A. S. S. ~ Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/19/23
	So Happy It's Thursday
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10 Bombers and Don Sorenson sent stuff: 
Rex HUNT ('53)
Mike CLOWES ('54)
Ken HEMINGER ('56)
Tom VERELLEN ('60)
Pete BEAULIEU ('62)
Dennis HAMMER ('64)
Linda REINING ('64)
Cindy PAYTON ('65)
Terry DAVIS ('65)
Jerry LEWIS ('73)
Don Sorenson (NAB)
	Next A.S.S. will be published when we have an entry from 5 Bombers
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NEW HOME ADDRESS:
Maren Smyth
144 Briant Street
Gretna, LA  70056
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>>From: Rex HUNT ('53)
firex06@yahoo.com

Date received: 1/2/23

Re: Times have changed, but not by much!

When I was a kid, during the great depression, we were so poor that Santa did
not have a bright red sleigh and 8 reindeer He had an old tote sack and rode a
donkey. Even so, we still strove to maintain a cheerful holiday spirit! 

I recall one Christmas, when the weather literally went south for the season.
We lived at the time in Louisiana, (I know, I know), I even made the mistake
not once but twice of driving back there as I had trouble believing folks were
that dumb. (I have a slew of relatives including 4 half sisters) that still
reside there!) dumber than a used anvil! Anyway as I was saying That particular
season The weather was extreme! which made work even scarcer. So we were at
lean times. I was but a tyke and knew little of this. But even to me it was a
rare thing for any package at all to be under that scraggy old Christmas Tree.
What there was, was neatly wrapped in a recycled sack from the A&P 

That Christmas we even bypassed listening to a Christmas Carol. (that old
Charles Dickens Christmas tale), None of my brothers read much so they always
used that story to make a book report as if they actually read Dickens. (I had
one brother so dumb he could not read an eye chart)! Say hello to him and he
was stumped for an answer!

So as you can see it was a brutal time and you just made the best of it! But I
being young and still had faith that all would be well went joyfully to bed.
Which I shared with 2 older brothers. They always shoved me to the foot of the
bed to keep their feet warm. That was the warmest place to be! I truly expected
to wake and find a plethora of gifts awaiting us.

Alas, it was not to be! that area under and around that sorrowful sad tree was
as bare as Mrs. Nichol's butt that time Robert and I came on her and Mr.
Lawrence down by the levee.

Now I was terribly let down. I mean I had been a firm believer in Santa all
that time prior. Now to be exposed to the reality of such a staunch belief
leaves you stripped of your faith in all things.

There I was balefully staring out the window at all the snow covered fields and
lanes, deeper than a tall man's hips When a glorious sight should appear. There
was Old Saint Nick, stuck on his ass in the snow! 

Hope y'all had a reasonable extended weekend!

Rex Hunt (53wb) From Fabulous Hanford, CA Christmas brought the sounds of the
	season of Cars screeching brakes, and of course those that didn't,  were 
	creating their on music of fenders being bashed in as the fog settled in 
	so thick, the state sent in a crew of men with brush hooks trying to cut 
	a hole in which a person could drive. Many a head hangs low to day as 
	mighty USC was washed away by the Green Wave of Tulane. (where they 
	haven't had a win of such magnitude since 1937).

Date received: 12/24/22

Re: Christmas as only I remember!

When I was a kid, we were so poor, that Santa did not have a sleigh and
reindeer! He had a ratty old tote sack and rode a donkey!

I remember one Christmas that a real doozy of a storm struck our area with
fierce results. Shut down about every thing. So of course that eliminated us
doing our Christmas eve day of gift buying. It sure was bare under our scrubby
old tree. Was the same One as last year Paw just spray painted it green and
said Santa would never know! Even with no presents under the tree, all us kids
spend upward of 20/30 minutes decorating it. We had popcorn on thread
spiraling around. and another one of red pyracantha berries we stripped off
Mrs. Jared's bush. She is half blind and won't even notice.

We were making the best of it, as we hunched around that old pot bellied stove
trying to keep warm. There were several presents under the tree (even if it was
last year's!) They were gaylie wrapped in recycled paper sacks from the A & P.

We huddled around that old stove trying to out sing that howling wind slamming
the outhouse door

Finally we gave up trying to be cheerful and just went to bed. Still hoping
Santa would make his rounds. I at least slept warm. I shared a bed with my 2
older brothers and they jammed me to the foot of the bed to keep their feet
warm. Turned out to be the warmest spot.

I still had great faith on Santa in those days, (ignorant as a used anvil). But
was sorely disappointed when to my sad eyes it was still bare as Miss Clair's
Butt that day we caught her skinny dipping in the creek. But this weren't no
treat like Miss Clair. This just took all pleasure out of Christmas morning.
Even though I knew that the storm was the major cause. But when you believe in
Santa, you just don't think in terms of a storm stoppage. I was sure upset
about the whole event!

I was just staring out the window all gloomy and sad, when to my surprise and
enjoyment, I see Old Santa stuck on his ass in the snow.

So get off your gluteus Maximus and enjoy whatever you enjoy! 

-Rex HUNT ('53wb) ~ from glorious downtown Hanford, CA where the weatherman 
	predicted that we would have weather today and maybe tomorrow!
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>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54)
bobsown1@hotmail.com

Date received: 1/19/23

A few line to wish fellow classmate Don Ray ('54) a "Happy Birthday!". Wish
there could be more, but the mind tends to lose the bon-mots.

Date received: 1/13/23

Not only is it Friday the 13th; it's also fellow classmate Bill WENDLAND's 
('54) birthday.  "Happy Birthday!"

Date received: 1/5/23

Hope there's enough time before publication to wish Roger McCLELLAN ('54) a
"Happy Birthday!" If not, I guess it would have to be belated wishes.

Date Received: 12/30/22

A "Happy Birthday!" to Phil GANT ('54) on this day.

Oh, by the by, Jimbeaux ('63) and the Forever Young and Lovely Miss Nancy ('65)
got married on this date; "Happy Anniversary!"

-Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Silverton, OR jes' sittin' and waitin' 
	fer the New Year.

Date received: 12/27/22

Here's wishing Jeannine HUGHES ('54) a "Happy Birthday!".

Don't forget to change your calendars Saturday midnight (if you are up that late)

-Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Silverton, OR

Date Received: 12/20/22

Just in case there's a publication before Christmas I hope you all have a 
"Happy and a Merry" (insert holiday of your choice or preference).

-Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Silverton, OR
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>>From: Ken HEMINGER ('56)
KenH60@bresnan.net

Date received: 12/21/22

To: Pete BEAULIEU ('62)

Back to Spudnuts

I really don't remember that much about them other than lining my handlebars
with them. As far as taste goes, I can't speak for the beginnings of the
Spudnut as my opportunity to have any was limited to the pig farm, and my taste
bud memory doesn't go back that far.

But, due to the accolades of the leftovers I took home, they had to be
outstanding.

I didn't get another Spudnut till one of the reunions. I don't recall the year
but it was the time I was able to meet Maren at the Spudnut shop. Maybe she
remembers??? [I do remember. Met your wife, too. =Maren] Anyway, with much
anticipation I ordered a couple glazed Spudnuts. My first thought was these are
smaller than what I had on my handlebars. And as I munched on them, something
wasn't right. Somehow, something deep in the old memory said these don't
measure up to the ones I had on my handlebars.

Even though I was disappointed, I enjoyed the moment of being there.

The only real reason I tried to get more later on but failed, was for nostalgic
reasons.

I've even threatened to make my own Spudnuts as there are 3-4 recipes out
there, and they all seem to have their own way of making them.

Due to these conversations my curiosity has peaked and will now have to dig one
of those recipes out.

It's good to know I'm not the only one who observed the change from the
original,

-Ken HEMINGER ('56) ~ Enjoyed -22° today... Great Falls, MT.
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>>From: Tom VERELLEN ('60)
TV7311@aol.com

Date received: 1/1/23

Seems like just yesterday it was 2022.

-Tom VERELLEN ('60) ~ Spring like weather in near Lacey looking forward.
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>>From: Pete BEAULIEU ('62)
PDBeaulieu7@gmail.com

Received: 12/20/22

To: Mary ROSE Tansy ('60)

Good to hear from you. Your question is whether my 8th-grade English teacher in
Chief Jo was Georgia Burns. Nope, it was a Mrs. Smith. About whom, this later
memory... 

How can I say this delicately? Well, I think she passed away the year after my
class. Classmate Mike WIATER (did not graduate from Col-Hi) reported that he
had attended the viewing at Einan's funeral home (then at the southwest corner
of the Uptown District). A new idea I had never considered... Mrs. Smith had been
a good teacher but, to our fledgling and unforgiving eyes, a bit on the
downside of plain.

But now, Mike reported that "she looked beautiful." "Beautiful," he said. I
still pause at that, and that a 9th-grade guy would even notice and then say
such a graced thing. Yes, beautiful for those with eyes to see.

Now, moving on... 

More on the 8th-grade. It was there that yours truly began to suspect that he
was a bit out of step with his cohort. The homeroom teacher, one Mr. Russell,
had assigned the class to memorize the Gettysburg Address. And so, I memorized
the timeless eloquence. Come recitation time, I was the only one who could do
the deed. What! There I was, standing quite alone by my desk, a freak still
habituated to the notion that assignments meant something. Abraham Lincoln,
after all! (A budding American history buff, by the end of high school I had
rooted out and read all of the thirty-five inaugural Addresses up through
Kennedy. I now remember nothing.)

Of the recitation--after having survived the rigor of one Mr. Worley as the
homeroom teacher in the 7th Grade... Worley was a bachelor law student taking two
years off to teach, and in class was tagged as "eligible" by our Carol LAUGHLIN
('62). His method involved an unusual incentive system. A test would be
administered as often as it took for everyone to snag at least a B. The
incentive was that if you got an A, especially the first time around, the
record book would log a string of automatic A's until that last student got a
B. Good for the quarterly average!

Worley also taught us some German on the side. This was in preparation for
receiving into the class an "army brat" from Germany (Randy Gentry, not a Col-
Hi graduate), and later a genuine German refugee and foreign student (Grenata
Eich, not a Col-Hi graduate) who spoke zero English.

In Worley's highly disciplined class, in December there began a big snow dump.
Clod-like flakes. One slight student in a red sweater and light blond hair
jumped from his seat and plastered his face against the window. In disciplinary
sarcasm, Worley demanded: "What's the matter; haven't you ever seen snow
before?" And himself was put in his place: "...No...I'm from Arizona!"

That was also the year of the Soviet invasion of Hungary. In junior high school
the country and the world suddenly got a lot bigger.

-Pete BEAULIEU ('62) ~ Shoreline, WA, looking forward to a few days of snow.
	 A couple inches so far. Just like the good ol' daze."
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>>From: Dennis HAMMER ('64)
shellback_1972@charter.net

Date received: 12/29/22

To: Rex HUNT ('53)

Re: Rex's gas passing Bulldog/Basset Hound

Something I never would have thought I would be submitting to the Sandstorm,
but here goes. Navy boot camp one night just after lights out someone ripped
one off so loud that the walls (bulkheads) started rattling. Everyone started
laughing. Then the Master at Arms yelled out, "Quiet!!! What's so glorious
about a fart???" But it was glorious, . . . that had to hurt. He must have had
a strategically placed megaphone. You are probably thinking "sea story," but I
can prove it is not a sea story because I did not preface it with, "This ain't
no $++t."

SBD "silent but deadly" I was standing in the chow line aboard ship when I
eased out one that could not have had more volume (space not sound) than a
marble. Talk about silent (and small) but deadly, paint started peeling of the
bulkheads (walls) and sailors started passing out. The guy behind got blamed
for it; I didn't say a word.

Re: Fruit Cakes (The alleged food, not certain people)

Only two uses for them I have found is as a door stop, or chainsaw one in half
and use it for book ends. I once worked with someone who claimed he actually
liked fruit cake. I contacted the Liar's Club and nominated him for Liar of the
Year.

To: Pete BEAULIEU ('62)

Your story of the sailor who had worms and pooped them out when he started
chewing tobacco reminded me of a story someone I worked with who said he was
out hunting with his father or an uncle. They were camped for the night when
the other fellow caught a snake, opened it's mouth and spit tobacco juice down
its throat. The snake crawled to the edge of their camping area and died. The
other guy then gave up chewing tobacco. Now this might be a true story, but the
guy who told it to me was one of those people who could tell you a story so
good I almost think he believes it himself, so I don't know.

Re: Subic Bay snorkeling

Someone told of snorkeling at Subic, He swam out quite a ways from the beach,
then turned around to swim back. Because of the angle of the sun he had not
seen that he had swam through hundreds or thousands of jelly fish. He had no
choice, he had to swim through them again to get back. He lifted his shirt and
you could see little lines running all over his skin from their tentacles. They
did not stand out much so you would probably not notice them if you were not
looking for them. Don't know how much time had passed between getting stung and
when he showed us, but I think it was like two or three years.

-Dennis HAMMER ('64)
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>>From: Linda REINING ('64)
WabbitHugs@outlook.com

Date received: 1/3/23

I have no idea when this will appear in an issue, but thought some might be
interested to know that Bill Dunton (former Carmichael Junior High choir
teacher) passed away, January 1st, in his sleep. He was 94 years old, had moved
from Richland to Fullerton, CA in 1958 and began his career as a choir teacher
at La Habra High School. 

His wife (Lynn, RIP) was also a Richland teacher---she taught 3rd grade at Jason
Lee.

Bomber tears,
-Linda REINING ('64)
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>>From: Cindy PAYTON Hoffman ('65)
CindypHoffman@yahoo.com

Date received: 12/20/22

To: Rex HUNT ('53)

As I read Rex Hunt's 12/19/22 entry this morning, I started laughing and
laughing through the Sandstorm. I have had some stomach issues, too, almost as
graphic. Thank you, Rex and all of you; you make getting older entertaining
this morning.

-Cindy PAYTON Hoffman ('65)
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>>From: Terry DAVIS Knox ('65)
TerryKnox59@gmail.com

Date received: 1/15/23

Re:"OTHER DESERT CITIES" - OPENS FRIDAY

	Hiya! This fine and serious drama opens January 20th at Richland Players. 
Very proud to have been a part of it.

	You won't see something like this for a long time around these parts.
Come check us out.

	http://alumnisandstorm.com/Xtra/Dav/230119_Other_Cities.jpg

TDK '65

-Terry DAVIS Knox ('65)
Sent from my Samsung SmartPhone
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>>From: Jerry LEWIS ('73)
jlewis@owt.com

Date received: 1/16/23

Re: Class of '73 reunion

Here is the Class of '73 info for the Sandstorm:

Public Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RHS73reunion - anyone can view
this page. The schedule will be posted there, as well as occasional updates

Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/colhi.rhs73 - This is
for class members. To join, go to the link and request to join, then answer the
questions. This is where the most recent info will be.

Web site: http://a-city.us/rhs73/ This is where the registration will be. It's
a work in progress. I'll update the schedule today or tomorrow if I can, so
when you send it out, that will be accurate.

If anyone knows someone from the class, please encourage them to join the
Facebook group, and/or send their updated contact info to me. We are working on
updating and contacting people in the class, but it's slow going and not that
productive. There is a search page, which lists classmates and part of their
address. It hasn't been updated since the 40 year reunion, so we may have some
corrected, but if someone knows a correction, they can send it to me. The page
is linked on the website and here's the link: http://a-city.us/rhs73/search.asp

We will be sending emails out, so that is the most important, particularly for
those who don't use FB. Phone would be good too.

If you could link the website to the RichlandBombers site, too, that would be
great.

Thanks!

-Jerry LEWIS ('73)
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>>From: Don Sorenson (NAB)
HanfordEngineerWorks@juno.com

Date received: 12/24/22

To: Rex HUNT ('53)

Re: Button Line

I had heard you worked the button line. You might find this photo familiar, my
office was in that room for almost 30 years.

http://alumnisandstorm.com/Xtra/Sor/230114_Button_Line.jpg
 
-Don L. Sorenson N A B

Date received: 12/24/22

Re: Winter, 1954 

To: All Bombers 12/24/22

In honor of the recent snow that's been delivered in the last few days I found
photos of the January 1954 storm. Some of you might recognize a few of them.
Merry Christmas.

-Don L. Sorenson (NAB)
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	END OF SANDSTORM ENTRIES. Please send more.
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BOMBER MEMORIAL JPEGs by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66)
 
Sue GARRISON Pritchett ('58-RIP) ~ 2/15/40 - 1/10/23
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Jim WEAVER ('64-RIP) ~ 11/7/45 - 1/5/23
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