the Lady Godiva.  These things may or may not be true, but they are interesting. 

No stoves?  I already know a batchelor who uses his stove to store things.  He has lived in his house for 30 years and never used the stove.  The commercials on TV amaze me how the sponsors are trying to teach the new generation of mothers how to feed the family - of course, it is all packaged food like mac & cheese and toaster streudels.  I guess that is something.  Remember when there were no free lunches and we had to bring what we had at home to eat.  We ate a lot of mayonnaise sandwiches or just bread and butter - and happy to have it.  I didn't much like the banana in my lunch box, it was always brown by lunchtime.  I can remember mother asking us if we wanted butter or mayonnaise on our sandwiches.  We always had a choice and it was fun making that decision.  After payday we had peanut butter, cheese, or bologna sandwiches and a pack of Twinkies - UMMM! Milk was 5 cents. We always had milk!  No sodas, no chocolate milk. 

So glad you responded, you struck a nerve and I could ramble on forever, but must get busy.  Kay

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Back from visiting my sister in NJ. Love your stories Kay. Keep up the reflections and observations...you are spot on!

Kenneth Reid Hinson

This one is for you, Kay. I was surprised to read the things you had to say about everything. Ha,ha. That was very interesting. Someday I will tell you about where the Hinson name came from. But not today... tee.hee. It is avery long story. I have researched us back into the Stone Age! Really! Thanks for your story- I really enjoyed reading that.  Later.... Ken

Kay Manning (Elrod)

8/22/13  -  Oh Beck, you've done it again!  That video of Stand By Me on the home page is so good I have to watch it several times a day. Isn't  technology fantastic, connecting all those extremely talented and passionate musicians together at once, singing one our favorite American R&B songs.  It gives a sense of unity around the world and makes us feel connected in ways we didn't realize.  I would never have guessed someone in Russia, Italy, or the Congo would have ever heard the song much less played it with such enthusiasm. Can you tell I love it!  Kay

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

My husband made me aware of it..a friend sent it to him on email. We are burning it to DVD so we can show it in Sunday school. I love it too!

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Remember these????

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Subject: Doo Wop Test..................

(Answers are at the bottom.) 

 
1. When did ''Little Suzie'' finally wake up?
(a) The movie's over, it's 2 o'clock
(b) The movie's over, it's 3 o'clock
(c) The movie's over, it's 4 o'clock

2. ''Rock Around The Clock'' was used in what movie?
(a) Rebel Without A Cause
(b) Blackboard Jungle
(c) The  Wild Ones

3. What's missing from a Rock & Roll standpoint? Earth  _____
(a) Angel
(b) Mother
(c) Worm

4. ''I found my thrill . . .'' where?
(a) Kansas City
(b) Heartbreak Hotel
(c) Blueberry  Hill

5. ''Please turn on your magic beam, _____ _____ bring me a dream,'':
(a) Mr. Sandman
(b) Earth Angel
(c) Dream  Lover

6.  For which label did Elvis Presley first record?
(a) Atlantic
(b) RCA
(c) Sun

7. He asked, ''Why's everybody always pickin' on me?'' Who was he?
(a)  Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
(b) Charlie Brown
(c) Buster  Brown

8. In Bobby Darin's ''Mack The Knife,'' the one with the knife, was named:
(a) MacHeath
(b) MacCloud
(c) MacNamara

9. Name the song with ''A-wop bop a-loo bop a-lop bam boom.''
(a) Good Golly, Miss Molly
(b) Be-Bop-A-Lula
(c) Tutti  Fruitti

10. Who is generally given credit for originating the term ''Rock And Roll''?
(a) Dick Clark
(b) Wolfman Jack
(c) Alan  Freed

11. In 1957, he left the music business to become a preacher:
(a) Little Richard
(b) Frankie Lymon
(c) Tony  Orlando

12. Paul Anka's ''Puppy Love'' is written to what star?
(a) Brenda Lee
(b) Connie Francis
(c) Annette Funicello

13. The Everly Brothers were . . ...
(a) Pete and Dick
(b) Don and Phil
(c) Bob and Bill

14. The Big Bopper's real name was:
(a) Jiles P. Richardson
(b) Roy Harold Scherer Jr.
(c)  Marion Michael Morrison

15. In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr, started a small record company called...
(a) Decca
(b) Cameo
(c) Motown

16. Edd Brynes had a hit with ''Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb''. What TV show was he on?
(a) 77 Sunset Strip
(b) Hawaiian Eye
(c) Surfside  Six

17. In 1960 Bobby Darin married:
(a) Carol Lynley
(b) Sandra Dee
(c) Natalie  Wood

18.. They were a one hit wonder with ''Book Of  Love'':
(a) The Penguins
(b) The Monotones
(c) The  Moonglows

19.. The Everly Brothers sang a song called ''Till I ______  You.''
(a) Loved
(b) Kissed
(c) Met

20. Chuck Berry sang ''Oh, ___________, why can't you be true?''
(a) Suzie Q
(b) Peggy Sue
(c) Maybelline

21. ''Wooly _______''
(a)  Mammouth
(b)  Bully
(c)  Pully

22. ''I'm like a one-eyed cat . . .  .."
(a) can't go into town no more
(b) sleepin' on a cold hard  floor
(c) peepin' in a seafood store

23. ''Sometimes I wonder what I'm gonna do . . . .  ...''
(a) cause there ain't no answer for a life without booze
(b)  cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
(c) cause my car's  gassed up and I'm ready to cruise

24. ''They often call me Speedo, but my real name is .. . . . .  ..''
(a) Mr. Earl
(b) Jackie Pearl
(c) Milton Berle

25. ''You're my Fanny and nobody else's  ......''
(a) girl
(b) butt
(c) love

26. ''I want you to play with my . . .  ''
(a) heart
(b) dreams
(c) ding a ling

27. ''Be Bop A Lula ....''
(a)  she's got the rabies
(b) she's my baby.
(c) she loves me,  maybe

28. ''Fine Love, Fine Kissing ...''
(a) right here
(b) fifty cents
(c) just for  you

29. ''He wore black denim trousers and . .  .''
(a) a pink carnation
(b) pink leotards
(c) motorcycle  boots

30. ''I got a gal named . ... ..''
(a) Jenny Zamboni
(b) Gerri Mahoney
(c) Boney  Maroney

Answers:

Scroll Down so you aren't tempted to cheat  (as if ?!).

* * * * * * * * * * * *

1. When did ''Little Suzie'' finally wake up?
(a) The  movie's over, it's 2 o'clock
(b) The movie's over, it's 3  o'clock
(c) The movie's over, it's 4 o'clock

2. ''Rock Around The Clock'' was used in what movie?
(a)  Rebel Without A Cause
(b) Blackboard Jungle
(c) The Wild Ones

3. What's missing from a Rock &  Roll standpoint? Earth _____
(a) Angel
(b) Mother
(c) Worm

4. ''I found my thrill . . .''  where?
(a) Kansas City
(b) Heartbreak  Hotel
(c) Blueberry Hill

5. ''Please turn on your magic beam, _____ _____ bring me a  dream,'':
(a) Mr. Sandman
(b) Earth Angel
(c) Dream Lover

6. For which label  did Elvis Presley first record?
(a) Atlantic
(b)  RCA
(c) Sun

7. He asked, ''Why's everybody always pickin' on me?'' Who was  he?
(a) Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
(b) Charlie Brown
(c) Buster Brown

8. In Bobby Darin's ''Mack The Knife,''  the one with the knife, was named:
(a) MacHeath
(b) MacCloud
(c) MacNamara

9. Name the song with  ''A-wop bop a-loo bop a-lop bam boom.''
(a) Good Golly, Miss  Molly
(b) Be-Bop-A-Lula
(c) Tutti Fruitti

10. Who is generally given credit for originating the term  ''Rock And Roll''?
(a) Dick Clark
(b) Wolfman  Jack
(c) Alan Freed

11. In 1957, he left the music business to become a  preacher:
(a) Little Richard
(b) Frankie Lymon
(c) Tony Orlando

12. Paul Anka's  ''Puppy Love'' is written to what star?
(a) Brenda Lee
(b) Connie  Francis
(c) Annette Funicello 

13. The Everly Brothers were . . ...
(a) Pete and  Dick
(b) Don and Phil
(c) Bob and Bill

14. The Big Bopper's real name  was:
(a) Jiles P. Richardson
(b) Roy Harold Scherer Jr.
(c) Marion Michael  Morrison

15. In 1959, Berry Gordy, Jr.., started a small record  company called...
(a) Decca
(b) Cameo
(c) Motown

16. Edd Brynes had a hit with ''Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your  Comb''.  What TV show was he on?
(a) 77 Sunset Strip
(b) Hawaiian Eye
(c) Surfside Six

17. In 1960 Bobby  Darin married:
(a) Carol Lynley
(b) Sandra Dee
(c) Natalie Wood

18.. They were a one hit wonder with  ''Book Of Love'':
(a) The Penguins
(b) The Monotones
(c) The Moonglows

19.. The Everly Brothers sang a song called ''Till I ______  You.''
(a) Loved
(b) Kissed
(c) Met

20. Chuck Berry sang ''Oh, ___________, why  can't you be true?''
(a) Suzie Q
(b) Peggy  Sue
(c) Maybelline 

21. ''Wooly _______''
(a) Mammouth
(b) Bully
(c) Pully

22. ''I'm like a one-eyed cat . .. .."
(a)  can't go into town no more
(b) sleepin' on a cold hard  floor
(c) peepin' in a seafood store

23. ''Sometimes I wonder what I'm gonna do . . . . ...''
(a)  cause there ain't no answer for a life without  booze
(b) cause there ain't no cure for the summertime  blues
(c) cause my car's gassed up and I'm ready to  cruise

24.. ''They often call me Speedo, but my real name is ... .  . . . ..''
(a) Mr. Earl
(b) Jackie Pearl
(c) Milton Berle 

25. ''You're my Fanny and nobody else's ......''
(a)  girl
(b) butt
(c) love

26. ''I want you to play with my . . .  ''
(a) heart
(b) dreams
(c) ding a ling

27. ''Be Bop A Lula ....''
(a) she's got the  rabies
(b) she's my baby.
(c) she loves me, maybe

28. ''Fine Love, Fine Kissing ...''
(a) right here
(b) fifty cents
(c) just for you

29. ''He wore black denim trousers and . . .''
(a) a pink  carnation
(b) pink leotards
(c) motorcycle boots

30. ''I got a gal named . ... ..''
(a) Jenny Zamboni
(b)  Gerri Mahoney
(c) Boney Maroney

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Becky: I think that is Jane Hall Sims on back row next to Judy Beach, second from right. I think Sister Carolyn Bennett is front row right end. I wish some people would step up and help us identify.

Rebecca Littlefield (Jones)

Is this Ebinport?    Looks like Suzanne Buddin front row, 3-right.  Looks like me back row on end but did I really wear my hair like that.  Funny that you can really "see" who you think these little ones are..i.e., we have not changed a bit!!  Keep going until all are identified:-)

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Thanks Beckie for letting us know. Becky couldn't remember if it was Richmond Drive or Ebinport. She went to both. I agree that we should not stop until all are identified! I thought that was Judy Beach on back row right end.  But, I don't know since I didn't live here at the time. Do you remembmer the outfit?   Kay

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

I visited Brenda, my sister, this past week and she found  her fourth grade picture and we realized our mother dressed us alike for our class picture. She was a grade ahead of me and she had made notes on the back of her picture. That means this picture was of the third grade at Richmond Drive we believe. 

Thanks Beckie and Kay for sharing your thoughts on who is pictured here. Can anyone confirm if that is Charles Ferguson on the row behind me to the left?

D. Anne Bagley (Elliott)

Squinting eyes on I Phone. I will look when I get back home on computer!cold and rainy day so we are heading to the lake maybe wine will make me warm. Later Anne

Now hope you get this note

blessings

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Anne: Not so cold here. Temp in 70's and I'm sweating. Tomorrow will be cold though! Wine will help you through any situation. Will wait for you to get home and look at the computer. Hope you can ID some of these kids. Kay