Memorial Day Tribute

My Memorial Day tribute to my Uncle Carl and my father can be found here on my blog.

Memorial Day

I do hope everyone will take a moment to remember all those who sacrificed so much so we can enjoy the blessings of freedom.  I don't regret for a moment the time I spent serving, even though it was only 4 yrs; just grateful I never had to go fight in Vietnam. We live not too far from an Air Force Base, so there are lots of active duty people & those who are retired here. Also there is a major medical facility here for treatment of our wounded.  I am continually reminded that freedom isn't free.  So enjoy the cookouts, swimming and family time and say 'Thank you' to a vet.

Prayers Welcomed....

It has been a challenging last two months. My wife, Aurora, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Lung Cancer in early April. Prognosis is not good. She started chemo and radiation treatments about three weeks ago. My time has been consumed by taking care of her and running from medical appointment to medical appointment. She is in much pain and has a difficult time moving around since the cancer has entered her bone structure, specifically her pelvis, back, and legs.

I hate to be bearer of bad news on a Holiday Weekend, however Aurora could use any prayers you might wish to make to help her get through the pain and these difficult times.

Thanks...... Larry

The guy you didn't know

my fault of course...I wanted to play baseball and nothing was going to get in my way. The simple fact that I graduated at 128 lbs at 6'0" may have had something to do with the fact my beloved Cleveland Indians and ALL the other teams weren't interested in signing me.

Oh oh! Now I'm out of high school and I haven't a clue of what I want to do when I grow up. My uncle was looking out for me fortunately. He gave me a number.....64......and three months later I was finally drafted. Fort Dix? Not quite what I was hoping for, but at least I could tell everybody I got drafted.

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I've lived my life here in the Erie area. I have a daughter (Marygail 31) from a previous marriage. She has kept many artists working at Buddhas and Ink Assassins. After graduating from Mercyhurst College she obtained a job in the Social Security Office here in Erie. Ahhhhh, the luxury of having a government job!

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Another daughter, (Rachel 18) graduates from Fort LeBoeuf this year and is headed off to PSU Main Campus this year. She will be pursuing a degree in East Asian Studies with a minor in Mandarin. She has completed two classes of Mandarin Chinese at Gannon University through dual enrollment taking her 1st class while in 10th grade and her 2nd class as a Senior this year. She was secretary of the NHS this year and added a Tiara at Prom time.

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My son (Nathaniel 17) is a character. He's in the 10th grade and may be there a while, I really don't know! He is an actor, a musician (keyboard and keytar, bass and some drums) and sings. I don't call it singing, but he does. Hardcore guttural gasping for air is what I would call it. Gad, I sound like my own father did 40 years ago!
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My wife of 20 years is Alise (Ah-lease). She was born and raised in Pittsburgh but I have learned not to hold that against her. It wasn’t her choice. Alise homeschooled Rachel through 7^th grade and Nate through 6^th grade and is now a teacher’s aide at Leadership Christian Academy in Fairview. She has all her teeth, too!
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I will be paroled from General Electric after almost 37 years due to good behavior, after which Alise and I will continue to work in ministry being able to give more of our time to that effort.

Well, it’s pretty bad when you can sum up over 40 years into a one page document, but at least we’re still around to do thatJ. It’s been a pleasure to read this blog and find out what’s going on in the lives of so many people we rarely see. Until next time we do, as my son says, “peace out”!

Tom Heinrich

Hello from Anne (Shade) McKinney

Greetings, classmates, and Happy Memorial Day! I haven't seen most of you in many years - hope to reconnect this summer at our 60th birthday party. A brief personal update since 1968 follows:
One of the things I wanted to do "when I grew up" was to see the world, and I have spent about ten years living abroad. I graduated from a Belgian university, spent several years in Europe while my husband (a Navy carrier pilot) was deployed in the Mediterranean, and I was stationed in Japan for three years and in England for two and one-half years. I've also lived in Colorado, California, Washington state and Alexandria VA, where I am living today. After high school, I continued singing and playing guitar, and added acting, directing, dancing and modeling in my college/postgraduate years and a few years after that. In my mid-20s, I switched gears and worked as a CCU nurse in a small hospital on an island in Puget Sound. Nursing was not for me, however, and I only lasted a couple of years in that career. When the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 , and Americans were taken hostage, I decided to see a recruiter, became a Space and Electronic Warfare Line Officer in the Navy, and completed a twenty year career in 2001. I had two communicatons commands and worked in Strategic Intelligence, Space and Sensor programs. From Flower Child to Commander - what can I say?!? Since I've retired, I've taken up golf, and I'm doing things that I couldn't do while I was working - educational, service, social and fun things.
Dana retired from the Navy in 1997 but is still working and has his own consulting firm. He works on missle defense and aviation projects, and he advises heads of businesses and government agencies.
My Mom died in 2002, and my Dad and several siblings are still in the Erie area, so I visit from time to time. Priscilla (Moorhead) White is still a great friend, and we get together often during my visits. I hope I can make the July event - thanks for planning it!

Misc. Update from Carl

This is an updated email that I sent out recently to those classmates whose email I have--Carl:

Hi all! It’s been a while since I emailed you, and I’ve added some names receiving this. As you know, to honor all our privacy, I’m keeping your emails private and hidden on this email. I guess it would be helpful to know if you’re okay with having your email appear on the class directory on the website (and other places). If you’d give me that permission, please just respond to this email, with a ‘yes, I’m okay with my email being on the website’ or ‘no, I’d rather keep it private’. Thanks so much.

I appreciate Beth Whitten Swoap helping me so much with this project of a website (and now blog) that I embarked upon several years ago now, right after the last reunion. She’s really interested in it all and doing a great job. Thanks, Beth!! We’re doing all of this over the internet, I’ve just talked to her once by phone. Isn’t it amazing?!

Bill Nesgoda and planning committee told me yesterday that the ‘Class of ’68 Summer 60th Birthday Bash’ (I just made that up) is going to be held on Saturday, July 24th. So save that date!! They continue to look for a location for the party, and we’ll let you know the details when they’re decided upon. We hope to see a lot of you there (I’m coming, in all my glory!)

I hope you’ve looked at the blog recently. Beth and I (and a few others) are blogging furiously, but we could use your help. Please contribute, and that will keep it interesting and alive. Thanks!!

My wife Mary Beth and I are in the process of moving over the next three weeks, so I’m going to be a little scarce here and on the blog. We’re moving up to our house in Greensboro, NC, and have to be out of our parsonage here in Lexington by June 18. After that, I’ll be on sabbatical leave for a year (yippee!) and working as a househusband (boo!!). Mary Beth has, by hook or by crook, secured a teaching job in Guilford County, so we’re on cloud 9 about that.

Take care everyone!!! See you this summer at the party!!

Carl

Hello everyone

I'm here and I'm well. I ' m a cake dedorator at Wal Mart. hope to retire in a couple of years. I have three daughters, Stacy (38) Ann (37) Lynn (36) Three grandchildren Matthew 10, Brandon 15, Brianna 17 . Not a lot to say, Live a simple life.

"New" Classmates

I see that a few more people have signed up! Welcome! That's great news. Please be sure to forward the blog and website to any other classmates you may still be in contact with. I have been in touch with Gary Mosier's widow, Chris, who has been maintaining the class database for the last 20 years or so (bless her heart for doing this for us, for so long), and I have been working on updating it. I have found a few we didn't have before, and added e-mails and phone numbers if we could get them. I have found a few others with right names, middle initials, age, etc., but I'm still not sure if they are the correct people. I've left a number of crazy messages for some of them, and have heard back for a few folks, so progress is being made, but any info you have would be helpful.

Hi Alice, it was great hearing about your life. For those of you who didn't see it, click on her name on the left side and it's in her profile. Don Colvin, Rich Arpin, Dick Trimble, Tom Heinrich... Come on, you're halfway there, you signed up, now tell us something! You're only a virgin once, and it really doesn't hurt:)

A last thought for you all: Women and cats will do as they please, and you men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

Post

Great to hear from Chuck Maille in the previous post.  Thanks, Chuck!!

Okay, the rest of you.  It's time to post!  We want to hear from you.  It's rather painless, in fact I will go so far as to say, it's quite pleasant!  All it takes is a little courage and a little time and a little love.

I'll prove to you it's peasant.  Look at my blog here and see how much I love it!

Do it for the class, do it for 1968, do it for yourself.  Just do it!  (I sound like a fundraiser for NPR....you'd think I was making money doing this, but it actually costs me money to pay for the website domain name....but I do it for old-times-sake, for 'the memories', and because Harborcreek High School is worth it!!)

Okay, I'm going to lay a little guilt-trip on you. You simply can't be busier than I am right now. Mary Beth and I are in the process of finishing up at our church of 4 years, packing up our worldly goods to move 40 miles up the road to Greensboro by June 18th, renovating our house in Greensboro (traveling there several times a week to meet with contractors), looking for appliances and furniture since we have none (been living in parsonages, you know), establishing banks, doctors, utilities in Greensboro, getting Mary Beth a teaching job (traveling to interviews, etc.), going to good-bye gatherings at our church, and planning a reunion for my Lindquist family in Pennsylvania in July. And I'm sure I left some things out!

In other words, you can't possibly be busier than I am!  So if I can find the time and energy to post on this class blog (as well as create it!), you can too.

Post.  I'm on my knees, beggin you please!!  (Not really.)

Carl

Start of summer heat

Here in south Texas, summers tend to be hot and dry and it starts happening now. Most days the temp will top out in the upper 80's or low 90's and the rain never seems to come. We get teasers - little showers that pop up and wet the grass & then they are gone, but no real watering rain. The ground starts to dry out and cracks appear, lawns start to go brown as the grass goes dormant. You can water your lawns, but have to follow restrictions on when and how long. We also have to water around our house because of the way houses are constructed here. So around the house, the grass is green and the rest... well. Don't go outside without foot protection as fire ants are very common. Soon the temp will top out neat 100 every day. last year was unusual as we had well over 60 days of over 100. Usual average is about 35. If you get away from subdivisions you will see cacti growing. That said, winters aver very mild - a few days of 30's, a few hrs of upper 20's. Snow? What is that? The best time to be outside here is spring and fall. I have found I don't miss 4 seasons very much, although Christmas still seems a little strange with no snow or cold. Most years, Christmas is 70's .. Next time, I will ramble about what I am doing these days.
Chuck Maille

Three Great Things

In our packing to move to Greensboro in June, I ran across an old book that we've had for quite some time entitled "Elbert Hubbard's Scrapbook".  I had seen this book for years in Mom and Dad Grimm's house and always  admired it.   A few years ago, when we were sorting through their stuff (as Dad is gone and Mom is living in assisted living), I ran across it again and kept it.

This morning, I read inside the cover that it was a gift to Mom (Mary Lois) Grimm at Christmas in 1944.  I was curious who Elbert Hubbard was, so I look him up in Wikipedia and saw that he was a writer and thinker in Buffalo, NY, who started the Roycroft Press and the Roycrofter Arts and Crafts movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Later on the article I ran across the following, which is pretty amazing:

In 1912, the famed passenger liner the Titanic was sunk after hitting an iceberg. Hubbard subsequently wrote of the disaster, singling out the story of Ida Straus, who as a woman was supposed to be placed on a lifeboat in precedence to the men, but she refused to board the boat: "Not I—I will not leave my husband. All these years we've traveled together, and shall we part now? No, our fate is one."

Hubbard then added his own stirring commentary:

"Mr. and Mrs. Straus, I envy you that legacy of love and loyalty left to your children and grandchildren. The calm courage that was yours all your long and useful career was your possession in death. You knew how to do three great things—you knew how to live, how to love and how to die. One thing is sure, there are just two respectable ways to die. One is of old age, and the other is by accident. All disease is indecent. Suicide is atrocious. But to pass out as did Mr. and Mrs. Isador Straus is glorious. Few have such a privilege. Happy lovers, both. In life they were never separated and in death they are not divided."

On May 1, 1915, little more than three years after the sinking of the Titanic, the Hubbards boarded Lusitania in New York City. On May 7, 1915, while at sea, it was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine Unterseeboot 20.

Rainy Mondays

It is cool, rainy and humid in Maryland, today. Just my favorite kind of weather, yuck! But it is better to have this today rather than over the weekend, which was just about perfect. Summer in the D.C. area is never very pleasant(Hazy, Hot & Humid), so weekends like we just had are such a joy!

I have been busy, trying to find those of you who are listed as missing, so if you are reading this, and are on the class website as "unknown", please let me know you're out there, and not lost! Also, if you have any contact info for someone on the unknown list, please share it with the rest of us(with permission, of course). Has anyone heard from Flavio since graduation? I've found some interesting things about some of the classmates on Google. Seems like we have a number of celebrities in their own fields. Here's hoping they will share their stories with us, soon. Right Stan? Brad? Chris?

Ken, how are you feeling, now that is been a while since your procedure? Following doctor's orders? Having fun yet?

I see that others have signed up for this thing, so jump in and tell us what's happening in your world. It only hurts the 1st time, after that it's easy. This thing will get boring if only Carl and I contribute, and you will force me to post silly jokes and things!!

Oh well, enough begging for today.

Less is Better

I read this recently on the internet:

According to Greek philosopher Epicurus, the troubles entailed by maintaining an extravagant lifestyle tend to outweigh the pleasure of enjoying that lifestyle. He recommended that what was necessary for life and happiness be maintained at minimal cost, believing that anything beyond what is necessary should either be tempered by moderation or completely avoided.

Most people do not realize this simple truth. Over time, we have been brainwashed to think that "More is Better". It is this mindset that leads to a nation of resource guzzlers. We also harbor the misconception that a minimalist leads a deprived live, that he has to sacrifice many pleasures in life, etc. The truth is that a minimalist aims for the optimum point. A minimalist knows that too little can be inefficient and too much can be detrimental. A minimalist is thus a maximizer. Because he is fully aware of the disadvantages of too little and too much, he lives in moderation.

More Yearbook Staff

Mr Muzzi

Did Mr Muzzi still want $.50/hour for babysitting?

Update from Kathy Beck Hariri

Hello Beth[Whitten Swoap]. I saw your message on Facebook. I enjoyed looking at the 40th reunion pictures and am glad to see everybody else looks as old as me, ha ha.

After graduation, I lived in Las Vegas for several years, where I met my husband Morteza (Marty). We've been married since 1971. We moved to Los Angeles where my husband completed his post-graduate work at UCLA, then headed to Washington state, where we have resided since at 3 different places in the Seattle area.

Mary Bossolt Cass and I have remained in touch, though we did lose track of each other for awhile. I still consider her one of my best friends and we do email fairly frequently.

I've only been back to Erie once (in 1994) for my Aunt Jean's 70th birthday. We're hoping to visit next summer sometime, as my Aunt and numerous cousins are still there.

Kathy Beck Hariri
Kathy.B.Hariri@marsh.com
785 Elderberry Lane, Camano Island, WA, 98282
Home phone 360-387-1581.

Pictures of 35th Class Reunion

Here are a few photos I took at the 35th Reunion which was at Peek 'n Peak in 2003. I didn't have a good camera then so the photos aren't great, but I still wanted to share them. I especially like the one of John Hogue and Dave Church. That was the last reunion we got to have John with us and he will be missed. He was a sweet guy. And who could forget Mr. Muzzi's talk?   Priscilla.

Hi All

Well it's been a long time since I've seen any of you guys, I went to the 15 year reunion and have been from Florida to Alaska with the Military in between. Right now were in Holiday Fl. getting
ready to go back East. It's to darn hot now and time to hit the road. Last year at this time the wife
and I were on a 30 day trip through out Europe cerebrating our 38 years of marriage. I've seen it before but the wife never got a chance to go with me. Some where in the last 3 decades we had 3
boys and assorted animals from Ferret's to several Great Danes as pets. The only one we did not get which I wanted was a parrot, every Sailor should have a parrot but my wife Jaci don't like birds
I retired from the Military, woh 13 years ago now and do Housing Maintenance as a side line. Our sons, the youngest is 29, they are all busy with full time jobs and are spread all over the country.
When we hit the road in a few weeks well hopefully get to see them all and the (8)grandchildren.
I hope I remember all of them correctly, at age 60 CRS comes and go's - Can't Remember Shi-
Well enough about me, how about some of the newly discovered give us an up date!!!

20th Reunion Class Picture

Class Picture from the 20th Class Reunion, (with permission from Dave Zukowski to reproduce).  Wouldn't it be great to have this many of us come to the 45th Reunion in 2013?  (For a larger copy of the picture to look at, double click directly on the picture):

Quickie #1

Here's a cute story for you all, especially those with daughters.

All eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle. They reached the altar and the waiting groom; the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand. The guests in the first few rows responded with ripples of laughter. Even the priest smiled broadly.

As her father gave her away in marriage...the bride gave him back his credit card!

Cadets?

Hey, we(Alice & I) were twirlers:)

Cadets...er....Twirlers!

(Perhaps you can tell I like the cheerleaders and cadets....and twirlers!)

My life in a few short sentences

It is such fun reading all of the posts here. This isn't something I do much, so here goes. My bio in a few short concise sentences.

After graduation, marriage to Dave Shannon gave me a very large extended family. We moved into the big farmhouse on the hill where Dave's family had lived and once two children were both in school, I went to nursing school, graduating in 1979. The funny thing is, when my good friend Gig became a nurse I wondered about her choice. I'm retired now, but Gig I know why you do it.

When our children started college, Dave and I moved out west for a few years courtesy of GE, but are back now living in Harborcreek once again. We are down the road from that old farmhouse, in Nancy May's childhood home. Only another Erie person can appreciate how we refer to places out here in good old Harborcreek. So, in a nut shell, that's it and I'll keep reading and posting if you all will too.

Archives

Don't forget that any post on this blog can be found and read by simply going to the 'archive' in the lower left portion of the blog, finding the title of the post, then clicking on it.  The old post will appear in the screen.  When you are finished reading it, just click on the Blog Title at the top of the screen, and the most recent post will once again appear at the top, with the other below it.

Cussing

Mary Ann Bandur Alphin sends in this story...about which you can find a sermon of mine on the Third Commandment here:

A 6 year old and a 4 year old are upstairs in their bedroom. The 6 year old asks, "You know what? I think it's about time we started cussing." The 4 year old nods his head in approval. The 6 year old continues, "When we go downstairs for breakfast, I'm gonna say something with 'hell' and you say something with 'ass.'"

The 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm.

When the mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6 year old what he wants for breakfast, he replies, "Aw, hell, Mom, I guess I'll have some Cheerios."

WHACK! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out, with his mother in hot pursuit, slapping his rear with every step. His mom locks him in his room and shouts, "You can stay there until I let you out!"

She then comes back downstairs, looks at the 4 year old and asks with a stern voice, "And what do YOU want for breakfast, young man?"

"I don't know," he blubbers, "but you can bet your fat ass it won't be Cheerios!"

Chicago - That toddling town

Chuck and I are in Chicago this week for a NTTC trade show. We took an architectural tour by boat in the lake and river, very interesting!!!! We are here until Thursday, but have lots of sightseeing planned when he isn't working at the trade show.
Our #2 grandson turns 10 today, our millenium baby sure had grown up fast and we love him to pieces. We did talk to him on the phone and he even sounded older.
Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!!!!!

Patti

It's Monday.

That is a great photo of Nita and Dave. It is also great news about Ken's health! And it was good to hear what's been happening to Gig Westland for all the years, sorry about the knees, me too.

I started helping Carl, last week, looking for "missing" classmates. When you catch up with someone, they usually don't realize that they are "missing". Afterall, they have always known where they are. I spoke with Kathy Snyder, she's in New York, and may be on here, soon, Bill Patterson, still in Erie, and Stan Hilinski. Stan has been living in MD since he got out of college, and not far from me, but neither of us knew it! I now have the bug of looking for the lost folks. It's a hoot! Has anyone heard from our exchange student, Fla, since he went home to Brazil? I think I found him on the internet, a lawyer and political activist, but so far haven't found a way to contact him. I tried sending a message through the Bar Assoc of Sao Paulo, so we'll see if that works. One classmate that I located is not interested in reconnecting with us, but so far most have seemed interested. If you have contact info for anyone listed on the class website as unknown, let one of us know, or have them contact us. It is quite nostalgic to get in touch with old friends, again.

No Doubt Who This Is

Two happy dancers at the 40th reunion:

Update from Ken Henry

Ken Henry updates us on his health condition:

Things went well.
They confirmed blockage but decided the best course of action was big time medicine, diet, exercise and relaxation. They want my cholesterol down to 70.
Take it easy for another week and back to normal living.
Ken.

Greetings From Orlando!

This blogging thing is just a little intimidating to me, but I've decided to give it a try.

I am so interested in hearing from everyone and learning what has happened to everyone these past 40 years or so.

I married Pat Fenell in August, 1970, this year we will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe so much time has gone by. We have three sons who were all born in Erie, but in 1981, Pat had an opportunity to take a job in Orlando, Florida and they "made him an offer he couldn't refuse". I was not at all excited about the move, and agreed to it only because he promised me that we could move back to Erie within 6 months if I wanted to. Well, we're still here in Orlando. I learned to love Florida and although I miss my family in Erie, I've never regretted moving here.

We started adding daughters as our sons Mike and Eric got married, two of them are Jennifers (we call them Jen 1 and Jen 2). The third son, Dan, didn't come up with a Jennifer, but we love Billi just the same. The grandkids are the best! We have one grandson, and two granddaughters and another little girl on the way.

I graduated from Villa Maria College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and worked in Labor and Delivery at St. Vincent's until we moved to Orlando. Since moving, I have always worked in Labor and Delivery. I really love what I do, there is nothing better than being present when a new miracle is born.

Pat is self employed, part owner of a custom injection molding company. The past few years have been a little challenging with his business because of the economy, but things are beginning to look brighter.

I unfortunately inherited the arthritis that my dear mother had, so I have been struggling with terrible knees for a few years. I had one knee replacement last December, and the results were so amazing, I have scheduled the other knee for June this year. I would love to come to Erie for the 60th Birthday celebration, but my surgery might prohibit that.

The picture is our entire family, taken on Easter Sunday. Sons Mike and Eric and their families live in the Central Florida area, Dan and Billi (expecting a baby girl in August) live in Charlotte, NC.

I hope to keep in touch with everyone and encourage everyone to "blog away".

Gig Fenell (Westland)

Mother's Day

Anyone else got a mom you'd like to honor?

Mother's Day--Evelyn Lindquist

On this mother's day weekend, I want to honor my mother Evelyn Lindquist, who died last year on January 2.  She provided a good and loving home for us boys, served the community through her church, and loved her husband Lennart dearly.  We miss her this Mother's Day.

The Cat and the Fox

Ok, I'm here, today. The problem is that I actually have some work to do for a change! That's what I get for spending the whole day, yesterday, looking up missing classmates. I spoke with Bill Patterson and Kathy Snyder Hall, and have sent them the info to get into the class website and the blog.

Yesterday we finally got the air conditioning fixed at the house... it was only 4 days, but we were over 90 a couple of them, so it felt like a month. I'm in the wrong line of work...3 hours, $850! Ouch!

My cat stared down a fox in the front yard the other day...now we are not letting him out that much. He's 18 and still thinks he's the king of the hill. He's also not as big as he was in younger days. I don't want him trying to take the fox, the fox would win! We have a group of 4 deer who are grazing in the front yard, pretty regularly now. They are such beautiful animals! I just hope they leave my 2 ornamental trees alone. I have given them the wild apple tree, for years.

Oh well, back to work!

Beth

Will Someone Please Post Something?

Okay, folks, I can be the only one posting here, but this blog isn't going to be very interesting that way.  Can you perhaps treat it a little like Facebook, with just a daily entry of what's going on in your life?  Please?

Yes, I'm talking to you!

And pictures, lots of pictures!  I'll help you get them on the post.  (Hint, once you upload the pictures from your computer, you can drag them around on the textbox to wherever you want them and resize them too.  It also helps to crop pictures first with some kind of photo software.) 

Carl

Cheerleaders

Posting Life Updates

I hope you don't mind that I've gone ahead and reposted a number of what I'm calling 'Life Updates' that classmates sent in over a year ago.  They didn't get out to everyone who's currently viewing the blog, so I thought people would enjoy the interesting stories of our lives found in these updates.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to send them in.

And remember that you can see all of the posts at any time by just scrolling down to the 'Archive' on the lower left side of the blog, and then clicking on any post there to bring it up to read.  Then after reading it, you can just click on the Blog Title--'Musings and Memories from '68' up at the top, and it takes you back to the full blog, updated.

A blog is a wonderful thing.  I can't believe how early I'm up today...couldn't sleep.

Carl

Repost of Life Update for Carl Lindquist

A Life Update for Carl Lindquist

I lived all my pre-college life at 2538 Parker Ave., just outside Wesleyville, in a house that my dad and two grandfathers built in 1950. My parents were Lennart and Evelyn Lindquist. Dad worked most of his life at G.E., while my mother worked at the State Police barracks as a secretary. My older brother was Arne, and my younger brother was Paul. Arne went on to become a 'watch maker' and now owns a small jewelry store in Annville, Pennsylvania, east of Harrisburg. Paul has worked at the G.E. since 1973 and never left Erie. Because of that, he has largely looked after our parents in these later years. Dad died in 1998 and my mom passed away in January, 2009.

After high school, I decided to attend Thiel College in Greenville, PA., where I majored in Pre-Medicine and Religion (I know that probably sounds like a strange combination). During my first year, I didn't change much from the way I had acted and dressed in high school--pretty nerdy! But by the beginning of my sophomore year, the 60's zeitgeist overwhelmed me, and I totally changed my look. I grew my hair long, along with a thick red beard, got a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, and started wearing 'hippie' clothes. I joined a rock band and really got into the spirit of those times. (Not surprisingly, my grades went to hell!) And fortunately, I didn't end up going to Vietnam. During the summers, I worked at Hamot Hospital in Erie as an orderly, which was very interesting work. I graduated in 1972, but two months before graduating, I met my wife-to-be, Mary Beth Grimm, who was a freshman. I had intended to go to Medical School but did not get accepted, so I returned to work at Hamot Hospital for the next 7 months.

Note from Mary Ann Bandur Alphin

Dave Williams is going to Allegheny Hosp for surgery. May 19 is the date. His wife Willa told me. They both have some medical situations. He has been suffering with this. He could use all the well wishes and prayers he can get. Willa and I have been neighbors and close since we were tiny kids. Would you put this out there... Mary Ann Alphin

Repost of Life Update from Ken Henry

This is a reposting of a Life Update from Ken Henry (2/8/09)....Carl:

It’s is a beautiful day here in sunny Cincinnati Ohio. I have almost live here as long as I lived in Erie. I live in a small but comfortable home 1 mile from my office. My wife of 21 years, Emily teaches theology a Xavier University. I has two knock out daughters one 20 and one 17. The youngest is a senior in high school, most likely off to the university on Indiana in Pre vet. My oldest in a sophomore at Xavier in nursing. I have a 5 year old lab and enjoy all kinds of music, mostly stolen from my kids. Cold play is paying as I type. I own an insurance agency and sell Erie insurance, but I do not want to get too far ahead or myself.

(After high school) I graduated with no honors from Penn state with a degree in Finance. it took me 4 1/2 years even with help from my sometimes roommate Frank Diramio. 1973 was a crap year to find a job and with big hair a golden brown 3 piece corduroy interview suit, I was not hired. My friend Rick Arpin got me a summer job working for the Township that lasted 3 years. I loved punching in a 7:30 and out at 4:30 no cares, no

Repost of Life Update from Cindy MacTaggart Rogers (2/7/09)

 A reposting of a Life Update from Cindy MacTaggart Rogers (2/7/09)....Carl:

David is still working in management for an electronics firm and I am in my 32nd year of teaching (8th grade English, Literature, and Writing).Though our son Jon has been re-called to active duty-his wedding in Savannah is still going to be in March (over St. Pat's week-end). He will be married to a lovely young lady by the name of Courtnie (who is a secondary English teacher-and a Georgia native). Jon was an Army Airborne Ranger-he decided to enlist, and was sworn in 1 week after graduating with an engineering degree from Rochester Instit. Of Tech (RIT)...We are glad he is back on "safe" ground for the time being! He is presently a design engineer for GE Erie. Prior to pursuing her doctorate at Univ. Of PA (Phila.), our daughter Jennifer worked for the Holocaust Museum in DC (she also worked as a part of the Presidential Holocaust Advisory Commission during Pres. Clinton's admi n.) while in school she will be retained by the Museum as a consultant.

God Bless!

Peace...

Cindy MacTaggart-Rodgers

Repost of Life Update from Larry Yost (2/7/09)

This is a reposting of a Life Update from Larry Yost (2/7/09)....Carl:

Hi everyone from the tundra of Buffalo, New York. It's been a cold, snowy winter. I can't believe I'm still here. I tried getting away from Buffalo back in 1985 and transferred/relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, but my employer was acquired and things went downhill from there. At the time, I wanted to seek new employment in Dallas, Texas, but my wife Aurora wanted to move back to Buffalo to be with her family. I guess you can figure out who won that debate, so here I am!!! Hopefully, in three years I can fully retire and do the "snowbird" thing. We own a condo in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and would live in Buffalo for about eight months (May-Dec) and in Ft. Lauderdale for about four months (Jan-Apr). My only fear is what might further happen negatively to my retirement savings between now and then given the current economic crisis. It has already taken a big hit. This whole economic situation has caused me to lose faith in many of our politicians (republicans and democrats), and as Aurora would say, the government (federal, state, and local) and its politicians are like a legalized mafia, and she should know being from Sicily and all. Moving on to better thoughts....

Report of Life Update for Priscilla Moorhead White

This is a Repost of a Life Update for Priscilla Moorhead White from 2/3/09....Carl:

I moved back to Erie in 2000 after 20 years away to take a job at the PA Soldiers and Sailors Home. I do staff training and infection control there. My first husband, Warren Starrett, passed away in 1993. I went back to school after that and graduated in 1996 with a nursing degree. That same year I married Rex White. We both play guitar and write songs, and we enjoy singing wherever we are asked--churches, nursing homes, even class reunions! If anyone wants to hear one of our songs, you can go to www.matherlifeways.com/agingwellrocks.

My son, James, lives and works in Erie, so I'm blessed to be able to see him a lot. I don't have any biological grandchildren, but I have several step-grandkids to enjoy. I love to play Scrabble on line and have been playing with my brother and sister every day for years. I like to walk and would love to go for walks at Presque Isle (when the weather gets better) with any of my classmates. God bless all of you!

"Read More"

As you can see, sometimes with longer posts, I'll put a 'read more' mark, which will take you to the full post.  This shortens the post on the main blog page, which has obvious merits to it.  If when you are done reading the full post after making the 'jump', just click on the 'arrow back' round button in the upper left corner of the Internet Explorer page and it will take you back to the main blog page.  Now, if you're using some other program, just use the equivalent 'arrow back' button.....Carl

Repost of Life Update from Frank Diraimo (2/4/09)

I'm reposting this Life Update from Frank Diramo of 2/4/09....Carl:

I "left" the Erie area in spring 1986 and have never looked back. I "go home" 2-3 times a year to visit family/relatives, attend weddings, funerals, etc (more and more funerals it seems). Life is good, but continues to be challenging. I am a "salesman", but if you were to ask me what I sell, in today's economy, the answer would be "nothing, what do you want to buy?".

Living in the Baltimore area allows me to remain close to those still in Erie, but I am able to keep my distance when I want to. Sometimes I wish I was closer, especially to show off my 14 month old grandson. My daughter (Angie) tells me that number 2 is on the way, due in August. Can't wait. She named her first son Leo, so I told her if she has another son, she should name him Davinci, she says no, and says I am stupid!!!! Can you believe it?

Her married name is Buono (she married Victor Buono's nephew, if you remember that actor from the 60's-big guy, friend of Sinatra's, among other movies, was the father in Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte). So anyway, my wife (Elaine) told her to name her second

Note from Rich Arpin

Hey Carl, Super job setting all this up! Great to see how everyone is doing!

Ken, good luck Thurs. hope all goes well.

Rich

AAADD

From Debbie Przybyszewski-Hause comes this:

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.
Somehow I feel better even though I have it!!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention
Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway,
I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage,
I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I'm here! (Beth Whitten Swoap)

Woohoo, I figured it out! It only took me 3 days, but I managed to get in here, to post something! Too bad I don't have a teenager around, to help me deal with the computer.

It has been fun getting back in contact with many old friends after all these years. Many thanks to Carl for making the effort to put all this together for all of us. As I have told Carl, I am severly technologically challenged, and have the ability to crash almost anything computer related, so don't be surprised if we lose the whole blog, now that I'm on here. I think the blog wasn't letting me in as a self defense mechanism!

Ken, best wishes for a successful procedure tomorrow!

Hi from S. Texas (Chuck Maille)

It is really neat to read the postings. I have passed the 60 threshold already and am amazed how quickly all this time has passed. The picture in my profile is me with my grandson Thomas, who will be 2 at then end of the month. A short summary: Married to Debbie Lucas (Newark, Oh) 37 yrs. 3 children: Heather, Gordon, Mike, 5 grandchildren: Kevin, Alison, Philip, Natalie, Thomas. Have lived in south Texas since 2001 – location is just outside of San Antonio. I am currently doing IT for a non-profit. Debbie is an RN working pre-op at a specialty hospital. Since leaving HC, I (we) have lived in MD, OK (2 places), KY (2 places), MI, TX. Whew! More moves than I really wanted.

Getting older does have those wonderful health issues that come up. At my physical a year ago in January, I was told that my EKG was not quite right. After several tests the specialist did a 'look=see' with a camera. He was ready to do a heart catherization … thankfully, nothing was found.. no blockage of any kind anywhere. But it was a very stressful time.

I do hope many more posts will be made... Thanks, Carl for setting this up.

If you come to San Antonio, give us a ring.

Chuck Maille

1968 Yearbook Staff (Partial)

Update from Ken Henry

Received this from Ken Henry this morning:

My cardio cath/ angiogram test is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7am .  Wish me luck.  I will email you Friday with the results.

ken

News from Priscilla Moorhead White

Just read in today's paper that John Paul Sank, husband of our classmate Rebecca Cady Sank, passed away Sunday. The link to his obituary is http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/erietimesnews/obituary.aspx?n=john-paul-sank&pid=142460684.

They were married for 36 years and had children and grandchildren. Maybe some of our classmates would like to post on the guestbook.

Thanks,
Priscilla

60th Birthday Party

Bill Nesgoda and a few classmates in Erie are doing some planning for a '60th birthday party' class get-together sometime this summer, perhaps at the Peninsula.  More information will be forthcoming in the near future.  If you have any thoughts or would like to help out, feel free to email Bill at wn98@roadrunner.com.

Update from Patti Rodland Myers

Hi to all classmates from '68,

I am so excited to have this opportunity to catch up so many of you and keep in touch. Thanks, Carl for all your work getting this together.

It is kinda scary to think about us all turning 60!!!! I sure don't feel as old as that number sounds. I have been married to Chuck for 32 years, we live in HC and we have 3 grown daughters, Tracy is 38, Tricia is 30 and Maggie is 27, we also have four grandsons Austin is 14, Aidan is 10, Charlie is 3 and Eli is 1 year old. Chuck works as Product Marketing Manager at FMC Technologies and I have done child care in our home for 27 years. I'm starting to wind down from that now in anticipation of Chuck retiring sometime, but we have our youngest daughter and her husband and the two littlest boys living here with us for the time being. Maggie is finishing up her masters degree in school counseling and I help with the boys when needed.

Health is good, just too fat, but I have been working on that. I travel with Chuck on business trips and have gone to some pretty nice places, our last trip was to Dallas in March and we are going to Chicago on Mother's Day, he has a trade show there and I am vacationing!!!!

Hope you all can participate in this in some way. If your close to Firman Road in HC, stop by!!!!

Blast from the Past--Baseball Team

Something from the Incomparable Cheryl Nye

Hi Classmates,

Okay that's it. I am going to start my own Class of '68 blog. On this blog you can say whatever the hell you want. I won't edit a thing (except maybe some of Clark Buller's anal retentive bullshit. I love you Clark, but ... or is it butt...and no, actually I would not take your comments off either and I liked the boat email you sent; and after my last input, I am the pot calling the kettle, whatever...) But, I wouldn't make fun of Beth, either. If I had my red pen I problably would have excluded that comment from you know who... I know that this is likely to create a schism among us since some of us don't mind being gagged and censored and then there are a few renegades like myself that bristle at the very thought. Well, actually you are probably better off going on Carl's blog because I am too lazy, disorganized and frankly not as motivated to create one. So thank you Carl.

Remember the kid in dodgeball who finally got the ball and then held on to it... We need to loosen up. Breathe as it were. We are entering our golden years where words like flaccid, saggy, and "early bird" become part of our everyday vocabulary and control is something that should be focused on our bowels and bladders, not our blogs. I think the independents should unite before this takes on its on life and destroys us. (Okay that was over the top.) Back to work. One more quick thought, no one gets to sell products that their kids make on my blog, bragging is otherwise allowed and encouraged.

Cheryl

PS Carl pull it back or I'm going to tell everyone and not just my friend Nita about your problem.

Having Trouble Getting on the Blog?

I apologize if you're having trouble registering and posting.  It can be a little tricky.  If it's not working for you, just let me know and I'll try to help.  I've been blogging for almost two years now, so it's like second nature to me.  But I'm still learning things about it.....Carl

Blog Opportunity

Classmates,

The blog is up and running, as you can see. Anyone can see it at any time, but only registered class members can post. I sent each of you an invitation to ‘register’ and post, and I hope you will do that.   (If you need me to resend that invitation, I'll be glad to do that.)  So far, five of us have registered, and I know Beth Whitten Swoap is trying but has to get a password back from Goggle before it will take effect. (She’s not quite as smart as the rest of us, you know!)

Anyway, the more people who post, the more interesting and valuable it will be. Posting doesn’t have to be anything profound. In fact, some of the most interesting will probably be more incidental things. I hope that you will also put some memories from our high school years together on the blog. The nice thing about the blog is that it saves everything posted, which can be found in the ‘Blog Archive’ on the left side. Also, if when you post something and you want to go back and change it, you can do that easily. I change posts all the time, after I’ve put them up, including deleting them if I change my mind. You’ve just got to play around with it and learn how it works. Don’t worry, you can’t do anything to damage or destroy the blog, as least as far as I know.

The blog makes more sense for us than the ‘newsletter’ on the class website, because everyone can put up their own posts here, without relying on me to do it. And that’s good!!

I do want to say this: as creator and ‘administrator’ of the blog, I reserve the right to alter or delete any post that I consider ‘inappropriate’. It’s harder to define than that, and I don’t anticipate exercising that ‘right’, but I will serve as a blog ‘referee’, so it doesn’t serve as a divisive force among us rather than the uniting and bonding force that I envision it to be.  I hope that doesn't sound presumptuous or arrogant, but I think someone has to take on that responsibility.

I hope the blog becomes a source of enjoyment and good memories for us. Go for it!!!

Best to all,
Carl

Update from Carl Lindquist

Here's a picture of my family last Christmas.  My wife of 37 years is Mary Beth, and my children are (l to r) Sarahbeth, Nathan, Adam.  Sarahbeth is a campaign worker for a Senatorial candidate here in NC, Nathan is a city planner in Colorado, and Adam (the one who looks like Kenny Loggins and/or Jesus) is a singer/songwriter, with music that can be heard here.

Brookside, Third Grade

Rich Arpin sent in this picture from Brookside Elementary School Days:

Update from Cindy MacTaggart Rodgers

This came from Cindy MacTaggart Rodgers:

Hey Carl--and-classmates!

Thanks for all the up-dates! Good luck Ken-you will be in our thoughts, prayers and best wishes! Remember--60 is the new 40(!)

David and I will celebrate 36 years of marriage this summer...We spent this past week-end in Philadelphia to proudly (and humbly) watch our daughter, Jennifer, successfully complete her oral comps (for her doctorate) at the University Of Pennsylvania--now onto the written dissertation. Our son Jon is a mechanical engineer for GE Erie.AND might I also add that they would NO DOUBT be beyond irritated at me for even mentioning any of the previous info...However-as my 8th graders would say, "WHATEVER!" Speaking of which, I have had the true pleasure of teaching for almost--wait for it--33 years! A true joy has been to have had several former classmates children and (gulp!) even a few grandchildren!

David is doing consult work for a company that makes helmets for the NFL--he also recently completed a 50k run and is on to a 100k in October! I think I am making the earth move each day as I do my hour long walk/bike ride--LOL!
Know that it is truly wonderful to hear from and about former classmates-AND-it is even nicer that people are making the attempt to stay connected --Muchas Gracias most sincerely to Carl for being the springboard for ALL that...

A 60th birthday BASH would be amazing-I am "in" if there is a need to get the party started.

Warm Best Wishes-AND-Good Health To All
Peace...
Cindy MacTaggart Rodgers

Update from Cheryl Nye-Lopez

Update from Cheryl Nye-Lopez:

Hi Classmates,

At the risk of participating in transforming this into some weird Stephen King kinda whacko website, I do appreciate the preventative info from Ken. Now, my near death experience. My cousin had his bowel punctured during a colonoscopy. Damn near died. Freaked me out and I refused for a number of years to have the procedure done. Simply because of the persistent haranguing of my doctor five years later, I agreed. Half way through the prep I made up my mind I wasn't going to go through with it, but to avoid further harassment from my doc I continued. Had the colonoscopy and they discovered that I had the fastest growing precancerous polyps known to humankind. They painlessly burn them out annually and I look forward to a wild and wonderful fast-tracked future.

Good luck Ken. I await your monologue at our 80th class reunion. Smart move on your part.

By the way... if anyone is going to talk about their prostate or clipping coupons, please forewarn me.
Warm regards,
Cheryl

Update from Carol Gwin Johnson

This came from Carol Gwin Johnson:

Carl, as promised I am sending the info you requested. By the way...........great job on the website, although I still haven't been able to open the directory link. I'll try again at another date. Yes, I think it would be a good idea to have a reunion everyone could afford so more would come. I'm disappointed I didn't make it to the 40th but we made our vacation plans to Erie before I found out about the reunion and missed it by only a week. I hope next time I get an invitation.

I love the pics from the 40th, do we really look that old?.......LOL

carjimjohn@sbcglobal.net
married 42 years to Jim Johnson
son Brian, age 39, married, 2 boys, live in Gilbert, AZ
daughter Lori, age 36, married, 1 boy, 1 girl, live in Dallas, TX

In our married life we have moved 15 times.......whew!

Norfolk VA, (U.S. Navy days)
Erie, PA
Lake City, PA
Tampa FL
Garland TX
Arlington TX
Orlando FL
Kennesaw GA
Allen TX, and staying put until Jim retires.

That's about it for now, Carl,
Take care,
Carol

Update from Beth Whitten Swoap

This came from Beth Whitten Swoap:

Hi Carl,

Now that winter is over, things in Maryland are fine. WE had the worst winter in many years, here. Reminded me of the winters in Erie when I was a kid, except that they closed schools and everything else for a week at a time! I think the kids here had more snow days this winter than John & I had during our entire education in PA. They think that the way to drive in the snow is; to hurry up and get there as fast as possible, and without snow tires...

I've been married since 1970 to John Swoap, from North East. He's the same guy I was with during our Senior year, so we've been together forever! In August I'll be 60(like most of us) and also hit 40 years married. WE've been talking about celebrating the "100 years".

We made it back for the 20 & 25 yr reunions, but have missed the rest.
JOhn's Dad died in 1995, and we haven't been back to Erie since. Both my folks had moved, years before that, so he was all that we had left, there.

I have no excuse for missing the 30th and 35th, but in the summer of 2008, JOhn was pretty sick. He developed and enlarged heart, and has been disabled since then. In early 2009 they put in a defibrillator/pacer. It has not had to administer a therapy, which is a great thing. A few months after that, his heart started to improve, probably becuase of the medications he's on.

Update from Ken Henry

This came from Ken Henry:

Hi Carl, ken henry here, with some new heart health news for you to pass on if you like.

I just hit 60 a month ago. As part of that change I scheduled a complete physical, including complete blood work and a quickie EKG. While waiting for the results to come back, (it took 3 days) I saw a commercial on TV from a local hospital. They were rolling out their new 320-slice heart CT scanner , Its can take a 3D image of your heart in 1 second with 90% less radiation that the prior model. I call and for a $300 intro price I scheduled for yesterday (Friday)..

Update from Lynn Mack-Costello

This came from Lynn Mack-Costello:

I am delighted to hear people are finding out in the nick of time about potentially devastating conditions and correcting them. No near deaths here yet, just a new pair of hips 7 years ago and trying to save the knees.

So Carl, about that mass 60th birthday party this summer - I suggest we line up a 320 slicer and a gastroenterologist instead of pin the tail on the donkey and beer pong! (No, we'll want the beer pong for after the colonoscopies!) Perhaps we can get a group rate. I'll be in Erie for a bit toward the end of June for a niece's wedding, so that timing would work for me. Tho its just a plane trip away if the planning is different.

Joe and I finally get to 27 years this summer (right Irene!?); our older daughter graduated Penn State last spring with a handful of degrees and is now finishing her 1L year at Pepperdine University School of Law. How one studies first year law with the Pacific

Moving to Greensboro

I'll start the personal stuff by saying that Mary Beth and I will be moving to Greensboro, NC over the next seven weeks, from our current location in Lexington, NC (about 40 miles south).  After 33 years of pastoral work in the United Methodist Church, I will begin a year's Sabbatical Leave in July.  This could be a prelude to retirement, or it could be just a break before returning to the church.

In any case, I'm really looking forward to just kicking back for awhile.  I don't know if you can imagine the pressure that comes with having to have a sermon ready to go every Sunday (with just a couple off a year) for 33 years.  Plus all the pastoral care and committee meetings that go along with it.  My well is dry and needs replenishing.

Though we've lived in parsonages for all these years, we did buy a house in Greensboro 23 years ago and have been renting it out all this time.  So that's where we're moving for the time being.  Got quite a bit of work to do to get it ready for us to live in.

Mary Beth will be looking for a teaching job in Guilford County (Elementary), so I'm going to try and be a 'househusband' for a while.  That should be interesting.  Wish me luck.

Why

I'm creating this blog for members of my 1968 graduating class of Harborcreek High School.  (This picture is from our 40th reunion in 2008.)  I put together a class website in late 2008--http://www.harborcreek1968.com/, and that's been good.  But it makes sense to have a place where the class members can post thoughts and memories on their own, without going through me and the website.  So this blog exists for that purpose.  I hope that class members will avail themselves of this opportunity to share with others what's going on in their lives.....Carl Lindquist.