MERRY CHRISTMAS, 2004

 

Dear Fellow Bobcats,

 

Been a while! Here it is another year has nearly caught up with us, my school year is half over, and Christmas is right around the corner. "Busy making popcorn balls, busy with the tree"...and when there is down time, I do absolutely nothing if I can possibly help it. I suppose it's because there is so little of it during the school year! At least we have a wonderful Christmas break.

 

Have to tell you all about my one little perk at the Augusta National this year. When the Masters Tournament was over on that faithful Sunday evening, it was about nine o'clock and we were shutting the doors down on the check stands for another year. My boss called me over and handed me a pairing sheet from that Sunday. Looked like any other schedule of players to me except it had written at the top..."Good luck, Kathie...Phil Mickelson!" Kinda took me back for the day. I really didn't believe it, but there it was. We had a great week out there last year, so am looking forward to another one in April, 2005.

 

In May, we had a wonderful reunion in New Orleans thanks to Ron Crowe, Class of '64. He did it again in spite of the sleepless nights and headaches.  Bruce King, '65, opened up his home on a Saturday afternoon, and we enjoyed seeing Bruce put on his CHS jacket and shared the memories. And we ate, and ate some more. Great food in New Orleans! Pictures are posted to the LCHS Website.

 

http://londoncentral.org/classreps/66co/no-04_kfaulkner1.htm

 

Ms. Nancy Rorden had this to say about our reunion:

"I want to let all of you know how much I enjoyed being a part of your reunion.  Ron, you did a fabulous job of getting everything organized. Bruce, thank you for opening your home to us, it is beautiful. I really had a wonderful sharing your memories with you.

 

All of you talk about what a great faculty you had and you did. The faculty at LCHS was one of a kind. You must remember that you are the ones that had the experiences that made the memories that you enjoy sharing with each other. Without a great group of students to share the experiences we would not have the memories.

 

I worked in the overseas schools for 30 years, and I must tell you that my best years and memories are from LCHS.  You are the only group that I enjoy reading your e-mails and consider attending a reunion.  The other schools were interesting, but cannot compare with the memories and experiences at LCHS. 

 

All of you are a very special breed of cat. Bobcats.  Thanks again for including me and sharing in your memories of some very special years."

 

In June, my son and I went to San Francisco for his 30th birthday. We walked those hills for nearly two weeks and saw everything there was to see and more! We walked the Golden Gate Bridge to and fro...even bought the sweatshirts! The view of the sunset from Ft. Mason was incredible over the Golden Gate Bridge. That is one beautiful city! The only time Russ had been to California was back during the Marine Corp. days to 29 Desert Palm. The view of the desert didn't quite compare to the sights in San Fran!

 

Now for the news:

 

Dave Aldridge, '65, and his wife Chris are moving from Memphis to where else?... Sunny Southern California! I'd ride in on your coat tails, Dave, but need to stay here the next three years and retire at this job! Dave and Chris' new address will be 14 MacKenzie Lane, Gleneagles, Coto de Caza, California 92679. I bet Elvis hates to see them leave. Make sure you all get to San Diego and stay at The Coronado. I'll tell you later what I did while at the Naval ship yard someday...Remind me!

 

And speaking of the Class of '65, General Tom Waskow has officially retired from the USAF. Dave Aldridge wrote a great tribute after he and Chris attended the Retirement Ceremony in North Carolina along with Chip Ruth, '65. Congratulations, Tom! Here... take a look for yourself:

 

http://londoncentral.org/classreps/65co/twaskow.htm  

 

Thanks, J Mercer and the LondonCentral.org team who work to keep our Bobcat memories alive. It takes a lot to maintain this website and J is always asking for some kind of help. If you have a few extra minutes and computer experience, send him an email. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

 

Other websites:

http://londoncentral.org/classreps/62class.htm

http://londoncentral.org/classreps/68class.htm

A change in email address for Jeff and Linda (Krause) McComb, '66:

jml724@bellsouth.net

 

A new email address for Mary Gobble Stuckey, '66:

 

mhstuckey@hotmail.com 

 

Sue Boyle McQuire ('65) has a new email address, too:

 

susanmmcguire@earthlink.net 

 

Sue has been steadily recovering from all the hurricane damage that has taken place in Florida this past year. Our thoughts for a speedy recovery are in order for you and all the others who went those storms this past year. Hang in there!

 

"Al" Sam Kelley, '66, sent his new email address back in November as well:

 

samkelley_1@comcast.net.

 

You remember Al Kelley...the one who broke his leg in the boys bathroom at CHS??? We'll just leave it at that!

 

And the "Bobcats" just keep cropping up! Mr. Max Jack, President of our Senior Class, '66, surfaced back in late October from out of the wild blue yonder. Max has such a tough life living in Hawaii! Max's address is:   542 Maluniu Avenue, Kailua, HI 96734-2152 

 

Email addresses:

 

mjack@directhealthnetworks.com

maxjack@mac.com

 

Welcome back to the Bobcat Family, Max. Keep in touch!! What do you do besides surf and watch the girls?

 

And Janet Carbonneau, '65,  has a new email address:  jcarbonneau@sbcglobal.net

Didn't we have fun in New Orleans? When are we going to get Ron Crowe to do another reunion for us?

 

Would love to hear from you and find out what you've been up to?

 

For those of you who did not know, our own Mr. "Wally" Threlkeld left us this year back in June. The following is a note from his daughter, Bronwyn, via Mrs. Gail Kelly in London and Ron Crowe:

 

From: "Ron Crowe"

To: "'Rob Shanks'"

Subject: RE: Wallace Threlkeld

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 18:47:54 -0700

 

Received this from Gail Kelly one of the teachers after I sent out

the email from Fr. Peters:

 

This is Bronwyn emailing you. We are all feeling dad's loss today.

He died at 10:45 pm last night quite peacefully after a couple of

days of very labored breathing.  Megan and Randall, dad's life

partner, were with him at the moment and we are so relieved that his

struggle is over.  We are going to delay dad's memorial service

until the Fall, his favorite season.  It is the Stone Arch Festival

this weekend in Minneapolis and the entire area around dad's house

will be packed with people and booths. Dad wants to be scattered in

the Mississippi here so any type of service would almost be

impossible.  He will be cremated today and we will keep the ashes

until Fall.

 

It is a sad time, but we all know that dad was not one for pomp and

circumstance.  We found a poem in his will that said:

 

Miss me but let me go.....

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in a gloom filled room,

Why cry for me a soul set free.

Miss me a little, but not too long,

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love the we once shared,

Miss me- but let me go.

For this is the journey that we all must take,

And each must go alone.

It's all a part of the Master's plan,

A step on the road to home.

When you're lonely and sick of heart,

Go to the friends we know.

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,

Miss me-but let me go.

 

We'll miss Mr. Threlkeld. He was an inspiration to all who knew him as a teacher and friend at CHS.

 

I guess one of the best memories I have of this year is from New Orleans. Ms. Nancy Rorden is a go-getter! We had the best time on Bourbon Street, talking and reminiscing the memories of CHS. You're were and are such an inspiration to me, Nancy, as we compared notes about teaching careers. "Thanks for the Memories!" And it was great to see first time faces at this reunion in New Orleans like Jean Hurd, Terri Record Sorenson and Steve Ehrlich, Dyan Hutchins and Lyndal Lee. We had a good turn out from the Class of 1966! Paul Spitale...I see there was another picture of you taken in that bathtub with a certain person? Now, what have you got to say for yourself? We all need to make a special effort to be in DC in 2005! All the "Hurd Girls" have said they would be there!

 

I think that just about brings this year to a close. As with any year, it has its ups and downs, yet, we are thankful for another year to be with family, and friends. Going through this holiday season, please remember our troops overseas and the many soldiers who have given up what we so gratefully cherish...freedom, life and love.

 

Here's an oldie, goldie from Central, 1965, attached to jog the memory. Let me know who is missing?

 

You all have a wonderful holiday season, and stay safe in the new year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Bobcats!

 

Kat

CHS, 1966