TIMES THEY ARE A'CHANGIN'

So much is happening on our planet right now, it is hard to choose a topic. Close to home, we are barraged with news of the Primary elections taking place. No matter what political party you support or which candidate, you have to admit this is a unique historical event in our country. We have running for the highest office in our land three people from the most discriminated against groups in the United States. An African-American, a woman, and a senior citizen (yes, they are discriminated against, in case you haven’t tried to gain employment lately). My apologies to the distinguished Senator from Arizona, but the last I heard, the decade of one’s seventies is definitely considered “senior”. There was a time not too many years ago that someone in his 50s would also be considered “senior”. And you know what? One of them will be our next President.

Ah, yes, the times they are a’changin’! They say that age 50 is now the new 40. I guess that makes us 60-somethings really 50-somethings, right?

My stepfather used to tease me a lot when I would make a statement starting with “they say”. “Wait a minute, Marilyn”, he’d say. “Back up there. Who are these people you call ‘they’?” Of course, I rarely ever could quote my source, but I soon learned to back up such statements with a name when I approached him with some supposedly valid fact or statistic. (I now have to admit that the “they” I quoted in the above paragraph was the Oprah Winfrey Show!) Once he jokingly asked me (after one of my job changes) what I was going to be when I grew up. I quickly replied I wanted to be one of “they” that everyone quotes! (Seems at that time “actuaries” who compiled statistics held the highest paid positions in the country.)

Glenn Smith took cousin Pat Smith Mullins to lunch at Chili's in Brownwood this week. Pat and her husband James are planning a trip to the west coast around the end of April to spend time with two of their daughters.

Nancy Thompson Baker's husband Jake had a pacemaker successfully implanted this past week. Nancy said the doctor told them that no, Jake would not be able to communicate with aliens with his new device. Darn! When Nancy was telling me this, she had some interesting stories about the times folks from around here, Jake included, have witnessed what they believe to have been UFOs! She said that Mike and Virginia Harral Egan also witnessed one. Hey! Those would be great stories to share with us.

If any of you read this in time, you might be interested in participating in the tonight's “black out”. I’m going to light one of my great-grandmother’s kerosene lamps and use a lot of candles during this time. I copied this from the Google Web Page, which is already black to show their support.

“On Saturday, March 29, 2008, Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – from 8:00pm to 9:00pm in their local time zone. On this day, cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Chicago, Melbourne, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, will hold events to acknowledge their commitment to energy conservation.”

Next month we will again celebrate Earth Day. Mark it on your calendar -- April 22nd. I'm still trying to add beauty to the world by pulling weeds in my back yard! I have a way to go. However, the grape hyacinths are still blooming and the honeybees are responding with gratitude. I have been carefully following the reports of the vanishing bees, so seeing them in "my back yard" was a special delight. If you look closely in the following photo you can see two of them.

I will post the photos from Peg's (Branham) vacation in the next blog entry. I wanted to get this one in a little before the 1st of April. I didn't want it to be an April Fool's entry... but then, maybe it is?

Remember good stuff really does happen!

Marilyn

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter came early this year -- only a few days after the first day of spring. Along with the early blooming daffodils and hyacinths and new buds on the trees, it brought a lot of memories to mind. Of frilly dresses, Mary Janes, and pretty little hats and gloves. Of short pants and knees socks, suits and ties and grownup shoes. The jerky home movies of everyone in their Easter finery, and the silent squeals of joy as the children raced each other to find the most Easter eggs. And lots of memories and photographs of Easter baskets, big smiles, and tears of sadness when little ones were made to wait to eat that chocolate bunny until after Sunday services. Of course, the inevitable photos of the happy little chocolate-covered faces when they were finally given the okay to indulge in all those goodies.

I never gave in to buying one of these cute little bunnies for any of the kids, however, I was dismayed one year when a friend of my mother's sent my youngest home from an Easter visit with Grandma toting a baby chicken -- more like an adolescent chicken. Not the cute little fuzzy ones. This one was beginning to get his "real" feathers. (You can see I am not a farm girl!) A single parent at the time, and living in an apartment, I had no place to keep a pet chicken! For several days the chicken took up residence in our only bathtub. This meant a lot of extra work for me at bathtime, as you can imagine. On my way to work one morning, lo and behold, I saw a house on the corner of the street with several small chickens of varying ages in the fenced-in backyard! Some were even dyed different colors. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get home. I convinced a tearful Matthew that his pet chicken would be so much happier with a yard to play in, and with more little chicks as companions. When that didn't work, I promised we would look for a more suitable pet. This "suitable pet" turned out to be Goldie, the hamster. But that is another story for another time!

I brazenly knocked on the door of the corner house, chick in hand. The poor man looked at my chicken with dismay. It seemed everyone was dropping off their unwanted Easter pets at his house, and he couldn't say "no" to desperate mothers!

This Easter was quiet compared to earlier times. I shared some of the memories by email with my grownup little egg-hunters. Talked to some of my family members. And thought about the meaning of this season. New life is springing up all around us. The Cross on the Hill here in Ballinger reminds me of the opportunity we have each spring to rise above our limitations, and overcome any obstacles we have created in our lives that prevent us from knowing peace, happiness, and fulfillment.

I've heard from many of you with wishes for a Happy Easter. My thanks to you. May your Easter have been blessed with love and good memories as mine was.

After my last blog entry, I received a little news from fellow classmates. This first one is from Paul Mota, who lives with his wife in San Angelo:

"Since you asked, I am providing some information about me and my family. In the immediate weeks, I am looking forward to my daughter visiting us while they have Spring break in the Houston area. She will be bringing our 2 grandchildren Ana Marie (age 3) and Daniel (age 9).

My wife and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary on the 6th of March. The most important thing about our lives is that we have been very blessed. Not really in monetary value but in other more important areas.

We were blessed with our only daughter, who was born in Tokyo, Japan. She tries to do a little of everything in life such as running the Houston Marathon, Broadway plays, and you name it, she has tried it. I brainwashed her early in life to be a New York Yankees fan. We try to go to Arlington as often as we can to see the Yankees play.

I am in pretty good health if I could only stop eating all these snacks and stuff at night. I am trying (aren't we all?) to lose some pounds but not seeing much success lately. Otherwise, thanks to God, I am in pretty good health.

During about the last 10 Years or so I got the Las Vegas bug, and we are going there about once or twice a year. We have reservations for June coming up soon. I find it hard to believe that anyone could NOT have a lot of fun there. There is so much to see and do there.

As I stated in another letter, I spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and also 20 years as a Department of Defense civilian at the base here. I retired about 5 years ago and am enjoying it more than my wife is enjoying having me home all the time.

That is about it for now. Have a great Easter to everyone from the class of 57." Paul

The following is from Barbara (Sharpes) Brooks:

"The big news for me is a brand new knee! It's been eighteen days now and I think I will live. I had no idea what I was getting into. If the other one goes I may just have to live with it!" Barb

EDITOR: Peggy (Branham) Krumlinde sent some more beautiful photos from her vacation in Mexico last month. I will post one or two of them on the next blog.

Someone asked me recently, "What are you doing to bring beauty to the world?" Whoa! That one still has me thinking. I started by pulling weeds in my back yard. Does that count? Think about it. What are you doing to bring beauty to the world? Write me and share that with your classmates!

Until next time, keep on making the "good stuff" happen!

Marilyn

The Egans and More..

Two recent events marked the life of our former classmate, Virginia Harral Egan. As you can see from the article above, one was a joyous occasion she celebrated with her husband Mike on Valentine’s Day. What a wonderful day to get married! Congratulations on 50 years of married bliss, Virginia and Mike. 

Sadly, I was informed this past week that Virginia lost her brother. I’m sorry I don’t have his name available. Nancy Baker informed me of this and she is out of town at this time. When I said to Nancy that I didn’t know Virginia had a brother, she reminded me of an event we shared in the summer of 1955. 

Nancy, Irene (Piel), and I went with my mother and sister and two of their friends (plus one infant) to Marfa, Texas to watch the movie Giant being filmed. Mother had written ahead for permission to view the action from the movie set. When we arrived in Marfa, we were informed that the movie schedule had been changed. They had a giant wind machine brought in (imagine having to create wind in West Texas!), and were to film a dust storm and cattle stampede that day. For obvious reasons, the set was closed to the public. 

It was a long drive, and we were determined to get a look at all the movie stars in town, so began the search for motel rooms. Marfa was a very small town, and with all the movie folks there, rooms were at a premium. Mother finally located one room in a rundown motel. Not enough space for seven of us and a baby! Somehow, we got in touch with Virginia’s brother who lived there with his wife and adorable little son, Craig. They were so hospitable, and allowed Nancy, Irene, and me to sleep in their guest room. I do not remember Virginia’s brother that much, however, I was enchanted by her three-year-old nephew. So enchanted, I believe somewhere I still have a newspaper clipping of him at that age, standing at the kitchen sink with an apron on, helping his mother wash dishes. I even loved his name, and named my first son Craig!

Virginia’s brother just happened to live on the street where two of the stars of the movie had rented houses for the duration of the filming… Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson! We haunted the blocks they stayed on until we captured on film Rock Hudson walking to Elizabeth’s house. Later, we got up the nerve to knock on Elizabeth’s door. We had torn out photos from movie magazines to have her autograph for us. Duhhh! We forgot to bring a pen! However, this beautiful star generously posed for us in the doorway in her blue jeans, with a small Chihuahua dog in her arms. She still had on heavy movie makeup, which fascinated us. 

That night we all stood near the entrance of the only big hotel in town and watched as stars and technicians alike arrived to eat dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. The next day we were rewarded with watching our “idol” James Dean filming outdoor scenes with Elizabeth and Rock. What memories we all have of that exciting trip! 

I truly am sorry about the loss of your brother, Virginia. I know the little tale above is only a brief episode, but his generosity made for some happy teenage memories. 

~~~~~~~~~

I want to apologize for leaving the blog with no new entries for so long. My mother’s death affected me more than I initially realized. I made three trips in a few weeks’ time, and came down with a horrific cold after the last one to San Antonio. The result of all of this was that I spent about three weeks doing a lot of introspection while healing. Some of it was like a life review. Not all of it was pleasing. As my body healed, my thoughts worked through the pain of loss. Then I had wonderful news. I am going to be blessed with another grandchild by my son Matthew and his wife Amy. Death, then new life; the circle continues. 

Thanks to all of you who have patiently sent me uplifting or funny emails. I’m sorry if I didn’t respond to all of them. I will say one more time that I never respond – or even open, any email that looks remotely political in content. Nothing personal, I just don’t want to add any energy to anything so negative about any candidate. That’s not my kind of humor.

Did you all hear about NASA broadcasting into space the Beatles’ song “Across The Universe”? Wow! I hear there is a new DVD out titled the same. It’s a modern musical created entirely by Beatles’ songs – some 30 of them. I don’t know how many of you are fans, but I’ve heard it is a fantastic musical portrait of the past 40+ years of life on this planet. I’ll be looking for it.

Very little news since I have been so “cocooned” of late. June Curry has moved to Edmond, Oklahoma after selling her home in Tulsa. Remember the house fire she suffered? It didn’t stop her place from selling!

Nancy and Jake Baker, along with their daughter Melissa and hubby Bryan Jones are on a vacation trip to Las Vegas again. They go so frequently, they ought to own shares in some of the casinos there! I hope they win the big one this time!

Peggy Branham Krumlinde sent me the following photo she took on a recent vacation in Mexico. She will be in Ballinger for a family reunion in April. I’m looking forward to seeing her. We were neighbors in Albuquerque for a short time over 35 years ago! I haven’t seen her since.

Let me hear from all of you. What’s happening in your life? Share with us. In the meantime, remember

Good stuff happens!
Marilyn

FLYING HIGH, FLYING LOW

James Hays is up next with one of his "flying stories". This may not have impressed his friends then, but it is sure to impress his friends now. I know I'M IMPRESSED that he survived!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I started flying in earnest January 31, 1955 with my first lesson without parents’ knowledge or permission. Legally J. W. Longenette wouldn't solo me without permission until I turned 18. They found out about it in May 1957 before my birthday and it was a tense moment -- like when Bubba shot the juke box in the song. I had to catch up with lessons and finally soloed August 27, so Glenn beat me on that one. However I never got lost, but I have been temporarily disoriented on occasion. Schooling and other priorities kept me grounded until I was at Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. I signed on as a designated examiner of sexual assault victims for Tarrant County for thirty-five bucks a pop. So I finished my pilot’s license on rape money -- much to my instructor’s amusement.

I restored a 1936 Taylor Cub with allegedly a forty horsepower engine in ‘'73 and by May 1974 I was doing hammerhead stalls in it. To enter this maneuver one with sufficient altitude must dive to gain speed, pull up in a vertical climb and when it almost stops climbing, kick hard left rudder, pivoting 180 degrees and now in a vertical dive, pull out when flying speed rapidly returns now going in the opposite direction. At this point, I decided to impress my friends on the ground with my new found skills, so I buzzed the Bangs, Texas aerodrome at about 60 feet with more or less forty horses banging away and pulled up vertically when it began to dawn on me - DUMB!!! Not enough speed, altitude, or smarts. I'm committed so I kicked hard left rudder in the suddenly soggy airplane and it swapped ends and snapped into a spin past vertical at maybe 150 feet high. At this point, rather than accepting an early demise, I kicked opposite rudder and as soon as I felt the controls bite in the air I pulled back on the stick -- using almost all of my precious altitude and went through a small clearing under the treetops. The plane was hidden from the amazed spectators whom I had intended to impress, one of whom, I believe, stood up to find a shovel. Three seconds later I zoomed up over the trees and flew around for a few minutes to get calm enough to land and sheepishly to face my friends. I had less than 300 hours flying time at the time and now have accumulated 2200 hours in 98 different types of aircraft by not being so stupid. At this time in my life I aspire to be an old pilot instead of a bold pilot.

I've had other adventures flying and even injury since then but never faced the grim reaper so close face to face since.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor's Note: I had intended to do something really special for Valentine's Day, but as it turns out, I will be traveling to Austin tomorrow morning to be with two of my children and grandchildren this weekend. As some of you know by now, I lost my mother this past Sunday. She had been ill with Alzheimer's, among other things, and in a nursing home for a long time, so this is something of a mixed blessing for our family. We are relieved to see her suffering end. And although we will miss her very much, she would want our lives to go on as usual... and being with my first grandchild this weekend as he performs with the All-State Men's Choir is a very important family event -- one she would have loved to attend. Therefore, I will leave you with a few loving thoughts.

First, if you are fortunate enough to spend Valentine's Day with someone near and dear to you, tell them how fortunate you feel. Scroll down to the music playlist on the left of the blog, click on the big arrow, and take that special someone in your arms while you listen to love songs from the past. If it so moves you, you might dance around the living room a bit. A little candlelight would be nice, too.

From my "Cherokee Feast of Days" book by Joyce Sequiche Hifler:

"..We can be so busy that we miss the little things that sweeten life, the way a pet waits to be noticed, the way an owl, a wahuhi, hoots in the woods, and a bluejay chortles in the middle of winter. It is a lovely thing to turn away from busy work to pay attention to our loved things and loved ones. We know how we wait to be told we are important. We should never wait to say or think something beautiful that will make someone's day easier and more secure."

"We do not want riches. We want peace and love."...Red Cloud 1870

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE! Remember, YOU make the "good stuff" happen!

With love,
Marilyn

LOVE BY ANY OTHER NAME

The following occurred in "my back yard" in the summer of 2006... Marilyn

THE ORPHAN EGG

I continue to see my back yard as a microcosm of the world. I have a difficult time understanding physics, but I once read a book on chaos theory and as a result, I see patterns repeating themselves over and over, down to the minutest particles I’m able to see. A world within a world within a world. As I watch the events unfolding in my back yard, I find myself relating them to what’s going on in the world at large.

I have a couple of feeders and some water dishes for the birds in my back yard. I love watching my feathered friends, even though I don’t know very much about birds. I often turn to my bird books and field guides to seek information about the birds I am seeing.

One morning I watched a single small blackbird on the grass behaving strangely. A brilliant red Cardinal would frequently fly down to this little bird. As he did so, the blackbird would ruffle its feathers and flap its wings. I know Cardinals are very territorial and I thought he might be trying to chase the blackbird away. I silently applauded the little bird’s efforts to resist this aggression.

As I continued to look out my window, I noticed a different behavior between the two birds. The Cardinal seemed to be “nuzzling” the beak of the blackbird. “Hmmm”, I thought, “could all that fluttering and ruffling of feathers be some kind of courting ritual? Between two different species of birds?” Someone must be confused – and it was probably me! I longed for a pair of binoculars to see the pair up close. After watching for several minutes, I realized that the Cardinal was going to the feeder, then coming back to the little blackbird and feeding it!

All day that day, I could not stay away from the window. I even put out more birdseed than usual, hoping to keep them around longer. I watched the Cardinal get into the water dish and take a bath, shortly followed by the blackbird. The Cardinal was parenting the little bird and teaching it how to care for itself. I have read stories about some birds that lay their eggs in another bird’s nest and then abandon them. I can’t remember if crows or starlings do that. Perhaps that is how these two came together.

It has warmed my heart to observe this little miracle in my back yard. I thought of many analogies as I watched this odd couple the next few days, but my first thought was of the wonderful people who are adopting orphaned children from all over the world as well as in our own country. Most of them have so much love to give a child that they never give a thought to the color of its skin.

I was also reminded of the terrible tragedy going on in the Sudan (Note: The Congo has lost 5.4 million people due to the conflict going on there as well.) and all the hungry, often orphaned little children. We should take lessons from the beautiful proud Cardinal and help feed the people of that beleaguered country as well as help them in their efforts to become independent and care for themselves. With peaceful means, of course. As it goes in my back yard. .. Marilyn Moragne July '06

Recently, I was amazed to have the following video forwarded to me. Thank you, Ann Burton, for this touching little vignette. As I watched it, I began to tell myself that this just might be the little Crow I watched being mothered by a Cardinal in my back yard! What do you think?

A SAFE PLACE TO RAISE CHILDREN?

And we all thought Glenn Smith was such a timid young man! The following story, even though it is a little longer than most of the submissions to-date, is well worth reading. Along with Denny Hill's story of riding down City Park Hill backwards and the tales of the boys riding over the falls on Elm Creek, this pooh-poohs the notion that a small town is the safest place to raise your children! It also goes to show that teenage boys in West Texas did not have to be big football stars to experience a sense of adventure that got the testosterone and adrenaline flowing.. Marilyn

Farm life didn't fascinate me, a fact that my father noted with frequent disapproval. And I was not better off at school. "Glenn is a nice boy who needs to apply himself more," teachers wrote on my report cards. I read pilots' autobiographies from the junior high library, also a book on how to fly. I barely stayed awake in class. The social studies teacher threatened to keep me back from high school, relenting only after my sister begged on my behalf.

I graduated from high school in the bottom half of the class after my grades fell too low to stay in the Honor Society. I was a mediocre trombone player. I ran one of the slowest miles in BHS track history. Terrified to speak in front of any group, the only part I could get in a school play had one line. I liked girls but feared asking for a date. Senior year I came out for football, after my father finally gave in. I tried hard but didn't impress the coaches, barely playing enough minutes to make the "B" team. Most of those minutes were after it was clear the games could not be won. 

Sunday afternoons I began hanging out at Bruce Field. One day I realized that if I skipped lunch I could use the money for flying lessons. It took weeks to save enough for a half hour of instruction, but I loved every minute in the air.

I soloed May 18, 1957, having tricked my mother into signing her permission by entering a photography contest. (I clipped black and white prints over every inch of the permission form--except for the parental signature line.) As soon as she signed, I ran out the back door and biked furiously down the nearly mile long lane to the county road where I caught the bus. 

August 1957 I languished in English and History at ACC. Someone told me about a 25-year-old undergraduate who owned a plane. I arranged to meet Robert ("Bob") Harris, a duster pilot who made enough in summer to fund his studies the rest of the year. He owned an Interstate Cadet, a two-place, high wing aircraft that looked almost identical to a Piper Cub. He rented the Cadet with gasoline provided for $4.30 an hour. I sold my Ziess Icontaflex camera for $50 to pay for flight time.

Bob checked me out, turned me loose to fly on my own. I liked to climb the Cadet as high as it would go--around ten thousand feet--scooping cumulus cloud into the cockpit with my right hand through the open side window. Then I'd turn on carburetor heat (to keep ice from killing the engine at idle), pull the nose sharply up, close the throttle and provoke a spin with rudder and aileron crossed, stick full back. The effect was dramatic, better than a roller coaster ride. With the plane stalled, then standing on its nose, perspective shifted as the earth rotated slowly. The second turn was faster; the third, still more rapid. To recover, the pilot briefly reversed all the control positions and moved stick and rudder to neutral, then advanced the throttle and pulled out of the dive with the plane now flying normally. I'd alternate a turn or two to the right, recover, then one or two to the left, until most of the altitude was gone. Then I'd climb and do it again. 

Spins began to seem routine. One afternoon, instead of stopping at three turns, I let it go longer. I had learned to "spot" like a dancer by choosing something on the horizon to briefly notice during each revolution. All was going well enough through about five turns. Then I had trouble keeping up with the accelerating rotation. The plane was in a nose down free fall as it twirled faster and faster. I was thinking turn number seven as the Cadet finished rotation number eight. Somewhere short of turn nine finishing, I stopped the spin. As the stick went full forward, my left hand pushed the throttle wide open. The fact that the craft was already in a screaming dive didn't register till the airspeed was 80 percent past redline. Of course I should have pulled the throttle back but I sat as if in a stupor watching the tachometer also go way beyond redline. The plane started pulling itself out of the dive. I let the stick come back, feeling my face sag into distortion from g force. Fabric groaned, and I heard wood snapping. I felt suddenly scared. I promise never to be so foolish again if I get through this stupidity! The plane and I survived. I'd had enough of spins, at least for then.

With 14 hours logged, it was time for a solo cross country. I flew Abilene to Ballinger and back twice. That was easy. I navigated by flying the highway. (James Hays nearly turned me in to the FAA for buzzing his farm, not knowing it was I. Fortunately he couldn't read the aircraft number as I shot nearly straight up after building up a lot of speed in the dive that preceded climbing over his house.) 

Now I was ready for a "three legged" cross country. I took off on a Friday afternoon for Brownwood, landing there about an hour later. Got my log book signed by a woman in the hangar. Someone on the flight line pulled the prop to restart the engine. It was early October and pleasantly warm. 

Everything was routine as I made a slow, climbing left turn. The engine throbbed smoothly. The warm enclosure of Plexiglas vibrated reassurance as the propeller's revolutions picked up evenly spaced slices of glowing western sun. Twisted mesquite and clumps of ubiquitous prickly pear made a hypnotic background.

I woke up with a jolt. Where am I? Oh. In the Interstate Cadet. Must have zoned out for a second. Shielding my eyes from the large orange sun, I looked at the compass, then at the landscape, studied the sectional chart. Nothing on the chart looked like what I saw outside. Ah that must be the railroad. No, that's not a railroad. The Brownwood-Ballinger highway should be just ahead. There it is! No -- only mesquite and prickly pear. I thought I had likely drifted left, south. So I corrected to about 285 degrees. I'll cross the road to Ballinger soon. But no road showed up. The sun kept easing toward the horizon. I held the heading, grew more anxious. 

In retrospect I know I must have slept for minutes, probably more than five. For sure I woke up confused. I was already north of the highway that I kept thinking I would see any minute. I flew a few miles north of Bangs, Santa Anna, Coleman, Glen Cove, Winters and Wingate. Didn't notice any of them. Climbing would have let me see farther but I was disoriented and might have stayed lost. I flew low to keep the headwind less. I could see clearly only about three miles.

Finally, late in the afternoon, a town loomed. It had a water tower. Hooray I thought. Its name will be there. I pushed the stick forward a little, got closer, rolled into a left turn around it, flew more than 360 degrees in sinking disbelief. Nothing there! Probably the only town in Texas that had not painted its name on the water tower. 

I looked at the two lane road leading into town and spotted a green rectangle. Hey, a city limit sign. I scanned the road for crossing power or telephone lines. Seeing none, I flew outbound for about two minutes, lined up the highway as if it were a runway. I was a foot above the road. No traffic. I eased the stick forward. Tires squealed. I pushed the throttle up to about 2100 rpm, sailing past the city limit sign at nearly 70 miles per hour, right wing up to clear the sign with only the left tire touching the pavement.

"Blackwell," it said.

Full throttle, carb heat off, nose up. 

Where is Blackwell? As the Interstate climbed I grabbed the chart. Finally I saw it, north and west of Ballinger. A quick pencil line helped me calculate a heading. I hoped I'd beat sundown--because Bruce Field had no runway lights then, and I had no night flying experience. The last orange rays disappeared a minute after the wheels touched. I taxied in the dusk, tied down with dark still 18 minutes away.

A few days ago, I drove to Blackwell. The city limit sign is where I saw it fifty years ago. The water tower is gone, replaced by a tall cylindrical one with the town name painted vertically.

I'm not sure what flying means in my life. It brought compelling experiences. (I got a private license and logged 335 hours in 18 different planes.) Several times I was unsure where I was. Not only was I clueless going from Brownwood to Ballinger, I also got lost in California, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Saw a few places I hadn't meant to visit. Once I landed a plane at dark with no lights and no gas--total fuel capacity was 24 gallons; it held 24.3. Never got hurt but was less than three seconds from death when my instructor nearly rolled inverted as he missed the approach in a fog that closed most airports from Canada to Kansas City and from Chicago to Denver.

In 1981 I flew the fourth plane I owned to Pecos. Johnny ("Have Tools Will Travel") Sullivan, from whom I had bought it, sold it for me. He took the right seat as I flew his Cherokee Arrow to the Midland-Odessa airport. The Arrow touched well down the runway after my low, hot approach. Runway's end loomed; John pulled the brake hard: "Were you plannin' to brake?" he asked as if inquiring whether I wanted more coffee. "Thinkin' about it," I said, trying to match his laconic tone. That was the last day I logged any "pilot in command" time.

John said goodbye, distant sadness in his gaze. I got on the American 727, looking at the window as a flight attendant went up the aisle. I wiped my eyes. I wouldn't see Johnny Sullivan again. Who he was and how we met--that's a flying story for another time."

Remind me never to fly with Glenn -- in case he asks! OK, James and Jerry. It's your turn to share some scary flying stories. Bob, I know you didn't fly while in high school, but I'll bet you have a flying story or two to tell, too.

Hey everyone, didn't I tell you, "Good stuff happens"!


'Til next time,
Marilyn

CYCLES OF THE PAST

Professor C. Denson Hill (otherwise known as our Denny) sent the following to me to share with the Class of ’57. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. I was disappointed it didn’t come with a picture of him on his new unicycle.

"From the time I was in Jr. High, and throughout my High School days, in the summer, I used to go swimming almost every day. I would ride my bicycle there. As you probably remember, there was a quite steep hill leading down to the pool in the park. My bike was an old "Western Flyer", without gears like the modern bikes. If you stepped hard on the brakes, the back wheel would lock up. Since there was usually a bit of sand or fine gravel, especially toward the bottom of the hill, you could manage to "fish-tail" your bike, as you slid to a dramatic stop right near the front of the pool. Probably already in the 7th grade I learned how to go very fast at the top of the hill, then lock up the brakes, and fish-tail-all-the-way-down the hill, without falling down, just managing to stop right in front of the girls hanging out by the pool. 

I thought I was so cool!

A bit later, on level ground in front of my house, I practiced until I learned how to ride my bike backwards: You sit on the handle bars, pedal your feet backwards, and there is really no problem, except it is hard to see just where you are going; you have to look over your shoulder. In a few weeks I got to be rather good at it. So I would make figure eights, riding backwards, on the street in front of my house. It was natural to put the two things together. I started at the bottom of the hill, going down into the park, and tried locking up my brakes and doing a little fish-tail, while sitting on the handle bars and going backwards. Of course I fell down a few times, and skinned up my elbows and knees, but that was standard at that age. Finally I got it down. So to "impress" the girls even more, I would start at a good rate of speed at the top of the hill, sitting backwards on the handle bars, and fish-tail-all-the-way-down. There were times when it got really hairy, but fortunately I had practiced, so I was always able to (barely) pull it off before totally wiping out. In those days there was never any thought of wearing a bicycle helmet (I don't think I had ever even seen a bike helmet, up to that point in my life). Sometimes I did scare myself, but I don't think I ever really thought about how serious an injury one might get by falling down such a steep hill, at speed, and landing on your head. So everything went OK. (Now, I shudder and feel goose bumps when I think about it.) Having mastered the backwards steep hill fish-tail, with all of  my weight right above the front wheel, and with the back wheel swinging back and forth, acting like a rudder, I started to think that maybe the back wheel was not so important after all. 

That was when I decided that I should get a (homemade) unicycle, and learn to ride it. Of course that had to be done on level ground. After some really badly skinned knees and elbows, I soon learned to just step off the unicycle a microsecond before falling down. That way, you were left standing on your feet, and the poor unicycle went tumbling. After 4 or 5 days of practice, I finally learned how to stay up for a long time, and was able to ride a considerable distance before getting too tired to continue. But since unicycles do not have brakes, I was never able to do anything
on the hill going down to the park, except very slowly inch my way
down.

So if you ask: "Why did you decide to learn to ride a unicycle in high school?" I would say that "The hill made me do it." 

PS: As I write this, from my office at Stony Brook University, there is a unicycle here, just behind me. I had not touched one for maybe 35 years, so I didn't know if I could still do it. But, just to check it out, I bought one, and discovered that it is just like typing or swimming: I can still do it, but of course not as skillfully as before."

Editor:
Denny remembered it was a Western Flyer bicycle. The photo I put with this is probably very similar -- early 1950s. However, his was yellow and black with streamers from the handles.

Isn't it amazing how the City Park hill brings back memories to all of us? I think Denny's experiences riding backwards down the hill is even more dangerous than the boys riding on an old car hood. But maybe Coach Gosney would have thought teaching young teenage girls how to park on that hill would be the one most likely to end in an accident of some sort!

I'd still like to hear some of the "love stories" out there. There's never enough love in the world.

And don't forget... "Good stuff happens."

Marilyn

WINTER WONDERLAND

Classmate Gene Routh sent these beautiful photos. Pretty to look at, but makes one appreciate living where there is less snow and more spring-like weather in the winter. This part of Texas fits the bill!

"These pictures were taken just before Halloween 2006. We had about 24-30 inches of heavy wet snow in about 18 hours. No one moved for two days until the roads were cleared. If it weren't for my trusty snow blower, we would have been stuck for a week. Luckily, we haven't had a storm like this one this year. I still am looking forward to Spring. Front range Colorado has been cold and lots of snow, but nothing like Wolf Creek and the western part of the state...

Glenn's rodeo story was funny. That last photo you had on your Blog looked like the 4-mile causeway close to Glenn Smith's house to me. (It was!) I enjoyed the beautiful young ladies in the snow also.

I have been doing very well, saw my orthopedist last week for my six month post op on the ankle, and I am basically totally healed. I have enough hardware in my ankle to thoroughly alarm the airport security people, but I can live with that.

Keep up the good work on the Blog, it's nice to have a central spot to share memories with friends.
Tell all hello for me."

Nydah Ellet sent me the following update:

"I am making good progress. (Remember, she had knee replacement surgery in December.) I do not quite dance yet, but I do ballet barre stretches at home. I am doing out patient physical therapy for another week and then I am on my own.

I have not worked at my job in sooo long that I no longer want to do it. I have discovered that it is just great to be retired as I have lots more interests I have neglected for the past few years."

Editor's Note:
She went on to tell me she has plans to put together a book of her dad's memories, clippings, and notes over a twenty year period, as well as delve into her family genealogy. Nydah also indicated she wishes to get back to ballroom dancing soon. You go, girl!

Susan Herring Stahl wrote the following:

"Have you identified the 'snow bunnies'? I think one is Jerry Ann, one is Ruth Ann and one is Virginia, but not sure about the other two. I remember the one on the far left...don't think she graduated with us...just no name comes to me....alas!"

The 'snow bunnies' are Barbara Campbell Witte, who was our classmate for a while; yes, Jerry Ann Pruser Eaton, Virginia Harral Egan, Ruth Ann Henniger Wood, and (drum roll, please!) the bobby soxer on the far right is none other than June Hash Curry. I have to tell you all that June did not recognize herself!

"Was the other photo 3-mile crossing? or was it 5-mile crossing....? or was it some-other-mile crossing?" (Close, Susan. It was the 4-mile crossing on Elm Creek.)

Editor's Note:
Susan went on to say how much she enjoyed the anecdote submitted by Glenn Smith. Glenn, we could use another one of your little stories. How about one of your flying stories?

And, James... I hear you love to tell your flying stories. How about one from you, too?

In the last ten days I have been to Plano to visit my sister and my mother, who is in a nursing home, as well as my dad who lives in Mineral Wells. While in Dallas I stayed at a hotel with my daughter Carajean and my oldest granddaughter, Audrey, who was there to audition for the SMU School of Dance. We saw a unique ballet performed by the students at SMU. I also got in some visiting with my son Craig, who was kind enough to chauffeur me around.

I think of how scattered most families are today, and I sometimes long for a time when everyone in a family lived in or near the same community -- often the grandparents living in the same home with children and grandchildren. My father is still very independent at 89, but it is a lot to expect of someone his age to travel all over to visit family. Modern airports don't make it any easier on us as we age, either. The last time I flew to Amarillo to see my daughter, it took 8-hours from the time I left San Angelo! I can drive there in 4 or 4 and a half hours, but that is not something the kids want me to do alone. Do any of you get frustrated as I do at the difficulty experienced in visiting children and family members who live at a distance? As much as I love them, I am always glad to get home again!

February is the month of love. How about sending me some of your love stories? Check out the new slideshow in honor of February. There is a black and white photo of a honeymoon kiss. Can anyone guess who this couple is? One is a classmate -- and no, it is not me! This couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past summer.

Until next time remember, "Good Stuff Happens!"

Marilyn

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

Who says it never snows in Ballinger?

This picture, if you haven't already guessed, was taken while we were in high school. Notice the cars parked on the right. How about those bobby sox and loafers? Can any of you name every one of the teen cuties in the picture?

In regards to the Ballinger baseball team that Jim Cowlishaw talked about, Jerry Eoff wrote that he thinks there was one named Ballinger Cats, a member of the original Longhorn League started in the mid-40s that included other teams such as the San Angelo Colts, Carlsbad Potashers, Odessa, and Artesia -- one was the Drillers and the other the Oilers. There were more teams in the league that he doesn't recall. He remembers "Stormy" Davis, a power hitter for the Cats, who was killed by being hit in the head by a pitch.

Eskell Powell, later a Ballinger Police Chief, came here as a player for the Cats, according to Jerry's recollection, and he thinks the Cats were a pro team. One team in the league was a farm team for one of the big leaguers, and Pee Wee Reese (even I remember him!), later a big league star shortstop (wasn't he with the Brooklyn Dodgers?), played on one of the teams.

Jerry says he has home movies of his Pony League team playing in what was called "Cat Park" in 1955. The scoreboard showed "Westerners". Perhaps there was a semi-pro team then. Cat Park was on top of the hill on the Bronte Highway a mile or so past the new high school when these movies were taken. Those have got to be fun movies to watch! Jerry, who were your teammates at that time?

There is a new feature (I know -- again?). I apologize to the January birthday folks for being late to put this out. Happy belated birthday to Jerri, Charles, and Tommy. And Paul - have a great day tomorrow. In the future I will post the birthdays at the beginning of the month. If your (or someone you know) birthday isn't here, please let me know.

If you wish to leave a comment, just click on "Comments" at the end of the article and follow the directions. They come through me first so I can keep "spam" comments or anything obscene or too offensive from being put there by strangers. I will also make minor corrections to spelling, etc.

Medical updates: Peggy Sharp says she is feeling like her old self. I am too, other than a little shortness of breath. I see a pulmonary specialist tomorrow to see if I need to do something about that. I haven't heard from Gene Routh lately, nor from Rosalyn Hoelscher... however, she sent me a forwarded email, so I know she's at home! I hope both of you are still well on the road to complete recovery!

James Hays is putting in two days a week at his Coleman medical office, and the rest of the time he's working on his old planes and guns. He sounds glad to have one of his sons now practicing radiology in Brownwood.

Did any of you play the "If" game with me? "If you had the ability to change three things in this world, what would you change?" I'll share my answers with you:

1) End all wars forever. 2) End poverty, and, therefore, all hunger in the world. 3) Stop global warming now!

Ahhh...if only we could accomplish even one of the above. What a difference it would make in the world for our children and grandchildren.

Does anyone recognize this spot?

Until next time, remember, Good Stuff Happens!
Marilyn

COURTYARD MEMORY

I wish I had asked someone knowledgeable about the history of Ballinger -- like Jerry Eoff -- when this pretty little courtyard with fountain and gazebo, across the street from the courthouse, was built. He did give me some information about the old advertising sign painted on the adjacent Petroleum Building, which now houses Home Healthcare services. His mother was a staunch advocate of many of the historic buildings around town, including the Carnegie Library and the old German Church located on the corner of 6th and Strong Avenue. It seems that Mrs. Eoff is responsible for saving this wonderful example of early American advertising as well. I remember when farmers made money by allowing such advertisements to be painted on their barns. By the way, you may not be able to tell, but this is for a brand of tobacco.

Jerry also gave me a lot of interesting information about pro and semi-pro baseball teams in Ballinger at one time. Sort of a followup on something brought up by Jim Cowlishaw recently. I will post that in a future issue of the blog. I am running late to head for the airport in San Angelo to catch a flight to Dallas for the weekend.

Rumor has it that Bob and Ann Burton, Ter Cothran, and girlfriend are headed for a cruise to Mexico this weekend. Ann: take some photos for me for the blog!

Ah, yes.... Good stuff happens!

Marilyn