Memories are made of this!

The current installment of our Class Blog is posted on the home page – and we hope you are anxiously awaiting your turn to chime in! On this page, we’ll be posting the previous blog entries – all those memories, experiences, and bits of wisdom that we’ve been collecting for the past 50+ years.

And. . .

When it’s your turn, dear classmates, just click on the “Post Announcement” button in the left column of our class website, paste your contribution in the little window, and Marge or Ann will help you get it up on the class website.  After you have made your entry, you should 1) make a Moose-on-the-Loose entry at the end of the profile of the person to whom you are sending the Moose (so she or he will get a direct email about it), and 2) add your name to the list below so the Moose will make the rounds.

The Wandering Moose. . . from Tom Higel 

Sorry to disappoint you folks, this isn’t Frank Newton. Seems like the ‘ol  moose was sent wandering in his direction by Larry Cox, but Frank re-directed him to me (can’t remember if the reason was Frank couldn’t make bail or if he is inordinately busy in producing two Christmas concerts – suspect it’s the latter, but his time ran out on the one phone call he was allowed). So, instead of Frank, it’s me, Tom Higel. And as I’m sure Frank would do if he wasn’t so tied-up, I wish you all the best for the upcoming Holidays! Oops – one of the upcoming holidays has already passed, so much for Turkey Day. Taking a friend to the emergency room kind of messed it up and delayed this blog, but to continue --  

I usually like to start at the beginning, but that is too late now (see above paragraph). Not sure if I should reminisce about A.H.S. days since memories could incriminate otherwise unsuspecting and presumably innocent people, or if I should tell tales about my life since then. I must, however, correct Larry’s otherwise enjoyable account – I did not dig up a skeleton in the Dry Lakes, that was semi-accomplished by a pot-hunting uncle, now himself a skeleton. The true account is that Dave Dawson & I pooled our meager resources and bought it from said uncle in hopes of turning it into some ill-defined science project. Little did we foresee the curse it put on our future: Dave went on to teach anatomy & I ended up digging and teaching archaeology.  I’m not sure where it is now, possibly residing in some closet with other skeletons from my past. I also need to adjust Larry’s memory on another matter – I don’t think we took it to Mesa Verde to show the ‘authorities’ there however noble that might have been;  I think we took it as a lure to intrigue young ladies who may have been visiting the park at that time.  I (and we then ‘parkers’) subsequently learned young ladies could care less about skeletons.
 
I presently abide, with my wife Sandra, in Colorado Springs. I do nothing, she’s still working. We did have an enjoyable dinner with Charles Knoop in Espanola in September who graciously was able to visit despite his wife being in the hospital. We were on our way to visit Chaco Canyon which Sandra had never seen. We then went on to Mesa Verde to which I had been before (again see above) and where, incidentally, we both worked  early in our married life and, incidentally, which marriage anniversary I forgot this year (major incident that).
 
More recently, I spent an enjoyable and though-provoking evening listening to Terry Marshall and Chuck Asay discussing their interaction re Terry’s book Soda Springs and Chuck’s illustrations therein. You’re right, Chuck – your first sketches are pure art.  Terry makes one think – ouch! Enjoyed chatting with Ann too, but sorry Marge couldn’t attend.
 
Lastly, I didn’t have an epiphany on the road to Damascus, but some years ago we were served a lunch on the bus to there from Amman. Imagine stewardesses on a bus, but that’s another story.  And, speaking of lunch, the moose has found slim pickings here thanks to our yard’s resident deer and rabbits, so he’s wandering on.

From Larry Cox…

Olivia's phone call couldn't have come at a more opportune time for this endeavor as I had just gotten my laptop back up and running after having suffered the proverbial "crash" this summer while traveling.

Knowing I'll have only this one time to blurt out everything I ever wanted to say I am tempted, like Olivia, to go on and on and Z..z...z....z OK, I get it!

About Dave Dawson...

It's always shocking to lose someone with whom you have a close personal relationship. I had not visited with Dave Dawson since high school but I'm sure his character did not change over the years and I remember him being a real character. I think I was sitting across from him at a penny-anti poker game in 1960 sipping 3.2% beer the last time I was in his company. Gary Dabney, Wayne Jarrell, Frank Newton and Don Crawford were also there as I recall.

Some of us won't see the next reunion so if it's important to you to share a word or two with someone this is a real good time. And, if you're still not sure who God is and/or who you are in His eyes, this would be a good time to take a fresh look at that, too. Procrastination is a terrible disease. I know first hand. I'm going to run for president of the club one of these first days...! Fortunately for me I have a sweet wife who helps me remember to go to my therapy sessions.

Arriving in Alamosa – 1957

Many of you were already friends when I arrived on the scene in Alamosa in the fall of 1957 (yes, that was the middle of the last century) but you opened your arms and welcomed me. I think Chuck Drabek was also a 1957 arrival. I had lived in Oregon where we garnered six credits toward graduation as freshman and many of you told me you had only earned four as a freshman...tsk..tsk..!

I believe I graduated 54 in a class of 108 so those of you above and below should be thankful I was able to help keep the bell curve together. I say that to say I skated a bit (I know you're shocked) and my senior year I left school at noon to go to my job. Does anyone remember the soda fountain at the Rexall Drug Store? Yes, recall I was the soda jerk, stock boy and part time pill counter when the pharmacy was busy. Later the Tip Top Drive In was my afternoon & evening home plus weekends.

Senior Sneak Day

Helen Heck (owner of the Tip Top and later to become my first mother-in-law) catered our Senior Sneak Day down on. . . I believe it was the Conejos River. How many of you avoided a dunk in that very cold water? Mrs. Heck enlisted my mother to accompany her and help with the food much to my chagrin. It was bad enough to have my boss along but my mother, too!

The Poker Club Gang

Graduation trips are very sophisticated these days. Not so in my 1960. Gary Dabney borrowed his parents’ brand new Desoto and the poker club gang were off to Mesa Verde. What a rag-tag bunch. We had sleeping bags but no tent and as best as I can recall no food. Tom Higel had dug up a set of fossilized human bones over in the Dry Lakes area and brought them along knowing the folks at Mesa Verde would be thrilled...NOT! Did you ever get them back, Tom? Frank Newton and I were hiking off the beaten trail when I severly sprained an ankle. Thanks again, Frank, for literally dragging me the 100 feet or so back up a very steep canyon. And, speaking of Dry Lakes, how many of you remember hunting arrowheads out there? I never had an eye for them but many did and the hunt was always fruitful.
 
Off in a Cloud of Dust. . . .

Journalism was perfect for me -- I enjoyed English (Mrs. Davidson was an angel to have put up with me); and, I liked to write (still do, just ask my senators and congressman). Far above those two items I loved going downtown to "sell" advertising in the school newspaper. Do any of you remember that old, dusty, dirty black Plymouth that Mrs. Nuoci drove? Was that out of the 1930's? The column shift lever was broken off making it almost impossible to shift. Clouds of dust puffed up from the cloth upholstery. Speed was never an issue but oh the freedom...!

Life-Long Skills

I digress...I had the freedom to leave the campus and return on my own schedule, which responsibility I took very seriously. Little did I realize that as business manager of The Alamosan I was beginning to hone skills that would carry me through an entire career in insurance. Cold calling, in person, was one of my favorite things to do as I sold business and personal insurance those 41 years. I did one thing better than any business manager predecessor and that was I contracted the merchants for multiple issues (the entire year if I could get their agreement) so I didn't have to go over old ground too often.

Margie, your dad was always one of the best supporters of all things "Alamosa". He did purchase real advertising in The Alamosan, he did loan furniture for the junior class play and he became an insurance client of mine years later when I landed back in town.

By the way, Mrs. Rickey never did let me drive her 1958 Pontiac. That probably was a good decision on her part!

The Junior Class Play

Speaking of the Junior class play, does anyone recall we raised more money for the Prom than had any previous Junior class? It was fun and Miss Mathis did a great job. We also learned how to make stage flats.

The Alamosan

I remember pulling more than one overnighter at the printer who printed The Alamosan. I'm not sure whose fault that was but surely not mine. Only a true, old newspaperman would remember the old molten lead linotype machines. Ted (the printer, last name ?) would never let me touch it but I watched it function under his command and am still amazed.  Olivia, Ann and I fussed over and discussed the headlines that should top each story. I was not aware that easily being able to read an article upsidedown and backwards, as you had to do to decide on the headline was only one of the many symptoms of my ADD which didn't even have a name yet.

The Great Pick-Up Heist

I generally got off work at the Tip-Top around 10:30 p.m. This particular evening when I walked around back of the building my old '40 Ford pickup was missing. I suspected a trick of some sort so just walked the mile or so south along the La Jara highway to our home. My folks were still up (unusual) and asked me how I got home since they didn't hear the pickup drive up? I told them I had walked because I thought someone was pulling a practical joke on me and had hidden my pickup.

About that time an Alamosa City Police car pulled up in our drive. It didn't occur to me that I was not inside the City and so why would they be at our home. I went out and was asked if I was missing a pickup? Well, this got me really excited and I said I was and did he know where it was? He said it was reported to have been involved in a hit-and-run accident. Now I was really getting excited. He told me to get in and we would drive around to see if we could find it in town. We drove around for about an hour before he dropped me back at the Tip-Top where lo and behold there sat my pickup. We examined it all over to see if there was any new damage (there were plenty of old dings and dents but nothing new).

Ray and Helen Heck, owners of the Tip-Top could not hold back the laughter any longer and the jig was up. I can't remember who else was there but Gary Dabney, Wayne Jarrell, Don Crawford and Frank Newton may have also been involved. It wasn't April Fool's Day but they definitely had me going for several hours. I later found out my folks were in on it as well as the State Highway Patrol dispatcher who dispatched for both the state and city police. I almost turned tables on them when I walked home ignoring their prank but they decided they could liven things up if a city policeman came to my home to get me re-involved. It worked. I was so shocked at how many people were in on the prank!

The Ace Inn

What about the Ace Inn Restaurant at the east end turn-around of Main Street? I had a summer job for my girlfriend's parents who owned Bill Clark Truckline and their warehouse was across the alley from the Ace. One day I ordered coffee and a piece of pie. Viola Nestor, co-owner with her husband, George was serving me. She cut a fresh pie into six slices, put my piece on a plate and sat it down in front of me at the counter. I made a snide remark about how small the piece of pie was whereupon she bellered in her huge, outside voice, "Mister, this place is for sale and after you buy it you can cut your pie in whatever size you want." I am sure there are a million other Ace Inn stories out there...?

Free Coffee Mondays

Does anyone remember "Free Coffee Monday's" at the Rexall Drug Store? Coffee was a nickle every other day of the week but the long-time tradition was free coffee every Monday. We had people stacked up three deep at the counter waiting their turn. Donuts were a nickle, too, but some would bring their own cookie or pastry from home. I remember there were very few high school students that came into the drug store as that was not the cool place to be. We mostly catered to people who worked in the stores up and down Main Street.

Nazarro's Restaurant was the very first restaurant in which I ate unaccompanied by my parents. As all will recall, eating out was more of a treat in those days and especially so for those of us with more limited funds.

Splashland

Splashland was one of my haunts for a year or so. I took Water Safety Instructor classes and worked as a life guard. I shudder now to think of the responsibility I assumed. God was gracious, however, and I didn't have any trouble while on duty. There are a gob of other stories of people who lost their bathing suits or had them stolen or...your imagination can be your guide. The entire pool was cleaned weekly durng the summer swim season with a six-inch brush and some very strong chemical which would eat your skin right off your hands. I made a buck an hour so I was a happy camper!

The Model U.N.

Hey, Terry, were we sophomores or juniors when we attended the Model United Nations in Boulder? Now, there's a memory I haven't recalled in ages. It was pretty much a blur except for the fire hose/fire extinguisher fight in the dorm that one night. I thought sure the whole bunch of us would be marched off to prison. I can't imagine how much damage was done but the water was running down the stairs to the floors below. I can honestly say I never had my hands on either a hose or an extinguisher but that was only because I didn't get there first. Talk about mob mentality!

There's a Playbook??

Before I go on I need to step backwards and share something that may not be news to anyone else who was on the 1957 football team. I turned out a little late but was welcomed and posted on the roster at, I believe 180 pounds. My memory is a little fuzzy but I don't think I ever weighed that much as a sophomore. The really funny thing was I never got a playbook. I didn't even know one existed. I have often wondered if Coach Vigil even knew. I was so shocked when one of the backs would run right up my backside (cleets and all). I think that Pruitt (first name ?) fellow weighed 300 pounds when he hit the spot where I was supposed to have made a hole! I played at least one play every game that year and none the first half of the season the next year so I quit and got an after school job.

The Teen Canteen

And, then there was the Teen Canteen. I can't recall who else was on the board. Those were scary days. Were any of you guys part of the gang fighting for which we had to hire off duty police to help prevent? I remember Bill Burrows taking a lickin' one night. That taught me to never accept the invitation to "step outside"! I probably faced one or more of you down with the 1940 Ford pickup I drove. Its faded black paint was mostly missing allowing the various shades of primer to show through. Its most prominent feature was the heavy-duty iron front bumper it sported. I remember well a couple of games of "chicken". I wasn't the least worried about damaging it and the egging I suffered one night served only to strip away more of the black paint. In spite of it all I believe the Teen Canteen provided a positive influence for kids looking for a place to dance and hang out.

Anchors Aweigh!

College didn't seem to be in the cards for me. I ordered the catalogs and planned and plotted but money was always an issue in my home and I frankly was saved a lot of grief as I could never have kept up. So, in March of 1960 at the ripe old age of 17 I enlisted in the Navy with a deferred departure date in late September. I kept it a secret from my friends and family. My mother was 90 when I learned how hurt she was by my not telling her and she still hadn't forgiven me. Now, that's a grudge! If any of you have similar feelings, get over it!

Many of you will be shocked to know that I had great difficulty reading; something I taught myself to overcome while in the US Navy. Did I mention 54 out of 108? You'll probably recall we were "college bound" regardless of our aptitudes (was a shop curiculum even an option?). Remember Sputnick put a burr under every saddle for math and science? Nod your head if you agree you'll take every math and science class available!

The Navy thought I should be in communications. Fancy that! There were two reasons: 1) I already knew how to type; 2) I already knew the Morse code. I loved it because we always knew what was going on before even the commanding officer whose office was generally just a couple of doors down the hall. I had a mind like a steel trap -- snap! Today the spring is a little weak so stuff doesn't stay in like it used to but I credit the Navy for showing me I could succeed.

The Navy was very good for me. I rose in the ranks to E-6 in just under five years and it placed me in a position of responsibility which I took very seriously. In spite of my pleading, I never served on board a ship. Go figure! I was stuck in a time warp on Whidby Island, Washington and bored out of my skull so I volunteered for the Antarctic Program. Swish! I was gone in two weeks. I figure I failed all of the psycological testing so that was why they sent me to live for a year with twenty-one other Navy and civilian personnel at the Geographic South Pole. How many people do you know who have done that? Fewer than 100 people had done that before the crew of which I was a part. Yes, it was cold (still is for all you global warmers) and it was 1963 primitive. The elevation is over 9,000 feet and it's all ice and snow all the way to below sea level at the bottom.

My reward for that service was two years in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Cool and primitive! What was I thinking when I asked for that? All of my Navy time was an adventure I would not change for anything. While I was in the service during the Viet Nam war and while I did volunteer for it, I was not called to go there. I am eternally grateful for those who did and especially for those who paid the ultimate price. I still get teary-eyed when I see the Viet Nam War Memorial and think my name could just have easily been on it.

Adams State

Adams State College was my home of choice for two years after my Navy service. Money was so short in supply that I rarely bought books but rather borrowed them from my professors who loaned them with an understanding nod. Even with the GI Bill financial help and a $1.25 an hour job I was only less rapidly sinking into a financial hole which would only make my life more difficult. So, God, in His infinite wisdom pointed me to a Help Wanted ad in the Courier newspaper that was two weeks old when I read it. I found out much later the position had already been filled but I was such a "salesman" the owner of the San Luis Valley Insurance Agency at the time un-hired that poor fellow and hired me. I'm not sure just how he pulled that off but I am still grateful.

About Gary and Sharlene...

I moved away from Alamosa in 1973. My best friend, Gary Dabney, had moved away earlier. On Gary & Sharlene, I thought about going out to the drive in theater double dating -- the two of them and my girl friend, Judy Nielsen...in the winter...was there a movie on the screen? If we were lucky we could get two of those heaters. If not we had to create our own heat.   Gary & Sharlene were constant companions right on through college graduation and subsequent migration to Juneau, Alaska, where they had a romantic notion that everything would be perfect. Sadly it was their un-doing.

I had a great visit with them in their Juneau home where we spent several days with our heads down in the engine compartment of their 30 foot cabin cruiser making repairs so we could spend three days out on the water. Yikes, would I do that today? Not likely. The repairs did not hold up and we wound up limping back into port. We did fish the Juneau Salmon Derby for two days. Gary caught one very small one which we hid away so the game warden would not see it. I believe they had to be 30 inches to be legal. We ate part of it and I brought part of it home on dry ice.

Gary had a connection with the Trinchera Ranch to drive tractor dragging the meadows up in the NE valley. The job required going up Friday evening so you could get up at the crack of dawn for a "ranch-hand" breakfast and off to work. Lunch and dinner were also provided and a place to sleep in the bunkhouse (rodents included). It paid $15 for the two days plus meals -- Wow! I believe Frank Newton and possibly Don Crawford may have gotten in on that a time or two? What were we dragging? Well, they ran cattle and if you broke up the manure and spread it around on the meadow they said the grass grew better. I'm sure they were right!

Ski Hi Stampede

What about the Ski Hi Stampede in Monte Vista. I was a "once you've seen one rodeo, you've seen them all" kind of guy but give me the carnival. Picnicing by the lake near the Soldiers & Sailors Home, winning the Teddy Bears, eating the food. 

Hey, Barry, do you remember knocking your front teeth out on your steering wheel when you rear-ended -- was that a bus? Or, what? 

Next Moose-on-the-Loose Revealed!

While I have always enjoyed the "people" that made Alamosa, the "place" never drew me back. The 30th reunion has been my only return trip. Yes, Olivia, enjoying English and journalism has become a curse of sorts these years as our culture has changed and much of what we were taught was crude has become common place and accepted today. Of one thing I am certain. God is still on the throne and prayer changes things! God's grace has been sufficient all the way through and I am especially blessed in my marriage, four children between us, and eleven grandchildren. Life is good. Emmanuel!  

Frank Newton, the Loose Moose is now all yours. I can hardly wait to read it.

From Olivia:

Hi, All,

Ann "tossed" the Moose to me to write the next blog . . . reminds me of the old round robin letters I used to participate in when I was in junior high or high school. That's a memory! Anyway, I wanted to find someone that would continue passing on the Moose on the Loose and finally settled on someone (you will find out who at the end) who was part of the journalistic team that Ann and I were on. . . if you don't recall, Ann and I were editor-in chief and assistant editor respectively of the Alamosan, and the person I am sending the moose to was the business manager. If you have your senior annual, you can see us pictured together at the top of the page. Also, we were all three in Quill and Scroll, and you can find a picture of me on that next page threatening to stab that guy as he was pulling up my dress. Aha! now you should be curious enough to run to your annual to see who it is! Also, Ann, at the bottom of the Alamosan page it says, "Ann Garretson, editor, won a trip to Detroit by writing an essay on why she wants to be a newpaperwoman." I am curious . . .did you ever go to Detroit? I learned a lot in journalism, and it was one of the things that stayed with me for a long time and sometimes even comes up to haunt me now when I get too wordy in my writing (as in this blog) or too critical of some of the bad journalism I see . . . Ann, _____, and others in our journalism class from back then will know what I mean.

Dave Dawson

I guess by now most classmates will know about David Dawson's passing and be about as shocked as I was. For those of you who saw him at the 50th reunion, you must be most shocked. I was fortunate to have David and Alice visit my husband and me after the reunion, as they were traveling to Iowa to see one of their daughters and family. My husband wanted me to promise that after he died I would go to see David in Scotland; he (Eldon) told David that he was to keep reminding me, which David did do. My plans were to get there sometime. Don Crawford also came this way after the reunion after David, and he showed me a book he had put together of David and Alice's beautiful gardens after he had visitedthem. There are some pictures of their beautiful yard on David's facebook, which his children are keeping going. For those of you who are on Facebook, you must read the amazing eulogies and words expressed by David's students and colleagues. He was quite revered. Sept. 16 was David's birthday, and I had sent him a "gift" - the very inspirational feature story written about my husband and his strength in the face of adversity. Below I am sharing with all of you what David wrote in response to my birthday greeting to him. You may rest assured that he had great faith and was valient in the face of his adversity.

From David to me:

Thank you so much for the birthday present. I so regret that we were unable to really get to know Eldon - he certainly was a giant among men. I think, in many ways, we are kindred spirits. I suspect that what was very important to him, if not the most important thing, was to help others realize their full potential, in whichever way that led. Too, it is obvious that he had a strong faith in God, which is important to me as well. As well, he saw God's work in nature; even yesterday I had to thank God for giving us the opportunity to live in Scotland, such a far distance from the middle of the US. And, the most rewarding aspect of his life was to have
been lucky enough to be married to you and to then be a role model for his children; I feel the same about Alice and my offspring.

Right now, it is just a waiting game for us, as the chemo would be ineffective. We try to spend quality time together, as well as me trying to teach Alice all the little tricks and etc. about computers, lawn care, bank access, and on and on, that will make her life easier. In the days ahead, I have the easy role, for I know that death is inevitable and my faith gives me peace. I just pray that Alice will not have too many problems.

Again, thanks for the present.

Regards, Dave

 

Kathy Katsumoto Gilliland is in Europe now . . . she was to visit David, and we had a hard time catching up with her with the news of David's death, but finally got through to her. I am wondering if she won't still go to Scotland to see Alice before she comes home?

 

Contemplating Life
 

I guess all of this . . . Eldon's and David's deaths . . . has me really contemplating life at age 69, almost 70. I heard the other day that the present life expectancy for women was 86 and less than that for men. Yikes, that means that I only have around 16 more years to anticipate. Further, if the longevity that exists in my family holds me longer, I think about my dad lasting until 98, but even that is just 28 more years. How did the time pass so fast?? This is an interesting time of life, don't you think? I feel that I value life even more now and see so much wonderment in the years we have left. So much to see and so much to do, and the life span is shortening. Even after a full year of grieving and missing my life's partner, I find myself valuing deeper and more real relationships, especially with friends from the past (that includes all of you!). I so enjoyed the mini reunion and getting caught up on the lives of those of you that were there. That was fun! And to add to that, Kathy and I stopped in several towns along the way to visit those (like Sharla and Veronica_). . . to spend time with them because they were unable to be at the reunion gathering. We talked and laughed, and, yes, gossiped! An epiphany I had one morning as I sat looking at the mountains in South Fork was that even though I will still call Colorado "home," Kansas is really my home now, as I have spent 40 years here as opposed to 29 years there. And I had thought I might want to move back to Colorado!

Memories of Band, etc.

 

As Kathy and Sharla were talking when we stopped in Canon City to visit her (Sharla), I realized that i didn't know a lot of what went on in high school . . . I commented that I must have really missed a lot! Sharla reminded me of why that might have been true, but then I looked at the long list of activities in the annual that I was involved with and figured maybe I had been too busy being busy. Who knows? I guess I remember band the most, as we did lots of things going here and there to away games, contests, woodwind choir, being goofy, and playing for the state Music Educators Convention. What an experience there, as my clarinet broke right before we were to perform, they rustled up a strange one for me, and as first chair clarinetist I had solo parts in the piece we were playing. What a disaster! Being unnerved and with a new instrument, I remember squeaking along here and there with my solo parts. . . in front of all those music educators! Egads! Bad memory.

Mrs. Davison

I find so many of you remembering Mrs. Davison as one of your favorite teachers. I, too, think of her that way. I was ever so thankful that she was so tough on us about writing a term paper. She made my life easy in college because she had been so demanding. So, I thank her for a good preparation. Besides, I always thought of her as being so gracious. I did go on and get a double major in college . . . English and Elementary Education. I give her credit for the English part of me.

Life After High School

My memories in life after high school are good memories for the most part. I enjoyed my college life immensely . . . especially since that is where I met my husband. I remember coming home my freshman year and showing my family and Alamosa friends a picture of Eldon in the annual and saying how good looking I thought he was! We oohed and ahed over him! I remember Sharla telling me at an early-on reunion that she really thought he was good looking and that I was lucky to have married him. I was sure she told me that she thought he looked like Burt Reynolds, but she told me that it was some other actor that shethought he looked like. (Can't remember who she said.) But anyway, she gave me her "blessing!" My teaching years were wonderful, beginning with my years in Jefferson County Schools in Colorado, living in Golden, getting to teach in one of the first open space schools, earning my masters in reading at the U. of Northern Colorado. When I left KS after college to teach in Colorado, I told my husband not to ever bring me back to this flat country ( he always laughed about this after seeing the San Luis Valley!). But I came back here when he got the urge to come back to the family farm and the beautiful sunsets. It was a culture shock after having lived in the big city! Everyone knows your business! But living out on the farm helps escape the small town mentality and gossip! And I finally adapted and now love it here. Besides, we live in the beautiful, rolling hill part of KS.  

Terry Jones, Diane Monahan
 

Terry Jones was through Kansas yesterday and called. We talked on the phone for quite a while reminiscing and catching up on what all we have done in life. I met his present partner at the mini reunion and very much enjoyed talking to her and getting to know her. Talked with Diane Monahan the other day, the day after the first anniversary of her husband's death. She had not been well, but was doing better now. We have shared lots of talks, as losing a husband brought us both into a close relationship of talking about our similar feelings and experiences. It has been good to talk with someone who understands everything you say when it comes to grief and its "rolling" appearance from time to time. I have felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to re-connect with many of you again. It has been a truly happy experience in the "afternoon of life."

Food for Thought
 

I will leave you with this food for thought: I read recently that "the afternoon of life" is a time that we are now in that brings us to different theories on aging. Activity theory describes healthy aging as staying busy and looking young, while disengagement theory sees the elderly letting go of social roles and appearances, seeking inner peace and embracing "being" rather than "doing. There were others. But I really latched on to the latter theory, as I have enjoyed "being" rather than "doing." However, I also don't much find myself thinking of being "elderly." My dad always said he didn't want to go to the Senior Citizen center because he wasn't old! And that was when he was in his 90's! It's all a state of mind, isn't it? With that I stop. My journalism buddies will know that I am not in journalistic style here, but in English major style! My mouth and brain runneth over!

The Moose on the Loose is ready to depart now. I fling it on to my journalism buddy, Larry Cox. God bless you, Larry. Aren't you glad I didn't stab you? What were you thinking? We certainly goofed off a lot, didn't we?

The Moose is on the loose!
Olivia Medina Moore

 

From Ann:

Greetings, classmates:

Here it is October of the 51^st year after our senior year in high school, and I am still wrapping my mind around the stunning news of Dave Dawson. We saw him such a short time ago, hale and hardy. It made me ask myself, Have I done those several things in my life I’ve meant to for so long? And have I shared the important things with my spouse, my kids, my friends – all the things I want them to know? Have you wondered the same things?

After all this time since high school, I have really enjoyed reconnecting with a number of you over the past year and a half, comfortable in our shared history. And then Dave’s news made me wish I had spent more time swapping stories with him.

Terry and I were chatting with Chuck and Marge Asay recently about ideas for sharing news, and we decided we would encourage you, our fellow classmates, to share more of your best memories and current activities with the rest of us. As I thought about it, an idea popped into my head: let’s try a shared class blog!

I’m temporarily calling it the “Memories Are Made of This” blog and encouraging each of you to contribute, whether it’s favorite old memories, or brand new ones in the making…like:

• Reports of get-togethers among classmates, such as the gathering at Judy and Roy Carson’s this summer.
• Words. Pictures. Videos. Jokes. Lies.
• The dirty rotten truth you were afraid to admit to in high school.
• Experiences so special you felt you were on the “front row” – of history, of the environment, art, science, culture.
• Your choice! Memories stored from long ago, and the new ones we make every day.

Thus, the name, “Memories Are Made of This.”

 So to kick it off, I want to shout out a couple items of good news that our two families (the Asays and the Marshalls) shared recently. (Post horns, please.) First, Moosie’s own Charles P. Ivan Asay won the Global eBook Awards contest for Best Illustrations for his artwork in Terry’s novel, Soda Springs: Love, Sex, and Civil Rights. In addition, Soda Springs was a finalist in two categories of the contest, the Adult Multicultural Literature Contest, and the Teen Literature Contest.

  

Second – and even more good news: Chuck and Terry are going to speak to the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum November 8, on the Colorado College campus. The title of the talk is, “When Cultures Collide: How Fiction Can Rescue Us from Our National Paralysis.” The gathering will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 5:00 pm, with the talk to follow from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. If you or your family or friends are anywhere near the front range on November 8, please, please come on over and join us. It's at the Gates Common Room, on the upper floor of Palmer Hall, 1025 N. Cascade Ave. (in the middle of the campus quad).

Third, Chuck strongly encouraged me to share some of my writing with you, as well – specifically, my newsletter about a nuclear and chemical waste cleanup just north of LA. (I can just feel the buzz of your excitement.) I must admit I’m a bit shy about this, but then I realized it could be just the ticket some of you might need to get over insomnia, so here goes, check out this link: http://www.etec.energy.gov/Cleanup/Cleanup-Status.html. The newsletter is called the CleanUpdate, and all the issues so far have links right in the middle of the link. OK, so it doesn’t have quite the same zing that “love, sex, and civil rights” have, but go ahead, try it! It works wonders. Z-z-z-z-z-z-z…

And now for the surprise ending. You may be wondering how we propose to keep this blog going. Well, let me introduce you to “Moose-on-the-Loose.” Here’s how it works: now that I am finished adding to our blog (yours and mine), I’m going to holler Moose-on-the-Loose!! And then I’m going to throw the “Moose” to my old journalism buddy, Olivia Medina Moore to do the next installment.

And when she is finished, she should holler the same and throw it to someone new. So now put on your thinking caps and decide what you are going to say when it is your turn, because I’m about to holler:

Moose-on-the-Loose!! Take it away, Olivia Medina!

≈Ann Marshall