ANOTHER CLASSMATE PASSING

I have waited a few days to post the following about JIMMY GAMBLE, as I was hoping to get a more complete obituary, and perhaps a photo. I remember most of our classmates from school, but I cannot place JIMMY. More than likely, it's because we didn't have any classes together. In looking through Google articles pertaining to him, I noticed that he was a City Alderman in Junction. I also saw a photo of his son Kevin, who was a local firefighter. If any of you would like to share a memory of JIMMY, just email me and I will post it.

From the San Angelo Standard Times:

"James “Jim” Gamble, 77, of Junction, died Monday, April 25, 2016. Private services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Shaffer Funeral Home/Sherwood Way.

Survivors include his sons, Kevin Gamble of Kerrville, Darron Gamble of Rosenburgand and David Gamble of New Mexico; daughters Penny Elaine Stewart of Junction and Kelly Scioneaux of Junction; brother Robert Gamble of San Bernard; sister Wanda Binder of Ballinger."

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JUNE HASH CURRY continues to improve after knee replacement surgery. This week she said that she is able to walk on her knee without pain now. Thanks for all the prayers. JUNE said she knows they helped.

GLENN SMITH, who was in a nursing/rehab facility in Ballinger recovering from surgery on his broken leg, is now at home. He indicated he was not happy at all while in the nursing home, and says it feels great to be home at last.

NANCY THOMPSON BAKER is relieved that hubby Jake is finally home. He was dismissed from the hospital last weekend, and spent the first full day home tending to paperwork that had piled up. NANCY spent so much of her time with him at hospitals in San Angelo and Ballinger, she barely had time to tend to her aching feet! She says that they are finally healing from the plantar fasciitis. Now, with the assistance of home health, her wifely duties include keeping track of the 17 medications Jake is on, as well as remembering to take her own.

NANCY has always been one to "be there" for others when illness or worse happened in a family. Her favorite dish to make enough to share is chicken spaghetti. Once made, she makes the rounds of anyone she knows is in need. It would be nice if others return the favor so she will be spared a lot of cooking in the first few weeks of Jake's recovery. NANCY, I wish I lived close. However, nothing I cook compares to your spaghetti! (Even using your "recipe"). Small towns are known for their coming together in times of crises.

All of this healing is noted under "good stuff" happening. Let me hear from you if you have more.

(Dreamtime)

Marilyn

LOST NO MORE

I was unable to reach TRUMAN CONNER to include him in our handbook for the 50th class reunion. Thanks to JANICE AMARINE and her trusty phone, she captured the photo above when she saw him at his sister Karen Bethea's graveside service held this past week in Ballinger. Karen resided in the Austin area, and was also a BHS graduate. JANICE said TRUMAN now lives in San Antonio. She encouraged him to come to one of the reunions.

Curious, I found TRUMAN's information on the internet, and emailed him condolences at the loss of his younger sister. To my delight, he answered me today and sent the following information. I told him I will send him a handbook, and gave him the blog address so he may catch up with all of us as well. TRUMAN, feel free to send photos and information about some of your trips!

"After BHS, I attended TCU graduating in 1961. After that I worked in San Francisco for Levi Strauss & Co until retiring in 1999. Then lived in El Paso, Dallas, and now San Antonio for about 14 years. I spend most of my time playing golf, travel when the mood strikes, and trying to make the most of life. As it turns out, we have all discovered the truth that life really is short like our parents always told us."

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GLENN SMITH had a fall recently. It seems he tried to continue walking, only to discover he had a bone break. After an ambulance trip to Shannon in San Angelo, he had surgery yesterday. At first they thought his hip was broken, however, it is the bone right below the hip. The femur? I haven't heard today how he is doing, but NANCY told me he is in Room 545. Luckily he had his young friend visiting from Uruguay, Stephanie. She called the ambulance. I am assuming she will be there to take care of GLENN's two beloved dogs. Someone might call and see if he needs any assistance in that regard if she is to be going home.

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Our other patients, JUNE HASH CURRY, and NANCY's husband Jake Baker (Class of '54), are still recovering. JUNE is home this weekend, and will start more rehab with Home Health this next week. She is not looking forward to that, as the knee is still very painful I'm sure. Tonight she wrote that she had a new great-grand baby, born yesterday in Utah to her granddaughter Karen. Karen had a very difficult delivery, and JUNE asked for prayers for her and the new baby.

Jake is still in the Ballinger Hospital, and would welcome any visitors. He is still on antibiotics, but is not contagious. He's exercising and probably getting bored, if I know Jake! NANCY said she goes there about 5 times a day. She's still suffering with her feet, and also tending to their dog, Beans, who has been sick as well. She told me a story of how Jake has received the same funny get well card from three different people - from different parts of the country. When she asked one why he chose it, he said the man walking down the hall with his gown flapping in the breeze reminded him of Jake. Must have been some card! Jake loved it.

Until next time, let the good stuff happen!

Peace and love,

Marilyn

NEWS AND NEWS

NEIL BROUSSARD sent me the following video. I sent it to JUNE CURRY, hoping to cheer her on to a good recovery. She liked it so well (she has her iPad with her), I decided to share it with all of you. This will get your toes to tapping down memory lane!

JUNE is in rehab, and since she has her iPad with her, you might send her good wishes, funny e-cards, or just a note of encouragement -- especially from any of you who have gone through the same surgery. You should have her newest email address in the back of your handbook, if you've made the changes I've sent. If not, email me and I will send it to you. I don't want to put personal emails on the blog for all the world to see.

I know I sent you an update on NANCY BAKER's husband Jake. I haven't had more news from her as yet, but will forward anything I receive on his and JUNE's conditions. So far, prayers appear to be working for both of them. Keep it up.

I recently had lunch with MARTHA NORTHINGTON. She was kind enough to bring us a delicious meal from Whole Foods, complete with cookies for dessert. We chatted our heads off, often talking at the same time! I'm afraid I might have bored her with my talk -- and photos of my children and grandchildren. She was too polite to say so. MARTHA's enjoying living back in Austin, close to her son and grandchildren. 

Yesterday I had a real treat. I saw my youngest grandson play golf for the first time. Travis has been in the South Texas Junior PGA Tournament league for the past 4-years. He's been taking lessons from a golf pro at a local Country Club for the past year. He's 13, but the 14- and 15-year-olds he plays with make him look so much younger. He holds his own with these older boys. I got to cheer for him on the last nine holes of a tournament yesterday in Lakeway -- near my home. He didn't do as well this time, but recently placed 5th in a group of 25 or more. I was afraid that this Grandmommy made him off his game. His dad had to shush me when I said "Ohhhhh, no!" at a missed shot. I promise to do better next time.

Daughter Carajean's son Tanner has taken up running, as well as still playing tennis -- now on the Amarillo High School tennis team.  Like his grandfather, BOB BURTON was at BHS. I wish I had a photo of you, BOB, while playing tennis. Somewhere in my many moves I lost all of my BHS annuals. Maybe someone could scan a photo and email it to me? This photo was taken of Tanner running a half marathon in Dallas, but he's looking forward to his 18th birthday this summer so he can enter full marathons.

Which reminds me, NEIL, I cannot find a recent photo of you. Please send one. Google is doing away with Picasa soon -- makes me so very mad! I have at least 5,000 photos stored on it. They have transferred them to their new Google Photos, but none are in the order they were in on Picasa. I have a horrible time finding what I want.

Enough rambling for today. I always look forward to hearing from any of you -- for whatever reason. Please don't wait until someone is ill or has died to communicate with me and our classmates.

Until next time..

Peace and love,

Marilyn

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE

Someone recently read the following post on my personal blog. As I re-read it and updated a portion about Haitian relief, I thought the class might enjoy reading it as well. Some of you have already. This was titled "Childhood Memories", and at the end of the post you will read memories from a couple of classmates as well. This was written six years ago when I lived in Burnet, Texas. Our lives have changed considerably in the past six years (and I haven't been called Pollyanna in quite a while), but the memories remain the same... Marilyn

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Writing about my optimism ~ and where it came from ~ stirred up old memories. When I was
asked how I became such an optimist (I've been called Pollyanna many times), my first thought was to say, "It must have been all those MGM musicals and Walt Disney animated features I watched growing up!" I'm serious. Those old musicals always had happy endings. So did the Disney films I grew up with. The good guy always got the girl and everyone lived happily ever after.

My parents often used the movie theaters in San Antonio as a babysitter for me and my sister Jean. Weekends there were always double features, and we would sometimes be on our second go 'round before someone came to pick us up! We especially loved the musicals, and would spend the intermissions in the balcony lounges singing the songs and doing our own versions of the dances. I remember there was a huge table in one area, and we would climb upon it and "tap dance"! (Ours were more of a soft shoe, shuffle, or stumble!) Watching Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly dance with one of their beautiful leading ladies gave us dreams of doing the same someday when we grew up. In the meantime, we had to practice! And practice we did. I begged Mother for some old curtains to make rhumba skirts or flowing gowns, and rounded up any kid in the neighborhood I could coax to come practice with us and be in our neighborhood "show".

The songs were made for singing.. Who can forget Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from Cinderella? Or Uncle Remus singing Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah in Song of the South? Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote so many wonderful, singable songs for the musicals. I would spend my allowance on song books that were published with all the lyrics of the popular songs of the day.

Ahhhh... the "cowboy" movies! They were a big influence on me as well. Again, the good guys always won the girls, and rounded up the bad guys. Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autrey, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, the Lone Ranger and Tonto ~ I loved them all! The Saturday serials could not be missed, and were also great to reenact with neighborhood kids! I loved to hear the rugged cowboys sing.

Even TV in the 50s and 60s had musical variety shows, and there were upbeat situation comedies (without the bathroom, potty mouth humor of today!) like the Dick Van Dyke Show, That Girl, Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, Father Knows Best... I could go on, and I'll bet you could, too.

I think they ought to bring back the big screen musicals. I loved Chicago, Mama Mia, and I think I will enjoy Nine, but it doesn't sound like the kind of happy-go-lucky musical that creates happy, positive people like the old time movies. I would love to see the return of the TV musical variety shows as well. Ed Sullivan, Dean Martin, the hootenannys of the 60s! It was hard to be in a bad mood after viewing these shows.

You can see from this picture, Jean and I never got over our love to entertain, although it took some coaxing to get her to wear the belly dancer costume and dance with me to Little Egypt at one of our big 4th of July parties. We had the most fun while trying on costumes at a local shop, wearing our "granny" glasses and giggling the whole time! Gee, I miss her.

Throughout my childhood, and well into my adulthood, I had two beautiful older women in my life who encouraged me, praised me, and loved me unconditionally. One was a cousin my grandmother's age who shared her religious beliefs with me in the gentlest of manners. She would take all of my spiritual questions seriously, and if she didn't have an answer right away, she would say, "I'll get back to you on that". And she would. Her name was Brooksey, and she took beautiful pictures in and around her home, even setting up a rudimentary darkroom. I got my love of photography from her, as well as her loving outlook on life.

The other was my paternal grandmother that everyone called Mom. I cannot remember a time that either of these kind women were critical of or mean to me. If they were, it must have been in such a constructive way that I didn't even realize it. For as long as she lived, Mom wrote me every single month. Once, when I remarried for the second time, I wrote Mom about my new husband. She wrote back, "Marilyn, I'm sure we'll love Win. You have always shown such good judgment in the past." I saved that letter, and still get a huge laugh every time I think of it. In her eyes, I could do no wrong

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And then I read Norman Vincent Peale's Power of Positive Thinking, and Psycho-cybernetics, written, I believe, by a well-known psychologist of the day. Up until that time, I got most of my information on living and parenting from such magazines as Ladies' Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, and Redbook. A whole new world began to open up for me. It took quite a few years for my shift from Pollyanna and purely innocent beliefs (I am still called an idealist, but I take that as a compliment) to grown-up perspectives on the connection between mind and body and the power of the word, but I was on my way! And I still loved to dance and sing while I was doing it.

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TRYING OUT MY WINGS

I visited the bald eagles' nest again last week, and I was thrilled to find one of the eaglets still there. I watched for over an hour with my camera poised, set on zoom. The most this little darlin' ever did was flap his wings and hop into and out of the empty nest. I don't know if he is able to fly yet, but his wings got a lot of action. As I was leaving, I spoke with a gentleman who had set up two cameras on tripods with long zoom lenses. He said he had been there for over three hours. The adult pair left shortly after he arrived and had not returned. This was unusual for them to be gone that long. The Saturday before, this man watched both adults and the two fledglings being extremely active ~ the adults flying back and forth and the fledglings in and out of the nest. I had an enjoyable hour in spite of the absence of the other eagles, and left promising myself I will be more diligent next year when they return to nest again.

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(March 27, 2016)
EDITOR: I re-read this post for the first time in ages. I wondered at the change in the link I had for the company listed below. Research showed me the company not only went bankrupt, but the CEO Claudio Osorio and CFO Craig Stanley Toll were sentenced to prison for conspiracy and wire fraud. You may read about their convictions here Law 360. I guess I should follow up more closely on some of the events I write about!

I want to write more about the progress of the Haitian relief effort. There have been some exciting developments in the way of affordable housing, designed by noted architect Andres Duany, being manufactured by a Miami-based building manufacturer, InnoVida Holdings who is donating 1,000 of the small homes free. Sadly, another earthquake in Chile and now Turkey are really putting a burden on relief agencies. Even a $5 donation, when multiplied by thousands ~ or millions ~ can become a mountain of supplies. If you cannot do that, then pray. If you cannot do that, then hold a picture in your mind of those beautiful, happy people living in safety, well-fed, and able to get on with their lives. After all, thoughts are energy. And every good thing is made up of energy! So please send some positive energy their way.

I am holding pictures in my mind that show each of my friends and family reading this having a beautiful, prosperous life filled with all the "good stuff"!

Love and peace,
Marilyn

P.S.
After first posting this, I received an email from a dear friend and high school classmate. She wrote so delightfully about her own "movie memories" that I asked her if she minded if I shared it with you all as well. Here it is, and I hope too many haven't already read the blog:

"Oh, Marilyn, how your writing blesses me every single time."

"I can absolutely relate to the movies we saw during those formative and teen years. I was and still am a movie groupie (although there are so few made in the present time that bring this kind of enjoyment). My movie idol was Doris Day. I knew and constantly sang all her hit songs and learned to play them on my piano. Like you, a lot of Saturdays when I was very young, Martha Northington and I would spend a good part of the afternoon in double features at the Texas Theater on the very front row. When we finally would leave our eyes would be so red and strained that we could hardly walk out into the sunlight. On one of those Saturdays we went to Martha's and held a "funny book and lemonade" sale in front of her house. I can't remember whether or not we ever sold any wares, but we had high hopes and enjoyed the endeavor so much. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and Gene Autry and his wonderful horse were some of the early movies enjoyed on those Saturdays. Also, the Lassie series had us crying our eyes out, and I think there were some heart rending horse movies as well. WOW! What innocent times those were, and how I love those memories.

When Grady and I married I was still in the frame of mind that all you had to do to be eternally happy was to get married and have children and, of course, live happily ever after. It didn't take long before I was disabused that movieland fantasy and learned that life as well as marriage and motherhood takes a lifetime of work and is often filled with disappointments and heartaches, as well as joy and beauty. But when I married at 18, these facts just weren't in evidence. There were no wonderful lifetime classes in high school to introduce us to the household financial, physical and emotional stresses involved in marriage and making a home. Don't misunderstand me, I wouldn't have missed a moment of being married to Grady Curry, but we both would have benefited so much from having had some pre-marital education and parenting skills before embarking on almost 35 years together and having five children all born in the first ten years of that marriage. I've often wished my children had had the benefit of parents who knew how to raise them instead of just growing up with them. Nevertheless, God has been eternally faithful in being present every single day of that time and still is.

Thanks, Marilyn, for the journey down that memory road, reminding me of how much fun I really had and how much I loved those movies all through those years. Like you, I really believe they were what formed my eternal optimism which, by the way, I still have all these years later."

With love,
June

Last night I received the following email from NANCY BAKER:

"March 8th I found Jake asleep, burning up with fever, and incoherent when I woke him. A friend helped me get him to the car and to the Ballinger Hospital ER. They did tests and then transferred him to San Angelo. We had barely gotten there when he went into shock. We spent a day and a half in the ER, as there were no available beds in ICU.

For 36-hours I had absolutely no sleep. Jake slept maybe 45-minutes total during that time. Where my ability to stay awake that long came from, I cannot explain. It was like someone flipped a light switch, and I could do this. 

They finally found a bed for him in ICU Step-down. The doctors were saying he had a blood infection. X-rays, CAT scan, sonogram, laparoscope -- every exam you can name followed. Heart condition complications, breathing problems, gall bladder inflamed. 

I slept in the back seat of my car, on a roll-away bed in his room, one night in a motel, and finally went home two nights in a row.

Dr. JAMES HAYS checked in on us recently, and said Jake looks better. No fever, blood pressure okay, oxygen level 95 and above now.. only heart racing. Today he was pronounced noncontagious. and was moved to another room -- Shannon Room 418 now. We no longer have to gown up when we enter his room. He has yanked out all medical devices he could get his hands on, and is now telling stories you can believe; not hallucinating as badly. He will get strong antibiotics for three more weeks, and may be facing surgery on his gall bladder or pacemaker down the road.

Please, no calls, cards only.

My feet are killing me. Plantar fasciitis before walking 6-million miles in the hospital!" ..NANCY

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This is an amazing account of what NANCY and Jake have been going through. I asked for prayers for Jake, but now think we should put NANCY on our prayer lists as well. She is holding up remarkably well. I think it is more than a light switch that's seeing her through this.

Don't forget that JUNE CURRY is having knee replacement surgery this Monday.

Peace and love,

Marilyn

NEWS AND UPDATES

NANCY THOMPSON BAKER's husband Jake is still hospitalized in San Angelo in critical condition with sepsis. The blood infection has spread throughout his body, and among his many symptoms is hallucinating. This makes it very difficult for NANCY, as when she leaves the room he sometimes thinks she is "lost", and he wants to go look for her. He struggles hard with nurses, who of course need him to stay hooked up to his IV and monitors. NANCY said he will have to be on IV antibiotics for at least six (6) weeks. The doctors prepared her for the possibility that the infection might get on the connections to his pacemaker. If that happens, they may have to remove it. That surgery is more difficult than implanting one, and it would have to be done here in Austin.

I caught NANCY at home this morning. She is already exhausted from going over every day.. sometimes spending the night there. She is also suffering from bone spurs on her feet. She told me that Jake's infection is extremely contagious, so they must "gown up" and wash their hands every time they enter and leave his room. Her children are trying to talk her into bringing him home and putting deadbolts on the doors so he would not wander off. Jake doesn't think he is sick, and pulls out tubes from time to time. NANCY told the nurses that he was a WWP. When asked what that was, she said he is the "World's Worst Patient". I was happy to hear a bit of humor in her voice during such a terrible time. Please hold her in your prayers as well as Jake. She asked that we please don't call her. She has enough family to keep informed that just talking wears her down. Cards would be in order. I told her to let me know if there is a drastic change for the better or worse.

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My favorite prayer warrior, JUNE HASH CURRY, is due for some heavy duty prayers herself. Next Monday, March 28th, JUNE is going to have knee replacement surgery. She still has difficulty with her back, which she has had surgery on as well. This may complicate her rehabilitation from the knee surgery. Let's send her strength and healing prayers that all goes well both with the surgery and rehab.

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Now for a little good news. JIMMY COWLISHAW sent news that his daughter, Kristi, who was Senior Master and Second in Command of the Medical Unit on Hurlburt Air Force Base in Okaloosa County, Florida, has received another advancement and will move to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. There she will be the "Anatomical & Clinical Laboratory Flight Chief and Squadron Superintendent" over autopsies, and reading biopsy exams. Her husband and daughter Paris will join her. He finished his medical training in Orlando, and is now a registered nurse in Cardiac I.C.U. Granddaughter Paris, age 14, now has an opportunity to get Olympic training to put her swimming talents to use.

JIM and Betty also have three sons.. Their oldest one travels a lot with an insurance company, working with disputed claims. Their middle son works from home, but JIM said he is not certain what he does. (Probably similar to a lot of my younger son's work from home..Today's technology gives opportunities to have your own business at home - with no overhead!) He said their youngest son heads up an oil company somewhere in the San Antonio vicinity.

A funny note.. JIM said his daughter called him several months ago and said, "Guess who I met today? PRESIDENT OBAMA!" He said she was really excited, but "I won't say anything more here." I took that to mean he's not a big fan of our President! Oh, well, different strokes for different folks.

May all of you and your loved ones be healthy and happy. Spring is here, and the bluebonnets are already blooming!

Peace and love,

Marilyn

Urgent Prayers Needed

Jake and Nancy Thompson Baker

NANCY just called to inform me that her husband Jake (BHS Class of '54) has been in the ICU (422) at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo for the past week. She is staying in a motel there, but was home briefly. Jake has multiple problems going on, but a blood infection is what caused him to need hospitalization in a hurry. He has been upgraded from "critical" to "serious", but needs lots of care right now. 

Please hold NANCY as well as Jake in your prayers, and share this with anyone you know who doesn't have email.

Peace and love,

Marilyn

         Morris Eugene Sweeney

          

Philippians 3:20-21 - For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for our Savior, Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of HIS GLORY.

After traveling this earth's sod for over 95 years, Morris Eugene Sweeney, better known as Sweeney, Dad and Boo-Boo, claimed his citizenship in heaven on Jan. 26, 2016, where he resides with his Heavenly Father.

Sweeney was born July 15, 1920, in Denver, Colorado, to Nellie Elizabeth Morrell and Elbert Morris Sweeney. He lived through the depression and graduated from East Denver High School in 1938. He went to Colorado School of Mines, majoring in Chemical Engineering, leaving school in 1942, to join the Air Force. While training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo and spending time at Bruce Field in Ballinger, he met Julia (Judy) Sorrells. After a brief courtship, they married on Jan. 1, 1944. The war ended before Sweeney had a chance to go overseas, but he spent three years in various positions training other pilots who joined the war effort overseas. Like many others, Sweeney joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve immediately upon his discharge and retired in 1969, as a lieutenant colonel. After the war ended, he began his teaching career in Ballinger. He received his BA degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1949, and his MA from Hardin-Simmons in 1952. He taught hundreds of BHS students science and mathematics, he sponsored the yearbook for over 30 years. He also sponsored the science club from 1948-1983, and was a senior sponsor from 1948 until his retirement in 1983. He and his wife, Judy, went as sponsors on over 30 senior trips. Over the course of time in the teaching field, Sweeney was awarded many grants to study advanced science. Among those being a grant to study Radiation Biology at New Mexico University and an engineering grant to develop a transistor from titanium oxide to be used as a strain gauge for the engineering department at New Mexico University. He received a grant from the Atomic Energy Commission to monitor the radioactive Zinc in the Columbia River, resulting from waste water from the nuclear power plant at Hanford, Washington. He also received credit from Angelo State University for developing a laboratory manual on radiation for high school and college students. After his retirement, he pursued his favorite hobbies: golf, fishing, hunting and being a photographer. Sweeney loved the land. He fished every lake, river, and tank around Runnels County plus the Rio Grande in Colorado, the Gulf Coast and many others in various states. He cataloged all his fishing and hunting trips. Sweeney had taken over 500 weddings when he closed his photography business in the early 1990s. The last years of his life he devoted to serving others. From 1994 until 2010, he faithfully ministered to both nursing homes in Ballinger, where he brought a devotional every Sunday morning at what once was Heritage Oaks, now Ballinger Healthcare and Rehab Center, as well as visited residents twice a week. He and his wife, Judy, delivered Meals on Wheels every Wednesday for many years and he continued this mission after Judy passed away. He was dedicated to distributing the book, Truth for Youth, to many organizations throughout Runnels County. He became a Christian at the age of 28 and was baptized in First Baptist Church of Ballinger. In 2002, Sweeney was selected as Citizen of the Year by the Ballinger Chamber of Commerce.

Sweeney was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 59 years, Judy; his daughter, Patty Dunn; and his sister and brother in-law, Dorothy and Paul Russ.

He is survived by one daughter, Judy Pleasants and husband Tommy of Weatherford; five grandchildren, Brad Dunn and wife Mary Ann of Duncanville, Kelly Werner and husband Greg of Arlington, Stacy Wilson and husband Myron of Melissa, Scott Pleasants and wife Buffie of Fort Worth and Jennifer Wade and husband Jon of Rockwall. Boo-Boo was blessed with ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He is survived by his sister, Nancy Chandler and husband Denis of Arvada, Colorado; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He has not gone away, his journey has just begun. Life holds many facets this earth is only one. He will be missed by all those who loved him.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church in Ballinger. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at First Baptist Church in Ballinger with Lynn Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Ballinger.

Arrangements are with Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. Guests may register online at ballingerfuneralhome.com.

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Until we meet again, goodbye Sweeney..

Love and peace,

Marilyn

FLY, SHIVER, AND SHAKE

Our part-time resident of Warsaw, part-time resident of Port Jefferson, New York, DENNY HILL, just returned from spending the winter break at his home in Warsaw. He sent lots of interesting facts and articles about the politics happening there, the people he met, and friends he made. This email I received today I thought would take our minds off the political arena in the U.S, today, as well as make us who still live in Texas appreciate our weather. That is, unless you live in the Panhandle! Here in Austin it will be 69 degrees tomorrow, and 73 on Monday. 

"On my flight from Warsaw to New York, on LOT (Polish Airlines) 026, our captain was a female pilot! (I have had female captains before on smaller planes, like from Atlanta to Shreveport, but this was the first time I had one on an international long haul jumbo jet.) She made a perfect landing at JFK.

While waiting for the flight in Warsaw, I got to talking to some guy, who is an American, but was born in Lithuania, so has dual citizenship. He now lives in Manhattan and in Florida. He told me he retired early (was in finance, an investment banker, so probably made tons of money). Anyhow, after retirement, he returned to Lithuania, entered politics there, and was elected to their parliament for 4 years. He was financial advisor to the president there, and eventually became Finance Minister of Lithuania. But now he has given it up, because as he told me, the Soviet mentality there is so firmly ingrained, that it is impossible to change anything. Bribes are still standardly accepted to get anything done, and the establishment resists any attempt to clean up the corruption.

I barely made it home before it started to snow. New York City is now totally shut down because of the snow. Already I have a foot of snow in my yard, and it is still snowing heavily, so I might end up with 2 feet" ...Denny

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Not to burst your bubble, Denny, but I heard on the news you will probably get 30 inches! The worst blizzard to hit New York in 90-years, it has caused the City to shut down the buses and subways, closed tunnels and bridges, and threatened to arrest anyone who is driving on the streets tonight. 

There was a massive shutdown of highways in Kentucky, leaving thousands of motorists stranded overnight. However, even in the worst of times there are those who manage to have a little fun. Of course, this band happened to be in (I assume) a toasty warm RV, with food and drink. Tap your toes.

On that note, I'm going to say "good night", and may your home be warm and peaceful this winter.

Love,

Marilyn

P.S.

I need new photos of many of you! Please send me recent ones via email or snail mail (I'll scan them and return them to you.) Along with them, why not share some news with us? Good stuff still happens.

A couple of days ago I received the following from DOROTHY BISHOP ROGERS. It is very moving and wise, so I thought I would share it with all of you.

Dear friend, 

As I watched this video, with tears in my eyes I thought of our class and the upcoming milestone in this class’s life. I thought of you, Marilyn, and all you do to keep us in touch. Life is much too sweet to waste. 

Love to all,

Dottie

We have started the New Year, and may it be with optimism and hope for the future as we continue our journey.

Love and Peace,

Marilyn