Renee Bringle (Pellegrini)

First time to post on our forum...so interesting to see what everyone is doing.  Our lives have really

changed this year....To day is my 75th Birthday,  unfortunately no celebration due to the circumstances.

I had a stroke the end of March,  doing better every day but will be a long haul,.  My mom suddenly

passed away  2 weeks after while I was in the hospital.  She was 93 and full of spirit.  But the world  was

not what it was.  The news upset her so much that I feel that she just wanted to join my dad in a better

place.  I think we of our generation know the importants of really what  is special in our lives.  Family, Friends,

Health, Happiness... not material goods,  Hugs, lots of hugs is what I miss. Please be safe, love ya all.

Steve Kelly

T timing of your post was perfect Jan thank you.

Robert Bloomberg (MidTerm)

Thanks for all your posts and a special shoutout to Jan for her timely list. (At our age, lists become more and more important, don't they?) We have lived through some amazing times, haven't we?

In lieu of a list, I've been keeping a musical journal to help me remember our current times. Here's a link to my collection of "Quarantunes" in hopes they bring some amusement and a brief break from the madness. (https://vimeo.com/showcase/7212108

To "mon amie" Diana, on behalf of our entire country, I offer my sincerest, embarrassed apologies. Hopefully we will start doing better soon. 
 

Best regards to all. Stay safe.

-Bob

Carol Gee (Siefkin)

Great posts from everyone, thanks so much.  Jan,  you did a fantastic job making our COVID-19 list (yes Bob we all do need lists at this stage of our lives).  Bunny, you are such a ray of sunshine sharing your life and I am glad you are recovering so well but so soory for your loss of your mom--keep on truckin'.  Bob, thanks for the tunes--I will definitely listen to them.  I agree with your comments Diana and I am embarrassed that our country has not done a better job--how simple to wear a mask and distance.  This is not rocket science and it certainly is not political (which it has become).  I wish everyone health and safety--take care of yourselves and others.  Thanks again to all, Carol Gee Siefkin 

Carol Gee (Siefkin)

Oops I said Bunny and I meant Renee--oh how the mind works at this age.  Sorryt

Francis Patrick Hassey (MidTerm)

Thank you Bob,

For the link to your awesome music videos. You definitely made my day. I continue to be impressed by your amazing talent and creativity. I grateful to be a member of the 1963 graduating class.

Diana Doupé (Vicari)

Love these new posts...  Row- bear, cher ami, tes chansons sont excellentes and your back-up group is super!  Keep safe, all you Lions--a little discomfort, physical and mental,  is necessary if we want to lick this abominable virus.  Cyber-hugs to all.

Robert Bloomberg (MidTerm)

https://youtu.be/amc8fev6Gwk

(Seriously, thanks to all for the kind words. Stay safe.)

Barbara Alexander

Hey, Bob. What great tunes! Just what we all need to help us make it through the insanity of our present world. 
Thank you so much for sharing!! Barbara Alexander

Roger Kircher

 Certainly a strange scary time. I am enjoying the response from all. Your list Jan struck a familiar tone. Stay safe everyone.

Valerie (Jean) Neelen (Siegel)

Hi Bob....Thanks for the great Quarantunes, they had me smiling and laughing.  Enjoyed the unique twist of mind and humor.  Valeri (Jean Neelen-Siegel)

Sally Robert

Robert - Your collection of Quarantunes are priceless!  Love your musical brilliance. Hey, we're neighbors...I live in Strawberry.  Happy Trails Lions!

Carolyn Crites (Baum)

Dear Bob,

Being a trained classical musician, and having taken piano lessons from age 5 through 17, I was in total awe of your musical talent in high school!  Thank you so much for these Quarantunes!  Your creative genius is alive and well.

Sincerely,

Carolyn (Crites) Baum

Charlotte Adelman (Paliani)

Bob, those tunes were incredible. I thought Corona, Corona was my favorite until I played all of them and then couldn't choose one better than the other! My husband (age 82) tested positive yesterday and we are in isolation now for 2 weeks. I was negative..but they say that is just for the day you test but I feel fine. He has symptoms so we shall see how it goes.  We had been very good about masks and distancing but the politics around here meant many in our little rural community were not. Our mayor has it and his partner is in ICU. We were pretty much free from all of it and in Phase 3 but then July 4 all the tourists had to do our beaches and since then every day brings bad news.   The worst of it to me is the nasty facebook comments and the venom that both sides are spewing around the issue. It is shameful, embarrassig, scary and sad. Don't forget to vote. Enough said

Robert Bloomberg (MidTerm)

Thanks Carolyn and Charlotte for the kind words. Charlotte, I was so sorry to hear about your husband testing positive and hope he makes a swift recovery and you remain in the best of health. I agree with your comments.  And yes, by all means, don't forget to vote. 
 

Carol Gee (Siefkin)

Charlotte, I was sorry to read about your husband testing positive; I hope he responds well to isolation and you too of course.  Thank you for your comments and I too agree VOTE.  We don't want this site to become political like other sites have but this COVID is not political (well at least it shouldn't be).  We are in the middle of a serious health challenge and we need to listen to the scientists/medical experts.  I am a mask wearer and stick pretty close to home most of the time---SAFETY.  Take care and I wish your husband the best.  Carol

Diana Doupé (Vicari)

Charlotte, I do hope your husband pulls out of Covid with flying colors.  I agree with Carol Gee entirely, about keeping safe and being medically-minded---non-political---about this puzzling disease.  Fingers Xed, hugs, and all the best to you and your family.

Bill Kelso

I completely agree with Carol and Diana that the coronavirus should be treated as a health and not a political issues on the McClatchy website. 

There is a time and place for everything in this country including politics. That includes political rallies, get out the vote canvasses or private discussions with your friends or colleagues.  But it definitely should not include a private site such as the McClatchy Alumni news.

I taught political science at the University of Florida for over thirty years and as anybody who follows the papers  knows, the country is highly polarized. And as the political science profession has noted, in the process people have become less civil and respectful of individuals with different beliefs.  

Given this political climate it would be nice to have a few places where people could be accepting of one another and not be judgmental about each other’s political views. Since we all grew up together, the McClatchy website should be a place where we are cordial to one another and accept the fact the members of our class may have different values or outlooks on life. 

It would thus be a real shame to politicize the McClatchy website and thereby undermine the good will that has existed among our classmates up to now. If the website unfortunately became political, I am sure many members, including myself, would no longer want to be part of the organization.

The above letters by Carol and Diana definitely deserve a lot of credit for raising an important issue about how our website should operate in the future.

Charlotte Adelman (Paliani)

I totally agree with Carol, Diane and Bill. I apologize if my post reflected a political envirnoment. It is lovely to have a place to go that is free from all that angst. My memories of school days and contacts since are all positive and I thank you all for your good wishes and the reminder. 

Ronald Link

To All:

Don't Give Up The Ship

Alan Holmstrom

Inline Image Not Displayed
  A little humor in these times seems to   help.  And, I'm grateful that no matter   how I look I'm still able to golf, talk with   family and friends, eat take out food and   appreciate the good things in life - like   McClatchy classmates.

  Stay safe, Alan Holmstrom

Alan Holmstrom

Hi Lions, in my prior post I was trying to copy a cute joke we all can relate to but it didn't copy, so here it is:

Alan Holmstrom

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

Have you ever been guilty of looking at someone your own age and thinking, "Surely I can't look that old?"  You'll love this one.

My name is Alice Smith and I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist.  I noticed his DDS diploma, which showed his full name.  Suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name who had been in my high school class some 40-odd years ago.  Could this be the same guy I had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought.  This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate.  After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High school.  "Yes. Yes, I did.  I'm a Mustang," he beamed with pride.  "When did you graduate?" I asked.  He answered, "In 1959. Why do you ask?"

"You were in my class!" I exclaimed.  He looked at me closely. Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkled, fat, gray, decrepit son-of-a-gun asked,  "What did you teach?"

Bonnie De Angelis (Stormont)

Ha, ha!!  Good one Alan!!  Thanks for starting my day with a good chuckle!

Barbara Alexander

Good one! Thanks for sharing.

Charlotte Adelman (Paliani)

.Very funny Alan.

Thanks for all the well wishers including private messages. Joe is much improved and we are both legally out of isolation and quarentine. Rough couple weeks but we made it!