Posted by Karla Lofgren Davis 
I am curious, whenever we get together at reunions, to know more about each person there. I know I could go up to each person and ask a few questions, but I really am quite shy by nature. Still, whenever I find someone who works in the field of education (as my husband and I do) I feel an instant affinity to that person. We immediately have something in common, something to talk about beyond the memories of days gone by. Perhaps you know those feelings – both the wanting to know and the pleasure of learning more about the “here and now lives” of each of our classmates. And some of our classmates have some truly fascinating things to share about themselves!
This would be a good place for you to give us a little information about your vocation(s) as well as your avocations. Heck, let’s throw in the topic of vacations while we are at it! Are you a traveler? Sportsman? Traveling sportsman? Comments, please! In what fields have you worked, what hobbies have you pursued, and what do you do in your “spare” time? What are you passionate about (please keep it clean!), what thrills you, what makes your heart sing? For example, I am into photography these days, chronicling the events of our families’ lives through creative scrapbook albums.
And now that we are on the topic of family... our lives revolve around our family at this point in time. It’s hard to believe that some of you are great-grandparents by now. We started late and our two sons have given us 3 grandsons who are now 1 year, 4 years, and 8 years old. No daughters or grand-daughters as yet, but we have wonderful daughters-in-law! Tell us about your family.
Some of you have probably retired – lucky ducks!!! So what are your plans now?
This is one of the earliest posts on the blog. So many comments had accumulated that it became cumbersome to find the latest comments. Therefore, on September 6, 2008, I decided to “archive” the earlier comments in this location. You can still read the post and comments. However, to read the most recent comments and add your own, please open the “Current Events” post in the main body of the blog.
COMMENTS
Posted by: darryl roberts | July 14, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Hi Milby friends, I started teaching music (Choir) 43 years ago, but some of those years, I worked as a piano tuner. I just retired and will now tune pianos full-time. I am a brand-new great-grandpa. My house just flooded and I am in a mess cleaning up and putting in new flooring. I had Pergo and it did poorly underwater. I still remember Seastrand. Not Mister Seastrand-that was too much a tongue twister so we lovingly called him Seastrand. He was my early mentor in music. I still play my saxophone in a church orchestra. In fact I am in charge of the orchestra. I am married to a lovely lady, named Sandy, who has a pretty voice and we often sing duets.
Posted by: John Hammerle | July 14, 2007 at 09:51 PM
Darryl, glad to hear that you are still playing that saxophone. You surely played well. Keep it up.
Posted by: Joseph (Jody) Yeo | July 15, 2007 at 09:24 PM
Hi all, This BLOG is a great idea! Here is some biographical information: After graduating from Milby, I attended U of H and received a BS in Electrical Engineering. I started working for NASA JSC while still in college and retired after 42 very enjoyable and memorable years. I am married to a wonderful lady named Anita (Cricket). We still live in Houston where we are both very active in church, working with children and youth. I am still a deacon after about 40 years. We are both in excellent health and enjoy being grandparents. We give God the praise for all His many blessings.
Posted by: Remember Melanie 7/30 to 8/2 | July 29, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Earlier in this blog (under Signing In) Melanie Winkler Morrison wrote: "All is well in my little world. OK, just one little thing. I "GET" to go back to MDA July 30th thru Aug 2nd for a multitude of tests. I go every 3 months but this is the end of the year biggie. But, being the optimist that I am I know all will be well, but please keep me in your prayers." We'll be anxious to hear the outcome, Melanie! Love and good wishes. My prayers are with you! Karla
Posted by: Carole Sue Walker Reed | July 31, 2007 at 01:09 PM
Melanie, I hope you receive this message. I definitely will be thinking of you and praying for you during this testing time. I have faced the big "C" 3 times since I was 27. God blessed me abundantly, and has allowed me to continue living under his grace. He heals and continues to bless. The last "big test" was in March of this year and they did find a "hot spot". As it turned out it was arthritis in my sacrum. Ha! Didn't remember having a sacrum!
Wishing you well. Let us know.
Carole (Walker) Reed
Posted by: Glen Langston | August 01, 2007 at 04:45 PM
Melanie, just read your blog and hope all is going well with the tests. Optimism is the greatest healing agent on earth, second only to God in heaven. You are and will remain in my prayers. Glen Langston
Posted by: Linda McKnight Thomason | August 09, 2007 at 04:34 PM
Melanie, I am so proud to know that you are doing so well! It is comforting to really feel the strength God gives us and His healing arms around us! We have just come from Houston for the second time this week for me to have tests done. You are in our prayers. Love, Linda
Posted by: Ray Prichard | August 22, 2007 at 11:23 PM
The word I got by email from Melanie Winkler Morrison was that she passed the extensive tests for her annual physical with good marks. She said she appreciates the prayers. After the tremendous battle her late husband, Ray Morrison went through and finally lost to cancer I can only guess at how hard a struggle Melanie is waging.
As keeper of the gate for the website, I have been privy to many tales of the physical ailments of a host of our old friends. There are many of our friends who have suffered and too many did not prevail to join us in our old age. Each of us need to keep our faith in God and our spirits high.
We owe Karla a deep debt for her wonderful efforts in our behalf on this blog. As I read the threads, I see so many familar names and their faces are running through my mind. I did not know all of them but am so thrilled to hear from each and every one.
Rodney Preuit and I just came back from four days in the Seattle area. He flew his granddaughter Carlie back to her mother after she spent a month with them in Deer Park. I went along on a lark and Rodney and I had a great time. He has been my dearest friend for fifty two years now. I tell him, as well as my other good friends, how much I love him. I tell my wife everyday and every time we talk on the phone "I love you".
I believe every time you talk to your family and friends, you should tell them you love them. True friends, true friendships and true loves never die.
Posted by: Good News Re Melanie!!! | August 23, 2007 at 06:29 AM
I am so happy to hear Melanie's good report. Thank you, Ray. I figured we hadn't heard your voice for a while because you were a traveling man. It's good to have you and Rodney back safely. Since we knew you two were taking a road trip, (or was it all by air?) I was a "worrying mother" on your behalf.
Lots of new voices and repeat contributors on the blog these days - my feeling of family has certainly expanded! What a privilege to care for you all!!!
Up-to-the-morning stats... 204 comments from 50 contributors with 7688 page views. WOW!!! Karla
Posted by: Malcolm's Evening Entertainment in Australia | September 11, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Folks, if you haven't visited Malcolm (Tommy) Sanford's blog (link in right sidebar) you've got to check it out. I am enjoying it immensely. It is a day by day, night by night account of his Australian trip, reported in real time.
Now, I have to admit that while I am fascinated with the complexity of what he knows about the "bee business", and in awe that someone I know actually knows and understand this stuff...what REALLY fascinates me are the sights and sounds that he is experiencing and which he describes for us in great detail. Here is an excerpt from today's report...oh, how I would love to have been in the audience for this show:
"The evening was billed as a cultural event, with Gail Robinson, a beekeeper’s wife and story teller, as master of ceremonies. She introduced the Yarra Yarra dancers doing the Werundjeri people’s greeting and smoking ceremony (actually created fire on stage via friction), the Bushdrovers Band (Waltzing Matilda), Cameron Bawden the whip cracker and the Australian Girls Choir."
Malcolm, thank you so much for taking us on this adventure with you!!! Karla
(Ken's e-mail greeting in response to Ray's general Thanksgiving wish to everyone. KD)
Posted by: Ken and Carole Corey | November 26, 2007 at 03:56 AM
Ray & All, Thanks to you and all Milby Alumni for the Thanksgiving greeting. Carole and I had a great Thanksgiving this year here in Macedonia . We were not sure how well that was going to go - being away from all our friends - but it went well. We have gotten involved with the International Nondenominational Church here and have met many who are transient Christians from all over the world. They met for a good ole pot luck dinner where 30 took part and we had more food than you can imagine. Since turkey is scarce here, one volunteer went to Greece to get two turkeys to feed the bunch. It was a good experience of American-like Thanksgiving cuisine and Christian fellowship. It was a real renewal of spirit and thus energy. Our prayer is that all had such a grand honoring of what we Americans hold so dear. When you see the other side, freedom and the right to practice your beliefs are a God-given blessing to all of us in America that we all take for granted.
Our prayers can be for Macedonia because they set in amongst several nations that want to destroy it because it is trying to break from the mold and embrace freedom and individual rights as a Democratic Republic. It will succeed once its neighbors see how free enterprise and the practice of Christian beliefs raise its economy and flourishes its industrial base. Little by little the people here are changing, but it took many years of suppressed history to get to this point and they have all this history to overcome first. But they are trying hard.
I had a call in the middle of our Thanksgiving dinner from one of my Macedonian friends who wanted to wish Carole, me and all our gathered friends a happy Thanksgiving. It was a heartfelt call that pulled at all my emotions, but also a sign that they are also thankful of the path they are on and for a savior in Jesus Christ that supports them in their quest. Ken C.
Posted by: Gladys M. (Payne) Bohac | March 12, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Hello everyone, I just had to write about a wonderful visit that Charlotte and I had on March 8th. Due to the wonderful Blog, we got in touch with Carole Sue Walker Reed. After emailing back and forth several times, she invited us to come for a visit. What a wonderful visit we had. It did not take any time until we were reminiscing, laughing and looking at all of our old pictures that we took with us and the ones that she had. We learned that Carole Sue enjoys crafts as much as we do. She has made some beautiful things and we shared our craft ideas with each other.
Carole Sue & Bill have a beautiful place in Buckholts, Texas, which is about a three hour drive from Katy, well worth the drive I might add. They have a lovely home and beautiful property with beautiful trees, birds, squirrels, and flowers. It was such a delight to visit in her home. We talked about where our old classmates are and whether or not we would see them again at our "BIG 50". I can not encourage everyone enough about making plans to the 50th reunion. What an honor that will be for all of us. We should all treasure our friendship especially the ones that have been around for so many years. For instance, Charlotte Vann Casselberry and I have been friends for almost 61 years, JoAnne Peters Green for 53 years, Laura Strinler - 53 years, I have also been blessed with other old friends that go way back for 35 & 40 years. You know it takes time and effort on both parties to make good friends that last a lifetime.
Thank you for letting me share about our renewing of an old friend.
Posted by: Linda LITTLE Strickland | March 24, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Having a baby isn't what it used to be! This is an update from my last blog message.We were expecting my daughter's first baby last Fri. or Sat., the doctor saw her in the office last night at 8:30 and stripped her membrane, pulled the plug, gave my daughter and her husband a bottle of Mr Pikante (taste very hot) told them to go home and eat and I will not tell you what else. Today she has dilated four we need to get to ten before delivery time. After seeing the doctor this am walking was encouraged like a trip to Target.
While my son-in-law's mother and I awaited their call to come to the hospital the kids stopped at the grocery store and called us. With the contractions six minutes apart the aid of the grocery cart to grip when a pain occured was a great help. I had visions of her delivering on the conveyor belt at the grocery store. At the present moment the kids are home with grocery items put away. My daughter is crawling around on all fours in the den , the dog is licking her face, the son-in-law is cleaning and moving things around wearing a T shirt that say JUST DO IT, the other grandmother is reading a book, I am thinking about having a Miller Lite.
Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | March 24, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Linda, you crack me up!!! I both laughed and cried with your post about your visit with your mother - priceless! But this with the baby news tops even that. Your life is rich, to say the least. Aren't you glad you got to retire?!?!?!?
I am glad to get your update - I have thought about you a lot and wondered what was happening baby-wise. I was certain the baby had arrived and you were just busy loving that little bundle of joy. NOT!!! There surely must be a more scientific way of getting that baby to enter the world! Well, if nothing else the laughter may get things going. Do keep us informed!!! Karla
Posted by: Linda LITTLE Strickland | March 27, 2008 at 08:32 PM
The water broke at 2:30 PM, Monday. The doctor came to the house and stated, ''it is time to go to the hospital''. As my son-in-law drove to the hospital I could see my daughter's hands grasp the roof of the car. As we drove to the front of the hospital she stated, "I want all the drugs they will give me''. The labor lasted seventeen hours. As my daughter has a production business she wanted the event on film with two of her photographers in the labor room and every one giving comfort and assisting with breath one, two... and so on to ten it was like a three ring circus.
The doctor sat at the end of the table and if I hear the words '' good job!'',again I will scream. We ran into trouble when the baby was ''Sunny side up''(FACE UP). Near the end a C Section was about to be done but the doctor managed to get the baby out with salad tongs. Thomas James arrived at 1:15 AM, weight 7.5 pounds, 22 inches long, with all his fingers and toes. We were so happy to get to meet this sweet baby boy. I love being a grandma. linda
Posted by: Ann Herman Beatty | May 05, 2008 at 08:41 AM
I am still without grandchildren and right now that is fine as both my sons are still single. My youngest one (34) has gotten a scholarship to the Steve Jobs conference which draws people from all over the world. Steve is to Apple what Bill Gates is to MS. It will be held in San Francisco at the Mascone Center. Dan says it is the best job fair in the world for geeks. People are also sent from Microsoft to recruit. He is also having part of his dissertation published in some computer journal. His major advisor is considered a collaborator (he has clout--Daniel does not) so it will be copyrighted. He will also get to go to Vancouver B. C. in either late summer or early fall to present and defend it. That should be an experience. He may even get a few $ from it.
I usually click on at least 4 times a week, to see what is new. Seems like there isn't much new of late. Waiting on Herbert J. to bring us up to speed with his lady friend. Guess he is too busy courting to write. Linda Little is hysterical. (Hope she had her Miller Lite (or 2) and took a nap to avoid some on the excitement).
Certainly some of the rest of you have heard of this site, run into it from another classmate, or gotten it from the e-mail list. Let's hear from you. Ann Herman Beatty
Posted by: Sheila Steele Howard | May 09, 2008 at 09:23 PM
If any of you still live in the Houston area, and you enjoy going to tag sales in the country, here's one that's coming up. June 7th and 8th at the Kenney Agriculture Hall which is in Kenney, Texas, halfway between Brenham and Bellville off SH36 on Loop 497.
Arts, crafts, antiques, collectibles and desireable junk. Should be fun. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Karla, I owe you some pictures and a bio. Thanks. Sheila
Posted by: Larry Smith | May 11, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Sheila, thanks for the tip. We love resale/antique/junk shopping, and Kenney is not very far from us. I am putting it on our calendar, so maybe we will see you there.
Karla, we have a life-changing current event, but if it is too long, you can move it somewhere else. (Karla interjecting here: "Are you kidding? This is a wonderful story for the blog and this is a great place for it. Thanks so much for sharing.")
Larry continues...It started when we took Charleen's parents, Priscilla and Charles, with us on a week long vacation trip to Fairfield Arkansas. It was in September 2005, two months after I retired. We were having "some" fun seeing the sights, bird watching, junk shopping, when Rita starting heading for the Texas coast. Priscilla and Charles lived at The Terrace in Webster, and they wanted to head back, so we started driving home.
Charleen's brother Steve and his wife Beverly lived in Friendswood, and were evacuating up I-45.
We were able to cross over I-45 and get home without too much traffic, but it took Steve and Beverly 24 hours to get to our place in Plantersville. Steve was traumatized, and three weeks later was looking for land north of Houston.
Well, they really liked a 15 acre tract of woods 3/4 mile from us, and bought it, and by Jan-2007, were clearing and moving dirt around for a house. With Steve talking about moving North, Priscilla and Charles were getting fearfull of being abandoned in Webster because they saw Steve and Beverly every week.
After much consideration, and consultation with her brothers, Charleen drafted a proposal to convert our 24x36 garage into a cottage for them to live on our property with us. She did a great selling job, and they accepted it in June 2007.
I worked up a project plan for a new metal garage building, and the conversion of the existing garage. What a job! We hired an old school buddy of our kids to frame and plumb, and our lives went on hold in October. They gave notice at The Terrace, and we started full time jobs. Construction was completed on Feb. 15, 2 weeks later than scheduled, and they moved in.
We now have dinner for four every weeknite, grocery shopping every two weeks, and sundry other trips for doctors, haircuts, etc.
Steve and Beverly are both retiring this month, and planning to move into their log cabin sometime this summer. Charles and Priscilla are 88/87, healthy, and take two walks around the place and down the road each day. Now I am building a work room with A/C, loft, and shop area in my new metal building.
We're going to have a family commune. Isn't life a hoot? ...Larry
Posted by: Jody Bugg| June 08, 2008 at 07:12 PM
Larry, sorry to have missed you in Kenney. I got "lost" in Bellville, trying to find Loop 497, not knowing that it was on the way to Brenham. I simply hadn't driven far enough. I finally found a small herd of Buffs inside the Kenney Ag Hall. We had such a nice visit, nostalgia set in and brought me back to the blog today. I heard that you had come and gone before anyone else had arrived. I do hope to see you at the 50th, though.
Posted by: Larry Smith | June 08, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Jody, I was very sorry to have missed you and the rest who got there "on time". I misjudged the time, and we got there at 10:00 instead of 11:00. Sheila made time for us to talk and it was so nice to visit with her. You and I went through Southmayd and Deady together, and I have so many fond memories of those classmates.
I have a lot of memories of Sheila because we were in ROTC and some classes together, especially Chemistry Lab with Mr. Williams. I think we were at the same table in that lab. Sheila, I don't remember seeing you at the 20th reunion, but I got to dance with Connie. She holds a special place in my heart, even today. I was glad to meet John, and I hope we can see you again since we live so close.
Karla, I was so looking forward to seeing you again, but Charleen was concerned about her parents having to sit around waiting for lunch, etc. and she was getting bored too. So I "gave in" and we left around 11. I was thinking about you guys all afternoon.
Posted by: Larry Smith | June 08, 2008 at 09:50 PM
Sheila, I spelled your name wrong all the way through my post. Please send me an e-mail so I will have yours (it's not in the directory that I have). Mine is [email protected]. (not to worry - I fixed it! KD)
Posted by: Bonnie McCool Gervais | June 29, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Karla, I wish I could have made it to Kenney to visit with Sheila and all of the rest of you. It looks like you all had a great time. I love your pictures.
I'm so happy you're going to have a new granddaughter in October. Lisa is going to have another baby in October also. They don't find out what they're having but like the surprise. There will be only 13 months between Faith and the new baby. We're all so excited. It took a long time for me to become a grandmother but they're wasting no time now.
I stay very busy with Lisa and her family. In fact, we're all heading to the Astro's game tonight.....Faith included. She'll wear her Astro's baseball cap and t-shirt. I have started working a couple of days a week at Baylor again. The opportunity came up and the pay was too good to turn down. I'm not sure how long it'll last but for now it seems to be working out.
Again, thanks for all of your time and effort in keeping everyone in touch. Bonnie
Posted by: Summer Camps | July 30, 2008 at 10:52 AM
How long has it been since you went to camp? As a camper yourself, maybe a LONG time. As a camp counselor, maybe more recently. How about leaving a comment about some of your camp adventures here on the blog?
I have two things to mention on this topic. The first is about "Camp Nana", which we have held at our house the last two summers. It occurred to me that over the years I have done some really neat activities with other people’s kids (through church and school venues) but had not done these things with my own grandkids. So we have set aside a couple of days for me to “play camp” with Tyler and Ryan (each individually). I am anxious for Alex and Karly to be old enough to share the same opportunities with me.
The other summer camp experience I want to mention is that of our classmate Malcolm (Tommy) Sanford. He is involved with a really outstanding camp for Youth interacting with Senior Citizens (that’s our designation now, you know!). The website describes it as “a traveling summer camp for kids and active seniors”, and goes on to explain that it is a “traveling day camp where active seniors and young people ages 8 to 12 participate in a variety of physical and educational activities designed to connect them to their community, the environment & each other”. This is really phenominal. Be sure to read about it at http://thegenerationconnection.com/. Take the time to explore the entire website, but be sure to read about Malcolm’s work in the project. Linked at http://thegenerationconnection.com/staff.php
So - what kind of camp or camping experiences have you had recently? Karla
Put up your feeders, the hummingbirds are arriving early this year. There are already 8 in our backyard. We have had as many as 60 by the middle of September. With five feeders up, we have to fill them twice a day.
Thanks Larry, I will put out feeders this week and see how many little helicopters (Hummingbirds) we can attract. What is with the slow down on postings, I know school is or has started in many areas, but, except for those in the educational field (Karla, Ed, Wally, etc.,)and custodial grandparents, shouldn't we keep on moving along with our contacts? I love reading the comments from everyone, particularly Linda Little, she really cracks me up! Somebody give our silent classmates a nudge and have them start taking part, after all there were a lot of folks in our class and we have not heard a word from a lot of them. Stay healthy, keep in touch and lets all get involved...
Hey John, I am just a little east and south of Larry, who I think is in Plantersville, so if I put my " red gas stations " out on the porches, here in Conroe perhaps the little critters will stop here on their trek to Santa Fe and your helio-ports.
Sounds as tho Larry could use some relief/aid in keeping the little bouggars flapping.
I'm with you, we need some more participation from our Girlfriends and Buds of yore. " And that's the truth and I'm stickin' to it. "
Mike, you'd better hurry up with the feeders. We are south and west of you and a huge group of hummers has been passing through the past two weeks. This is earlier than usual. Wonder if that means an early winter? Who else watches birds?
Took birdwatching class last spring at UT Medical Branch in Galveston, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Hi Sheila, speaking of early winter, I read something about the farmers almanac stating that we would have a very cold winter. Some of the old timers trusted the almanac almost as much as they loved their dogs.
Laura, that sounds like a great course to take. Can you recommend a good bird call/song recognition CD. Sometimes I hear an unusual call and never see the bird for identification.
Mike, I think the best weather forecast is a look out the window.
Sheila, I prefer the time proven "Weather Rock", you should be familar with those, you know, if it's wet-it's raining, if it's cold-then it's cold, etc. Sorry, I couldn't resist...
Don Veasey is the Global Warming myth buster, and he thinks we are in for a cooling trend. But that may be for a longer term than just this winter.
I don't have a CD recommendation -- guy who taught the class not only could identify any bird by hearing it but also identify them just by shape when they were little bitty specks in the sky! I didn't get that good, but hope to repeat the course.
Anyone can get on the e-mailing list for the Galveston Ornithological Society by sending a request to Jim at:
[email protected]
You get lots of bird pictures and occasional announcements of birding trips. You can join from anywhere in the country and it is free.
Laura, my husband told me the hummers will fly to central America for the Winter. Birds have been banded and return each year. Got two feeders and one of my daily enjoyments is watching them feed. Enjoy birds so much, got me a bird clock and every hour listen to different bird sounds. Strange, I noticed the male birds are pretty and the females have drab colors. Linda
Hey Linda, don't you realize that since time began us guys (and birds) have always dressed to the 9's trying to impress the girls? Isn't it the MALE Peacock with all the fancy feathers and the strut in his walk? You know GOD didn't give us beauty-he gave it all to y'all, so we have to make up for it anyway we can!
I don't have hummingbird feeders -- but get hummingbirds in my yard anyway. They like hibiscus.
Laura,
It was one of my retirement plans to have a hummingbird/butterfly garden and have read up on subject. Color of flowers seems to be the key. Noticed the hummers fly around my blue hydrangeas but spot the red feeders above and go for it. Would love to see some pictures from the herd of their garden experiences, saw one on the blog awhile back and it was beautiful. Bet you have a pretty array of flowers in your yard. Linda
John,
Thinking about your "dressed to the 9's" statement. Looked it up and seems back in history had something to do with 9 yards in a garment. 9 yards stands out like in battle a soldier holding a big gun with yards of bullets, will say, "give me the whole 9 yards" meaning give me all you got. Just like you guys back in Milby.....raked,fast,pin stripped cars, slicked back hair and some with the smell of Old Spice. You guys gave it all you had, you handsome devils! Linda
Sheila,
Received a mag. in the mail today called ACORN, www.acornonline.com., may telephone at 1-888-870-8047. They have a book on North American Birds with digital audio player, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The descriptions are by bird biologist Les Beletsky. Linda
This is one of the earliest posts on the blog. So many comments had accumulated that it became cumbersome to find the latest comments. Therefore, on September 6, 2008, I decided to “archive” the earlier comments in this location. You can still read the post and comments. However, to read the most recent comments and add your own, please open the “Current Events” post in the main body of the blog.
CLICK HERE to return to the top of the main section of the blog .
CLICK HERE to link to the active "Current Events" post with the most recent comments. That is where you can leave a new comment.
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