Housebound Greetings, Classmates
Blame it on the endless Ohio winter and a vitamin D deficiency, but I have decided to try something new--a classmate grapevine. It seems there is always some little tidbit worth sharing, so I will start with what I have heard and let nature take its course.
What better place to start than with my very own news. My fourth great-grandchild and first boy, Haven Michael Lavender, joined the family on February 28. Haven's great-uncle is our classmate, Ken Lavender.
Susie Donovan Mooney is recovering wonderfully well from her bone marrow transplant. She is well ahead of schedule and is the poster child for BMT success.
Dick Patrick fell and broke his ankle. I don't know the sordid details but he did a bang-up job (bad pun, sorry) requiring surgery and pins and long recovery time.
Vicki DeVries Mills and her sister cruised the Caribbean in February. They visited St. Maarten, St. Lucia and St. Kitts islands.
Roger and Sally Jo Scott have a Mexican cruise coming up in April. I can't wait to hear all about it.
Mike Casey is undergoing chemotherapy. It makes him tired and weak but he is a fighter. He would love to hear from old friends.
Sondra Parks Duffy, who lost husband Bob in 2002, recently announced her engagement to Roy Davis. They are planning a July wedding in Racine. The ceremony will be performed by another classmate, the Reverend Ken Brown. All the best, girl!!
Dennis Jackson has had another adventure! Here is how he tells it--
When Kay and I moved to Arizona, we got into hiking and backpacking, including about a dozen trips into the Grand Canyon. Wanting to share our love with all of our family, we put together an April trip for the 16 of us. Problem was that the National Park service does not allow more than 8 people in a group to be in the same area of the Canyon at one time. Disruptive of the environment and other hikers' enjoyment of the Canyon. So, we cheated and got back country permits in three different group names. We arrived at the Canyon in the middle of a blizzard...everything was shut down. However, since there were 16 of us, the Bright Angel transportation desk was good enough to arrange a bus to take us to the trail head at Yaki Point. Their first tip off that they had an illegal group on their hands. Ranger Bob was not amused when we arrived at Phantom Ranch and barred us from getting back country permits for 12 months. Yes, the trip was worth it.
You can see photos of this teeth-chattering experience here.
Are you nostalgic for music from the 50s? Spend some time playing this jukebox. Dave Bertram found the site.
If you prefer old jazz from the 30s, 40s, and 50s, listen to this. There are thousands of MP3 files converted from 78s. Roger Gledhill found this site.
RECOMMENDED READING
All-Star Newspaper Delivery by Roland Fling
Single Forever by Nadia Marian Kind
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
Ann Lawson Sanderson
Karen Murfield Faircloth
David Bertram
Linda Brackney Spradlin
Ken Brown
Gene Buckingham
Sondra Flowers Hopper
Nancy Hough Bendle
Sharon Kiernan Maggard
Steve O'Keefe
These birthdays were listed in the class directory. If I have overlooked anyone, please let me know.
Give me some feedback. Is this a worthwhile idea or a spring-starved brain cramp?
Do you have an interesting tidbit to share? A provocative opinion to discuss?
I really would like to hear from you.