WHEN IT RAINED, IT POURED

Blanco River Overflowing at Wimberley

(Corpus Christi Caller-Times)

Anyone with power and a television set has seen what the storms in Texas were doing the past couple of days. After three weeks of rain, breaking all records for rainfall in Austin in May since 1895, blessedly putting an end to drought for many, the ground has been so saturated that flooding was and is inevitable.

Living in the Austin area, having family and friends all over Texas and Oklahoma, I stayed glued to the television news. I contacted as many as I was able to see if everyone was all right. For 24 hours, I did not hear from NEIL BROUSSARD. As you all know, he and his wife now live in Wimberley. Hundreds of homes there were destroyed by the flooding Blanco River, and many more were evacuated. This morning I received the following email and photo, which I assume is NEIL'S front yard.

"We made it through with flying colors. We lost all means of communication, but are now back. We had 7" in three days. We are not close to river and are on a hill, so are high and dry. Thanks for the concerns, but couldn't respond."

Wimberley, Texas

MARTHA NORTHINGTON and I had made plans to have lunch here at my place near Mansfield Dam this Thursday. As the rains continued, and more are predicted, MARTHA emailed me this morning..

"I think maybe we should postpone lunch this Thursday. Rains are predicted to continue, and I'm not sure I want to try low water crossings this week. Lamar Blvd., which I use almost daily was a river yesterday, and my former apartment in downtown on Shoal Creek I'm certain took on water in first floor where I lived. Very glad to be on high ground now. I hope you are far enough from flood waters not to have had a problem.

We'll get together soon, but it seems the better part of wisdom for this old dame to stay home until this thing passes. Let me know if you're okay."

Water Rescue at Lamar Blvd. and Shoal Creek

(NBC News)

I sent her a photo, and she replied "..the rescue on Lamar was just down the hill from me. Amazing pictures. I’m glad you’re okay, MARILYN, and I hope you won’t have to stay in your closet again soon. Although that might be an interesting psychological experiment.  I think I would have to clear out my closet a bit, or sleep standing up." She later wrote.. "I went downtown and checked to see if my old apartment flooded. Shoal Creek rising water missed it by a hair." 

My usual work station.

I guess I must explain the "closet" bit. As neighbors and I were listening to and watching the weather forecasts the past two nights, and because we three women each live alone and may be just a teeny bit scaredy cats, we had debated over the safest spot in our cottages in case of tornadoes. These flimsy wooden structures are on high pier and beam foundations.. the backs being nearly two stories high. We do have an interior hall closet that meets all the qualifications emergency officials tell us to look for. Night before last, there were so many rotations and occasional touchdowns of tornadoes in our general area, that we made preparations to retreat if necessary. Turning the TV up loud so we could hear, when the forecaster said "get to your safe location now!", we three retreated to our respective closets, purses and cell phones in hand.

My "safe haven" -  Note stool.

Thank goodness, the warning only lasted less than 16-minutes. We repeated this operation last night as well, only for not such a long period. We have a little reason to be fearful. Although we love living here, not much more than a country block from Lake Austin (the Colorado River), we do get a little stressed over such massive amounts of rain. You see, the only road into our little neighborhood has a low water crossing. Last September, a Sheriff's Deputy was checking it out and she was washed down this usually dry creek bed into the lake, where she drowned. They renamed a portion of our road after her.

I wrote about this on my personal blog here: Tragedy Along With The Good.  There are plans for a permanent memorial at this crossing. Just last week a water marker was installed. Below is how the crossing looked yesterday. Needless to say they had a barricade on the hill above it, which was finally removed this morning. They are forecasting more

Fritz Hughes Park Road Low Water Crossing

thunderstorms (I hate the sound of those on these metal roofs!) again tonight and eight out of the next ten days. The water-logged ground in these parts of Texas cannot take any more rain without more flooding. Pray for those who live in the areas that were hardest hit. (And give thanks for those friends and loved ones who survived.) They will be receiving FEMA disaster assistance, but the Red Cross has been asking for volunteers to help them.

When I asked JUNE HASH CURRY how they fared in the storms over the holiday around OKC, she sent the following photo: "After this weekend, we are about ready..."

Funny, I touched base with my son Craig in Dallas, and when I asked him the same he told me, "I'm looking for the Ark." He sent this photo of the Trinity River in Dallas.

(Dallas Morning News)

All is not bad news, though. The rains have surely helped the drought in Texas, and it definitely has helped our area lakes. Lake Travis, where the City of Austin gets its water, is 23-feet above where it was just seven days ago -- a rise of nearly 27-feet this month so far. It is currently at 655-feet, which is the highest it's been since May 2011. It is still 24 and a half feet below its normal level. I figure we will have to have a whole lot more rain like recently before they have to open the flood gates of Mansfield Dam. (That's a relief!)

I forgot to mention that I have been known to be a little claustrophobic. I'm hoping we don't get more tornado warnings that send me back to my closet! Just in case, maybe I'd better clear out some of my "stuff". Not really "a very interesting psychological experiment." Besides, it's "good stuff"!

Everyone send me any of your stories and/or photos of how the recent weather has affected you wherever you are. Stay dry, and if you pray for rain, please use

the Goldilocks Principle: "Not too much, not too little, but just right, God!"

Peace,

Marilyn

WHAT DOTTIE'S BEEN DOING

I received the following newsy email from DOROTHY BISHOP ROGERS. I looked for an old photo to use that I already have scanned on my computer. I really need to get son Matthew to help me move things around in my Fibber McGee closet (remember that radio show?) so I can get to the trunk that contains my ancient scrapbooks and photo albums. Seems like I was getting caught with my mouth open even 62 years ago! Yikes! That was eons ago, wasn't it? Does anyone else have any old (or new) photos scanned on their computer they wish to share? Forward them to me.

"My goodness! How wonderful to see pictures and hear great things from our classmates. When I read about LaVelle’s death, I sat, prayed, and smiled at the memories. RUTH ANN and I kinda dated LaVelle and Lanny Maedgen when we were sophomores - until they went to Germany. They introduced me to one of their friends via mail. PATI and I (The Bearcat Club) would dedicate songs to them, and send them silly little gifts as well as pictures from home. I was privileged to see both these guys at the 55-year school reunion and visit a bit. It is so good to hear how many lives LaVelle touched.

I am doing well. After my year of 'teaching' (and I can hardly call it that), my nerves have seemingly settled. Larry and I still see each other and go to car shows in his classic Mustang. Since the golf course closed, he had to get a new hobby. I am painting again - mostly Indian art, but some animals as well. I have done pretty well at some shows and sold a couple of paintings.

My wonderful 'Bonus' children (Grady’s kids) came to see me last week. It was wild. Karen is from Arkansas and Russ from Colorado. What a blessing to have nearly all your children in your house. I fear Tombstone will never be the same after our Saturday visit there.

The reason for the visit was to check on me and my mental state. I have been on Aricept for two years, and things are getting a little fuzzy sometimes. The old body is still moving good - it sometimes gets ahead of my brain. Wheee! Please do not distress - I am fine. I smile that it took that to get all the kids here. They promise it will be more often.

Love and laugh, all you (class) blog members, for we never know what God has in store for us now. 

Until........I send angel kisses to you all."   Dottie

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DOTTIE doesn't write like she needs Aricept! I've asked her if she can scan one or  more of her paintings for us to see, as I feel they will be extraordinary. As a very amateurish artist, I know what talent it takes to paint as she has in the past. No one would ever buy anything I paint.

I realize many, if not most of you are probably on Facebook. I joined that site

(Family Guy)

the first year it was up, and quickly discovered I didn't want to share every cup of coffee I drank or know what others were doing daily or even hourly. I also had a hard time not agreeing to be "friends" with everyone who asked, so I quickly exited that social network. I feel it is much different now, and you may prefer writing briefly on it rather than sending something for the blog. I hope you'll reconsider. I just finished reading through the 50th Reunion Class Handbook for the second time since it was printed. I enjoyed reading about all of you once again, and would love to know your latest news -- especially if you are one who doesn't write to me. There are a lot of excellent "communicators" in that little Class of '57. Don't worry about errors, as between me and Google and Spell Check I think we can correct most of them! I've enjoyed the updates and news I have received these past 8 years.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, and give thanks for those who have done so much for us.

Peace and love,

Marilyn

Old Friendships

I got some favorable feedback on the poem in my last blog post. However, I did not wish to leave you with sad feelings. Therefore, I thought I would publish one of my favorite old poems on a sweeter note. When I was very young and at an extremely low point in my life, one of my two best friends at the time, IRENE PIEL (BATTS), gave me a beautiful book called "Leaves of Gold", a compilation of lovely poetry, quotes, and inspirational pieces. The pages are yellowing now, and there are many marks on them indicating my favorites, and also yellowed newspaper clippings and other written memorabilia collected through the years, saved amid the pages. This poem struck a chord with me, even at a young age. Now it holds much more meaning, as I think it might with you.

"Old Friendships"

by Eunice Tietjens

Beautiful and rich is an old friendship,

Grateful to the touch as ancient ivory,

Smooth as aged wine, or sheen of tapestry

Where light has lingered, intimate and long.

Full of tears and warm is an old friendship

That asks no longer deeds of gallantry,

Or any deed at all -- save that the friend shall be

Alive and breathing somewhere, like a song.

I love the line, "That asks no longer deeds of gallantry", and only wish that IRENE were "Alive and breathing somewhere, like a song." I know there are times she definitely is with us in spirit.

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JIM COWLISHAW (I still call him Jimmy) sent me the following after reading the last post:

"Thanks for sharing the poem. As I read it, I inserted several of our friend's names. I may not have been able to make contact with them except through a prayer for their memories of the past. Yours was a special prayer of thanks. 

Betty and I spent the day Saturday in Waco. Our grandson graduated from Baylor with a degree in philosophy, with plans of continuing in a Baptist school at Ft Worth. I told him that finally someone in my family has a little knowledge. His sister is still at Baylor. Her junior year is coming up. 

A note on MIKE FOY'S brother. He and Billy Brown had a great amount of influence on my studies of wood products. Perhaps that is why I enjoy my work." (I remember JIMMY telling me that he was making the beautiful wooden ball point pens that you see for sale at craft fairs.)

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PAUL MOTA wrote (about the last post) "That was a very sweet poem, and so true. I have several brothers and sisters here in San Angelo, and I forgot where they live. I suppose that is a very easy thing to do."

PAUL went on to tell me that he had a rough start to 2015. "You can say that Paul has hit a few bumps, but nothing major."

He told me that he had surgery on his shoulder, and as he was recovering from that and going to physical therapy he suffered a herniated disc. Ouch! It has caused him to miss the walking he had been doing. I think maybe some good thoughts and prayers are due to be sent his way. I feel PAUL would never ask for such, but he is so kind and deserving, send them anyway.

I suggested he check out acupuncture for pain, which can be debilitating at any age. (My son Craig would call that a "woo woo" suggestion, but it works!)

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June and her four living children, Kevin, Martha, Chris, and Scott

JUNE HASH CURRY and I communicate frequently, and share information regarding some of the events in our children's and grandchildren's lives. Some of these I have shared with you previously. I have a few notes to add that I gathered from her recently. She was fortunate to have her whole family, including her late sister and her husband, share her 75th birthday with her. They flew in from all over the country. Then, this past Mother's Day, she had most of her children and grandchildren there to honor her once again. We had terrible weather that weekend - both here in Austin, and in Oklahoma, which resulted in her family arriving at odd times. Somehow they never got around to group photos again, so I am sharing these she sent from her birthday. 

June and all of her grandchildren!

JUNE also has many adorable great-grandchildren whose photos I have shared in previous blog posts. Notice how her son Chris looks so much like his father, the late Grady Curry (BHS Class of '56), and how so many of her grandchildren favor her! I am envious of her beautiful silver hair. And I'm also jealous of her taking water aerobics recently. That is supposed to be one of the most efficient exercises, and virtually pain-free.

Speaking of beautiful hair, this gorgeous redhead is Morgan Curry, the daughter of JUNE'S son Scott. She recently graduated from high school in Edmond, and I was tickled to hear she will attend Oklahoma State University in the fall. My granddaughter Ashlyn will be there for her second year, and my "surrogate" (for lack of a better word) granddaughter Annie will attend for her first year. JUNE and I are going to conspire to get them together.

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I love this Li'l Abner figure, but can't remember his name. NEIL BROUSSARD uses it on his email account. He and I recently shared weather information when I saw on the news that Wimberley, Texas was issued a tornado warning. They had spotted circular conditions that could lead to an actual tornado on the ground. I remembered NEIL and his wife had moved there, but couldn't remember if they were in a real house or still having fun in their RV. I emailed him and kept my fingers crossed. Sure 'nuff, they are in a real house, and the tornado never materialized. Whew! I thought this cartoon character was á propos his weather conditions that night!

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GLENN SMITH answered my request for updates with the following: "I am working on Flint Rock novel number 4. Also I still do hypnosis sessions for free for Ballinger folks and for a few in Mexico. I sometimes have morning coffee at Beefmaster and often see several people from our class."

I thought that "Ultimate Thirst" was number 4, but perhaps his busy social life in Ballinger has slowed down his progress. I am so in awe of the fact that I know several of my friends are writing novels.

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Please don't forget the serious health challenges our former classmates, NYDAH ELLET and PEGGY BRANHAM KRUMLINDE are faced with. PEGGY'S cousin, June Harris Koch (BHS Class of '56) recently told me that although PEG had to return to the hospital briefly, as she had fluid on her lungs, she is now back home. The doctor told her that she has at a minimum 6 months to a year of recovery time. 

Please, continue to send warm, fuzzy thoughts of healing and prayers their way. Encouraging cards and letters might be in order as well.

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My thanks to all of you who have responded, and to those of you who haven't, how about letting us in on your current life? The All-School Reunion is coming up this fall. For those of us who can't make it, why not share the things in your life that have occurred since our 50th Reunion? Still working? Any new hobbies - or old ones? New love in your life? New grandchildren? Photos? How do you spend your time now? Hey.. I will if you will. Here is one of the recent photos of me as I was caught unaware by one of my grandchildren last summer. And, yeah, that's my natural hair color and length. I think this comes from my Cherokee heritage. (Seems to be a lot about hair in this post.) I'm much too thrifty to pay a hairdresser to cut my hair. Usually do this or a braid! Not very glamorous, but at our age??

I have recently discovered that MARTHA NORTHINGTON has moved back to Austin. She and I plan to have lunch before long and catch up. She reminded me that catching up would be for the last 58 years!! I will share any of her newsy news as well as others in our next blog. Until then, may your life be filled with all good stuff.

Peace and love,

Marilyn

A Not-So-Gentle Reminder

I didn't save the site where I found this poem, but I saved the poem as it has been something I can relate to in my own life. Maybe you can as well.

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone. And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell. And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name."Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows. Around the corner, yet miles away,"Here's a telegram sir," 
"Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.  ...............Anonymous

Having connected with more than one "old friend", I realize that we all need to do this frequently. Why not start today by sharing more of your life with your friends from Ballinger High School? Send me your recent photos and the latest news in your life or your children/grandchildren's lives. And most importantly...

Call or write to an old friend today!

Love,

Marilyn 

PRAYER REQUEST

For some reason, this post got re-posted as current! It was written several years ago, as you can tell by the news of the drought and wildfires. Since then, we have endured flooding in many parts of Texas!... Marilyn


Many of us in the State of Texas are suffering from a dreadful drought, the horrendous heat, as well as wildfires that are popping up all around us. Recently there was one about 2-miles from my home that I didn't hear about until the late evening news. I watched online for updates for a couple of hours. They evacuated about 1,000 residents in the immediate area of the fire. In case it came this far, I thought I would prepare to leave in a hurry. So... I got a small bag and placed in it my medicine, a toothbrush and toothpaste, cash I had hidden, and as I crawled into bed, I thought.. "I better put in a clean pair of underwear just in case!" Funny what one thinks of at times like this.

Today I received the following email sent from the summer place of Peggy (Branham) Krumlinde:

New Mexico Forest Fire

"Well, here we are, sitting and waiting on the latest news and the fire reports for New Mexico.  The latest fire is about 80 miles from us - it is in Pacheco Canyon, 6 miles north of Tesuque, which puts it at the Santa Fe Ski Basin and about 20 miles north of Santa Fe.  Some of the residents here in Pendaries are evacuating, pulling their 5th wheels and driving their motorhomes out of the area.  The smoke has been here since late yesterday afternoon.  We will go if they make the announcement or if the smoke gets too thick for us to breathe safely.  We will have to leave our 5th wheel and all its contents.  No pickup to pull it out.  It is so sad - all the beautiful forests of Arizona and New Mexico are being wiped out, not to mention the deer, elk, bear and small animals.

I am asking you all to pray that we get enough moisture to help us and our beautiful state get through this with as little damage as possible. Our last rain was 1/4"  the first part of December." Peg

The beautiful Hill Country where I live is no longer so beautiful due to the lingering drought. Lake Travis in Austin is down about 60 feet, and all the other lakes around are drying up as well. There are similar sad stories all over the Southwest. Add in the wildfires and tornadoes and floods, and it is easy to understand how some folks think this might be the end of the world!

Lake Travis - Drought of 2009

So, as we honor Peggy's request for prayers, we might add all the other areas that are suffering this spring. Pray for rain, pray for the animals, pray for the victims of the tornadoes and floods and wildfires, and pray for all the farmers and ranchers who are losing so much.

If anyone knows how to do a rain dance, that would help as well!

Peace and love,

Marilyn