Lessons in Life - Getting Permission

Getting Permission

The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlings.
William Shakespeare
1564 - 1616

Do you remember when you were in first grade? You had to raise your hand to get permission to talk, and you had to raise your hand to get permission to go to the restroom. The teachers did this for a reason: to maintain order in the classroom. But we certainly got conditioned to ask for permission before we did anything.

Do you remember your first job? Someone taught you what you were supposed to do and what you couldn't do. If you were like me, it didn't take long for a situation to come up that you weren't authorized to handle. So what did you do? You went to your supervisor to get permission.

When you decided to get married, what did you do? You probably discussed your intentions with your parents and your future in-laws. In short, you got permission.

The point I'm trying to make is that, for most of our lives, we've been conditioned not to do anything without getting permission.

When we're young and we don't have a lot of experience, that's probably a healthy thing. After all, we don't know all the consequences that might result from our actions. So there's some safety in getting permission.

But unfortunately, old habits die hard. All too often, we carry this habit over into our adult lives. And what happens? We have the need to get permission, but there's no one to give us permission. We often have the nagging feeling that we can't do something because we aren't qualified or don't have the experience -- in short, we don't have permission. This problem usually comes up when we're trying new things. I often see people who are highly qualified in a particular field, but are afraid to fully engage because they feel the need for approval.

Where do they seek approval or permission? More often than not, they ask someone who is really not qualified to give it. They ask a drinking buddy, a neighbor, a spouse or a close friend -- generally someone who is safe.

I think there are two lessons here. One is to be aware that your need for approval or permission may be holding you back from achieving your potential; don't let that happen to you. The second lesson is not to seek permission or approval from someone who isn't experienced or knowledgeable enough to give a meaningful opinion. There are plenty of people who will tell you that you aren't qualified to do something. If the Wright brothers had listened to everyone who said it wasn't possible for man to fly, the world would be a lot different than it is today. The same is true for Edison, Bell and a host of others.

The quickest way to kill your dream is to seek permission. You're no longer in the first grade. You don't need permission to pursue your dream.


Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're probably right.
Henry Ford
1863 - 1947

THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING PETTICOAT

As I stir the lemon cake batter for our daughter’s 42nd birthday (can’t believe she and I are THAT old) while listening to the soft strains of Miles Davis’ “Laura,” I am thinking about how I’ll tell the story of the 1958 missing petticoat. Now, boys, I’m SURE you didn’t know about the under accoutrements of the female gender unless you had sisters. However, all of you will remember that we girls in high fashion – on the days when we didn’t wear tight pencil skirts - wore very full skirts (yes, we had tiny waists back then and looked good in them), and it was necessary to have very full, stiff, ruffly petticoats underneath to make the skirts poofy. My dear Aunt Mary who was a professional seamstress toiled many hours sewing for me an extremely full petticoat full of ruffles made of heavy sheeting that could take a good starching. Now you who laundered these know that after the starching and drying, spread out on the lawn or over clothes lines, these petticoats were never ironed, as ironing would flatten them. At any rate, I was (or believed I was) the envy of my girlfriends whose petticoats weren’t quite as poofy. One day after dressing out for Ms. Fredna Cross’ gym class in those y-u-g-l-y blue shorts and white shirt, I returned to the locker room to dress for the next class, and found my petticoat, which would never have fit into my tiny locker and which I left on a bench, was missing. My friends helped me search all over the room, and finally resorted to pulling up full skirts of all girls they saw the rest of the school day to try to help me find my petticoat. To my complete embarrassment, Mother phoned the Principal Dr. Carson the next day and demanded that something be done about the missing petticoat. I’m sure that for once he was speechless. I wish I had been privy to that conversation. Eventually it was decided that short of an illegal strip search of all girls, that nothing could be done. At any rate, this was the next day, and the petticoat could be long gone and far away by then. It was never recovered. However, that’s one story from high school that I’ll never forget. Mother and I had many good laughs over that one, thinking of my friends yanking up skirts all day, searching.

God's Minute

Let my prayer rise before you
as incense,
the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141:2

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

For All The Mississippi Steel Magnolias

My mother was a very good photographer. She took this photograph the old fashioned way, without a digital camera, originally developed on a slide. Later we had it transferred to a CD. I have this beautiful magnolia hanging over our fireplace.

Tee Mann - Autobiography

Tee At Home In Meridian

You say you don't remember a cascading fountain in Meridian? I'm referring to another Meridian, a neighborhood, fifteen blocks north of The White House on 16th street, or the "Avenue of the Presidents", where I moved in 2005. I live across the street from this beautiful spot in a new townhouse that has panoramic views from the east, overlooking the Capital to south, the Washington Monument, west to the new Air Force Memorial and all the way north to the National Cathedral.

I was drawn to investigate living here for two reasons. The first is obvious: I grew up in a town I loved named Meridian. Second, is a piece of family history. Where I am sitting is where my father proposed to my mother in 1933. Meridian Hill Park was closed from 1968 (following the riots in DC when Martin Luther King was assassinated) until 2005. Fate brings me to this place.

Other news since 2003 is that I continue to have the good fortune of excellent health, as do both of my daughters , their husbands, my six grandchildren, my 92 year old mother and my two brothers and their families. My former and current spouse have not had the same good luck. Ed, my ex-husband, father of my daughters, was diagnosed in November, 2007, with aggressive, light-chaining, multiple myeloma of the spine. He is quite diminished, is in a nursing home, and my older daughter, who had a baby in February, is his conservator. Ed and I are on good terms, so I have been involved in his care, primarily helping my daughter and Ed's wife. Jay, my second husband, has emphysema/COPD and has been hospitalized numerous times in 2008 for inability to breathe. Both Ed and Jay are wonderful men so I am saddened by their failing health.

Today is June 27th. So far, my pick for the best film in 2008 is "The Edge of Heaven" and the best read is, "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle."

Enjoy summer.

I Married My Boy Friend

My boy friend and I were married on May 28, 1982, Trinity Episcopal Church, Pass Christian, Mississippi. We were married by my old friend, Don Morse, who was Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church when I lived in Oxford, MS. It was a beautiful Church and a beautiful place to be married. Here Tom and I are, celebrating our first anniversary, drinking champagne in front of the Church.

I'm sorry to say that Trinity Episcopal Church was destroyed in Hurricane Camille and in Hurricane Katrina. They are rebuilding.

My Boy Friend

This is a picture of my boy friend, Tom. Isn't he cute. He was a World War II pilot, stationed in Italy, just a kid. Part of that Great Generation. He was a B-24 pilot, 757th Bomb Squadron, 459th Bomb Group. He also flew in Korea. Air Force.

He remains in touch with members of his crew with telephone calls and e-mails. He has great stories from his service time, one of my favorite being how he drove to Assisi in a jeep as the war was ending and visited the tombs of St. Francis and St. Clare, long before I did.

He's a graduate of the University of Oklahoma where he played baseball. Every football season nothing preempts his watching his favorite college team, the Okie Sooners, on television. He is a loyal fan.

Tom is my husband. We are both converts to the Catholic faith and are Secular Franciscans. Tom would be quick to profess his love for his Lord and for his Church. There is nothing like the zeal of a convert to the Catholic Church. He identifies with the prayer of St. Augustine, "Late Have I Loved You" and likes the writings of G. K. Chesterton. He watches EWTN Catholic television station daily and knows much more about the Catholic faith than most cradle Catholics. He also loves to read.

We share our love for our Maltese dogs and fostering for Northcentral Maltese Rescue. Our dogs - Tashee, Juniper, Pal - and our fosters - Rosie and Molly - are our children. We are mourning the recent loss of our precious Poppy, our first Maltese. (Poppy's blog is http://poppypage.blogspot.com/ )

Tom is still a kid - forever young - and has a great sense of humor. As I write he is on his computer and enjoying all the New Orleans music at the bottom of our blog page. I can hear Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and Ray Charles. Last night he was listening to Pete Fountain. He has discovered music on U-tube, thanks to us.

Elvis fans, this will make you green with envy. Just before Elvis enlisted in the Army, Tom ran into him in New Orleans at the Roosevelt Hotel. Tom had good visit with Elvis in his suite and met his mama and Tom Parker.

For all of you who say too old for this computer stuff, I say too bad. It is a matter of attitude. It is a matter of being young at heart like Tom.

I will concede that dial-up doesn't work well - too slow to enjoy today's internet. I had rather have an enema a day than go back to dial-up. Tom agrees. Boomer Sooner, he says to all.

Time is On My Side

ALSO - HOLD ME WHILE I CRY - Irma Thomas

BUTTERFLIES AT BIRMINGHAM ZOO

Here are 5 photos I took at the butterfly enclosure at the Birmingham Zoo. It really uplifts your spirits to walk through the flowers with hundreds of varied varieties of butterflies - up close. Enjoy!

Mississippi

Millie (Majors) Jones sent this to me and asked that I post it. Enjoy.

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six days. Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God. "Where have you been?"
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made."
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"

"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."

"Balance?" Inquired Michael, still confused. God explained, pointing to different parts of earth, "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth but cold and harsh while southern Europe is going to be poor but sunny and pleasant. I have made some lands abundant in water and other lands parched deserts. This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."

The Archangel , impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass and said, "What's that one?"
"Ah," said God. "That's Mississippi -- the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful beaches, streams, hills, and forests. The people from Mississippi are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace."

Michael gasped in wonder a nd admiration but then proclaimed, "What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!"

God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots I put in Jackson ."

A MISSISSIPPI BLESSING
Note: If you are not a resident of MS or never have lived in the hot, humid South, you may not understand the weight of this blessing!
Bless this house, oh Lord, we cry. Please keep it cool in mid-July. Bless the walls where termites dine, While ants and roaches march in time. Bless our yard where spiders pass Fire ant castles in the grass. Bless the garage, a home to please Carpenter beetles, ticks and fleas.
Bless the love bugs, two by two, The gnats and mosquitoes that feed on you. Millions of creatures that fly or crawl, In Mississippi , Lord, you've put them all!! But this is home, and here we'll stay, So thank you Lord, for insect spray.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN MISSISSIPPI IN JULY WHEN. . . .
The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
The trees are whistling for the dogs.
The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
Hot water now comes out of both taps.
You can make sun tea instantly.
You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.
You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.
Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.
Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.
The cows are giving evaporated milk.
Ah, what a place to call home. . . . . . . . . . .God Bless Our State of Mississippi!!

Upload A Photo

God's Minute

Psalms 122

A song of ascents. Of David.

I rejoiced when I heard them say: "Let us go to God's house." And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built as a city strongly compact. It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord.

For Israel's law it is, there to praise the Lord's name. There were set the thrones of judgment of the house of David.

For the peace of Jerusalem pray: "Peace be to your homes! May peace reign in your walls, in your palaces, peace!"

For love of my brethren and friends I say, "Peace upon you!" For the love of the house of the Lord, I will ask for your good.

* * * * * * *

This is to remember that as a people of the Class of 1958, we were deeply rooted in our Christian or Jewish heritage. As individuals perhaps this was not true, but as a group, during the times and in the place where we grew up, this precious heritage was a significant part of our lives, even if only a family or cultural thing without much spiritual depth in our young lives. Now it seems our society worries about being politically correct and worries about offending everyone except God and his people.

Peace and All Good,

Ouida Tomlinson, SFO*

*Secular Franciscan Order

ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THIS OLD BOOK FROM MERIDIAN?

I found this at a Meridian yard sale years ago. Inside the front cover reads, "Presented to Anthony Walker, Meridian, MS, Jan. 18th, 1882 by his mother Mrs. H. E. Walker.

The title is "Poplar Grove."

Kelso Interview, Meridianite Journalist

Click on the link to a lengthy interview with a Meridianite who grew up in Philadelphia, was educated at Randolph-Macon and worked for a newspaper in New Orleans. Her developing years spanned 2 WW's and the dramatic changes in the South during the 60's. It's long but quite interesting, if you're one who enjoys history. You'll recognize many names and events from throughout the South.

http://wpcf.org/oralhistory/kelso1.html

Tim Russert Memorial Service: Bruce Springsten Thunder Road

The Russert Miracles
Andrew Romano

The first "Russert miracle," as attendees called it, happened at the private funeral service held at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown; the family of the late Meet the Press host Tim Russert had requested that Senators Obama and McCain to sit together, and the two presidential combatants obliged. CNN Washington Bureau chief David Bohrman, a former NBC producer, describes the scene to NEWSWEEK: "They sat side-by-side and spoke for twenty minutes. The body language was total friendship. They were warm and friendly and truly engaged in a conversation.... I kept thinking here we are at the funeral at the son of a sanitation worker and the presidential candidates are having their first one on one conversation here."

The second "miracle" took place at the end of the memorial service at the Kennedy Center that began with Tom Brokaw and ended with Luke Russert's tribute to his dad. At the end of the 65-minute-long televised service, a surprise guest appeared: Russert favorite Bruce Springsteen, on a giant screen playing "Thunder Road." "This is for your pop," Springsteen told Luke.

The third "miracle" took place as the crowd moved to the rooftop for a reception. The sun returned after a light, fast summer rainstorm and the sky opened to a rainbow extending from one end of the Kennedy Center to the other. Colleen King of MSNBC's "Hardball" captured it on her cell phone camera.

"After the magical experience of this service, to come out and see the rainbow and Luke at the bottom of it made the last dry eye weep," said NBC News executive Phil Griffin. The last song in the memorial service was, fittingly, "Somewhere over the Rainbow.

"When asked his reaction to explain the sudden appearance of the rainbow at the exact moment, Luke Russert, his sparkly smile so reminiscent of his father's, said: "Is anyone still an atheist now?"

Courtesy Colleen King
A rainbow appeared as Washington bid farewell to Tim Russert

Source of article and photo: Newsweek

PAGANI ZONDA F - HEAR THIS BABY ROAR

Click on the youtube URL below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiroepFi1fw

The Way We Were

Oh, me. MJ has posted that great recipe for black bottom pie.

I know all you girls who are not blessed to be thin are on diets so we can look the way we were in high school by the time of the reunion. This is the second day of my diet to rid myself of Katrina pounds. It took lots of comfort food to make me feel better after that hurricane.

The last time I went on a serious diet BK (before Katrina), I made an appointment with my internist, Dr. Sam Owen. He is a fanatic about people not being overweight, and I knew he would be perfect to help me. I needed to be accountable to someone, and I needed a doctor to monitor me. I had tried the South Beach diet and spent all day every day cooking it seemed. My husband lost 40 pounds in two weeks; I gained 5. I also tried lots and lots of exercise and cutting back on food. Nothing worked.

Dr. Owen said that because of my height and age I would have to be on an 800 calorie a day diet to lose weight and that if I eat over 1100 calories a day, I will gain weight. He has some great information on his website: http://www.drdiet.com/ , including the Prescript Fit products that I used. I needed to lose about 20 pounds.

Dr. Owen's diet for me was simple (no spending all day in the kitchen cooking): 3 shakes (300 calories), 2 soups (200 calories) and 300 calories eating my choice of something healthy. (See good articles on his website at: http://www.drdiet.com/advances.html ) One of the other benefits of this diet is that I feel so much better on the Prescript Fit products. (No, I don't sell Prescript Fit. Only Dr. Owens.)

I kept a chart of food eaten and weight by the day in Excel. I started on March 27, 2004, and was very faithful to my diet. Never cheated. The suffering was great, and I was always hungry. All I thought about, all I talked about was food. I saw the doctor every two weeks. Now you would think that eating only 800 calories a day, I would lose the 20 pounds in a month. No. It took four months, until July 30th. I weighed 104 pounds on that day. My high school weight was 98. My weight for birth of first child was about 118 or less. (I've always been small until the last several years.)

Let's go back a little bit. In about 1998, about two years after heart surgery, I weighed 96 pounds. I was not hungry, and I did not eat much. So how and why did I gain about 25 pounds between then and 2004? It began in another doctor's office when I started crying about some of the post-surgery problems I had and have. He prescribed Zoloft. I felt better, and I gained weight - too much. Aha!

This is my main point in writing here: Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRIs (selective serotonin uptake inhibitors). So are these: Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil® (paroxetine), Luvox, (Fluvoxamine) Celexa, Remeron, Serzone, and Effexor. One of their side effects is weight gain in some/many people. See here: http://www.drdiet.com/articles/189.htm . I've also read the same information from other sources, and this has been my personal experience.

After a couple of years, I stopped taking Zoloft and lost some of the weight. Then we had Hurricane Katrina. My reaction to this tragedy was that I was mad - very, very mad. I think the anger began while watching the horrible events in New Orleans unfold on television with people suffering and dying and no one helping. "Won't someone help these people," Shep Smith said over and over on Fox news. He was on the I-10 bridge, near the Super Dome. After about three weeks of news like this plus constantly listening to people pour out their hearts and tell their stories while I was I work, I felt ready to kill - not sure who - but ready. Perhaps the Mayor of New Orleans would have been my first victim.

I went to the doctor and said, "Give me something quick, but don't give me Zoloft. I don't want to gain weight." We settled on Lexapro since I didn't want to take a stimulant like Wellbutrin. Same thing as before. I felt better and gained 20 pounds. Lexapro gives me the munchies - popcorn, crunchy cereal and along with Blue Belle ice cream. I've been weaning myself from Lexapro for months, cutting dose by 1/3, then 2/3, now 1/3 dose every other night, totally quitting next week, praying side effects of weight gain will be gone soon.

I'm hungry. I'm so hungry. It makes me a little crazy. Only 200 calories left for the day. I'm outta here. Off to the kitchen. I'm so hungry.

Weidmann's Black Bottom Pie

How long has it been since you had a bite of Weidmann's Black Bottom Pie? This recipe was copied from a brochure I picked up at the Old Weidmann's. Make it and indulge.

Weidmann's Black Bottom Pie
Crust
14 Ginger Snaps
5 Tablespoons Melted Butter
Crush ginger snaps, roll out fine. Add melted
butter, pat into 9" pie pan. Bake in hot oven
(prob 350) 10 minutes and allow to cool.
Filling
2 cups scalded milk
4 egg yolks, well beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
Add eggs slowly to hot milk. Combine and stir into thesugar and cornstarch.
Cook in double boiler for 20 minutes,
stirring occasionally, until it coats a spoon. Remove from heat
and take out One Cup of the mixture. Add 1 1/2 squares
bitter chocolate to the cup, beating well, as it cools. Add one
teaspoon vanilla extract, then pour into pie crust. Chill.
Second Mixture
1 tablespoon gelatin (Knox unflavored)
2 tablespoon cold water
Dissolve gelatin in cold water, add remaining custard, and chill.
Beat four (4) egg whites with 1/2 cup sugar and add 1/4 teaspoon
Cream of Tartar. Beat until stiff and add two (2) tablespoons
Whiskey. Then fold into plain custard mixture. Put on top of
the Chocolate mixture. Chill.
Cover top of pie with whipped cream and shavings of bitter chocolate.
Serves 6 to 8

Mea Culpa

Mea Maxima Culpa. When talking about my state of befuddlement, I inadverently failed to mention one of the most active posters - Martha Markline Hopkins.

Sorry, pardon, excuse me, my fault, mea cupla, mea maxima culpa.

PIX FROM PERDIDO KEY

Here are a few photos I took on a recent vacation at Eden in Perdido Key, FL. One of my hobbies is photography; I have a Sony Cybershot 8.1 and use Picasa2, a free download, to edit. Hope you enjoy them.

Blog Instruction

BLOG INSTRUCTION FOR YOU
(click link)

Also, here is a list of U-Tube videos, giving blogging instructions.
There are many others on U-Tube.
Click the Links

Creating Your Personal Profile

Uploading a photo from your computer

Uploading a video with Blogger

Editing Posts

State of Befuddlement

I freely admit to being in a state of befuddlement. Now there are some (probably more than a few) who might say that is my normal state. And it is not the purpose here to debate that point. I would hate to muddle the issue by losing or winning that debate.

My state of confusion comes from the failure of people to take an active part in the blog. I know how difficult it is to set-up and monitor a forum of this type. Ouida and Jinny have really put forth a lot of effort so that people can reconnect, or just connect, share personal information, views and in general develop some dialouge. David is constantly posting music videos. A couple of others have posted interesting tidbits. But there is rarely any dialouge developed.

So it ain't working. I don't know why. I would like for someone to clue me in.

Are most of our classmates still living in the pre-Windows era?

Are most of the classmates so far advanced socially that they cannot connect with the common folks?

Is your life so boring that you think no one cares to hear about you, your career, your grandchildren, your travels and your hopes and dreams?

Or is your life so fast paced, so caught up in the hectic world that you have no time for such stuff?

Is it all of the above?

Someone please let me know. I can't stand a mystery going unsolved. And this is really bugging me.

God's Biscuits

2 cups of Pioneer Biscuit Mix
½ cup Sprite
½ cup sour cream

Mix together; roll or pat out; cut into biscuits; melt butter; butter both sides. Cook 450 degrees.

Heart attack maker
diet breaker
de-licious

Submitted by Ouida

(How do you like my new photo?)

My Girl

Dear Class: I have spent most of the last two days trying to learn more about how to do a slideshow with the music of my choice. This has involved learning how to extract the song My Girl from Utube video, becoming familiar with Microsoft Movie Maker (which I have never used), numerous, numerous failures in uploading, then finally switching to UTube to upload. (I hate reading directions, especially computer program directions.) Sometimes - you will understand this problem - I became totally lost as could not remember what I was trying to do.

I think I'm on the way to eventually doing a good video for you. Meanwhile, please excuse my clumsy attempts as there is much trial and error. Mainly, I need more photos so I won't have to fill photo space to match song length with pictures of my dogs and other images. SEND PHOTOS via e-mail: scribe564@bellsouth.net. Or upload to Photobucket or similar sites where I may retrieve.

Probably this video will come down later on when I have a better one. For now, I have to turn my attention to housecleaning, washing clothes, bathing dogs, and paying bills. You understand.

Blessings,

Ouida Landreth Tomlinson

50's Memories

This should bring back a few 50's memories. Beth and I remember Miss Annie Wigransky's (sp) ancient 12 cylinder Lincoln? She used to park the beast in front of her store. Does anyone else remember Miss Annie's store or her car?
MJ

I came across this phrase yesterday 'FENDER SKIRTS.' A term I haven't heard in a long time, and thinking about 'fender skirts' started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice like 'curb feelers' and 'steering knobs.' suicide knob.
Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction first. Any kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.

Remember 'Continental kits?' They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.
When did we quit calling them 'emergency brakes?'

At some point 'parking brake' became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with 'emergency brake.'

I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the 'foot feed.'

Didn't you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the 'running board' up to the house?

Here's a phrase I heard all the Time in my youth but never anymore - 'store-bought.' Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy.

'Coast to coast' is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term 'world wide' for granted. This floors me.

On a smaller scale, 'wall-to-wall' was once a magical term in our homes. In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Go figure. ?

When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase 'in a family way?' It's hard to imagine that the word 'pregnant' was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company, so we had all that talk about stork visits and 'being in a family way' or simply 'expecting.'

Apparently 'brassiere' is a word no longer in usage. I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up. I guess it's just 'bra' now. 'Unmentionables' probably wouldn't be understood at all. ?

I always loved! going to the 'picture show,' but I considered 'movie' an affectation.

Most of these words go back to the '50s, but here's a pure-'60s word I came across the other day - 'rat fink.' Ooh, what a nasty put-down!

Here's a word I miss - 'percolator.' That was just a fun word to say. And what was it replaced with? 'Coffee maker.' How dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this. ?

I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like 'DynaFlow' and 'Electrolux' Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with 'SpectraVision!' ?

Food for thought - Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore. Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening kids with castor oil anymore..

Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me most, 'supper..' Now everybody says 'dinner.' Save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss fender skirts.

Someone forwarded this to me. I thought some of us of a 'certain age' would remember most of these.

Just for fun, pass it along to others of 'a certain age'!

IF YOU AREN'T OF A CERTAIN AGE. YOU MUST KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS.

Please feel free to add to this list along with great old Southern Phrases we used to hear.

Remembering All of You on Father's Day

Remembering all of you on
Father's Day
sons and daughters, fathers,
grandfathers, and great-grandfathers.
May you be blessed.

Love & Prayers

Ouida

Greetings from Mary Anthony McLemore Weaver

Free Posting Services

Send your photos, autobiographies and posts to

scribe564@bellsouth.net for posting.

Or sign up and sign in to do your own posts.

WE HAVE WEB PAGE FOR ALL AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

For several days we have had a web page in addition to this blog. Here you will find all the autobiographies which have been posted along with photos, the 45th reunion booklet, a slideshow and other features planned. Suggestions are welcome.

The web page address is:
http://www.concordiaministries.net/meridianhighwildcats58.htm

OR CLICK HERE:

50TH REUNION AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

If you cannot post your autobiography on this blog, please send to me at scribe564@bellsouth.net. I will post for you. Send photos, if possible. I will also post other material for you.

Blessings,
Ouida Landreth Tomlinson

Tee Mann

Can't wait to see how this posting turns out! First try and with Ouida's help, I did get the photos up, but, now I can't see them and already have forgotten which ones I highlighted. Think the first one was of my 93 year old mother and me, taken on Mother's Day, 2008. We are windblown, having just emerged from a spin in my brother's porsche 911, top down, and 90 mph.

The second photo is of me with my six grandchildren taken in March,2008. No, I am not all bent over, just trying to keep my balance as I hold a 23 pound child on my hip and try to not slide down a 75 degree hill. Now I am curious to see if my text matches my photo post. Probably not. Anyway, hello. Am enjoying seeing the pictures all of you send in.

Peggy, Lyle, Mary, Jinny and Nona at Wichita Airport

Jinny and Peggy

A few months before Katrina blew everything away,
we celebrated Lyle's birthday on the Mississippi coast.

Jinny Curran Walz - Autobiography

Hello fellow classmates of ’58,

The passage of 50 years seem far too swift, far too unreal. Where has it gone? This brief bio will pick up where the 40th bio left off as I failed to submit something for our last reunion.

After a major bout with pneumonia in 2002, one that made me wonder if I would be around much longer, I moved to Kansas to be close to my daughter and her family. Leaving St. Louis was hard and is still hard as all of my adult life had been spent in Missouri; however, family is certainly more important and I am adjusting to the constant wind of the prairie, blowing sand, hot winds, tornadoes that send me to the safe room and a culture that is centered in farming as the breadbasket of the United States. I’ve discovered that being adored by your grandchildren who yearn to spend time with you is far more important and enjoyable than dining in fine restaurants, attending the symphony and enjoying season tickets to the Muny Opera and the Fox Theatre!

Suzanne, my daughter, and her husband have 6 children, live on a small farmette, part of the original homestead for the Stange family and live much like the families in Little House on the Prairie. They’re all home schooled, musically gifted, tend to a menagerie of barnyard animals, know how to cook, knit, sew, build, embroider, birth animals, milk the goats, plant a garden, feed the chickens and every other domestic skill one would need on a farm! In this case, apples did not fall far from the tree! Suzanne has been intent on an education for her children much different from her own. I marvel at what they can do.

Peter, as a Marine Reservist, was deployed to Iraq for 9 months. I thank God that he was there during the period when we were welcome and before the insurgents began to come in from Iran and Syria. His family, Norma and the boys, Christopher and Jonathan, spent that time with me. I loved every minute of our months together. After Peter returned from Iraq he remained “active” for 2 years so as not to be redeployed. He would be placed in units that were deployed as part of the skeleton crew to keep the unit functioning in the states. At each assignment he was given the responsibility to create and express himself in rather magnanimous ways. He was the head person for the Rose Parade. The Marine Corps of Pasadena runs the parade, sets up the festivities related to it and hosts all of the big receptions for the big shots. I was allowed to attend the fancy reception for the military brass from around the country and the parade’s marshal. At his next assignment he created a WWII museum at the country’s first military base in Massachusetts, Fort Devans. Now he is a civilian and working at Hewlett-Packard as a Public Affairs Specialist. Peter has a gift for writing and speaking and spends his day translating company information for audiences both inside and outside of the company. They’re at Round Rock, TX, the country’s second Silicon Valley.

Work is all I know so here I am, still teaching in gifted education; however, I work only 3 days a week, enjoying long weekends and recouping from the work week! I spend time in short-term missions and have been to Russia, Spain, the inner city of St. Louis and various local soup kitchens helping to provide both physical and spiritual needs of the people.

I hope I’m not guilty of TMI. I look forward to reading and hearing your life stories.
It’s already been a real treat “catching up” on your news via the Blog.

Jinny

THE JOY OF COLLECTING

Here is an old china doll with beautifully carved wooden arms and legs that I found at an antique shop in New Orleans recently. I had speculated to a friend that she may be dressed in black as a Confederate widow. After returning home, I found a note pinned to her old petticoat reading "Jane Appleton Pierce, daughter of President of Bowdoin College." After googling her name, I found that she was First Lady of the U.S., wife of President Franklin Pierce (administration 1853-57). She was depressed during his administration because their last remaining son of three had just been killed, and she wore black during the whole time President Pierce was in office. I am researching her family now to see if I can authenticate the doll. Since Jane was born in 1806 and died 1863, there are no photographs of her as a child holding the doll, of course. I am about to contact volunteers in Concord, N.H. who have preserved the Pierce house and furnishings as a museum to see if they know anything about the doll. Collecting antiques truly makes history come alive.

Greetings from Jimmy and Natasha Satterfield

The first picture is myself with several Masai ladies in their camp in Kenya, taken when I was working in Sudan and Kenya in 2007-2008. The second picture is of my wife, Natasha, and I at the grave of General George S. Patton, Jr. in Belgium, when we stopped over for a couple of weeks to tour the Benelux countries on our way home from Bulgaria in mid 2007.

Greetings from Ray and Linda Russell

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2008

Directions on Signing Up to Post

I would like to give you step by steps directions on signing up for the blog to post, but since I am signed up, I cannot access each page to tell you exactly what to do or what you will see. If you get stuck, I will be happy to help by telephone. Send me an e-mail to request help: scribe564@bellsouth.net.

To signup for our blog, you need an invitation e-mail from Jinny or me (Little Scribe) which is sent from the blog to you. Below is an example of how this e-mail is worded. You must click on the link in the e-mail to accept the invitation.

EXAMPLE OF INVITATION E-MAIL TO SIGNUP FOR BLOG

You have been invited to contribute to Little Scribe's blog‏
From: Little Scribe (no-reply@google.com)
Sent: Wed 7/02/08 7:55 PM
To: (yourname)@hotmail.com

The Blogger user Little Scribe has invited you to contribute to the blog: Meridian High Wildcats '58.

To contribute to this blog, visit: http://www.blogger.com/i.g?inviteID=1045911237016049107&blogID=1538861345565061958 [this link on your invitation will be personal to you].

You'll need to sign in with a Google Account to confirm the invitation and start posting to this blog. If you don't have a Google Account yet, we'll show you how to get one in minutes.

* * * * * * *

When you click on the link in your invitation letter, a page will open which says: "Little Scribe has invited you to contribute to the blog. To join this blog as an author, accept the invitation by signing in with your Account below. Don't have a Google Account? Create your account now ." If you have a Google account, then complete blanks with user name (your e-mail address) and your password. Click "Accept Invitation."

If you do not have a Google Account, you may click the link to create your Google Account at this point. A new page will open. Use the e-mail address where your invitation was sent as your user name and a password of your choice. Read carefully and follow the directions. At no time do you do anything to create a new blog such as giving it a name or selecting a template.

If you prefer, before clicking on the link in your invitation letter, you may open your Google account first and then return to your invitation letter to accept. These are the steps:

CREATING A GOOGLE ACCOUNT

1. You must have a Google account to post on our blog.
2. Your Google account must use the same e-mail address that Jinny and I have entered into the system for you which is the same one as on your invitation letter e-mail and, in most cases, the same one I use to write you.
3. To open a Google account, go here: https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount
4. Look for this message on the right, bottom of the page: “Don’t have a Google Account? Create an account now
5. Click the link “Create an account now.”
6. Follow their directions, using your e-mail address as explained above and using whatever password you choose. At this point, Google may send you an e-mail to confirm your e-mail address. If so, you must respond to this e-mail to continue.

POSTING

After you have completed the above steps and want to post, go to our blog page: http://meridianhighwildcats58.blogspot.com/

1. Look at top right-hand corner. Click sign in. This will take you to a new page. THE ONLY THING YOU DO ON THIS PAGE IS SIGN IN. I cannot stress this enough.
2. Enter your e-mail address from your Google account and your password from your Google account in the spaces provided. Click sign in.
3. You will arrive at a page called the Dashboard.
4. To post, click new posts. This will take you to a window to compose your post. It is similar to an e-mail.
5. There are three areas here to enter information.
6. The first area is a place to enter your title.
7. The second area is where you will compose your post. Try something simple like tell us hello or whatever. You don't have to be fancy.
8. The third area is for labels. Enter the title of your post and your name.
9. Click the orange publish post button.
10. This should take you to a new page but maybe not the same one I am sent to.
11. If you are not on the main page of the blog, then look for a link which says “view blog” to take you there.

POSTING A PHOTO

1. Log in, click new post, and when the window comes up where you would type your post, look on the toolbar.
2. Next to the check mark on the toolbar is an icon. When you put the mouse on it, it says, "Add Image." Click.
3. Another window comes up.
4. Click browse and find the image you want to upload from your computer.
5. Click open. This will return you back to the add an image window.
6. Select the size photo you want and placement (center, left, right).
7. After photo is loaded you can drag it up and down the page in relation to any text you might have. It naturally goes to the top, but you can pull down lower on the page.

TO POST YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO SIGN IN FIRST AT TOP RIGHT CORNER ON THE BLOG WITH YOUR GOOGLE ACCOUNT E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD. A good habit is to always sign in when you go to the blog. That makes it easieir to comment on the posts of others, as you will notice.

Jinny and I are here to help you.

Ouida Landreth Tomlinson

TEST FOR OLD KIDS

I was picky who I sent this to. It had to be those who might actually remember. So have some fun my sharp-witted friends. This is a test for us 'old kids'! The answers are printed below, but don't cheat.

01. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, Who was that masked man? Invariably, someone would answer, I don't know, but he left this behind. What did he leave behind?________________.

02. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. In early 1964, we all watched them on The _______________ Show.

03 'Get your kicks, __________________.'

04. 'The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to ___________________.

05. 'In the jungle, the mighty jungle, ________ ________.

06. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we 'danced' under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the '_____________.'

07. 'N_E_S_T_L_E_S', Nestle's makes the very best . . . . .. _______________.

08. Satchmo was America's 'Ambassador of Goodwill.' Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was _________________.

09. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? _______________.

1 0. Red Skelton's hobo character was named __________________ and Red always ended his television show by saying, 'Good Night, and '________ ________.

11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by burning their ______________.

12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front was called the VW . What other names did it go by? ____________ & _______________.

13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, 'the day the music died. 'This was a tribute to ___________________.

14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit. The Russians did it. It was called ___________________.

15. One of the big fads of the late 50's and 60's was a large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist. It was called the ________________.








ANSWERS: 01. The Lone Ranger left behind a silver bullet. 02. The Ed Sullivan Show 03. On Route 66 04. To protect the innocent. 05. The Lion Sleeps Tonight 06. The limbo 07. Chocolate 08. Louis Armstrong 09. The Timex watch 10. Freddy, The Freeloader and 'Good Night and God Bless.' 11. Draft cards (Bras were also burned. Not flags, as some have guessed) 12. Beetle or Bug 13 Buddy Holly 14. Sputnik 15. Hoola-hoop Send this to your 'old' friends, better known as Seniors. It will drive them crazy! And keep them busy and let them forget their aches and pains for a few minutes.

Something to think about

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

The 14th Dalai Lama

What a powerful thought. So often when we lose we get all wrapped up in why we lost or what we could have done differently. At times we wallow in the misery of our loss. The loss could be anything: a romantic relationship, the loss of a job, an investment, a cherished relative or some material possession. But we often try to hold on to the memory of what was - we become attached to what we wanted to happen.

“Souls don’t grow in the sunshine.” Fred Dent, former Commissioner of Financial Institutions, State of Louisiana.

That statement is so true. Our purpose in life is to learn and grow. But we rarely learn from our successes. More often, we learn from our failures. Our greatest potential for growth comes from our darkest hours. But unless we are open to learning from our losses, unless we actively seek “not to lose the lesson”, we will not learn.

Stop and think about any recent losses you may have encountered. Search the loss for the lesson it contains. There is always a lesson. It may be difficult to see when we are distraught by the loss.

To suffer a loss is bad enough. To fail to learn from the loss is a double tragedy.

John Chancellor
www.teachthesoul.com

The Laugh

We all need a good old fashined laugh every once in a while. I laughed until the tears rolled down my cheeks. Please enjoy.

The Comedy Barn in Tennessee is home to a long-running variety show. One of the show’s staples is a standup comedian. For one bit, he pulls audience members onstage. But on this day, he got more than he bargained for.
One man breaks up the show. No, he’s not causing trouble. He’s just laughing. But isn’t comedy supposed to make you laugh?
Wait until you hear this guy. (The Man In The YELLOW SHIRT) Even the professional can’t keep a straight face.
http://videos.komando.com/2008/06/04/mans-surprising-laugh/

Greetings from Tom Sims and Marjorie Barham Sims

Sometimes You Have To Dance

Sent to us from Millie Majors Jones! Thanks Millie

John Chancellor - Autobiography

I moved to New Orleans in 1960. In 1963, I married Dianne Richard. We have one child, Cheryl Ann.

I have learned a lot about hurricanes and the damage they can do. In 1965, Betsy flooded our apartment and we lost everything. Fortunately, that was not too much. In 2005, Katrina flooded our home – this time we lost everything except the china and crystal. But we gained a better appreciation of life and what was important.

I have spent most of my working life in accounting or financial management. In 2004, I was in charge of financial forecasting for a small ($50 million revenue public company) and I could see our path was perilous. I committed myself to becoming independent. This involved a career shift and a process of continual learning.

I am now a mentor/business coach and am in the process of helping six individuals launch their own businesses.

I am an avid reader, averaging a book per week (my English teachers are turning in their graves.) I post reviews of most of the books I read on Amazon.com. I rank in the top 1% of reviewers on Amazon.

I offer lifestyle advice on Allexperts.com and enjoy a 99.75% positive feedback rating.

I have written one book – Designing Your Life – which I use in my work, I have compiled a collection of my favorite quotations – Words to Live and Work By – which I use as a “business card” and I do a weekly email called Lessons in Life. This goes out to people all around the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India and a few other countries. One of my readers has translated some of the lessons into Japanese.

My two favorite books are As a Man Thinketh by James Allen and A Manual For Living- Epictetus. I highly recommend these books to anyone who is looking for direction in life.

Carolyn Gipson Falcon - Autobiography

I still live in Trenton, North Dakota, in our quaint little town of 300 people. It is beautiful up here. Lots of snow in winter so I go back to Meridian every winter for about 5 months. Both of my parents are still living so I get to spend time with them. I am still married to Ed Falcon - just had our 22 anniversary. We have been retired since 1991. Retired while we lived in Las Vegas, NV. and decided we needed a slower-life pace. North Dakota is where it is. We have our garden, spend a lot of time fishing and visit our 12 kids, 30 something grandkids (don't ask me to name them - too many) and our great-grand kids. I won't be at the reunion this time because one of my grand daughters is getting married Oct 11, 2008 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. So everyone have a great time.

Martha Ann Markline Hopkins - Autobiography

MARTHA ANN MARKLINE HOPKINS 3611 Oak Glen Dr.; Tuscaloosa, Al 35406 –

Harry and I now live mostly in Tuscaloosa, though continue to maintain our Birmingham house for now. The plan is for him to retire next year from the law firm in Birmingham, and then live full time in Tuscaloosa, where he hopes to continue to teach at the UA Law School. In the meantime, we travel back and forth, and see the children Peter and Caroline and grandchildren (2 are 13 – James Cole and Caleb, and one – Taylor - is 10) when we are in Birmingham. Our youngest grandchild is autistic, and is receiving good training in communication in the Mt. Brook school system.

I continue to make art, having earned a BFA in Sculpture at UA in 2004. Currently I’m working on a series of acrylic paintings on shaped canvas; a large 5’ x 5’ painting was recently hanging in the Meridian Museum of Art Juried Show. I have a wonderful new painting studio, and am beginning to return to the business of making art since I’m almost completely recovered from a hip operation (resurfacing) in September 2007. Note: If a total hip replacement is recommended for you, research resurfacing, as it gives a natural result with no bone loss.

I traveled to Italy last year, and viewed the great art that I had only studied about – an artist’s dream. I went to Paris the year before that. Since I like to learn languages, I learned Italian and brushed up on my French for these trips. You may remember that after graduating from Southern Miss, I taught English, French, and Spanish at Meridian High School. Mrs. Simpson was my mentor, and Ms. Eykelboom was the Dept. Chair. Charlie Armstrong was still Principal then.

I have a collection of antique dolls, and am President of the Birmingham Doll Club. Researching antique dolls and their costumes makes history come alive for me. A recent find is a china doll from the Civil War period, dressed in black (Confederate widow?)

Life for me since my 45th Reunion bio has included some health setbacks, but I’m still kicking, though running harder to stay in the same place. I‘ve learned that being optimistic and resilient keeps you going longer than complaining and worrying. Writing my bio makes me realize what a good life I’ve had, and I’m especially happy to have been a teenager in the 50’s. Long Live Rock n’ Roll!

Ray Russell - Autobiography

When I left high school I went to EMJC and played football under Coach Bull Sullivan. I thought Coach Owens was tough but he didn’t hold a candle to coach Sullivan who kept the skull of a Japanese soldier killed in WWII on his desk. When I left EMJC I enrolled in Mississippi College in Clinton and played football there. Was a member of the “M” Club and active in campus activities. I joined the marines in 1962, while at MC and served in the active reserve as a Sergeant. I was assigned to an OCC class and ordered to Quantico Va. to complete my officers training upon graduation. Due to a knee injury my senior year, I received a medical release from the Marine Corps. I had intended to make the military my career but God had other plans for my life.

I met my wife to be, Linda, at MC in 1963 and we were married in 1964. We will celebrate 44 years of marriage this year. God blessed us with 3 wonderful girls who grew up to be Godly women who have all married and given us 7 grandchildren, 4 girls and 3 boys. Numbers 6 & 7 were twins, a boy and a girl, who are now 6 months old living in Tampa.

I worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama for 32 and a half years and retired in 2000. I have served churches in Mississippi and Alabama for over 38 years as a bi-vocational minister of youth and music. Since I have aged out of youth work, I am serving as Minister of music and administration at First Baptist Church of Irondale.

I stayed active in athletics through officiating football in high school, college and in the professional World football league. My claim to fame is two broken bones in my right knee given to me on ABC TV in 1983 by Cornelius Bennett at the Alabama Auburn Game. I was blind sided while dodging Lionel James, the Auburn Running Back. The incident was televised and made the T.V. athletic “Bloopers” for several years following the painful encounter. Cornelius, nicknamed Biscuit autographed my print of him sacking the Notre Dame QB and I related to the pain the QB went through.

I remember the Tupelo game my senior year when the rain and wind blew so hard the umpire had to hold the ball to keep it from floating away before each play. Following the game we were Elvis Presley’s guests at the Tupelo county fair. I warmed my end of the bench admirably but was soaked clear through.

I look forward to visiting and renewing old friendships at the reunion.

Ray Russell

Warning: Don't Do This at Home (Fun with Cornstarch)

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/02/steve_spangler_do_not_try_this.php

Trivia Question from Larry Tyner

Which Senior English teacher finally fulfilled her dreams by a trip to England in the summer of '58? Alas, the home of Chaucer and the "Canterbury Tales" she so passionately taught to some of us who did not necessarily share her passion. During our Senior year she talked about her coming trip a lot. One senior who thought he might fail and not graduate with rest of us, strongly suggested she would not make the trip if he failed. Bonus question: who was that senior?

Hint: she always looked like she had eaten green persimmons. One of you know who this is?

Larry Tyner

Record your answer in comment section.

(FYI: Comments are open to all, signed in, signed up or not. Comments are open for the world - even to complete strangers. When commenting, if not signed in, please leave your name on the comment so we'll know you have joined us.)

Answer to Trivia Question

According to The Wildcat, our gift to the school was a tiled wildcat emblem with the words "Class of 58." It was placed in front of the activities building. Most of you guessed right.

Honoring Bo Diddley, whose music inspired so many other groups

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F1Mk6U5zVY

I Made It This Far

Married to Ron for 42 years. We have lived in Morrow, GA since 1976. He is retired from the U. S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). I highly recommend retirement. You'll be busier than ever. The photo of us on the right was taken May 18, 2008. We have two children. Our daughter, Ginny is 41 and son, Gary is 37. We have a son-in-law, Andy Dulaney, one Grand Ferret (daughter's) and one Grand Cat (son's).

I enjoy reading, playing the piano and singing karaoke at the American Legion. Ron is a member and I am a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Enjoy playing Trivia and researching on the computer.

The picture on the left was taken when we visited the Patriotic Rock near Greenfield, Iowa in 2007. Have you seen the Patriotic Rock? The link below will take you there. At the top of the page you can select years to view the paintings from the beginning through 2007. This is one of the most inspiring side trips we have taken while on our annual trip to Ron's hometown.

The day we were there, visitors from all over the U.S. had signed the guest book. A local resident walked across the highway and gave us a nice history of the Rock. In the picture, right below my shoulder, is the image of a helicopter. He told us that the image would always be on the rock, as it contains ashes from fallen Veterans, sent to the artist by their families.

The rock used to be covered with graffiti until the artist began his project. Since then, it was disfigured once, but a local Vietnam Veteran gave the culprit a lesson in Patriotism. Local veterans chipped in and paid the fine for the "lesson giver". There is a flagpole, donated by a local veteran, and a park bench, also donated by another veteran.

http://www.ticz.com/homes/users/bob/On-A-Rock/On-A-Rock.htm

Now, for another Ray Stevens video that we have to add to the blog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM7a2Zrj3dU

Is that a 1951 Chevy in the beginning of the video?

I'll be back later...........................

There's Help for the Asking

If you are having problems responding to your invitation to post and signing up for the blog, perhaps one of those listed below would be able to help you. If one can't or is too busy, go to another. Some have posted. Your user name is your e-mail address. You create your own password. AGAIN - PLEASE DO NOT CREATE A BLOG. We have the blog. You are just trying to sign into ours.

Also, check the list of labels on the right side of the page. Click on "Blog Administration." This will bring up all my posts with directions and information on being a blogger.

When you are signed up, help someone else get on board. The same for posting. Thanks guys and girls. I need your help in helping others get started. This is going to take all of us to be a success.

Mary Jane Kelly Heisterkamp
Jinny Curran Walz Jimmy Lewis
Martha Markline Hopkins

I Cannot Hear the Music/Open Videos

If you cannot hear the music or open videos on the right sidebar (or elsewhere) on the blog:

• Do you have speakers? No? Can't help you.
• If you have speakers, be sure they are turned on and turned up.
• You may need to download Flash Player 9 to your computer. It is free. Go here to Adobe website to download: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/
• If that fails, those with computer skills, be innovative and share with us.

As to signing up/signing in, take it slow and read the instructions. It is very simple. Sign in - do not create a new blog. Read, children, read.

Send me your stories and your autobiographies

Several have written about how much they enjoyed the post by Larry Tyner about the Vicksburg football game. Let's reminisce together. Post similar stories or e-mail to me, and I will post for you: scribe564@bellsouth.net Also, post your bios or e-mail to me for posting. We have a big audience - 4769 hits since May 4th - but contributions for content is a shared responsibility. Stories to reminisce can be one liners: "Remember when . . . ."

Again, I'll post for you if you prefer, giving you the credit. scribe564@bellsouth.net

Peace and All Good,
Ouida

Missing Classmates Update

For the past two days "I been searchin', searchin', searchin' ever wi-i-i-i-i-itch uh way! Oh, yeah!" Can you hear the Coasters singing? We had 32 "missing" or "lost" classmates but after my best detective skills were put into high gear that list is now down by 19 with 13 to go! Best time I've had in months; what fun it's been to talk with friends I haven't seen in decades! My heart is warmed by the receptions I received and I surely hope the feeling is mutual. Nancy Hughes said she was waiting to hear from someone and is thrilled that we "found" her! Ray Crawford's going to join us in Meridian at the Carousel. Linda Reidenbaugh has gone to every one of her husband's reunions (he graduated from MHS in '52) but never to our class' reunions. A few have never, ever been to a reunion but plan on coming now. What a joy this little task has been. Can't wait to see you all and hear first hand what paths your lives have taken.
Have found 1 other but I'm waiting to get a call back. We've also located 3 who were not on the list but who had missed receiving information because of recent moves.

Updated 6/13/08