Well, it is beautiful spring-like weather outside.  Weeds are growing everywhere but not a bit of Saint Augustine grass!

MAIL CALL
from Joe Gongora in Port Arthur
We will be on the same cruise out of Galveston as classmate, Debbie Borres .  My wife, Belinda Fernandez '71 and her two brothers, Ricky '74 and George '75 will also be traveling with us. 

from Monty Nolan in Helena , Montana
No doubt that I am the only 1968 grad here in Montana .  Too bad.  I live a pretty simple and quiet life up here.  But, I really do enjoy it.  After many years of wandering around, I've finally found my true home here. 

I like the new look of the website but find the music annoying.  So, I will take your suggestion and will turn my speakers down to zero when I am viewing the site.  Thanks for keeping us informed.

from Felicia Hiatt Petit in Texas City
(taken off of FACEBOOK)
I am sitting at home waiting for the rain to stop so I can stock up my trailer.  I am going on a camping EXPEDITION with my science department buddies this weekend.  It should be lots of fun.  We are going to Brazos Bend State Park and take in some nature and some relaxation.

from Cherlyn Hebert in Houston
A couple of weeks ago, I had lunch with classmate Karen Giles Hopper out in Sugar Land .  We figured this was the first time we had seen each other in probably 25 years.  Even though we were always close at Woodrow Wilson and TJ and I was the maid of honor at her first wedding to our classmate Dennis Schmidt , life happened and poof.....it's 25 years later.   It's so nice to know that none of that mattered.  We had such a good time, catching up on our lives and laughing a lot.  We've already made our next date, so time doesn't get away from us again. 

I leave for Israel in a week or so.  We're flying British Airways; and I went on the website today to select our seats and found, to my astonishment that you have to pay $90 per leg to make your seat assignments more than 24 hours in advance!   That's the first time I've heard of that gimmick.  So anyway, guess who's choosing her seat 24 hours ahead of time?

I've read the notes on the website about the wisdom of doing colonoscopies on a regular basis.  My father died of colon cancer, so, like Charles Cramer , I'm on a five-year plan.  I've been "harassing" several friends who are "of age" for years to have their first one.  One of them finally had hers a couple of weeks ago and a couple of polyps were found.  The doctor told her that they were non-cancerous but that, if she had waited two or three more years, they would have been malignant and the cancer would have probably spread throughout her body.  Now she's a believer and is preaching to all HER other friends.  So, I'll join in and urge all our classmates to have this done, especially if they've never had one before.  The prep is not nearly as bad as it used to be.  And the feeling of getting good news.....priceless.

from Martha Lipe Bodin '69 (wife of classmate, Carl Bodin )
Reading and listening to classmates and friends.  I had my colonoscopy.  Everything turned out great.  No problems at all!!!  Now that I have that behind me (so to speak), I can get on with the getting one.  The best part of the procedure was the meds they gave me to sleep.  Have not been this well-rested in years!

from Jack Etheredge in Bridge City
We just found out that our second daughter, Brittany and her husband Jake, after many years of trying to get pregnant, are going to have TWINS!

from Hal Ross in Nederland
(taken from FACEBOOK)
Bicycles were not made to ride into the wind.  And who decided to put flat spokes in a wheel?  The cross winds were challenging. We made the ride from Hell this morning to Kountze and Silsbee and back.  52 miles with lots of wind....and cold.  One broken chain and one flat tire.  No wrecks this time.
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LIFE

(contributed by Hal Ross )

• Forget health food.  I'm at an age where I need all the preservatives I can get.
• If there's no chocolate in heaven, I'm not going.
• As you get older, your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
• I would be unstoppable if I could just get started.
• Out of estrogen.  Next mood swing: 2 minutes.
• The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.
• My WILD OATS have turned into prunes and All-Bran.
• You can't stay young forever but you can be immature for the rest of your life.
• Gone crazy.  Back soon.
• I live in my own little world but it's okay.  They know me here.
• If you leave me, can I come, too?

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NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Mom and Dad are having better days.  Mom has FINALLY agreed to give up the car.  It is so sad for them to have to make that decision since it is the only independence they feel  they have left.  I feel guilty when I am not there since I keep thinking she might want to go somewhere to visit or run an errand.  But, then again I have to have a life here in Lumberton with my husband and grandkids, too.  Do any of you feel the same way?  Elderly life stinks. I feel helpless at times on how to help them mentally AND physically.
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PAISD APPROVES RENAMING TWO CAMPUSES
(from the PA NEWS by Mary Meaux)
In keeping with the legacy of the past while creating the legacy of the future, PAISD Trustees voted to rename two district schools.  Effective July 1, Thomas Edison Middle School will become Thomas Jefferson Middle School , located at 2200 Jefferson Drive (formerly Thomas Jefferson High School) , and Wilson K-8 Technology Theme School will become Abraham Lincoln k-8 Technology Theme School , located at 1023 Abe Lincoln Ave. 

When the district consolidated the three high schools to form one high school, the names of Abraham Lincoln High School and Thomas Jefferson High School were lost.  The former Lincoln campus became the Ninth Grade Center and Jefferson became Memorial High School .   A new high school was then constructed in a different location and became Memorial High School .  (It is located off of 9th Ave. across from Guadalupe Catholic Church.)

The name change will not bring back the mascots and school colors of old, though.  The official PAISD colors for all schools are to remain red, black and silver and the official PAISD mascot, for all schools, the Titans.
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GOT OUT OF DODGE!
Murphy and I "ran away" and went for the weekend to Meyer Bed & Breakfast in Comfort, TX.  Awesome place and our awesome friends and classmates meeting us there was just icing on the cake. Classmates Jim Andrus, Lynn Eldridge, Jude Arisco, and Paul Colletti, along with their spouses, all met for the 3 days. We sat on the porch and talked and laughed and drank and laughed again.  We went out to eat and went to wineries and flea markets in Fredericksburg .  Jude's sister, Patsy and husband Kenny, were there for the weekend, also.  Paul's sister, Ruthie and husband David, met us and stayed for the last night.  Relaxation and laughter were upmost in our plans and it happened with avengence!  We will see the gang again July 4th weekend at Lynn and Jim's ranch in Tupelo , outside of Corsicana .  Can't wait.
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SUPPORT
from Chrissy Dupuis Mullens about health update on husband, Richard
(copied from FACEBOOK)
Feb. 16th
Heading to MDA tomorrow.  Have appts. Wed, Thurs, and Fri. and will drive back on Friday and then back on Monday.  Chemo, scans, and Dr. appt. Monday.
Feb. 19th
We made it home today at 1:00 pm.  Unpacked and hit the bed.  Go back to MDA on Monday for test results and future plans of treatment. 
Feb. 22nd
Just got back from MDA with visit with the Dr.  Tumors are not growing but they are not shrinking either.  Richard asked for a break as his scleroderma is acting up and he gets a 2 week break and then may qualify for a new study wusing differnet drug.  We go back in 2 weeks to find o ut.  TWO WEEKS without a trip to HOUSTON !
cmullens@gt.rr.com

from Joel Levy in Houston
(update on his dad's health (multiple myeloma)
Dad is doing well.  The chemo is working so far.  Thank God he has no pain or other bad side effects.  Because it is a bone marrow cancer, it weakens the bones.  We have to make sure that he uses his walker all the time.
docjkl@msn.com
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You know even if I had to "steal" information on classmates from FACEBOOK, at least I had a little more to share with you.  I do enjoy doing this NEWSLETTER and know from your comments that you enjoy the website updates, as well. 

                                  Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
                                  Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com

Don't forget to change my e-mail address in your CONTACT folder!