IT SEEMS TO ME . . . (The Editor's Commentary)
sometimes, that being politically set in one's ways is not a good thing...mostly because hardly anything comes out the way you hope that it will. Fr'instance, the 'terminator-ship' of the state of Cully-foornya. Can any one of you in other states (except Minnesota) just imagine the embarrassment of the choice? Surely, the whole country is laughing its head off. And it's not just THAT...there's a war that's supposed to be over, and our American soldiers are still being killed every day...there's the administration in Washington (you know who) asking for more and more billions of dollars from other countries (and our own bunch, too) to clean up a mess that WE made against the better judgement of most of the rest of the world. And Halliburton is charging half again as much for oil than local Iraq ($1.59 against 99c), and you know how Halliburton got that contract (without competition)...the VP's old company connection...and on and on. SO, I give up. I have cried and yelled and thrown shoes at the TV...I've written the newspapers and sworn to move to Canada...but, here I am just writing this, which IS a good thing. Read on and comment please!     PEACE     PHL

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The plea for news was sent as usual over the email route, and to a few by snail postcard. A 'wing and a prayer' from your editor...and always a few - mostly the same Grads- do answer. It would be a JOY to hear from the rest of you, but we'll take anything! Thank you each one for logging in...and to the other 85...GET OFF THE DIME, and write to us!!

DAVE AND ANNE (Wallerius) HOY sent in a great sailing story; TOM JENSEN , a story from his local newspaper about HIM; AL and Sally BIRKELBACH sent news of Al's "hip" recovery; OSTERLINGS have a new address and roots; JOHN GLATHE checked in with travel news and pictures of a visit with the CALKINS , LOVES and OSTERLINGS ; we heard from DURYEA, TONY ERGOFF's daughter Monica; MAX GRIMSHAW; DARYL JAMES and President Ford; ED KETT; BETTY LOU (Staley) CARLIN, and MARGE (Holtorf) COSGROVE...newly found pals: JACK FORBES from Puerto Rico; and DON HARMON, MD.

How many is that?? Well, not enough, but we are thrilled for that much!! We have some good pictures, a new "What Are You Reading?" column, and, worst news...a new Angel...no word from Bob Pollock though, so we're asking again: BOB...let us hear from you!!!

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One of the things Ben and I have done since last we spoke, is take a trip to Minneapolis to see some of his Norsky cousins, and have a reunion of sorts...Ben hadn't been there since he was a child, and it was much fun . While there, I called Betty Lou (Staley) Carlin, and asked if we might take her to lunch and get some news and a picture and find out how things are going..."Sure", she said, after being assured that we DID have time to see her, and really wanted to do so. What a lovely lady she is! About as big as a minute, and straight as an arrow! Betty lost her husband , Paige, a year ago, and is finding it a lot different to be on her own. She lives in a fabulous Co-op building, however, and has many friends and a couple of cute "Grands" to occupy her time. Betty's computer was on the fritz but her new one is up and working, and she sent me this when we got home: (look her up and say Hello!)

    "Hi...I have my new slim monitor hooked up and my new computer. I'm really enjoying this one.

    I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your stopping here. I thought you folks had too much to do to take the time. I enjoyed lunch and our visit very much. Hope your trip home wasn't too stressful on Sept. 11.

    Our family all went to Boulder, Colo. for a wedding last week . One of Paige's nieces was married. We had a great time. The weather was beautiful, and the wedding was outdoors. Much fun. However, on the return trip we were almost to Mpls. when the pilot said we were going to Omaha. It seems the airport told him to circle for 30 minutes, and we didn't have enough fuel...so back we went to Omaha. Fortunately, they fueled us up right away, and we were only about 2 hours late. It could have been much worse.

    Take care and have fun.

    Love, Betty Carlin"

    		                 

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Some notes from Classmates

John Glathe:

"Hi Pat,
I received your plaintive call for some news (ed. note: see what I mean??) I am enclosing some images I took in May when Osterlings, Loves, Carol and I went to Sacramento to see the Calkins'. It was a big kick, and we had a great time seeing Dick and one another.

Carol and I spent all of June and some of July in Scandinavia - from Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Wonderful people and beautiful scenery, especially in Norway - but the weather leaves a little to be desired and it's certainly not a gourmet heaven (how many kinds of herring can a person eat?)

Since the trip, we have been seeing kids and grandkids and plotting our next trip (to?). We are also trying to learn more about birding and will continue our courses in bird watching this fall between football tailgating and basketball. Thanks for keeping after all of us, your efforts for the old alma mater are greatly appreciated."
(What a guy!!! Thanks, John)

Al Birkelbach:

"We are still vertical and warm. Not much exciting to report from this sector. Most of the summer was spent recovering from my third hip surgery. I am now mobile after going through the wheel-chair, walker and cane routines. Sally is very happy that I can resume my household chores.

We will be leaving next week (2nd week of Sept, I think. ed.) on a three week excursion to Chicago land and the east coast to visit two of our offspring, kinfolk, and friends. The only constructive thing that I am doing is putting together a family history using the Family Tree Maker Program. It is amazing the amount of very interesting info that is available.

Hope all is well at your house. Warmest wishes.
AL"

Al included the following with his report:

    Prayer of an unknown Nun of the 17th Century

    Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old.

    Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from having to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but, you know, Lord, I want a few friends in the end.

    Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of other's pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

    I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with, but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.

    Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, Lord, the grace to tell them so.     AMEN

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Ed note: A wake-up call for ME. How easy to think you have all the answers! One of the things no one tells you about aging is that it's such a nice change from being young. Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable! (With any luck!)

The Hoys

Anne and Dave sent us a story about sailing. It's quite an epic, and it deserves a web page of its own. Click here to read all about it!

Don Harmon

Even I (the Ed.) remember him...not really by name, but I looked him up in the yearbook pages that Gunther gave me at the 50th... (since I left GB in 1942, I don't have that Pinnacle). It says he transferred from Washington, DC in Sept. 1941...he was "found" last spring by Phil - maybe on the web somehow. Anyway, we challenged him to get in touch with us, AND HE DID! He wrote to me in July: Good Fellow!

    "Dear Pat,
    I really enjoyed the Spring Newsletter, and having been "found", here's the story, as requested.

    I was inducted into the Navy V-5 program in June 1944, and spent 2 years at Arkansas A & M and the U. of Louisville, and was released to US Naval Reserve status. After receiving A.B. and M.S. degrees in biology and serving as an instructor in biology at the U. of Louisville, I attended medical school there, completed an internship and surgical residency, as well. In 1963 I was admitted to the American College of Surgeons. From 1959 -1968, I had a private practice and was an Instructor at U. of L. School of Medicine. Then, during the Pueblo crisis in '68, was recalled to active duty with the US Air Force, and assigned as Chief of Surgery at Langley AF Base, Va."

    Don was then sent to Thailand, awarded the Legion of Merit and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Then to Bitburg, Germany for another Air Medal. Until 1977 when he returned to the US and served until retirement in 1990, after a total of 24 years of active duty and 18 of reserve duty. (Ed. note: WOW!) Don married in 1950 and had 4 kids and 5 'grands. He lost his first wife, Martha, and married a medical school classmate, Donne DeMunbrun Harmon, M.D. who was also widowed (sound familiar, Loves?)

    "We are as of this writing enjoying traveling, yard work, boating at our lake home and many assorted animals. Would be delighted to hear from any and all of you.

    Sincerely,
    Don
    Col. Don L. Harmon, M.D. USAFMC Ret."
    e-mail: d2d.harmon@att.net

EVER WONDER...
why doctors call what they do "practice"??
why the man who invests all your money is called a "broker"??
why Noah didn't swat those two mosquitoes ??
if 'con' is the opposite of 'pro', is Congress the opposite of progress??
why they call the airport "the terminal" if flying is so safe??
why you have to click "start" to stop Windows 98??
Okay! Keep going, it gets better, honest...

(Webmaster's note: In order to reduce the time you have to wait to see a page the Newsletter is divided into a number of pages.)

Fall 2003 Newsletter, Part 2

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