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Alumni Sandstorm Archive ~ July, 2006
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Richland Bombers Calendar website
Funeral Notices website
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/01/06
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12 Bombers sent stuff:
Mary Triem ('47), Shirley Rae Drury ('51)
Pappy Swan ('59), Tom Verellen ('60)
Jay Siegel ('61), Ed Quigley ('62)
Marilyn Swan ('63), David Rivers ('65)
Linda McKnight ('65), Shirley Collings ('66)
Linda Thomas ('68), Brad Upton ('74)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Richard Anderson ('60)
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>>From: Mary Triem Mowery (a '47 Bomber)
To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
As I sit here writing my post, I am enjoying having a ceiling fan
directly overhead. The compressor in our heat pump died, repairman
sent for parts and it will be fixed Monday (5 days w/o a/c). Thank
goodness for ceiling fans! We are seriously thinking about the
"contract (contact)" plan the man suggested and that you signed up
for. No cooking going on in this house until a/c is back on - see,
there is almost always a silver lining!
-Mary Triem Mowery (a '47 Bomber)
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>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Re: Continuing a thread
I'm asking myself, "Is this of general interest? and answering, "Who
knows?"--to Roberta Adkins Shipman ('52) and Jimmie Shipman ('51)--Well,
bless their hearts!! Look who's sending me Email!! I am having a fine
time with Alumni Sandstorm! You are the 7th and 8th with whom I'm
reconnecting, or getting newly acquainted! How about that! Roberta, thank
you for the Columbian work and the loans. I loaned my senior one many
years ago to someone who never returned it, moved away or some such
thing. Our kids loved to look at my annuals, and would say to me things
like "Oh, Mom, weren't you pretty!" Note the emphasis on the past tense,
They'd also laugh about our clothes, but now our umpteen grandkids think
those styles are "cool." I remember once when the fellows decided to wear
their trousers (were they jeans?) until they could stand alone. I recall
the boys being very amused with themselves, comparing their dirty pants.
Anyone remember that? Roberta, I married a Jimmie, too, but he was a
Texas transplant who was never known as James or Jim or Jimmie because
where he came from people were called by their middle names, so to his
family he is still Cecil. He might have been one of those soldiers Dick
Wight ('52) and his buds chased through the streets of Richland to their
regret, but for the fact that JC never participated in things like that.
He was a girl-shy, staid, righteous, mature, lonesome, musically talented
Texan, transplanted from Fort Worth to Korea and its front-line horrors
to Camp Hanford, where he at once upon arriving put in for a transfer
which was not accepted. I have a picture of him from those days I'll send
to the pix section.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060701-Drury-JCCrume52.jpg
Cheers!
-Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51) ~ I'm beginning to suspect I talk too
much and too often
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>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: Westerns
Did any of you, who like good westerns, see "Broken Trail" starring
Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church on TV last Sunday and Monday (a
two-part mini)? I liked it ... a lot. And, I found the book Broken Trail,
by Alan Geoffrion at CostCo for $8.99. Anyone interested in it, look for
a white medium-sized paperback with a picture of the two actors on it. I
just found it so have not read it but the description on the cover sounds
like it follows the movie (or vice versa). Anything that Robert Duvall is
in, especially westerns, are a "must see" for me.
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where I am wondering what all
of that rain, yesterday, was all about? It was not even in the
forecast, but useful. Today, the sun also shines.
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>>From: Tom Verellen ('60)
To: Dick Wight ('52)
I should have learned long ago that sarcasm doesn't always come across
the way it is intended, but I am too old to quit now. I thought I would
tell you that I read the Sandstorm directly from the Internet and hence
there are no e-mail addresses included and I am too lazy to attempt to
find them elsewhere. And because in my own mind "I am the center of the
known universe," therefore all wish to behold my every utterance: I found
this growth in my left armpit. At first I thought it was just another
tick infestation but no it was just a warty looking thing which I named
Louie Louie. Because that is one of the three songs that I can play with
that armpit, along with Stardust by Hogie Carmichael, and a medley of
Cajun tunes by Buckwheat Zydeco. I didn't want anyone to think I had a
hogie in my armpit that would be disgusting. Buckwheat or Zydeco, let's
not even go there. So Louie Louie was the only choice.
-Tom Verellen ('60)
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>>From: Jay Siegel (Classic Class of 1961)
Re: My two-bits!
I would like to encourage anyone who is able to make it Quartemaster
Harbor on Vashon Island for the 4th to do so. I spent the past two days
working on setting up the show and will be working on it for the next
four days - it is going to be a display that everyone who watches it will
be able tell our grand kids "I remember the great show of 2006 at Vashon
Island.....".
Clear blue skies and warm, gentle breezes
-Jay Siegel of the Classic Class of 1961 from beautiful downtown Poulsbo!
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>>From: Ed Quigley ('62)
To: Jim House & "the small band of Richland Marines"...
Whether or not we agreed with the action you guys were involved in (or
may still be involved in), you guys EARNED the right to "fly" your Semper
Fi's, and mention of the special days which commemorate your service to
our country. If others object to that, let them scroll on by, but as for
myself (who objected to our involvement in Vietnam, and indeed, Iraq!), I
salute you, and have nothing but respect for you guys, and the sacrifices
you made in our name. Your pride in your duty is commendable, and the
brotherhood you display warms the heart!
-Ed Quigley ('62)
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>>From: Marilyn Swan Beddo ('63)
Tongue-in-cheek, I can't help but send a big Thank-You to Dick Wight ('52)
for getting some life back into the Sandstorm. (You little ol' pot-stirrer
you!!) It tends to get kinda bland every now & again & he certainly did
liven things up, even if I choose to disagree with him!!
On another note, albeit a personal note, I want to publicly send warm
birthday wishes to my "much, much older brother" George "Pappy" Swan ('59).
Today (July 1st), as he reads this, he turns officially "older than dirt"
on his 65th birthday. Happy Birthday Pappy!! I will personally toast this
oldster next week with a bottle of Huckleberry wine as he & wife Jeanne &
my whole family, plus numerous friends gather around a roaring campfire
at a weekend reunion of sorts at Moon Lake in the High Uintah Mountains
of Utah.
-Marilyn Swan Beddo ('63) ~ Salt Lake City, UT
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>>From: David Rivers ('65)
Hector ('64) right on... (sorry... such a worn out phrase... but "you go
girl" didn't fit... "You go Marine" doesn't work either)... thanks to the
MANY Bombers who contacted me directly and thru the Sandstorm. I love the
Sandstorm and of course I don't read every word... but I can if I want
to... gotsta remember... this boy refused to read a book till he was
21... so I'm still not the fastest reader on the block... but I do know
how to scroll... Ballard ('63)... they are doing a lamennectomy (dunno
how to spll it and spell check doesn't either) on those areas... going in
from the back so no fusing... should get rid of the problem and still
have good mobility... when I saw the pictures of my spinal chord being
jammed like that I was surprised I could move at all! Oh... Donna ('65)
I'll admit it... I can tell Kerry and Fonda apart... by their hair and
teeth!
Short and sweet.
-David Rivers ('65)
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>>From: Linda McKnight Hoban ('65)
Hi Maren - Thanks for all your hard work on the never-ending sagas of the
Sandstorm. You are the Best. Richard, you are too!!
To: David Rivers ('65)
Hang in there, big guy!! My prayers are with you before, during and after
your surgery. I think you really should get round the clock nurses to
bring you chicken soup, doncha think?????
Re: Canes
Oh, and yesterday I bought a cane at Rite-Aid. Don't need a cane quite
yet, although the big "Six Oh" is only a few short months away, but
couldn't see spending $30-70 dollars for a "hiking or walking stick". We
are going out to mine for gold and precious metals, or rusty old bottle
caps, and I don't want to trip over some rocks along the river bed, and
fall on my whatzizz, hence my new "walking stick/cane!"
To: Mike Davis ('74)
You are a man of few words, and right on.
I can't start my day either without the Sandstorm. I sometimes even get
up in the middle of the night to read it. Wonder if that could be an
addiction???
To: Dick Wight ('52)
Please share the story of chasing the soldiers or any other stories
you may have. I love all the old stories of our youth... and our folks'
youth. I remember a story my dad used to tell about growing up in
Lewistown, MT. My Grandpa (Daddy's dad) was chief of police, and my dad
was kinda wild growing up... I even have pictures where he looks a lot
like James Dean... Anyway, Daddy couldn't get away with a thing with
his dad being the Chief... the cops used to come to the back door of
Grandpa's house and tell on my dad all the time... One time he got
stopped by the cops, cruising the drag, without the proper muffler on
his car. Dad went and bought a muffler, went cruising on Main Street,
and passed the cop that stopped him before, and held the muffler out the
window of the car... "See, here's my muffler!" down shifted and let his
pipes sing...
So, folks, let's hear some more of those stories... and if you don't have
time to read all of them, scroll through, but save them to read later!!
Bomber hugs,
-Linda McKnight Hoban ('65)
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>>From: Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
Re: Brad Upton ('74)
Dennis ('66) and I saw Brad Upton's comedy show tonight [6/30] at the
Three Rivers Convention Center by the coliseum. He was the final act with
three preceding comedians, and he was by far the very best. We had never
attended any of Brad's shows, but we could have listened to him all
night. He is truly a great comedian. If you ever have the opportunity to
see him perform don't miss it!
Thanks for the fantastic show, Brad!!
-Shirley Collings Haskins ('66) ~ where it is still a very warm 81° at
10:30 PM in Richland
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>>From: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
While catching up on the news from the website, I saw an entry where
individuals could not remember sand storms---I too remember the wind, the
tumble weeds attacking the back of my legs (back in the days when we were
not allowed to wear pants to school--unless the weather was frigid and we
wore them under our skirts/dresses)..but I do remember the sand storms--
rather a brown than grey fog and one that was not only visible but found
its way into my eyes and my mouth--gritty pieces of real estate, probably
enriched with nuclear additives as well. The thing that bothered me the
most was knowing, the daily ritual of dusting at home would require
copious amounts of pledge furniture polish and dust rags!
-Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
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>>From: Brad Upton ('74)
Re: Submissions.
A word of advice: It is probably best to skip over anything from
Mike Davis ('74).
-Brad Upton ('74) ~ I've got a show tonight [6/30] in the Tri-Cities!
Thank you Dawn Boggs ('86)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/02/06
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16 Bombers sent stuff:
Doreen Hallenbeck ('51), Karen Cole ('55)
Gus Keeney ('57), Pappy Swan ('59)
Nadine Reynolds ('61), John Adkins ('62)
Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb), Jim Hamilton ('63)
Donna Fredette ('65), Jeff Michael ('65)
Ken Staley ('68), Brad Upton ('74)
Anne Mitzlaff ('77), Mark Gerken ('77)
Mark Gerken ('02), J.J. Crigler ('02)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jamie Worley ('64)
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>>From: Doreen Hallenbeck Waldkoetter ('51)
Re: continuing thread
To: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Hi Shirley -- you struck a memory thread of mine -- perhaps someone like
Dick McCoy ('45) or Jimmie Shipman ('51) can verify -- but the fellows
wore corduroy pants, not jeans in our days at Col-Hi. Another thread
seems to believe we use to autograph those cords -- am I right or wrong?
Girls, of course wore dresses/skirts. Were you one of the gang that
played kick-the-can on the Lewis & Clark playfield in off-school hours?
There were quite a few of us: Jim Lawrence ('51-RIP), Bob Flake ('51),
Joyce Liebel ('51-RIP), Buz Jochen ('51), Paula Doctor ('51), and some
who have left this aging memory. Hope to see you at the unofficial '51
Class Reunion in conjunction with Club 40, Sept. 8, 9, 10. Shirley, am
glad you're reading the Alumni Sandstorm. Maren does a terrific job.
-Doreen Hallenbeck Waldkoetter ('51) ~ Arizona sunshine being absorbed
in abundance. The monsoons have officially begun and we truly
appreciate the rain. Green Valley, AZ
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>>From: Karen Cole Correll ('55)
As long as we are writing personal things, I just have to tell about my
Father-n-law. My husband just flew his Dad to Nebraska for his 80th all
school reunion. He's 98 years young. He writes memories twice a week on
his computer and has an email list of over a hundred people. His stories
are so interesting. He comes from a large, long lived family. Three of
his older brothers 92, 95, 96 (ten years ago) took their 89 year old
sister and drove the Al-Can highway in a 32 foot motor home. They argued
over who got to drive! My Father-in-law flies around in a powered
parachute (with his other son) grows mammoth walnuts, writes biographies
(as well as his autobiography,) and entertains everyone in hearing
distance with his stories. Last fall he toured the Boeing plant where he
was a foreman working on the B29 during the war. He wore his original
badge with his picture, and carried a small tool that he invented for
working on that particular airplane. Boeing personnel were delighted with
him. If anyone is still reading, you can tell this man is very special to
me, and I am constantly awed by his talents and capabilities. I didn't
mention that he's also an accomplished artist and woodworker!
That's all until one of my siblings has a birthday. My sister Patti ('52)
just celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary!
-Karen Cole Correll ('55) ~ Nine Mile Falls, WA Hot! Hot! Hot!
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>>From: Gus Keeney ('57)
Re: Mid Life Crisis Tour
Saw Brad Upton ('74) and the troops tonight [6/30] and they were all
great. In my book, Brad was the best by far!!! Keep it up, Brad!!
-Gus Keeney ('57) ~ Going to start warming up tomorrow here in Richland,
Might head for Columbia Crik!!!
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>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
To: Richard Anderson ('60)
Happy belated B-day Richard. I did not realize that we shared the day. So
you were almost a firecracker too? Actually, I have tried to ignore my
birthdays, except for the 16th, 21st, and 55th. The first two were highly
anticipated for obvious reasons but all three seemed to take forever to
arrive. The years since have raced by at hyper-warp-speed. Oh, the third
one was when I retired from the feds in anticipation of discovering those
portions of life experiences still waiting in the wings.
To: The whole Bomber family,
Re: This is the dawning of the age of vicarious, the age of vicarious ...
vicariiiiiousss ... vi... Oh, sorry!
This is especially to those approaching the age where you finally get
cheaper seats at the theater and good deals at the restaurants. Those
past that age, already know and those younger ones, well ... just file
this away in the back of your memory bank 'cause yer time will come
(quicker than you want) and then you can pull it up and say, "I remember
when Ol' Pappy said in Sandstorm...
Know what? Turning 65 ain't all it's cracked up to be. When I got up this
morning, I didn't feel a bit different -- except for feeling well rested,
as my b-day present to myself was ... sleeping in. Aging does not really
bother me, at all. After all, age is just a state of mental software
accompanied by some hardware beginning to wear out a little earlier than
anticipated. Slowly wearing out is okay with me, up to a point. But, when
my usefulness has expired, I would definitely prefer a sudden crash where
all systems shut down simultaneously.
Oh sure, when it comes to afflictions, I have some minors that would like
to make it to the majors but between me and the Docs, we're managing to
keep 'em under control. And, in general, I'm a fortunate son who can
still get out there and do stuff! Some of that stuff is getting a bit
harder and a little slower to do. So as I like to say, "I try to take
care that my mind doesn't write any more checks that my body can no
longer cash."
So, aging for me, is just something else that brings with it a good
excuse to write about it. I admit that if one took my joking about aging
seriously, I should have been relegated to the "Do Not Fix" junk bin,
long ago. But, when I wore a younger man's clothes, I never dreamed that
I would live this long, so now I must deal with the aftermath of the
remorse of survivor's success. However, I would rather joke about it than
dwell on it. There are still a lot of things to do, places to go, and
people to meet that I would still like to experience before I sign off
someday. It's just gonna take a little longer and could be a little bit
tougher. But, along the way, that awareness brings with it the offer
of hope, laughter, anticipation, occasionally a little sadness, love,
"something to think about," looping back through each other's lives, new
friendships, lasting friendships, joy, peace, contentment, memories, ...
and, that phenomenon of being somewhere or seeing something that I've
never ever experienced before (you know ... that "Vu jade" thing). And,
that list can go on and on and...
I know that I'll probably never make it to a lot of the items on my list
of "Things To Do" but it gives me something to contemplate. For example,
I have just about given up on climbing Mount Everest, walking in a
volcano, a date with Sandra Bullock, or Meg Ryan, or (oops -- sorry Mrs.
Pappy -- mere fig newtons of my imaginative fantasy world, oh ... too
much ... okay), or flying with Snoopy in a Sopwith Camel (or taking a nap
with him on his dog house). However, there are other, lesser mountains
and other dogs (sorry Darby -- okay, just you), and other airplanes.
Yep, I think that I am (actually, I have been making a slow and steady
approach to) realizing that, "This is the dawning of the Age of
Vicarious!" So, I think, to hold it off a bit longer, I'll go shopping
today (with the best thing that ever happened to me -- Mrs. Pappy) ...
for a mountain bike (no just for me -- she doesn't do bikes), a Kevlar
combat helmet (with Marine green camo cover of course), hockey goalie
mask, knee pads, elbow pads, welder's gloves, and some of them there
fancy, Spandsex (I think their called) -- those padded butt, bike-ridin'
skivvies. You know, not too long ago, I tried roller blades. Yep, roller
blades.
Did I tell you that, I gave my roller blades to my granddaughter (after
the soreness vacated my butt)? Pillows and inner-tubes tied on didn't
even help in the uncontrolled landings. Onward through the fog of old
fogyism!
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Swan/060702-Grampys65.jpg
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where today the thunder just
clapped overhead for my 65th or else that certain Bomber friend
of mine is trying to make my skies bloom with happiness and I
got my name in Sandstorm, received b-day cards, e-b-day cards,
(thank you all very much -- I was so overwhelmed, if you will,
allow me to thank you all here), and my Medicare card just
arrived (thank you Uncle Sam). I even got an e-b-day card from
"Midway USA" one of my shooting suppliers. Ummm, no, I don't
think the fact that I have spent much of our retirement funds
with them had anything to do with it. Hmmm, I wonder if Cabela's
will remember me? "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
(actually it never came -- just the thunder and a few drops).
Gonna be a bright, bright, briiieght, ... sunshiny day (Emphasis
added)." Lets see, in doggie years, I would be around 450,
right? And ... I don't feel but a day over 65. Life is good!
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>>From: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: George Pappy Swan ('59)
What a milestone. Happy Birthday 1 day late. Pappy, I think you are being
too modest with stories of your hunting exploits (turkey hunging). Dave
and I remember hunting, fishing and digging clams with you without being
allowed to stop until everyone had a limit of what ever we were after.
Hope you have many more wonderful birthdays.
Re: Stories From Our Youth
Linda McKnight Hoban's ('65) story of her father's experience with the
police reminds me of one of my husband's, Dave Cochran ('61) experiences
with the Richland police. Dave drove this wonderful powder blue '49 Ford
coupe. One Friday night after taking in a movie at the Uptown Theater he
was taking me home when someone challenged him at a stop light. It must
have been on George Washington Way because it was a 4 lane road. When
the light turned green, he punched it and we were off to the races. Of
course, Dave beat the other driver in this little drag race through town.
He then took me home. When he was quietly driving up Van Giesen on his
way home one of Richland's finest pulled him over. Thankfully he had
already taken me home because they hauled him down to the police station
for a couple of hours for drag racing through town. My parents probably
would not have ever let me see him again if I had been taken to the
police station. It seems like after that the police were always on the
lookout for that powder blue Ford. Eventually Dave sold that car to a
Morman Missionary. I am sure the new owner wondered why every where he
went there was a policeman in his rear view mirror.
-Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
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>>From: John Adkins ('62)
Re: Swan's and Swan-Beddo's
I can only cringe at the thought of pouring Huckleberry wine over Swan's.
-John Adkins ('62) ~ Richland - and it looks like it's gonna cook today
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>>From: Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
To: Ed Quigley ('62)
Thank you for your recent tribute to the Bomber Marines. There are no
doubt more of us than you know.
I acknowledge we were lied to about our involvement in Nam and can agree
with your views on that war. I was to blind to believe it at the time. I
hope and pray we are not being deceived about our current military action
and would much prefer we meet the enemy on their soil than ours. Please
do not forget 9-11. While I grieve every loss of life and injury, the
current war still has more civilian casualties than military and I am not
aware of any other war in U.S. history that matches this record. With
that in mind I do disagree with you on this war, However, I do applaud
and appreciate your attitudes, appreciation and support for the men and
women now serving not only in the Marines but in all branches of service.
I assure you it makes a difference to those in uniform.
In loving memory of my brother John Sowden ('54 or '55) another Bomber/Marine
Semper Fi & Go Bombers
-Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
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>>From: Jim Hamilton ('63)
Lucky Girl and Luckier Guy
Happy 40th Anniversary to Mary Lou and Van Rhebeck. he's not a Bomber,
but he appreciates what makes us tick and would have made a good one.
Too bad no one has figured out a way to bottle your love for each other,
it would make the world a better place.
The Lovely Miss Nancy & Jimbeaux
p.s. I think I have the date right, in that I wasn't invited to the
nuptials
-Jim Hamilton ('63)
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>>From: Donna Fredette ('65)
Re: Those Sand Storms
To: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
I do remember the storms but not the sand!!!!!! hahahaha only the
tumble weeds but I was never attacked by them!!!! Even though we too
could only wear skirts or dresses! I remember being sent home from school
at Carmichael because we all decided to wear all black one day!! Actually
we were given the choice to go home and change or take off our black
tights and so that's what I did. Funny huh.
It was because of where we lived on Chestnut Street I think that we
didn’t have sand blowing into our house. I do remember loving the dusting
though because that was my job and I took all afternoon doing it because
my Mother let me take as long as I liked and I read all the magazines in
the house while dusting with Pledge!!!
I love wind storms to this day and I guess I was so used to them that
they didn't bother me. I still love the wind over here in the Seattle
area.
Thanks for the memories!
Bomber Cheers,
-Donna Fredette ('65)
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>>From: Jeff Michael ('65)
Hey there Bombers and Bomberettes...
To: Tom Verellen ('60)
I definitely am, like, way positively sure, that your post about "Louie
Louie" was not of general interest. In fact, I'm thinkin' it was way TMI
and should have been not included (censored) by the editor(s)!
Like you, I've found sarcasm or tongue-in-cheek humor is sometimes taken
the wrong way... especially in the written word, although, frequently,
even in in person vocalization. (Especially, if no one is really
listening!)
I, too, am not likely to quit, although for a different reason. It's not
that I'm too old... just to stuck in my ways; ie, stubborn.
To: All (Of general interest, although not compelling or earth
shattering, and perhaps having no long term value to man/woman kind).
I've now discovered why I started using my signature intro. (Oh, if only
Miss Dodds could see my crammer, punctuation and spelling now!) It's to
alert you all that it is me about to spout stuff into cyber-space stuff
that you might want to overlook.
To: Dick Wight ('52)
Since I'm sure your comments were not directed to me in your original
post (I'm NOT the one Carly Simon sang of), I do wish to thank you
publicly for brightening my mornings (and sometimes even, later in the
days) with your subject matter. But in the future, just to minimize
confusion, would you please address your "not of general interest
comments" privately to the email addresses of those parties that you wish
to share your most intimate thoughts with. But, then, look at all the fun
we woulda missed out on having. So...in summation...keep on keepin' on.
To: All (again, welcome back, having skipped over that last part to Dick)
In the words of the famous philosopher, Bob Seger, "Rock 'n' Roll Never
Forgets".
dj jeff Michael, off to San Diego to play "Born In the USA" and other
great patriotic tunes for Armed Services YMCA members and
families as a prelude to the musical fireworks on the shores of
San Diego Bay the night of the 4th. Have a blast this weekend,
and "God Bless the USA".
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>>From: Ken Staley ('68)
Re: The Shelter Belt
Like my classmate, Linda Thomas Richardson ('68), I too remember the sand
blowing through and across town. As I drive around Richland now along the
By-Pass, I see what the City is doing to the Shelter Belt (the jungle of
my youth) and can't help but think; "There was a REASON the planted all
those trees so closely together." And grieve for the trees they've
removed.
-Ken Staley ('68)
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>>From: Brad Upton ('74)
I met several new and old (wait, not old, FAMILIAR) Bombers last night at
the Convention Center in Kennewick. Thanks to all of you for coming to
the show! I don't believe Mike Davis ('74) was there... that's okay, I've
had my heart broken before. I'm guessing he was stuck to the Laz-Y-Boy.
-Brad Upton ('74)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Anne Mitzlaff Gerken ('77)
Mark Gerken ('77)
Mark Gerken ('02)
J.J. Crigler ('02)
Re: Brad Upton ('74)
Shirley Collings Haskins ('66) said it EXACTLY right in yesterday's
Sandstorm. Midlife Comedy Tour has three very good comedians, but Brad
was GREAT! We agreed with Shirley, we could have listened to him go on
and on. We all had points when we hurt from laughing so much.
Thanks, Brad. Great show.
-Anne Mitzlaff Gerken ('77), Mark Gerken ('77), Mark Gerken ('02),
J.J. Crigler ('02)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/03/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick McCoy ('45), Shirley Rae Drury ('51)
Marilyn De Vine ('52), Karen Cole ('55)
Tom Verellen ('60), Linda Reining ('64)
Mike Davis ('74)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ray Hall ('57)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dick McCoy (the Tin Can Class of 1945)
Re: Cords
To: Doreen Hallenbeck Waldkoetter (whew!) ('51)
You were right about the cords. We wore few jeans. Cords and sun-tans
(no, we weren't naked, sun-tans were pants). Yes everyone wrote on them
and we wore them without washing till they could walk without us.
-Dick McCoy (from the Tin Can Class of 1945)
Go BroncBeaverBombers\
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Re: Musing on Doreen's thread
To: Doreen Hallenbeck Waldkoetter ('51)
I was just thinking that I've never known another person named Doreen.
That brings me to muse about names again. Most of the Shirley's I've
met are from my generation, named for that adorable child star Shirley
Temple. The Rae in my case is after my father, a Raymond Michael. When
our last son was born, in '70, the other children were old enough (17,
16, 15, 9, 4) to think they had a say in naming him. We had regular
family sessions over the matter, with no agreement in sight even down to
his 5th day in the hospital, (I delayed that long in order to recoup
before facing that busy household.) Jim and I did not agree about names,
usually we alternated naming the offspring, but this time we had camps
divided mostly along the gender lines. The OB nurse kept coming in with
her clipboard, saying "You have to give him a name." On that last day,
Jim found one we hadn't even discussed, which at that time no one was
naming their sons, JUSTIN. It means the just and upright one. So I was
delighted and named his middle name after my father, but a short form,
RAY, which means kingly. Dr. deBit heartily approved, saying "A man with
a name like that can hardly go wrong." And he hasn't.
Doreen, I don't think I often played Kick the Can in the L&C playfield.
You lived close to it (I remember your room's walls lined with posters,)
but I lived way over at 220 Douglass. In our neighborhood, we rode bikes
every day, sometimes played baseball. Nobody wanted me, I was terrible.
I don't think I've ever connected bat with ball down to this day. How I
admired Ann Yale Dawson ('51-RIP) in our PE classes. SHE was an athlete,
and beautiful, like Doris Day, blonde, freckled, with a turned-up nose.
We could ask Clarence Fulcher ('51) about the trousers, I really think
they were denims, but could be wrong. I remember his contagious grin, he
chortling about whether his would yet stand by themselves. BTW, I just
looked that up to see whether I spelled it right, to discover it is an
interesting word, to wit: (My copy of the definition was made in Paint
from a screen shot, so will probably have to be treated as a picture, if
Maren or Richard will kindly insert the URL here.)
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060703-Drury-chortle.jpg
Cheers--and I'm enjoying all the correspondence
-Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Marilyn De Vine ('52)
To: Brad Upton ('74)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing your Midlife Crisis Comedy
Tour to the Tri-Cities! Wow... you four guys (my term "guys" is generic
and includes the woman) are TERRIFIC!! Loved it! Haven't laughed so hard
or so much in years! It was a pleasure to get to thank each of you
personally, after the performance. Please come back every year!
To: Karen Cole Correll ('55)
Wow... your father-in-law and his family sound awesome! The thing I've
noticed about growing old, is that I prefer to be amazed at what I can
STILL DO, rather than look at the things I can't. (Or, know-better-than-
to-try!) Last year I took a great 7,000-plus mile trip in my motor home,
half of which was with my good friend, Shirley, who lives in Texas,
but whom I had met when we both lived in Alaska. This year, my trip was
shorter (over 4,000 miles) but it was just me and my dog, Lucky. For now,
I'm enjoying boating on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. As you well know,
and Gary's family exemplifies: LIFE GOES ON!!!!
Bomber regards,
-Marilyn De Vine ('52)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Karen Cole Correll ('55)
I've had several queries concerning my Father-in-law's stories. His
granddaughter has set up a website with some of his stories and pictures.
www.suncityephrata.com -- Click on Hickory Bill
His stories span almost 100 years of Americana. Thank you to all of you
who have shown such an interest.
-Karen Cole Correll ('55) ~ Nine Mile Falls, WA Still hot!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Tom Verellen ('60)
To: Jeff Michael ('65)
I assume that you were being tongue in cheek about using sarcasm at least
that is the way Louie Louie took it. BTW what is TMI? Jeff I want you to
take this in the constructive air in which is given, but dude, you have
got to brush up on your brown nosing skills. The fine, hard working,
thoughtful, dedicated, intelligent, editors are performing a magnificent
body of work (and I'm pretty sure that is the general consensus in
Bomberville). (See how I combined a statement that might seem to be
sarcastic but it really isn't.)
Something else you may have missed is that I am giving Dick Wight ('52)
a bad time: By sending him personal messages that are over the edge,
which was exactly the thing he was objecting to in his entry a few days
ago. He is holding his own and not responding. This is I believe one
sided banter.
Thing is I don't know if I have gotten it out of my system or not. Only
time will tell.
-Tom Verellen ('60)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
to:George("Pappy")Swan(59)
re:aging
I love your writings---you have such a fun way of putting things. loved
the picture of you and your granddaughters---the senior eye chart was too
cute. I turned 60 in January and I never in my wildest dreams thought I
would ever "be that old"! I remember when I was a kid and I would see
"old" people---always said I never wanted to get "that old", but I think
we are younger at our "old age" than they were at theirs, if that makes
any sense. I can remember my grandmother always seeming "old"----she was
active, but she always just looked "old". maybe it's because we have more
things to keep us young---back then, grandma's didn't wear shorts or
pants(always dresses, slips, girdles, nylons, and heels----even in the
heat!!!!!), old men didn't wear shorts, either. and you would never see
them playing tennis, swimming, riding bikes, rollerblading(tried that,
fell on my you know what and never did it, again), or any of the other
crazy, zany things we seniors do now. *grin*
re:sandstorms
ooooo, I remember those---that sand was like having a thousand needles
stinging bare skin! to this day, I don't like the wind---puts my teeth on
edge! give me the rain any day, but the wind I can do without! used to
live in the Columbia Gorge--it blows 24/7, 365 days!!!! even blew campers
off the road!
re:shelterbelt
that was our playground, too, when we lived on Elm---hid many times in
there while playing hide 'n seek and my brother and his buddies built
many a fort in there. sorry to see it torn down.
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64).......Bakersfield, CA---triple
digits are still here.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mike Davis ('74)
To: Brad Upton ('74)
Sorry I missed your mid-life crisis. I had a mid-life crisis of my own
that night... deciding which comb to use. (you wouldn't understand).
Anyway, congratulations, sounds like a great show!
-Mike Davis ('74)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/04/06 ~ HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14 Bombers sent stuff:
Ken Ely ('49), Jimmie Shipman ('51)
Shirley Rae Drury ('51), Marilyn De Vine ('52)
Wanda Wittebort ('53), Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
Donna Bowers ('63), Gary Behymer ('64)
Linda Reining ('64), Jeff Michael ('65)
Bob Grout ('66), Shirley Collings ('66)
Linda Thomas ('68), Betti Avant ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Penny Mitchell ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gale Waldkoetter ('72)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Rice ('75)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Ken Ely ('49)
To: Carol Tyner Roberts ('52)
Congratulations to Richard ('49) for being selected "Man of the Year" by
the Rotary. I know he is your "Man of the Year" every year.
To: Pappy Swan ('59)
FYI and all others who may be interested, Robert Duvall's "Broken Trail"
will be re-broadcast on AMC on Jul 6, Jul 18 and Aug 6. Check your local
listings for times.
My all time favorite western mini-series was "Lonesome Dove" with Robert
Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones.
-Ken Ely ('49) ~ Orangevale, CA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jimmie Shipman ('51)
Re: Cords
To: Doreen Hallenbeck Waldkoetter ('51)
Every word Dick McCoy (the Tin Can Class of 1945) said was correct.
I'd just like to add a few words.
The biggest thing with the cords was to keep them out of your mother's
washing machine and get as many autographs as possible. I don't remember
how long I wore mine before my mom snuck them out of my room and washed
them.
-Jimmie Shipman ('51) ~ in Richland where it hot
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
To: Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53)
Hi, Wanda, if you go to the All Bomber site http://richlandbombers.com
you'll be able to access the Columbians for any year (at least all the
ones I checked so far) to access the annuals for that class. Neat, huh?
That was a good idea to check the photos. I'm going to do that now for
the '51 annual. I wore the white shirt-blue jean uniform, too, with black
and white saddle shoes, white anklets, jean cuffs rolled. That was fun!
My mom's wringer washer got clothes clean, but was labor intensive.
You had to feed the material through the wringers into the rinse water
(standing in tubs alongside the washer) after the clothes had been
agitating sometime in the belly of the washer. And those wringers were
dangerous to fingers and arms. And, of course, the clothes line was
essential. But washers were prizes compared to how my grandma washed
clothes out in the yard of her home between Boise and Idaho City
alongside Moore's Creek with no electricity there until I was in 7th or
8th grade. She boiled water, carried it, used scrub boards, the whole
pioneer thing. Thanks, Shirley
[And also from Shirley today:]
From the new ALL Bomber Alumni GuestBook.
Monday 07/03/2006 7:38:03am
COMMENTS: 'just found the guest book and am mailing addresses I found
there to my brother, Larry Drury ('57) who does not yet belong, but I've
been encouraging him
-Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Marilyn De Vine ('52)
Re: shelter belt
WHAT!?!?!?!? Take out the SHELTERBELT????? No, I think they are just
adding a noise-barrier. Folks out that way have been complaining for
years about not having one similar to that installed north of Van Giesen
many years ago. I have no idea how much good the barriers do. When I
lived on Birch, near Swift, the traffic was noticeable (especially in the
quiet of the evening) even that far into town.
Senior moment:
Hmmm…I know I had a couple of other items to address this morning, but
can't remember what they were... Oh, yeah, the CORDS. My brother, Terry
('52), was in on that. Mother was not happy, but we got through it!
(She was a WHOLE LOT more upset when I went home for spring break from
college, with a modified "DA". Holy crimonitely!! She just about stroked
out over that one!! Wow!) Anybody know how to spell "crimonitely"? My
spell check had no suggestions. (But you know what I mean!)
When I signed off, I thought of another thing: where do those "cool
spots" come from out on the River?
-Marilyn De Vine ('52) ~ in Warming-Up-Richland. Be safe this 4th of
July. I think we'll be down at the Columbia River for fireworks
with kids, grandkids and extended family. Someone suggested
watching them from the boat, but I can't even IMAGINE trying to
get back out of the water in all of that crowd AND in the dark!
We were out on the River yesterday and the day before... as well
as one day last week. Wonderful!!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53)
Shirley sparked my curiosity. I only have annuals for '52 and '53, pulled
out '52 and lo and behold. Most of the guys are wearing white cords, but
if you check male group pics like the Letterman's Club, you will see that
Jim Blake and Everett Waining are wearing jeans. Jack Morrow white cords
and in the group picture it's a mix.
-Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53) ~ I know we gals wore blue jeans and
our dad's white shirts (tails out and sleeves rolled up). At a
lost of the outdoor events such as snake dance, pep rallys.
Mothers must have hated those white cords - can you imagine
trying to keep them clean with the equipment they had to wash
clothes with.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: Aging
Being a man of few words, I just tell them "I was young, healthy and good
looking but I got over it". They can fill in the blanks.
-Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Donna Bowers Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63)
I wonder if others are seeing the same thing I am seeing in St. Louis. My
daughter can find almost no one in her neighborhood that has children who
play outside. I am wondering if this is a St. Louis phenomena or if it is
in Richland and other places. To be fair, it is hot, and humid here, so
that could be an excuse, but even when its nice, most children can be
found in front of the TV or video games. That seems unusually sad.
I remember whole days being outside and playing kickball, making tents,
selling lemonade, walking to Pennywise for candy, walking or biking to
the BIG pool from Perkins Avenue or just sitting on the porch, reading or
playing. Instead, here, I rarely see children in their yards, unless I
drive to a park. I see children being entertained by handheld's or DVD's-
what ever happened to imagination? Is this just here or all over. I have
such fond memories of Richland-even when its hot we were out.
[Donna. All we had was ONE swamp cooler at 1205 Perkins. It was
in our folks' bedroom. Probably hotter inside than out back
then. My personal hottest day was 116°. Front page of the Tri-
City Herald that evening had a picture of an egg that somebody
fried on the sidewalk. It wasn't all that hot. We were outside
all day running thru the sprinklers. -Maren]
-Donna Bowers Rice (GMC of '63) ~ in hot, humid St. Louis. (For all of
you Brad Upton (74) fans, I babysat the little stinker, so it
gives me great pleasure when I see all the banter about him and
his shiny little head. He was cute and funny even then when he
was 5 years old. Brad-where will you be August 15-28, we will
be in WA/OR. August 14-28 and I would love to see you perform
(especially after all these great accolades in the Sandstorm)?
And do you do all the "growing up as a Bomber stuff"? We are
bringing my daughter with us and it would be so fun to have her
see that).
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
You Can Call Me Johnson...
'In a land far far away'... well... maybe not so far... July 4th,2006
will be spent at the Johnson Parade. This is certainly 'small town'
America... with maybe 25 to 30 great people who live there. Johnson is
located just a few miles outside Pullman, WA on the way to Lewiston, ID.
Several thousand people will park along the road... walk into town... and
watch a great parade. You get two views of the entries... Yep... once
they go all the way thru town... they turn around and come back through
(;-) The parade begins at 10:00 PM! If you can access your car fast
enough... perhaps you can make the Albion parade which starts at noon...
Have a great Independence Day - Celebrate good times!!
-Gary Behymer ('64) ~ Colfax, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
to:Tom Verellen(60)
re: what is TMI----Too Much Information. *grin*
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64).........Bakersfield, CA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jeff Michael ('65)
Hey there Bombers and Bomberettes...
Notes to Tom V.:
TMI is Too Much Information... what is BTW? Have I been insulted
(assaulted) again?
[I know that one! BTW = By The Way. -Maren]
By the way, I think "one-sided banter" is an oxymoron; one I've not
encountered before. Maybe we could share some of our favorite oxymorons
with other Sandstorm writers. What duya think? I'd make reference to
"military intelligence" if there we were in private company... wouldn't
want to get Rick Maddy ('67) or David Rivers ('65) too excited.
Speaking of David "Festus" Rivers... I hope this "medical procedure" is
highly successful. I look forward to Indian Wrestling with you next Cool
Desert Nights. Hmmm, is Indian Wrestling no longer in the PC Funk and
Wagnall's? Well, anyway, God Bless the hands holding the surgical
implements and successful recovery to you. Does the VA cover this rotten
development?
Well, gotta run... fireworks time is almost upon us. Have a blast this
4th... but in the words of the great cop philosopher... be safe out
there.
-dj jeff Michael '65, in sunny San Diego, where it is overcast and still
hot today. Gotta start that run north tomorrow... turn down the
thermostat in Bakersfield, please, Linda R.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bob Grout ('66)
Re: Summer Trip to Richland, 2006
-Bob Grout ('66)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
Re: Happy 4th of July
Outstanding presentation.
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=FC44738329
-Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
Re: Sand storms and Wind
It's great to hear others remember the effects of the sand and those
productive storms... it gave me pause to reflect how those tiny grains
also infiltrated our hair (apologies to those males who may never have
had the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of long, thick hair or hair at
all, for that matter) the evidence came out during the shampoo; the layer
of mud that came with the first application of water and shampoo and then
disappearing or clogging the drain--
It has probably been over twenty years since I have been to Richland and
prior to that another twenty... I had truly forgotten the wind---not that
it was a matter of if the wind would blow each day, but rather how much
and for how long... the discipline of my mother who never left the house
and certainly not a hair appointment without a can of extra hold hair
spray and various styles and colors of "Wind Bonnets"
-Linda Thomas Richardson ('68) ~ Harrison, Arkansas, where we pay
particular attention to the wind--especially those 100 mile per
hour ones, occasionally accompanied by thunder storms that
frequently move real estate!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: A Webshots Photo eCard
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/05/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12 Bombers sent stuff:
Anna May Wann ('49), Mike Clowes ('54)
Pappy Swan ('59), Patti Jones ('60)
Patti Mathis ('60), John Browne, Jr. ('61)
Ed Quigley ('62), Mary Ann Vosse ('63)
Linda Reining ('64), Linda McKnight ('65)
Linda Thomas ('68), Vic Marshall ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sharon Panther ('57)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Paul Tampien ('64)
***************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Ann Thompson, aka Anna May Wann ('49)
Re: Special request
In receipting dues for Club 40 I have a special request from Patricia
Thornburg Way ('52). She wants to know if someone has reunion pictures
for classes of 1951 and 1950. Says she would gladly pay for a copy. Since
she did not send in an e-mail address I assume that she does not have a
computer to access our Bomber website and links. If anyone can help her
please e-mail me and I will give you her address.
Had a wonderful visit this last weekend with Jean Williamson Dreher ('49)
and Petra Odman Jerzerick ('49). Poor Petey's husband just sat back and
listened to us "old" ladies reminisce about growing up in Richland. What
one of us couldn't remember the other two did. What fun!!. Jean dug out
her photo albums of prior reunions and had fun showing Petey how everyone
has aged but us (Don't I wish?)
Then traveled on to the Tri-Cities to attend a great niece's wedding in
Kennewick. Had fun visiting with relatives and then the drive home. Of
course had to stop and get fresh corn on the cob and Bing cherries. What
a way to pig out.
I can't really say I miss the 3 digit weather you were having, but isn't
that why we have a/c?
I'm a little late but congrats to Richard Roberts ('49) for his "Man of
the Year" award!!. Good going!!
Happy 4th to everyone!!
-Ann Thompson, aka Anna May Wann ('49) ~ From warm sunny Bothell, weather
just perfect, not too hot to play golf.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)
Re: From the Entries Just Keep Pouring In Dept.
In order to keep track of the numbers, I had to go to a bigger piece of
paper. The latest count for the Club 40 weekend (September 8 - 10) stands
thusly:
Class of '45 - 2; '46 - 1; '47 - 2; '48 - 1; '49 - 5; '50 - 2;
Class of '51 - 17 (they might make a party of it yet); '52 - 8;
Class of '53 - 4; '54 - 10; '55 - 2; '56 - '56; '57 - 5; '58 - 5;
Class of '59 - 4 (Pappy is no longer the lone eagle of this class);
Class of '60 - 5; '61 - 9 (Wassamattau?); '62 - 1; '63 - 1;
Class of '64 - 1 (Yes, Maren will be here);
Classes of '65 & '66 - 0 (Come on kids, you can join the big folks now)
Even Pappy's considerably younger sister will be there (paid for by the
Marilyn Swan Beddo ('63) Committee). But, we are still missing several of
the "usual suspects" (you know who you are).
Jump on over to The Club 40 website at http://www.richlandclub40.org and
look up the names. While you are there, print out your own registration
form (separate but equal forms for '56 & '61) and sign up. Someone would
like to see you.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ just back from the horseless and
bandless Mount Angel 4th of July parade, and waiting for the
fireworks tonight.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: Not o'er the hill, just ridin' up that long ever steeper grade
To: Linda Reining ('64) and Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
On aging: Ain't it fun?
Dave, when you say, "Being a man of few words, I just tell them 'I was
young, healthy and good looking but I got over it.' They can fill in the
blanks," it reminds me of another "Pappy-ism." "I used to be young,
slender, and not to hard to look at, but now, when ladies smile at me, I
have to wonder -- Do they still find something about me attractive, or
... merely amusing?"
To: Ken Ely ('49)
Thanks for the info on the rebroadcast of AMC's Robert Duvall's "Broken
Trail." Maybe I am getting old or just more technologically challenged. I
managed to thoroughly boggle my effort at recording that show the first
time. I agree about the all time favorite western mini-series being
"Lonesome Dove" with Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. Others must have
too. I noticed a big surge in the wearing of knee high boots outside
of the jeans by horsemen after they saw "Gus" wearin' 'em thataway.
Secretly, I have always thought that I was born about 150-200 years too
late. I coulda been a mountain man, a cavalry trooper, or a real cowboy.
Maybe it was 'cause I always wished that I coulda come ridin' "hell for
leather" in to a rendezvous or a saloon, yellin' "Whiskey fer my men
and beer fer our horses!" Hmmm, but then I might have missed out on the
airplane. Naw, I think that I was there for all of those things --
reincarnation, ya know.
To: Gary Behymer ('64)
While you "didn't has ta be called Johnson," in a land far far away, did
you happen to see a tiny F-14 Tomcat zipping around yer Johnson Parade?
I'm still trying to track those two little guys down.
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where you might ask how hot is
it? Not only has it been hotter than a firecracker on the 4th of
July, it's been so hot, our chickens have been layin' poached
eggs. So, I'm headin' fer cooler climes to match wits with the
wily Rainbow Trout (and a Grayling or two, if lucky) in the high
Uinta Mountains of Utah fer a few days.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
To: Mary Triem Mowery ('47)
Re: Air Conditioning
That’s a long time to be without air conditioning in this heat. If I had
known sooner about yours I would have gotten you over here for a break.
Had plans already for the holiday weekend. Your only five minutes away.
Hope yours is now fixed? Hope to see you at the All Bomber Luncheon
sometime soon.
Re: Club 40 weekend
For Bombers who are attending Club 40 in September the All Bomber
Luncheon will be happening on Saturday of that weekend. Already have
some reservations for the luncheon. Reservations will be necessary. The
announcement always appear the week before and the week of the luncheon.
We were quite a good size group last year and will be looking forward to
the same this year, if not more.
Re: Fourth of July
Happy Fourth of July Bombers and Families. It is about time to get very
loud here at Bombing Range Road very soon. Doggies will run into the
bathroom to hide while I sit in a comfortable chair watching all the
goings on.
Thank goodness it will be cooled off by then. Don't get me wrong I love
the heat when I can be outside. Not when it builds up in the house.
Bombers Have Fun
Patti
-Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Mathis Wheeler ('60)
I was hoping someone could help me out. A few months after 9/11 there was
a beautiful tribute on the internet showing the planes going into the
towers, our flag, an eagle, some jet pilots, all with the back ground
music of "I'm Proud To Be An American". I downloaded it and went back
to it on occasion. Well, i must of done something, because now it is
completely gone from my computer. If anyone has that download, I sure
would appreciate you sending it to me.
One more thing, I got some e-mail names from the class of 1960 site and
they all bounced back. Are these e-mails current?
-Patti Mathis Wheeler ('60)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: John Browne, Jr. ('61)
Re: Oh, crimanently!
Sure wish I could remember the super hero who used this particular
expletive... anybody?
The "crimonitely" is pretty good, though-- looks like it relates to
a mineral (eg kryptonitely). Deconstructing "crimanently" is pretty
straight-forward: there's Crime; and it's Anent (ie real close). Just
the kind of situation to get a super hero's blood pumping, no? ^..^
-John Browne, Jr. (class of 1961: The last class to read the same
upside-down & backwards)
(Some lightning this A.M. as the annual "Around the Island Run"
set out from Quartermaster Harbor at around 5:45, with 6 or 7
small hydros and a few "cigar boats" and converted rumrunners
making the dash for morning glory before breakfast...)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Ed Quigley ('62)
To: Donna Bowers Rice ('63)
I don't think that the phenomena of "missing children" is peculiar to the
St. Louis area, but I don't know whether I lay the blame on the TV/video
games, or whether it may be due to protective parents. I live in Tacoma,
and I've noticed the lack of kids here, also. I was "home" (Richland)
the weekend of the reunion (by the way, when did everybody get so old
looking? :) ), and Saturday morning, I took my 2 year old "pup", and
started walking down to the car show, and a couple of little girls (5-6
years) came running out of a back yard, and asked if they could pet my
dog. They were pretty smart kids, and I wound up talking to them for
about 10 minutes, and it hit me that Richland is still a pretty small
town; if I did that here in Tacoma, I'm pretty sure that there would have
been a parent or a cop, out there to find out what I was doing. It's a
shame, but I understand, whenever I watch the news on TV or pick up a
newspaper.
-Ed Quigley ('62)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Mary Ann Vosse Hirst ('63)
Re: Kids Playing Outdoors
To: Donna Bowers Rice ('63)
No, it's not something that is happening only in St. Louis. We've seen it
in Renton, WA and Liberty Lake, WA. When our boys were growing up in the
'70s and '80s, kids did play outside, much the same way we did when we
were kids growing up in Richland. But as younger families moved in to
the neighborhood, we started noticing that kids did not play outdoors
anymore.
I agree that this started when video games and computers became part
of households and TVs became babysitters. In the late '90s we moved to
Liberty Lake, WA where very few children played outside except for riding
bikes between houses to play inside, or to go to the park for organized
play. A small percentage of children walked to school, most being driven
to school by Mom - one little girl was driven to school every day and she
lived one-half block from the school. And we wonder why there is such a
problem with children being overweight these days!
-Mary Ann Vosse Hirst ('63) ~ in Surfside, north of Ocean Park, WA, where
the fireworks on the beach put on a pretty good show for us
every evening.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:Lonesome Dove--------LOVE that movie/series---just watched it, again,
on the Hallmark channel Sunday night.
re:wringer washers---my great aunt had one of those and she had very long
hair---which got caught--luckily my great uncle heard her screams(they
lived on a farm in Minnesota)and was able to come to her rescue. hers was
electric, so he pulled the plug and got her hair untangled---from then
on, she always wore a kerchief around her hair when it was time to wash
clothes. my mom had a regular washer, but no dryer, so we always hung the
clothes outside--wasn't a problem, except in the winter---those clothes
would be stiff as boards. *grin* also had pants stretchers(remember
those)that she put the jeans on, then hung them on the clothes lines;
also had wooden folding racks that we put the clothes on when it was
raining--the utility room and kitchen in the Ranch house would be full of
clothes and drying racks.
I don't remember writing names on cords, but do remember writing on
jeans. also remember wearing my dad's white shirts, with the tails
hanging out and the sleeves rolled up. also remember wearing black and
white saddle oxfords and then when they came out with brown and tan and
then a style called, "wedge"(?)---I think that was the name---they looked
like the saddle oxfords, but the soles were thinner.
to:Marilyn De Vine(52).......crimonitely---think it is spelled
"criminitly". *grin* either way, knew what ya meant. *grin*
re:kids playing outside.....in the summers, don't see many here in
Bakersfield, CA, but think that is because of the bad "air" that we
have---we have days when they give health advisories and warn anyone with
breathing or chronic health problems to stay indoors---especially elderly
and young people. have two grandsons with asthma, so on those days they
are not allowed outside---not even to swim in the pool. we keep them
indoors as much as possible on those days. I do see more kids outside
during the winter months, though---have healthier "air" during the cooler
months. we get a lot of smog from the Los Angeles area and since we are a
valley, that brown haze just hangs in the air.
re:frying eggs on sidewalk.......have a girlfriend who lives in Lake
Havasu City, AZ and she said she has done that---went out at 10 in the
morning and actually fried an egg on her driveway!!!!!!!
to:DJ Jeff Michael(65) re:turn down thermostat in Bakersfield, CA....you
better enjoy those cool temps in San Diego cause we are supposed to get
to 100 today(the 4th)and be in the 90s all week, and then "hit" 100 by
Saturday. IF you really cared, you'd bottle some of that San Diego
weather and drop it off here on your way home!!!!! *grin*
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64).......in hot, hot, hot,
Bakersfield, CA........thank goodness we have air conditioning! swamp
coolers don't work down here--too much humidity! as much as the heat
bothers me, keep wondering how I survived in Richland---we never had
"air"---just window fans, and hoses on the roof---to this day, I have
NO idea how my mom thought that would cool off the house, but she put
a "soaker" hose up on that roof everyday during the summer! s'pose I
survived cause I didn't know any better----was more fun to be outside
with friends or swimming in the BIG pool than worrying about how hot it
was. and, I do seem to remember that it cooled off at night--when it was
too hot in the house, we'd just sleep outside. geez, ain't NO way I'd let
my kids/grandkids do that in this day and age! we really did have a much
better childhood than kids now!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda McKnight Hoban ('65)
Thanks to Bob Grout ('66) for the great pictures of Richland. Wow,
the Columbia sure looks choppy, must be all the boats out. Gotta get
a Spudnut.....
With all the talk about looking at the annuals on the website, makes me
questions, where's the '65ers annual? I lost my annuals years ago, and
wish I at least had the Columbian from '65 or could look at it on line!!
[Talk to your '65 webmaster, Linda!!! -Maren]
Hope you are all having a great Independence Day!!
-Linda McKnight Hoban ('65)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
To: Donna Bowers Rice ('63)
Perhaps one of the blessings of living in the "Bible Belt'--and a small
town as well---While we share the heat and humidity of Saint Louis, and I
can only relate to my friends and immediate family, my grandchildren do
play outside frequently and often ask to go outside. I am the one who is
apprehensive and want to make sure they are not out of sight or abducted!
My oldest grandchild (age eight) lives in a housing development that
includes a lot next to her home that allows her to play hide and seek
with the neighborhood children and still makes "mud pies" YUMMMM--I
didn't know children still knew those were in existence! They ride bikes,
roller blade, play softball and basketball. We do have organized sports--
even here in the Ozarks--and are blessed to live in a community that
supports our kids and activities!
-Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Vic Marshall ('71)
Re: Playing Outside
To: Donna Bowers Rice ('63)
Your entry today triggered memories of growing up (well, isn't that one
of the primary reasons for this site's existence?). I remember that my
folks were particularly adamant about us kids being outside as much of
the time as possible- during ALL seasons, but particularly during the
summer. They found many reasons why we should be outside instead of
inside. Now some 40 years later I think I understand the real reason.
With 8 raucous children they simply wanted some peace and quiet!!!
During the summertime, I recall spending most of the day at the "big
pool". We only lived a couple of blocks away and season tickets were a
bargain for large families - you ended up with essentially free child
care for your entire family from 1PM to 8:30 or 9 PM for about $30 per
season. Throw in swim team and swim lessons in the morning and you could
look forward to not seeing the little buggers except for meals and
bedtime!!
My dad was big on keeping the house as cool as possible in the summer. 2
essential elements of his "plan" were to keep inside cooking to a minimum
and reduce or eliminate any unnecessary "in and out" of the house. My dad
did a lot of work with Cascade Natural Gas and we had about every gas
appliance you could get- furnace, stove, outdoor light-post and even
a stationary natural gas barbeque (quite advanced for those days I
imagine). But he got them all at cost and thought natural gas was god's
true gift to the earth. Anyway, my parents grilled everything outside
from mid-May through Labor Day. They even had a freezer outside stocked
with hot dogs and cube steaks and stuff like that. We even had bread and
cupcakes and stuff like that out there that could be defrosted in a few
minutes in the Richland heat. We kids could come home and were allowed to
cook our own "lunch" to accommodate the varied schedules we had (little
league, summer reading program, parks craft programs, or just plain
goofing around....).
The older kids were expected to help out the younger kids but the
inviolate rule was - STAY OUT OF THE HOUSE!! As kids will be- once we
understood that we were NOT supposed to be in the house- much of our
attention was focused on finding reasons and excuses to do just that. And
with 8 little urchins and their friends around the house- the traffic in
and out was torture to my folks. The two best excuses for needing to be
in the house were- "I need a drink" and "I need to go to the bathroom".
What parent could ever deny their children such basic biological needs?
Well it worked for a while but eventually age and experience won the day.
There was not much my folks could do about the bathroom thing but we were
"forced" to go the bathroom before we left the house and told not to
expect to be back in to go until some appointed hour (lunch or dinner
time, etc), Funny thing- we actually believed our folks when they told us
stuff like that and we all learned to regulate our bodily needs so as to
conform to the schedule. Besides, you were at the pool most of the day
and, well, we won't go there... As to the being thirsty thing- my Dad
initially wanted us to drink from the hose but got way too many
complaints from us of the water tasting like rubber or whatever taste
that is that comes from water issued from a hose. Eventually my Dad
solved the problem - he installed a drinking fountain outside mounted
to the wall of the house!!! Once the "rules" had been sufficiently
established and reiterated with us- heaven help you if you were caught
inside the house for anything but a truly valid excuse (severe bleeding
was acceptable- but that raised a whole lot of other issues if it were
the result of something else you weren't supposed to be doing).
At any rate, we were expected to pretty much live outside during the
summer. From early morning swim team practices to late night neighborhood
games- it seemed like we were outside all the time. And since you usually
went through your first "burn and peel" early in the season- we all had
tans that George Hamilton would have died for. Does anyone remember the
speculation of what type of oil would give you the deepest tan? Gosh, we
lived for the sun!! Amazing that any of us survived what with all of the
things you can't do today!!!
Anyway, although there were some organized sports- particularly for the
boys- we pretty much relied on each other to make our own fun. Being
raised a proper Bomber- we literally lived for basketball and I remember
spending hours during every season working to advance my mediocre
basketball skills. I was not a natural and worked to overcome poor
eyesight and terrible coordination but it didn't really seem to matter.
In Richland, you were literally expected to be the best at basketball you
possibly could- regardless of skill level or ability. One of the big
things I miss as I age and I allow my body to become even more "out of
shape" (actually my body has a shape but it's just not the one that
it should be) is the joy that a couple of hours on the court with a
basketball and some other kids could bring. Many times the games were
"pick up" at the park with kids you may or may have not known but we all
seemed to socialize okay without an adult there to tell us the rules. You
tended to learn the proper rules and mores from the "older kids".
Funny thing, I don't remember ever being bored, either. There were
always things to explore, field trips to make (riding our bikes out
to the shelter belt or down to one of the rivers), entrepreneurial
activities (like Kool-Aid stands or Neighborhood Carnivals), or games
and sports to be played. No adults were needed come up with the ideas or
organize these activities- although our folks might help out with some
of the details. The parks did have a recreation center open during the
summer (ours was Columbia playfield) where you could check out equipment
and games but I don't remember that we ever expected anyone to "make our
fun" for us. I'm not sure if that has served me in my adult life but I
certainly can't imagine that it ever hurt me.
In many ways I feel sorry for today's kids growing up. On the one hand
we organize and regulate their activities for them to insure that they
always have something to do and at the same time saddle them with this
great need to succeed and be recognized for every thing they do (how many
of you had a bedroom full of "trophies" you got simply for participating
in an activity?). We don't really give them much time to "be kids" - as
we remember that stage of life. As advanced as we all thought we were
I guess times were a bit simpler. Of course, we had the dreaded "bomb"
somehow lurking about hanging over our heads but most of us did not
really worry too much about it. After all, we had all been drilled on
what to do in case of an air raid and knew that there were adequate Civil
Defense Provisions at the local Civil Defense shelter (mine was the
basement of Christ the King school). Beyond the constant threat of total
nuclear destruction, we really had pretty care free lives.
It would be nice if we could get the responsibility for being kids back
to where it belongs- the kids themselves. I have a sneaking suspicion
that is exactly what the current generation will do if and when they
realized that we have robbed them of that one time in their lives when
they were expected NOT to be responsible or productive and instead
focused on tapping into their imaginations and need to have "fun" It
seems to have worked fine for generations before this one and I would
hope that the power of self-guided play and imagination will win out in
the long run.
Anyway, I've rambled long enough. I know I am excluding a lot of the
angst and childhood cruelty that went with growing up but don't know that
dragging up those memories is anything but a "bummer" I don't know if it
was growing up when I did or it was growing up in Richland that was so
magical but I can only hope that the class of 2025 will look back on
their childhoods with as much nostalgia and affection as we all do...
Thanks for the chance to do a little walking down my own memory lane...
-Vic Marshall ('71) ~ Beverly Hills, MI where the temperature and the
humidity are expected to be about equal today (low 90s) but I
have come to realize that this is NOW what I think of summer
weather as...
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That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/06/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
Mary Treim ('47), Peter Kay Wheadon ('56)
George Brinkman ('60), Jay Siegel ('61)
Betty Neal ('62), Donna Bowers ('63)
Jim House ('63), Dennis Hammer ('64)
Mike Franco ('70), David Flaherty ('76)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: David Barger ('72)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Mary Treim Mowery (a '47 Bomber)
To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
Yes, the a/c is now running - but OH! the bill for repair!
WOW....thanks for the concern.
-Mary Treim Mowery (a '47 Bomber)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Peter Kay Wheadon ('56)
My son sent me a Father's Day card which showed a Dad in a "Dad's
Museum". One of the items displayed was a pair of shorts in a frame
on the wall, and it brought back a memory of a short-lived episode in
Bomber history. As I recall it, and my wife reminds me that recall is
a dangerous and unreliable part of my mind, we students were vocal and
persistent in the demand that we be allowed to wear shorts to school.
After a period of persistence, the school board relented and said OK.
I, and a very few others, made a dash down to "Dawsons" and bought the
"must have" shorts. The next day we showed up at school thus attired,
knobby knees and all. Gee, I think I wore mine twice at most. I hope
Dawsons didn't order a truckload in in anticipation of the new rage in
men's dress. Does this ring a bell in anyone else's memory?
-Peter Kay Wheadon ('56) ~ from Sydney, Australia where it is 60°, the
dead of winter and we're loving it.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: George Brinkman ('60) & Betty Neal Brinkman ('62)
Re: Proud to announce
Betty Neal ('62) and George Brinkman ('60) are proud to announce the
latest edition to their family. Carley Elizabeth was born to their
youngest daughter and son-in-law last night at 8 pm. Carley weighed in
at 7 lbs exactly and promises to put smiles on Granny and Papa's face
often.
-George Brinkman ('60) & Betty Neal Brinkman ('62)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Jay Siegel (Classic Class of 1961)
Re: Vashon Island Show!
These are personal feelings that I want to share with my "Bomber Family".
The show that Larry Mattingly ('60) wrote about a couple of days ago is
now history, and it was truly historical!
We started setting up on the 28th of June, and each day was spent in a
steel "bowl" that made the 80° temperatures seem nearer to 100°. Yet, in
spite of the heat, we all found time to make occasional jokes and enjoy
each other's companionship while working. The bare deck slowly become
covered with sandboxes with thousands of tubes buried in them. These tube
varied from 2-1/2 in tubes a little over 1' long to 7' tall, 400 pound
16" tubes. Slowly & steadily the deck of the barge took on a personality
- the big guns (8" to 16") dominated the view of the deck, not many, just
a couple of hundred tubes! It was a sort of mini skyline. Then there was
the "main body" - the sprawling "suburbs" of the show - almost 2000
"homes" strong covering half of the deck. On the 2nd of July, the product
arrived - somewhere in the neighborhood 6000 pounds of shells, mines,
comets, candles and cakes were carried up the precarious ramp from the
dock to the barges and deposited in the appropriate stack of boxes. We
were all anxious to get started nesting the shells - a process whereby
individual shell set atop the tube from which it will be fired. I
impatiently helped setting out shells and more sand was spread and the
final sandbox was filled.
It was now time to start setting up the finale - the part of the show
that I was there to work on - we preceded to put together racks that
contain the tubes from which the shells in the finale, over 1000 of them
are to be fired. It was miserably hot but the dozen or so of us labored
away with one goal in site - 10 PM on the 4th of July. Shells were
dropped, wired, covered with foil and circuits checked to insure that
when it was time for a particular shell to fly, it did.
We arrived in Quartermaster Harbor at about 8 PM - the deck of the barge
was a hive of activity with each person concentrating on their job, but
making time to help a friend on theirs when they needed it. There was a
growing excitement in the atmosphere- everything was coming together and
on time!
At 9:30 PM, a boat came along side the barge to bring our guest fire
fighter and to take off those who weren't needed to actually fire the
show. Those of us who stayed aboard put on our safety gear and nervously
chatted as we awaited the on the clock to complete its journey to the
appointed firing time. The lead pyro gave the countdown over the radio 5,
4, 3, 2, 1 and a row of brightly flashing coloured strobes then the first
group of shells shattered the silence as they lifted off, then broke
across the sky with sound and colour bringing an audible "yes" from those
of us on the barge. For the next 27 minutes the world, to those of us on
the barge, became a series of "whoomps" as shells lifted, followed by the
vibration of the deck and then a patch of sky painted with lights, sounds
and motions.
At 27 minutes, 12 seconds into the show, the lead pyro gave the warning
"FINALE" and in the next 29 seconds over 1000 shells took flight creating
a fiery kaleidoscope in our little world - the roar became almost
unbearable as shells took flight dozens at a single moment. My wife, who
was watching the show from the shore said that it appeared as if the
barge was suddenly enveloped in coloured flames.
As the last shell broke, the lead pyro shouted "ear protection off" and
with the deck still vibrating, we could hear the voices of the people who
had watched the show cheering, car and boat horns sounding. To those of
us who had spent the last week away from our families, getting little
sleep and muscles sore from doing physical labor that we weren't used to:
this was our reward! Yes, we enjoy "being up close-and-personal" with the
effects; but that cheer from our audience is what it is all about.
A comment from the fire person, who was completely awed, was "I looked at
the finale and saw the face of the devil"! I thought to myself, "No you
saw the face of God!".
To accomplish what we did without Devine Intervention would not have been
possible. To take a group of individuals from every walk of life and
bring them together for one week to accomplish this task called upon each
of us to put forth tremendous effort. The fact that this as done with no
serious injuries and few mishaps attests to the professionalism of those
who did the work - but to have impact on those who watched it required
something else.
Before we load the 16" shells, each person working the show signs a shell
and adds a message. I feel that my message fairly well expressed the
feelings of us as we returned to Tacoma to go home - "God does love pyro"!
I am truly sad that so many people were not able to share this experience
with me.
-Jay Siegel (the Classic Class of 1961) ~ from Poulsbo, WA
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>>From: Donna Bowers Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63)
To: Vic Marshall ('71)
Re: children outside!
Well said, we are so overly competitive, we don't give our little ones
a break. My youngest daughter, who had to compete with an older sister
who just did everything well as a child, and remembers that well, has
a philosophy that does not fit in this world right now. She enters her
children in many activities with no expectation for success. She even
coached a soccer team with her philosophy of everyone learning to play
and have fun. It was interesting to watch the parents be competitive
FOR their children when the children really just wanted to have fun
(1st grade). Her sister-in-law's boys are in competitive sports where
they are on traveling teams with their names imprinted on their team gym
bags with all the "right" equipment in 3rd grade, already. Is it the same
elsewhere?
In her neighborhood, her best friend down the street, whose 5 year old
daughter was running away from home had the police called on her for
being a bad mother. She was watching out the back window as her daughter
stood on the sidewalk crying, trying to decide if she really was going to
run away and a male neighbor saw her and called the police. I am sure the
male neighbor thought it might not look good to accost a child crying so
that was the reason he called the police (he evidently didn't know where
the child belonged). The whole incident was just bizarre, but also a
symptom of how fearful we are about everyday happenings. When we were
young this whole incident would never have happened because everyone in
the neighborhood knew where these children belonged and thought nothing
of getting involved before calling the police. I can remember my
brothers and I being upset and threatening to leave home in order to
get our way. My mom simply found a stick and tied a sandwich in a red
handkerchief (ala Hobo-style) and let us walk down the street. Now-a-
days, that would have been 3 calls to the police. What a shame!!
Talking about air-conditioning-here in (pre-air-conditioned) St. Louis,
when the weather was so hot and muggy many families just took blankets to
Forest Park (which is a huge park in the middle of the city) and everyone
slept in the park. The hills were covered with lots of families sleeping
next to each other. This city has always been fairly segregated (even
now) so I wonder if the park was segregated for sleeping arrangements.
Anyone else in the midwest aware of that? They just got through doing a
piece in the paper about all the wonderful memories of people playing
together in the park before they all bedded down. Amazing!! I don't think
that ever happened in Richland.
The other thing I am so grateful for in Richland is the fact of our
ecumenical upbringing. The church we now belong to here in St. Louis
is ELCA Lutheran, but when the Missouri Synod broke away from the main
Lutheran group in the 1950s, the minister and some elders actually had a
knock-down fight that was published in the Post-Dispatch. I can't imagine
that ever happening in a Westside, Central and Eastside Protestant
church in Richland, let alone Richland Lutheran where my husband,
Mike ('60), grew up. And I never remembered Dr. Homer Goddard telling
women they could not talk before the church at Westside Protestant Church
(Presbyterian sponsored). Yes, we truly grew up in a unique environment
in Richland and until you have lived elsewhere for a long time, you do
not realize just how unique it was and still is. I am truly grateful for
these experiences, and for all the people I grew up with.
-Donna Bowers Rice (GMC '63) ~ St. Louis, MO where it is actually
tolerable this morning.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jim House ('63)
To: Donna Bowers Rice ('63)
Re: Children in St. Louis
I moved from Richland to St. Louis in 1955. I was quite sophisticated,
having completed more than three years study at Marcus Whitman. I
understood the proper use (and misuse) of a doorbell. However I noticed
an unusual custom in St. Louis. When you went to visit a friend you did
not ring the doorbell or knock on the door. You merely stood in front
of the house and hollered you friend's name, e.g. Ohhhhhh… Mary Lou,
ohhhhhh…Mary Lou! Your friend would come outside, invite you in, or in
M.L.'s case, hide pretending not to be home. No matter how long you
hollered, the parents would not intercede.
That was the normal practice in St. Louis and the suburbs. Maybe kids
there today don't know the procedure. Please check with your older (our
age) native St. Louis friends to confirm that practice in the '50s?
Hopefully this new kid bragging about being from the Atomic City wasn't
a victim of a cruel hoax.
-Jim House ('63) ~ Mead, WA (but it's a dry heat)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Re: Robert Duvall movies
Would like to recommend two other Robert Duvall movies. "Secondhand
Lions" in which a kid goes to live with his two eccentric Uncles in Texas
played by Robert Duvall and Michael Caine. Throughout the movie they tell
him stories of their past adventures, and you never know until the very
end if the stories are true or not. I thought they were true and wife
thought they were tall tales. I have watched it a number of times and all
the extra stuff on the disc. Have to buy the movie some day.
The other one is a western called "Open Range." Kevin Cosner even played
a good role in this one.
Robert Duvall played Robert E. Lee in "Gods and Generals." I thought
he did a far better job playing that part than Martin Sheen did in
"Gettysburg" even though overall "Gettysburg" was a very good movie and
"Gods and Generals" was slow moving and boring.
Re: Shoes (or, from the Al Bundy dept.)
Does anyone remember boys/mens leather shoes called, I believe,
snapjacks? The tongue was hinged at the bottom and pulled forward. This
loosened the shoe so you could put your foot in, then the tongue is
snapped back, wire springs somehow slid up the sides of the opening where
the laces normally would be, tightening the shoe you were ready to roll,
er, walk. I never owned any, but a friend had a pair. This would probably
be about 1954. I thought it was a heck of a good idea, but I guess the
market didn't agree with me. A search on the Internet revealed almost
nothing about them.
Re: Air conditioning
I remember the sprinklers on the roofs. They were usually on buildings
with livestock, especially chickens in them. I remember them on the large
commercial operations, not the family farms, but on the small farms the
chickens usually roamed free and could find shade. I think they
disappeared in the early '60s.
-Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ Lost in the '50s ~ Like Pappy, I think I was
born too late. I feel I can relate to the people in some of the
westerns showing the dying days of the Old West in such movies
as "Shane," "Monte Walsh," "McLintock", and a few others I can't
think of now.
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>>From: Mike Franco ('70)
Re: Playing outdoors
Interesting reading all this and I agree with a lot of the points made
concerning why kids aren't outside more these days. Obviously video
games, safety concerns, lack of open space and heavy traffic all affect
things.
One point that I think is a big factor is the size of families today.
Today most have one, two or maybe three kids, living in much bigger
houses. many kids with their own bedrooms with television, etc. (how
many of us even had "family rooms" when we were grade school age?). When
we were young many of us had 5, 6 or more kids under one roof (Richland
families I think were particularly prolific at offspring production!).
Most of us shared bedrooms with one or two others. For many of us our
homes were where we ate, slept, studied (well some of you did!). Almost
ALL the fun stuff involved being outdoors.
I remember Paul Sinclair ('70) sharing with me his experiences years ago
when he started his first youth baseball camp as a coach, I think in
Kennewick. I am sure the details may not be exact but:.....
On the morning of the first day things were a little confusing and he was
struggling a little with paper work getting kids registered, etc. So as
he was sorting things out with a few of the parents, he noticed the kids
were sitting on the grass waiting for things to get going. Paul dragged
a couple bags of equipment over and told the kids to warm up, go play
"work up" or something until he was finished and ready to get some drills
going. After continuing with his clerical chores for five or ten minutes,
Paul looked over and found most of the kids were still sitting and
waiting.
The point is that many of our kids today depend almost completely on
outside structure for most outdoors activity. A lot of that has to
do with safety related reasons I am sure, but most of us in Richland
remember a typical summer day as getting on your bike, heading out to the
pool, the river, ball fields, tennis courts, etc. The "play day" started
when you got on that bike and was only interrupted by a return home for
dinner. I am sure other kids were better than I was but I remember only
rarely telling my mother where I was going and most of the time we barely
knew ourselves where the days adventures would take us. And that is the
way it was every day. Most of us didn't go to a lot of camps, take long
vacations and there were no elite team tournaments every week. I was
reminded of that last weekend seeing and playing tennis with Rex Davis ('49).
We used to head down to the park every morning for day of tennis and some
A&W root beer.
As much as we would like to recreate that today, most of us could not
stand our kids being out and about, whereabouts unknown for 6-8 hours
every day. I don't remember my parents ever worrying themselves sick over
where I was, but I think there were other factors there!
-Mike Franco ('70)
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>>From: David Flaherty ('76)
Well I've been down in the Gulf, Shark Fishing the last few days (caught
a few) so I have missed some things on the Sandstorm. First, Happy
(belated) Birthday to Vickie Bigelow ('76) it's so nice to know you are
so much older then me! I also found the comments about "personal" stuff
to be rather funny... isn't it ALL personal? I like the bantering of
Upton ('74) and Davis ('74) -- the count-your-hair thing made me laugh
out loud - the poetic meanderings of David Fowler ('76) and pretty much
anything by Pappy Swan ('59). We all can pick and choose what we read...
can't we? Besides sometimes the "personal" stuff can push a button for
the rest of us to have a say. So I say ... personal away... I have the
ability to skip and skim read and not one tree died for it!
I'd sure love to read some inputs from the '73-'78 classes... let's see
um I could say something controversial and see if I could get the ball
rolling... hmmmm ah... "our chicks were better then yours!!!" well naw...
we all had great girls in our class... um ... who was the best prom queen
of the '70s?... that might be fun but... no... might hurt somebody's
feeling... wouldn't want that although Michele Crites was... well...
stunning. Who had the best car? What was the wildest fight... I seem to
remember a fight when I was a sophomore that was legendary... that would
have been Upton's ('74) class, do you remember that one? (it might have
been '73) I remember Jim "Tater" Ellensworth ('74) hitting Chuck Peoples ('75)
for some high school slight in Gym Class. I remember putting the boxing
gloves on with Don Bigelow in my basement... I woke up several minutes
later!! I think Don is now like a 500th degree blackbelt. Anyway, love to
hear from that '70's crowd... make it as personal as ya want!
-David Flaherty ('76)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/07/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
John Richardson ('58), Joretta "Sue" Garrison ('58)
Steve Carson ('58), Alice Hanthorn ('59)
Patti Mathis ('60), Tom Verellen ('60)
Nadine Reynolds ('61), Linda Reining ('64)
Brad Upton ('74), Lisa Lysher ('79)
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>>From: John Richardson ('58)
To: Peter Kay Wheadon ('56) Down Under
Re: Shorts
If my memory serves me correctly, the shorts that you referred to were
called "Bermuda Shorts". They were extremely popular for about one
summer and were to be worn with long calf high socks. I remember that
Jim Templeman ('56) and his close friend whose name I do not recall
rented Bermuda Short Tuxes and wore them to the Jr. Senior Prom. They
wore red cumberbuns, red bow ties and the long red socks. I used to work
part time for Grover Dawson and another one of the really popular flops
in the '60s was the "Nehru Jacket" remember that one?
-John Richardson ('58) ~ Longwood, FL where the temp is in the 90s and
so is the humidity.
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>>From: Joretta "Sue" Garrison Pritchett ('58)
Re: '40s and '50s
I've enjoyed the memories of growing up in Richland. I grew up on
Roberdeau, directly across from the south end of Pennywise Drug. Our
back yard connected with homes on Gunnison Court. There were no fences
around yards, so all the back yard areas were open and kids played out
there daily.
At one particular time there were 56 kids in our neighborhood. We played
games of all sorts--Monopoly, hide-and-seek, steal-the-flag. And most
games included kids from ages 7 or 8 into high school. There was a
basketball hoop and we played "21". There was a larger field west of our
yards where the garbage truck went through in the older days. We drove
our little trucks (yes, even the girls) over piles of dirt and dug holes
and tunnels--probably would have gotten in trouble, even then, if our
folks had known how deep some of those holes and tunnels were.
I remember that there was a bus system in the early days, but I seldom
rode it. As teens, we were allowed to walk to town for a movie--in
groups, of course. We took younger sisters and brothers. But no one ran
around alone. We seldom left our neighborhoods because there were dozens
of kids and everything we needed right there. We held carnivals (moms
made cookies, and we sold them cookies when they paid to come to our
carnivals--ha). We held talent shows.
On hot summer nights, lots of neighborhood kids brought sleeping bags
out to the back yards and had "sleep-outs."
One thing was very different during those times. Parents looked out for
ALL the kids, and kids obeyed EVERY parent. If another mother told me to
do something, I "hopped to it." If I got hurt, every mother came running
to help.
-Joretta "Sue" Garrison Pritchett ('58) ~ Richland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Sue, Hey, old neighbor!! Our house was the closest (right across the
street) from the basketball hoop/playground which made our house the
neighborhood first aid station. We got lots of action after the dirt was
replaced with black top under all the swings, teeter totters and the
slide. Those head puncture wounds really bleed. Many (if not all) ran to
our house to get patched up. Somebody help me out: did the basketball
hoop start out with dirt like the playground equipment get the black top
at the same time? Maybe they were only supposed to put black top under
the basketball hoop and got carried away? -Maren]
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>>From: Steve Carson ('58)
To: Peter Kay Wheadon ('56)
I recall the Bermuda Shorts revolt. When I tell my grandkids about it
they get the giggles. I seem to recall that this was a motivating issue
for a skip day but could use some backup on that.
-Steve Carson ('58) ~ Chicago, IL
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>>From: Alice Hanthorn Johnson ('59)
Re: The 4th
I really gave some thought to the Vashon Island Show, but being alone and
not having someone to go with to enjoy, (Kids had a date I was invited to
and girl friend in Oregon visiting family) I decided to stay here. The
home I was at is up on the hill above Marysville (N. of Everett) in
a cul-de-sac. About 8:30 some more serious pops started to go off and I
thought "they'll use up the odds and ends they bought locally and put the
kids to bed before the sun sets and we will be left watching the Everett
city shots... ... ... NOT so! from 8:30ish through 11:30 or so the whole
valley erupted in a show that was unbelievable! I even spotted some of
the "new" fangled shaped shots. squares, circles and even a heart. WOW.
for "back yard" shows it was amazing! and yes the sky was in bloom. Not
coordinated to music or all the wonderful set things but as an over all
experience it was good.
I was proud to tell of knowing (well in the same school as) a real pyro
hope your show went well, Larry! I still feel special remembering the
GREAT show you did just for us Bombers in 2000 at R2K!
THANK GOD for a country where we can celebrate our freedoms! and HAPPY
BIRTH DAY the USA.
-Alice Hanthorn Johnson ('59) ~ Marysville, WA 8am and still cool 64*
on my way to volunteer at the Arlington Fly-In
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Alice, Hey, old neighbor!! I spent the 4th at the home of friends who
live 1/2 hour SOUTH of me. Having repaired most of their Katrina damage,
they're back in their house which is complete with cover for two boats
and is on a canal or waterway of some sort. The fireworks set off by
neighbors across the water were pretty as they reflected off the water.
I watched and remembered spreading out our blanket on the hill in the
Bomber Blow to watch the fireworks. There was no great finale this year
and it was no comparison to the fireworks show that Larry Mattingly ('60)
presented for us for R2K in 2000. -Maren]
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>>From: Patti Mathis Wheeler ('60)
I have been reading about the lack of air conditioning and the many
inventive ways people stayed cool, and it rang a bell. I rented a house
for many, many years that had none, and it was okay for me but my boys
couldn't stand it. I would just sit in the front room with a fan blowing
on me, but they wanted to be off in their rooms, where a fan just didn't
seem to do it. My son Jim would open his bedroom window up all the way,
stick his TV In it, and then go outside with folding lawn chairs and
watch like he was at a drive in. Of course, that was before West Nile
virus reared its ugly head. Then a tent was pitched, and they would sleep
outside. Of course, they always didn't stay outside. I would always hear
one or the other come in for a snack and a nice soft bed.
-Patti Mathis Wheeler ('60)
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>>From: Tom Verellen ('60)
Congratulations to Betty and George and the parents; for the new
granddaughter. The best part of getting older.
-Tom Verellen ('60)
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>>From: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
To: Jay Siegel ('61)
Thank you for your wonderful picture description of the fireworks setup
and display of which you were a participant. I have always loved the
fireworks and have fond memories of my parents taking us to the park by
the Desert Inn to watch the display on the 4th. I remember in those days
not all of the display launched into the air. Some of the fireworks were
whirling designs of light on the ground. Usually the last of the finale
was a bright sparkling display of red, white and blue in the form of the
American flag. Do you have any pictures of the barge after everything was
set up but before the show?
Another memory from the hot summers in Richland was the truck that
came through all the neighborhoods spraying DDT (I think) to kill the
mosquitoes. There were always kids riding their bikes in the fog emitting
from the truck. My parents would not let us participate in that adventure
for which I am now thankful.
[click here to check out the mosquito fogger in the southend. -Maren]
-Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) ~ From Tucson, AZ where the rain has
finally started falling and settling the dust. Beautiful
sunshine in the morning, hot by lunch 95 to 100 and exciting
thunder, lightening and rain in the late afternoon to cool the
temp to the 80s for the evening.
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
to:Donna Bowers Rice(63)
re:kids' sports
my grandkids play sports through the YMCA or through a church league and
neither is competitive. the kids play just for fun, no scores are kept,
they learn the rules of the game, sportsmanship, and how to just have
fun. the only problems have been some parents---we played one team that
had one kid on there who was very aggressive, after knocking one of our
team members down, numerous times, the last resulting in a black eye, our
coach "called the game"---he was threatened by one of the parents on the
other team--that father wanted to meet him down the street and "beat him
to a pulp"!!!!!!! our coach didn't lose his cool, just told the dad that
this was a "fun" league and he was setting a very bad example for his son
and the rest of the kids. that didn't do much to dissuade the father---he
kept threatening all the way to the parking lot! it's so sad that some
parents have to ruin things for kids---I have a granddaughter who has
many disabilities and sports for her is a major hurdle, but by playing in
these type leagues, she plays in every game and it helps build her
confidence---you should see the smiles on her face when she is lucky
enough to make a goal, connects the bat to the ball, or makes a basket--
the other kids cheer for her, too! makes this grandma's heart swell with
pride and I have a hard time keeping the tears from flowing! as for "the
right equipment"---have a family friend whose 8 year old daughter has
been in "pro" cheer leading since she was in 1st grade---she goes to
competitions all over CA and Nevada and the pressure she is under is
staggering! IF they don't win first place in their competitions, she
spends hours crying and her mother is very disappointed also! it is just
so sad---why can't they just be content to learn how to cheer and have
fun??????? I just don't understand "the drive" to be "the best" at that
young age!!!!!
I still say we were very fortunate to have grown up in Richland and in
the era we did---we had moms who were in the house(most moms didn't work
outside the home), we had neighbors who knew us(sometimes, they knew us
too well), and we didn't have to worry about people hurting us--we could
roam the town without fear of being abducted or abused. it is so sad that
now police are called because we are so afraid of our actions being
misunderstood---I understand it, but I sure wish it was different. kids
are growing up with too many fears.
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64)......temps have cooled down to
the 80's in Bakersfield, CA
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>>From: Brad Upton ('74)
Re: Kids playing outside
My wife and I have lived on a cul-de-sac for the past 9+ years and can't
believe our good fortune. It reminds me of Richland. The bus stop where
my kids get on the bus is the largest in the Shoreline school district
with 22 kids getting on at our stop. The neighborhood is full of kids
and they usually wind up in our back yard. Two nights last week 8 or 9
of them decided to spend the night under the stars in our back yard.
Their ages were between 2nd and 7th grade. Many nights the doorbell will
ring and a kid will be at the door organizing a "neighborhood game" and
out in the street they all go. I know this is rare in this day and age,
but I wanted to let you know that is still does exist in small pockets.
I think part of the reason that people are so protective is fear.
Unfortunately, there have always been molesters, abductions and bad
things happening. Statistically I don't think it's any more prevalent
than it's ever been... it's just more publicized. The local news can't
wait to send out a fleet of satellite trucks to clog up a neighborhood
and open their news story with "Breaking News on 7. A Child disappears!"
Fear and sensationalism... you hear it enough and you start to believe it.
As far as kids not getting exercise... I know two families that DRIVE
their kids to the bus stop. Not to school... to the bus stop. It's a 9
house walk to the bus stop and they drive 9 houses!!! It makes my head
want to explode! The parents are too lazy to walk to the bus stop with
their kids so they drive. I can't even comprehend it.
-Brad Upton ('74)
PS. A heartfelt thanks for all of your kind comments about our
show on Friday in Kennewick.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Lisa Lysher Fuller ('79)
Re: Pets and Summer
To all Bombers, hope everyone has a wonderful fun summer.
I wanted to send an entry in to kind of remind everyone to please watch
your outside pets this summer, for our temperatures outside are getting
hotter each day and dogs and cats that stay outside during the day need
lots of shade and water to help them.
If you're wondering why I'm sending a little reminder out, it's because
I work with a local animal rescue group called Columbia Animal Rescue
Effort (C.A.R.E.). We are a small volunteer non-profit group with only
about 4 foster homes (no shelter) dedicated to helping unwanted, abused
or abandoned pets find forever loving homes thru adoption.
This year so far, we have done so many emergency rescues of cats and
dogs its been unreal. Just to give you an example: just recently I was
called to do an emergency rescue on a very young abandoned dog about 6-7
months old. We got the call that some kids were chasing it down the
street with sticks and a lady saw it and helped the dog. An ad was placed
for the owner but no one came thru to claim the sweet little girl thus we
were called. Even though I'm a foster home and am currently full, with
many fosters, I made a place in my home and went and picked the dog up to
help it, why? Because it turned out this little girl is pregnant and due
to have a litter pretty soon and the family that helped her couldn't keep
her. She is such a sweet girl, even though she's been running thru this
heat lost and not knowing her home, she is now with me in a safe place,
staying cool until she gives birth, then when her puppies are 8 wks they
will be up for adoption and she will be ready for her new home.
Another one that hits you, just rescued a sweet 5 month old Great Dane
mix puppy that was dumped out in the country to defend for itself,
skinny, weak and starved, how do we know, cause it was witnessed and a
call came to us. This big boy will be an awesome friend for someone it's
just sad that he had no choice in what happened to him. And here's the
latest, a very sweet dilute calico young cat, abandoned to defend for
itself, came into one of our foster homes and just gave birth to 8
babies, yes 8 babies.
This is just an example of two sweet dogs and a momma that got lucky
cause we stepped in to help. Not all rescues have a happy ending though,
last year I had to have a beautiful European bred 2 year old purebred
German Shepherd put down due to abuse and starvation. I tried and tried
to help him for several months but in the end he couldn't be saved, in my
4 years of rescue work, this one always hits me the hardest.
Hot temperatures are hard on outside pets, most try to dig out or find
cooler places to lay, my two big boys have a nice underground tunnel
started next to our shed. Be safe and have fun this summer and remember
your best friend.
If anyone is ever interested in being a foster home for our animal rescue
group, you can get a hold of us at our email address on our website or by
my home email address, we are desperately looking for homes that are
willing to help us provide a little love and attention.
Here's our website: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/WA161.html
Thank you for reading this and checking out our website.
-Lisa Lysher Fuller ('79)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/08/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Bombers sent stuff:
Ken Staley ('68), Betti Avant ('69), Shawn Schuchart ('78)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Deanna Sue Lukins ('79)
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Ken Staley ('68)
To: Larry Mattingly ('60)
I just returned with my 5 year old granddaughter from the display in
Columbia Park and thought of several of your entries about past displays.
Like Maren...I recall spreading out a blanket in or around the Bomber
Bowl and watching that display. The ONE thing I clearly recall is that
those who set off the display did so with something akin to road flares.
And that the audience (looking backwards is always difficult when the
distance of time makes it further) was not all that far away from the
grounded display. That memory must give you the willies!
How has the electronic revolution made your job easier/more challenging?
-Ken Staley ('68)
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>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
I remember Roberdeau Park. I lived at the corner of Torbett and Thayer
and we were always at the grocery store or Pennywise Drug store. My
cousin, Jean Bruntlett ('62) lived in the 1400 block of Perkins. One
summer, I'm thinking either '58 or '59 my cousins flew out from South
Dakota for a vacation. That's the only year I recall them coming to
Washington for a visit. One night Jean, my cousins, my brothers, and I
went to Pennywise to get some candy in most likelihood. In running
through the grass on the way back to Jean's house my younger brother,
Howard ('72-RIP) tripped and fell. We thought he was OK but his knee was
bleeding pretty good. Jean, being the oldest got the task of carrying him
all the way back home, about 1 1/2 blocks. My uncle was a doctor (OK an
eye doctor) but as I recall he used my aunt's dining room table to look
at his knee. I don't know if he put in any stitches or not, I know we
didn't go to the ER. In the next day or two we all piled into cars and
drove to Westport for a few days. What great fun; the older ones went out
on a fishing boat and we played around the cabins or the beach. My mother
got mad because they used all of my car sick pills and she had to buy
some more before we headed back to Richland. I found a jellyfish our last
morning there but I wasn't allowed to bring it home, darn I thought he'd
make a great pet.
A few summers ago I went with Jean, her brother John ('54), and his wife
to their timeshare in Newport, Oregon. The youngest of those cousins met
us there with his wife and 2 daughters. Jean brought along a pack of
pictures from that visit he made with his family that year (he was
probably 3 years old). It was great fun reminiscing.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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>>From: Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78)
Like Brad Upton ('74), I too was lucky enough to have lived for 10 years
on a cul de sac in Puyallup with my children. I was able to get a chance
to know all of the kids in the neighborhood as they played outside my
house. I learned which kids I needed to give extra attention to and which
kids I needed to make sure had adult supervision around when they played
because some of the older kids had a tendency to play way too rough (or
downright mean) with some of the younger kids. If you have children and
are in the market for purchasing a home, I would say it's well worth the
extra money to find a home in a cul de sac--the benefits to the children
are enormous!
-Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/09/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 Bombers sent stuff:
Larry Mattingly ('60), Janet Voorhies ('61)
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>>From: Larry Mattingly ('60)
Re: Bomber Bowl fireworks
To: Ken Staley ('68)
From Dutch Harbor, City of Unalaska, Aeutian Islands, where the North
Pacific meets the Bering Sea. The weather socked us in on the 4th and 5th
with winds, rain, and fog. Even the eagles weren't flying. We finally got
it fired on the 6th to the delight of the city folks. Cleaned up the mess
yesterday and fly to Anchorage today. Dinner with friends on an island in
Big Lake Tomorrow and fly home Monday.
Yes the flares we used (and still do when we hand-fire) were road flares.
And yes I do have to chuckle once in a while about the safety distance. I
can remember shooting on the 20 yard line and the audience was on the 50.
Now days we would need 420 feet for what I was shooting then. We still
hand-fire some shows, but most of them that my company fires that are
of any size are fired electrically. There are several very nice push-
button/stylus touch type systems out there. Some of our systems were
designed by me and work very well at their price level averaging about
$6500 per system. The two top line computer systems world wide are over
$30K. Parente in Italy has a system for about $53K minimum. Guido tells
me they sell quite a few of them.
However, along with 2 partners I founded the FireLinx, Inc. compao shoot
fromny and we are manufacturing a totally solid state, computerized,
remote wireless system that is way beyond the present state of the art. It
sells for about $20K and we are sold out for this year's production and
will make the first system delivery in 2-5 weeks. You can read about it
at: www.FireLinx.us
We have come a long ways from the days in the late '50s and '60s. Light
weight plastic mortars, higher quality pyro materials, more vivid colors,
choreography to music, and electrical firing have made fireworks much
more entertaining. But sometimes I do sit and remember those days....
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly ('60)
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>>From: Janet Voorhies McCord ('61)
Re: Posting for a friend
A friend, Sally Albers Stearns ('61 grad of Grandview), attended
Richland's schools but moved during her high school years. She is trying
to locate some long-time family friends, Iva Martin (unsure of grad year)
and Keith A. Martin ('59). I was able to find where Keith had attended
his 40th reunion and had listed Concord, CA as his resident state, but
had no other specifics listed. Was unable to locate anything for his
sister, Iva Martin, but think she was 2-3 years older than Keith. Anyone
have any up-to-date contact information for Sally would be greatly
appreciated by her. (Hope that Keith reads the Sandstorm and will
respond.)
Please forward private email to Sally at [Sally's email deleted... if you
want it, send a note to Janet and she'll give it to you. -Maren]
Thanks in advance,
-Janet Voorhies McCord ('61)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/10/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Shirley Rae Drury ('51), Nola Davey ('56)
Marlene Maness ('57WB), Helen Cross ('62)
Ann Engel ('63), Jeff Michael ('65)
Patti Snider ('65), Lynn-Marie Hatcher ('68)
Margaret Gilstrap ('74)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jerry Oakley ('51)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dale McLean ('63)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill Rulon ('64)
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>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
To you youngsters out there who've been submitting memories of growing
up in Richland, and experiences of living in cul-de-sacs in more recent
times: Thank you. What a nice picture you project of untrammeled
childhood and the view of life through a child's eyes. That's important
to consider, even for us who are now dealing with great-grand children.
Jim and I every Friday look after an almost 2 1/2 year old s