I can't wait until the Dallas Cowboys playoff game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings!! But, I have tickets to
take my granddaughters to the Lutcher Theatre at the same time the game is scheduled.  I am going to record
it on my DVR and dare Murphy not to tell me anything about it until I get to watch it myself!  Go 'BOYS! 

MAIL CALL
from Mike Soileau in Atlanta , TX
We had a great Christmas . Family waiting for gifts. Lights, the whole deal.  I thank God for my blessings
and wish the same to all my classmates, friends and their families.
Too lazy to shoot a deer this year,  but may later on. I like the taste of deer steaks. Better'n beef for me..:)
It is sad to see the obituaries coming in.  I'm keeping those families in my prayers.  The website looks great.

I was just thinking about my old buddy Fred Hollier . He sends me a  Christmas card every year, but we
never get together.  We spent many good times at old TJ.  We did the Viet Nam thing and still here to
tell about it. Fred served his country well and came home wounded. He was a marine and in the worst
of it.  My hat is off to all of you who served. It was a confusing time.  We did not really know what we were
going over there for, at least I did not.  I was Navy and had it good compared to some of the others.  I
remember a lot of mixed up emotions about that war, maybe it was just me.  Anyway don't know where
that came from.. just part of our coming of age from the good old class of 68. 
To Everyone, HAPPY New Year, and Git-r-Done!. ha ha ha  Gotta love it.
(Time goes by too fast.  You and your old buddy, Fred, need to just plan on getting together and just do it!)

from Cherlyn Hebert in Houston
In about two months I leave for my trip to the Holy Land .  The foiled Christmas Day terrorist plan crosses
my mind from time to time; but I am determined I am not going to give up traveling unless things get a
lot worse.  Of course, the "not being able to go to the bathroom the last hour you're in the air" might be
the last straw.   LOL   Thankfully, my second trip this year is a cruise out of Galveston at the end of March,
so no worries there.

I guess 2010 will be a test of how ready I really was to retire last July.  At first, I spent a lot of time with
my mother; it was great being able to visit during the day when she was more alert.  After her death, I
immediately got caught up with the holidays, so it's just now that I'm starting to use my spare time to clean
out closets and cabinets and the like.  Right now, that's more than enough to keep me from getting bored, so
we'll see how long that lasts.

Janette Light Norton, Sharon Lewis Forrest and I had our last lunch together before Sharon's retirement
last month.  Janette and I are determined to keep getting together, but we'll miss Sharon and wish her well in
her new life in Boerne.

from Beth Anne Sutherlin in Bedford, TX
(taken off of FACEBOOK)
Is it just me or has FACEBOOK gotten away from it's general purpose of friends staying in touch?  Now it
seems like we have to scroll through pages of people playing games to find out where the friends left their
comments.
I always thought there was more to life than electronic games . I need to find a way to disconnect from reading
all this game stuff.
Don't people have to work anymore??? A little bit of gaming is ok....I'm just saying....Enjoy life!!
(Well, my thought is that I had to go to FACEBOOK to find info or comments from classmates.  Okay gang,
start writing to Mike and I, also.  We don't want to take FACEBOOK away from you, just don't forget us.  "-))

from Robert Sandoval in Fulshear, TX
I'm back in the home office after three weeks of vacation and resting from the Kermit, Texas experience.
Whew, west Texas ain't for amateurs! The hottest of the hot weather, coldest of cold and what't with those
wind storms?? 
My wife, Carole, retired in December and now I get coffee in the morning, breakfast if I want it, and a
sandwich to take to work. She takes care of everything at home with money coming in. What's not to like???
(Have you seen Rex or Linda Olivier Meyer?  They live in your same town.)

from Chrissy Dupuis Mullens in Port Arthur
Just watched our 25th high school reunion on dvd compliments of Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley. Flash back.....
(If you would like a DVD of the 25th reunion held in the summer of 1992, contact Beth Anne eac2005@sbcglobal.net )
She'll do it for free.)
*********************************************************************************************
TWAS THE MONTH AFTER CHRISTMAS
Twas the month after Christmas,
and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me,
not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled,
the chocolate I'd taste
and the holiday parties
had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales
there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store
(less a walk than a lumber),
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt...
I said to myself, as I only can,
"You can't spend a winter, disguised as a man!"
So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie, not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie.
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore...
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet.
(Thanks to Laura Meece Darby for sharing this.)
**********************************************************************************************
OUT AND ABOUT
I spent some quality time with classmates Ernie Castaneda Bullion, Diane Richmond Miller, and Joanna
Simmons Moreau '69 at Olive Garden last week.  Then, we came back to my home in Lumberton and had dessert!  
So much laughter and reminiscing.  I also helped celebrate with Debbie Borres Desmond for her 60th birthday at
the new Cheddars in PA.  Ernie joined in again. Debbie is recovering very nicely from her complete knee replacement
surgery done on Dec. 28th.   I also met up with several classmates at Murphy's friend, Bruce Davis' funeral. 
Classmates that I talked to also paying their respects were Jack Etheredge, Jane Lippincott Koerth,
Janis Hamilton Lee, Bill Richey, and Sharon Trahan LaBove.   You know it is good seeing your old friends,
no matter where. 
**********************************************************************************************
SUPPORT NEEDED
from Chrissy Dupuis Mullens
(copied from FACEBOOK)
Update on husband, Richard
Jan. 3
just got into my extended stay room..........luxury suite??? Tired.....Richard had chemo today and has cat scan
arly am tomorrow and then one on Friday and then HOME. but back on Monday to see Dr.   thanks for all support
guys....
Jan. 7
it's 8:4AM....already been up drove to MD parked..rode shuttle to Mays clinic..Richard had cat scan after 2 xanax
(he gets freaked out ) Had to stay in cat scan room with him...wonder if I will turn into a cat...back in room and
he is sleeping.
Jan. 8
Got HOME at 2:30pm...unpacked...Richard really did the freak today during cat scan...but made it....then the
xanax hit him and he slept all the way home and then straight to bed and slept til 6pm.........glad to be home
Jan. 11
Richard got results... slight decrease in some tumors....Dr. would like to continue we start on Wednesday.......it's
better news than I thought but hoped for much better... thanks alll
Jan. 14
Last year was hard, but this one is gonna be better....I am hoping that Richard's chemo continues to attack those
tumors and putting it in God's hands. Thanks friends for all the prayers and support and if you can keep
it up......Thanks

Contact info:
cmullens@gt.rr.com

from Janice Hebert Boudreaux
UPDATE on Barry's heart condition
The Heart Cath did not show any blockage in his heart and also throughout the procedure the Premature Ventricular
Contraction were that of a normal person's heart.  The doctor was very pleased with everything he saw with the
heart's rhythm throughout the procedure.  All his arteries and veins was clear of plaque and blockage except this
vein in the bottom of his heart. It's not blocked, it is very very small and the length of that particular vein is very
short compared to all the arteries and vein in his heart.   This vein is like thin as wire, unlike any of the others in
his heart.  He told us that he may have had this all his life and that there was no way of knowing if it had just
occurred. He will be consulting with the electrophysiology heart doctor and sending him his report of the Heart
Cath.   The medications he is taking seems to be controlling his PVC's. We were happy to hear that he does not
have blockage and that another procedure did not have to done.

Thanks to everyone and their prayers!

Contact info:
mbsjanice@aol.com
**************************************************************************************
CONDOLENCES See Obituary page

Captain Chris Phillips
(brother of classmates, Tim and Tom Phillips )
Aug. 17, 1947-Jan. 7, 2010

condolences may be sent to:
Tom Phillips
2363 Valda
Orange, TX 77632
thomas.phillips@brockgroup.com

Tim Phillips
5010 Bay
Groves, TX 77619
(409)960-7810

a note from Robert Sandoval
Chris Phillips, Tom and Tim's older brother, died last week after a courageous fight with brain cancer. I
believe he was TJ class of 1965. On the fishing blogs such as http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/
showthread.php?p=2521439 , he was a legend in salt water fishing around Galveston, a tremendous
guide and generally referred to as Captain Chris. All responses to the threads on the blog held
Captain Chris in extremely high regard as a gentlemen, mentor, and extraordinary outdoorsman. 
Also, he was a really good guy and athlete in his TJ and Woodrow Wilson days.
Another good Port Arthur guy in a better place, may he rest in peace.

a note from Cherlyn Hebert
I talked to Linda Smith Webber on New Year's Day and found out that her husband's son, Kevin ,
died on December 29.  He was only 34 years old and was on a business trip. When he didn't check out,
the hotel staff went to his room and found him.  His wife agreed to an autopsy but no results yet.  As
much as I have missed and mourned my mother since her death in November, I can't even imagine such a
loss, although I'm sure some of our classmates have been through something similar.  Please keep Linda
and Wayne in your thoughts and prayers.

condolences may be sent to:
Wayne and Linda Webber
260 Buck Dr.
Mesquite, TX 75181
(972)222-0095
wwebber1803@sbcglobal.net

. Linda Elaine Stevens
(sister of classmate, Sylvia Stevenson Williams )
Oct. 7, 1946-Jan. 6, 2010

condolences may be sent to:
Sylvia Stevens Williams
2719 Miller
Pt. Neches, TX 77651
(409)729-9211

Miss Frances Cornelia White
(Robert E. Lee Librarian)
Oct. 11, 1918-Jan. 8, 2010

Adoration "Addie" de Leon Garsea
(owner of Addie and Jim's)

condolences may be sent to:
Jim Garsea
3548 28th St.
Pt. Arthur, TX 77640

a note from Diane Richmond Miller (a very close personal friend of Addie)
I talked to Addie's husband, Jim,  and I think some cards from people with some nice memories
of Addie in them would be really good for him.  Addie told me that Hal Ross was someone she
knew well, both from when her son Andy was young and he and Hal swam together at some
club's pool, and also in later years, from visiting with him at the airport where Jim kept his airplane. 
There are probably others in our class that knew them too. I used to see Linda Hopper in there
in the early 90's.  Thanks for putting this in the update. (Addie is also classmate, Sandra Garsea

Broussard's , sister-in-law.)

A big thanks to DIANE RICHMOND MILLER, ROBERT SANDOVAL, MARTHA LIPE BODIN '69,
CHERLYN HEBERT, and JANIS HAMILTON LEE for contacting me about these deaths.  I would
not have known about any of them.   I appreciate your help in keeping our classmates informed.
*****************************************************************************
What a bittersweet NEWSLETTER!  I cannot ever remember having my list of deaths in the
CONDOLENCE section longer than the MAIL CALL section.  Please continue to contact me with
all information.  Mike and I really appreciate you sending in photos and news items that we may
include to inform you better and make our website more personal.  We are constantly hearing
compliments on how our class has been able to stay in touch and up to date.  It is because of your input.  A Million
THANKS.  (When I run into classmates that haven't taken the time to check out our website, I can only say that they
are the ones who are missing out. Love you all.) Stay in touch and contact a classmate,

                 Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindasuemcfadden@sbcglobal.net
www.tjhs1968.com