November Greetings, Classmates
It is hard to believe we are racing toward the holiday season. Where did this year go?
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LUCKY FIND
In the lull between summer fun and holiday feasting, I found time for cyber-surfing. While poking around the internet I came across some info on classmate Libby Stull. The US government's 2007 Minerals Management Service report had this to say:
Elisabeth Ann Stull received her Ph.D. from the University of California-Davis, her M.S. from the University of Georgia, and her B.A. from Lawrence University. Her academic training was in limnology, oceanography, and ecology. Her specialty is primary productivity and plankton community structure. She taught limnology and ecology at the University of Arizona prior to joining the staff at Argonne National Laboratory in 1978. She has over 25 years experience in environmental assessment, preparing assessments of aquatic and marine resources and cumulative impacts. She has directed the preparation of both small and large impact statements, and conducted field research. She has been a program manager and advisor on the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. She has prepared assessments of hydroelectric power, coal-fired and nuclear facilities, ocean disposal, hazardous waste incineration, assembled chemical weapons, and high-energy research facilities. She assisted in the preparation of the Council on Environmental Quality guidance on cumulative impact assessment.
I also learned that Libby likes to fish competitively and she is pretty darned good, too. The Chicagoland Bank Anglers hold an annual tourney and they post the results online. These photos are a few years old but they illustrate her talent with a fishing pole.
I sent Libby a note asking what she is doing these days but so far, no reply. She is probably restocking her tackle box in preparation for next year's tournaments. Keep reeling them in, gal!
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WINNING IN VEGAS
Sharon Kiernan Maggard has a great tale to tell. Freed's Bakery of Las Vegas reached its 50-year mark this year and celebrated by sponsoring a contest called 50 Years of Sweet Moments. Couples married for 50 years could enter or be nominated by writing a short story about their 50 years together. Sharon decided to enter. This is what she wrote:
Fred, my husband, and I attended Willis High School together. We dated, fell in love and married June 16, 1959. I was "Sweet Sixteen" and he was 18. We married in the minister's parsonage with his sister and her husband as witnesses. After the ceremony we had homemade cake and ice cream at his parents' house. The following Monday it was back to work for Fred. You know, to pay the rent, bills and buy food. There was no tiered wedding cake, gown or honeymoon.
Our children surprised us with a 50th wedding anniversary party with over 100 friends, neighbors and former employers in our home town of Delaware, Ohio. We finally got that tiered cake, but still no honeymoon! Hey it ain't over yet, so it's not out of the question.
We attribute our 50-some years together to being lovers, best friends, and sharing lots of laughter. Lots of joy with 3 children, 4 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and 1 expected in October 2009. Who could ask for anything more? Now that's SWEET!
On October 6, the owner of Freed's Bakery notified Sharon that she had won--one night at Trump International Towers, tickets to Le Reve at the Wynn, a renewal of vows at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign (which is also celebrating 50 years) with Mayor Oscar Goodman in attendance, and a treat from Freed's Bakery every year on their anniversary. Click here to see photos of the event.
Congratulations to both of you. You hit the jackpot in more ways than one.
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I received a nice card from Ray Downing. He and Linda built a new home in Monroe, GA. Moving, unpacking, and settling in has been slowed by Ray's two knee replacements over the summer. His internet connection is not yet installed but he will let us know when he is back online. Speedy healing wishes are coming your way, Ray. We look forward to hearing from you.
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I also heard from Ken Lavender. After a long career in the aerospace industry, Ken retired from Honeywell on August 31. He and Kay are planning a trip to Ohio in the near future so you can bet there will be a classmate get-together. Just let me know when, Ken!
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ARIZONA TRAVELOGUE
Dennis Jackson has been on the road again and he shared his latest adventures. There is something for everyone: travel, architecture, classic cars, commerce and cuisine. This is how he explains it.
For my sixty-something B-Day, the extended family did a day trip to Crown King. Crown King is a storied 1855 mining town in the Bradshaw Mountains north of Phoenix. The oldest continuously run saloon in AZ is located there. Reason enough to go. It's an hour or so off the I-17 Bloody Basin Road exit north of Black Canyon City, as you head "up the hill". I had never been there but always wanted to go. For the most part the drive up is uneventful...dusty high desert dirt road climbing into the mountains (except Cleator is a must see). Then, at 6,000 feet elevation, you cross a single lane bridge and all of a sudden are in the tall pines with cool temps. Our destination was the Mill Restaurant and Bar for lunch. I got a little concerned when we entered the parking lot as there was a classic White Mustang there that had been vandalized. Someone had busted out the passenger side headlight. Roger Ross, you would have been majorly bummed. Happily we did not have any problems with our vehicles.
The restaurant was fabulous! Authentic 1800's mining camp décor. The food wonderful...the beer cold and refreshing. Best of all, the owners and staff seemed not to mind at all the destruction the grandchildren were inflicting on their property. The kids had more fun than they could have had at Disney World. They cried when it was time to leave. Wonderful time was had by one and all.
This photo is merely a teaser. See the entire album here.
Great fun, Dennis, and the photo captions are priceless. I laughed out loud.
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FOR YOU READERS
Richard North Patterson, an attorney by profession, began writing at age 29 and has penned many best-selling novels. If you have never read Patterson, here is the perfect reason to give him a try. His latest release, The Spire, is set in Delaware! Caldwell College in Wayne, Ohio is the thin disguise for Ohio Wesleyan University and Delaware, Ohio. Patterson graduated from OWU in 1968 and sat on the board for many years so he visited our city regularly well after graduation. Liz Roberts of the Delaware Gazette interviewed Patterson. You can read her article here. And yes, you will recognize the Brown Jug in the book.
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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Terri Norris Bischoff
Mary Stich Van Zanten
Kay Blackledge Bowes
Vicki Brown Osborn
Tom Campbell
Ruth Ann Ebright Mitchell
Carolyn Morgan Hampton
Susan Arnold-Malowney (I think)
Bruce Benton
These birthdays were listed in the class directory. If I have overlooked anyone, please let me know.
How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward.
--Spanish proverb