Connie Lee (Ash)

Debbie,

How cute, looks just like the miniature dachshund I had, she lived to a ripe old age of 16 1/2 yrs, pretty long for a dachshund!

Lloyd Singer

Update on Larry Wells !!

Daryl just forwarded an email from Larry's son, Luke.

I posted the email on Larry's "In Memory" page, check it out.

Donna Bookout (Henthorn)

Oh my goodness!  I can't believe our class has lost so many so YOUNG!  It just reminds us all how precious life is.......and that it really does pass quickly on this planet.   I got to visit some with Larry at the reunion.  He seemed really good and positive.......seemed like he had new direction and was excited about his future.   I hope that he took his last breath feeling that way!  He was a neat man with a big heart.  He will be missed!  He will always be the boy from whom I received my first kiss!!!   I think I was 13........sooooooo long ago!   May he be dancing in the streets of heaven;  feeling no illness or pain.......as free as free can be!

Enjoy each day to the fullest because none of us knows what tomorrow may bring!

Hugs to all,

Donna

Celinda (Cindi) Ward (Hanna)

I am sure by now most of you have read the email from Larry's son and the family's recommendations for those who wish to donate in Larry's name. While I respect his family's right to their decision and agree that the entities recommended are worthwhile charities, my suggestion is to donate to a charity that would have been Larry's choice for a cause he loved. For those of you who may not know, he had a great love of God's furry creatures and had dedicated himself to their safety and well being.  There are a lot of SPCA chapters or animal shelters that could benefit from your donation in Larry's name.  I plan to contact the Lubbock animal shelter and make a contribution there. 

Larry took a path in life that none of us who grew up with him would have ever predicted or believed was possible of our senior class president.  His family and many friends were deeply wounded by his actions through the last 40 years but it is my belief that he was truly attempting to rebuild some of the bridges he burned.  I, and many other classmates, had established a new friendship with him and were very supportive of his endeavors to get his life right with his maker and move on in a more positive direction.  People can (and do) change for the better and he wanted so desperately to turn his life around!  It is very sad that he was not able to reconnect with his family but his struggles and profound sadness at having wasted so many years of his life have come to an end.  I pray that his family can move on and may he rest in peace.  I also sincerely hope that those of you who harbored grudges or ill will toward Larry can now let it go.  Your conflict with him is forever resolved.

Thanks to the many of you who have called or emailed about my brother, Danny.  Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than simple words can express.  He is in a rehab hospital undergoing speech and physical therapy and continues to improve daily.

Love to all and may God bless.

Randy Stephens

CINDI!

I'm so relieved to here that Danny is doing better. He probably won't remember me but tell him hey for me and that I'm going to give him a year to get ready for our foot race.

And Cindi........Thanks for your words and suggestions concerning Larry.

Ralphie B. called me last night and we talked about Larry. Then Ralphie B. wouldn't shut up and I finally made him repeat after me, "Good Bye Randy." That was three am this morning. So I turned off the alarm and just sleep till noon. After all a man has to have his Superman sleep. They won't fire me because they think they can't get alone with out me. And if anyone of you tell them any different I'll come and get you.    

I know my friend Larry had a rough life and I know that life can just jump up and kick you in the face without warning. I know that we make choices and some of them come back to haunt us and others bite us on the butt. I know that bad things happen to good people or as we say in the south "shit happens." I know that sometimes we deserve what happens to us and other times we don't. I know that there is rime and reason in life and then sometimes there is no rime or reason. I know desperation, fear, dread, pain and tears. I know don't give a shit, scares, numbness, regret, sorrow, haunting dreams and thoughts. I know about love and loss, lost love, heartbreak, joy, smiles and blood. I know about being caught up in life like a whirlwind. It's a wild ride and then the whirlwind drops you on your head somewhere you have never been. I know hope, dreams, healing, laughter and joy. I know friends and enemies. I know horror and estacy. And I know that everyone has been touched at least by some of this life stuff sometime during ones journey. Hell, that's just life. 

We all have ghosts and skeletons in our closets if we live long enough. Life is like that. It can be a great ride or a night mare and sometimes some of both. We never really know what another person has been through. What life has done to or for them. And because we don't know we are not to judge anyone ever. Were not here to judge but to pick up, patch up, dust off, console, forgive, learn and help each other fly again. One last thing I know is that if my son wrote a cold letter like that concerning me I would come back from the grave and KICK HIS ASS! That's just not right I don't care who you are, or what the hell has happened. Like my Uncle Joe would say, "Let's have a little respect for the dead, hell they not here to defend themselves or they might kick your ass for what you say." 

After all is said and done there is some reason that we call life, (physically, emotionally, rationally, spiritually..........) a MYSTERY. So maybe we ought to just shut up, look up, learn and go on with respect, awe and dignity.

Randall

PS

A Native American Elder once said this to me concerning friends.

"My dear friend, my heart is happy because we were able to walk together in this life adventure for a little while and now I look forward to walking with you again on the other side adventure.

 Larry, my dear friend, my heart is happy because we were able to walk together in this life adventure for a little while and now I look forward to walking with you again on the other side adventure.

I'll miss you my good friend and I'll always REMEMBER! See ya on the other side.

Connie Lee (Ash)

On a very short break at work, good to hear from you Randy S. and Cindi. 

Missed ya!

Thanks to Deltah, Deliah, Deborah, Donna (I think there is a pattern developing here), Kay, Lloyd and Katrina for posting.

Ya know, people always say they wouldn't want to go back again.....and there's alot of truth to that....but I wouldn't mind getting the body and hair back again!!!!!!!  

Randy Stephens

Connie Girl!

I want to go back so I could kiss Kay. Date Cindi. Have the courage to go out with Lawpuppy. kick Pollard's ass. Get some feeling at the skinny dipping party. Slap Chetta for not showing up at the city counsel meeting.  Go to the eighth grade prom. Attend the senior prom with a date. Take part in the measuring thing and not drink so much aspirin coke.

"It will all be alright, I'm coming back home, I'll be there tonight."

Randall

"There you go making my heart bet again.................. pulling me right back in"

Randy Stephens

Ok.

For all ya'll (you guys) that are jumping in the wind. I'm finishing up another THS story for your amusement. After I pass the hat and collect my million I'll post it. Well maybe not. I'll just post it in a couple days. Hell, Who needs a million these days. Ya'll (you guys) are my friends and are nice enough to tolerate my babbling.

"Make all the drunk girs screem and shout."

Randall

Connie Lee (Ash)

It is good to have you back Randall.

Kay Lee (Culwell)

Cindi:  Thanks for you comments on Larry, I feel much the same.

Randy:  ROTFLMAO!!!!  If we did go back, (knowing what I know now), it would take more than a hamburger & a coke for that kiss!  I think I'm having a lot more fun now from not having kissed you! ;)

Deborah Nelson (Ferriter)

I have to agree with all regarding Larry, he was trying to "mend fences" and Cindi you are right about the furry creatures, he did love working with them, so I would agree with your choice of donations  (Lubbock Shelters) I know he was active in training pet therapy dogs, so maybe one of those would also be a good choice... it so sad he didn't live long enough to heal all the hearts, but he was trying... and he will be missed.

Cindi you are so eloquent in your words.. you always seem to know the right thing to say..

I'm glad your brother is healing... my friend who is our age will be celebrate 5 years of life after a stroke on September 17.... she told me to pass along that it is not a linear healing process, but an up and down one... but to stay positive and he will get there.  There is also a web site called strokenet that she found a lot of support and help from if he the computer kind of person someday in the future.

Thanks again for your words...  d

Celinda (Cindi) Ward (Hanna)

I just received word that Danny Glasscock's wife, Sandra, has passed away.  Please keep Danny and his family in your thoughts and prayers in their time of sorrow. I will post additional information regarding funeral/memorial services as it becomes available.

Lloyd Singer

Sad news to announce...        below is a link to, and the 1st paragraph of the Obit. for Danny Glasscock's wife Sandra.   My prayers go out to  Danny and Sandra's family.   Godspeed...

His mailing address is:    610 N. El Paso

                                      Tulia,TX.  79088

http://www.kornerstonefunerals.com/index.cfm

Ralph Ellerd

My prayers go out to Danny and family!!!  I new Sandra very well and was a very caring woman, Had a lot good times with Her and Danny, working with her, fishing,and just sitting around and talking.  Lots of very special memories!!

Sandra will be missed by many!!!

Randy Stephens

Dam!

Danny, man I'm so sorry. So sad. Dam. It's got a be rough. My heart goes out to you. I can't even imagine. Wish I was closer and could do something. I would anything If I just knew what to do. I know it must be tough man. Keep your Chen up. We're all here to lift you up in your time of loss and darkness.

I just can't believe it. Death just keep jumping on our back. Enough is enough. Let's have a break. The hooted man need to go somewhere else for a while and leave my friends alone. Dam it. 

"Every light in the house is on"

Randall

Ralph Ellerd

Randy Stephens

Connie and Kay

I'm going to take a couple of days in respect to Danny and his loss and then I have a response to your kind words.

Randall

Celinda (Cindi) Ward (Hanna)

You may have noticed a difference in the appearance of pages on the site! I am experimenting with different formats so you will see changes from time to time.  I want to keep the site updated and "fresh".  If you like the old style better let me know.  There are many to choose from but I prefer the ones that have the profiles and forum at the top of the page for easier access.  I can even change the colors but for obvious reasons want to keep the maroon and white! 

I encourage you to send me your "old" photos for posting in one of the memory lane categories.  I would love to have copies of the ones circulated at the reunion!

I ended up with two dog-eared copies of the TJH Journal (left by Jan I think) from May of 1965 wich was the end of our 7th grade year.  Student Council Officers elected for our 8th grade year were J.K. Milam, President; Barbara Burrow, Vice President; and Shirley LaDuke, Secretary/Treasurer.  The girls in our class who scored 90 or above on the physical fitness test that year were Debi Love (high score of 98 and tied with Wyla Byrd from the 8th grade), Jo Hickman, Shirley Lee, Cynthia Mickey, Freda Clark, Rita Stark, Marsha Sharp, Cindi Ward, Melanie Butler, Cornelia Roberts, Sandra Hair, Gloria Solis, Beverley Clark, Deltah Roberts, Pat Berryman, Nellie Willis, Roxanne Northcutt, Debby Nelson, Jan Minchew, Connie Lee, Janice Cruce and Katrina Donnell.   Another edition reported that Janice Cruce, Cynthia Mickey, Randy Jordan and Calvin Yarbrough won first place for the 7th grade entries in the talent contest sponsored by the choir.  A $5 gift certificate was awarded to each winner!  The Boys track team placed 5th (out of 12) at the Plainview meet.  Our best runner was Odell Moffett and Mike Gleason was named by Coach Lantz as our best hurdler.  David Leavitt was recognized as a "record holder" for discus and shot put.  8th grade cheerleaders elected were Barbara Burrow, Head Cheerleader, and Shirley LaDuke & Debi Love.  Of special interest were the following comments posted in Debby Nelson's column: "Beverley Clark & Paul Williams are carrying on a puppy love romance"; "Rita Stark surely does like Ronnie Rea", and "Deltah Roberts has 4 baby kittens.  One of them looks just like Kanop, Barbara Burrow's cat".

Well, folks, just thought I would share some tidbits from yesteryear.  Hope you enjoyed them! 

Lloyd Singer

I like the new look, great job Cindi!

Jan Minchew (Sparks)

Cindi...the site looks great.  Thanks for taking care of us! 

RE:  Larry Wells...  I miss his e-mails and calls - they were always a bright spot in my day (as are all of my classmates' postings & messages).  The past few weeks have been a time of reflection for me and I am at peace and ready to get Sassy!

On a bright note:

WHY I BELIEVE IN ANGELS  -  In late December of 1996, soon after my return from neurosurgery, I walked out to our rural mail box to retrieve the mail.  I walked with a cane and watched the ground carefully so I wouldn't fall.  About half-way to the box, I saw (on the ground), a perfectly pristine cotton boll.  It was bright white and fresh.  To some of you who still live in the Panhandle this may not sound unusual.  But cotton fields are nonexistent around here.  In almost 25 years we've not seen a field of cotton between here and Dallas, not even one the backroads and certainly not on our road.  We've never seen a cotton trailer on this road.  I believe it was left by my guardian Angel, my Dad, to let me know that everything was going to be OK!

Celinda (Cindi) Ward (Hanna)

Thanks, Lloyd & Jan!  Great story, Jan.  I, too, believe in angels. 

I would appreciate everyone's feedback on an idea about segregating the types of information posted on our site. I personally believe this message forum should be reserved for upbeat, friendly, and fun exchanges and lately we have had more than our share of grief notices and prayer requests.  I have posted sad news as have others.  I understand that people want to know when a classmate, teacher, or family member of a classmate passes away or is in need of our prayers.  I propose that instead of posting that info here on the "message forum" we use an alternate location to post.  I have created a new link "Recent Passings" and I have posted obituary notices for those who left us in 2010.  These notices are also included on the "in memory" section for each classmate but my plan is to keep only recent ones (within the last 6 months) on the new link.  Also, I have reactivated the prayer request link.  If you have news of a classmate's death or death of a family member, teacher or anyone you feel the class would want to know about, you can email the info to me for posting on the "Recent Passings" link.  The same process would be followed for prayer requests.   By posting the sad news in an alternate location you won't be hit with bad news every time you access the message forum.  Based on the site statistics, the forum is the number one attraction on the site and I want to keep you coming back to it often but fear the constant viewing of bad news will actually make some people hesitant to view this section.  I access the site almost daily and in my absence can designate another classmate as  administrator who could also receive your email notices and post them timely.  You can simply use the "contact us" link to send your info.  The reasoning behind activating this new process is based on my desire not to have the forum serve as an obituary column.  Others have expressed the same feelings but I would like to hear from others on this issue.  I would also like to encourage everyone to post their sentiments about a classmate on the "in memory" link and not on the forum since that link was created specifically for that purpose.  

It is not my intent to be the site police and I will never censor anything posted on the site (unless it's in really poor or offensive taste) so I'm simply proposing a change in process.  Let me know your thoughts and thanks for checking in!  

Lloyd Singer

Bravo Cindi, well said and well done! 

Keep on tweeking, this site just keeps getting better...    I hope it never goes away... 

Deltah Roberts (Henard)

Cindi, the new website look is great. I think your suggestions have our best interest in mind. I don't like for friends to feel sad. Over-all, I think everyone enjoys checking out the site for new happenings and reminders of stories of the past.

Thank you for all the time you devote to seeing that we stay connected to each other. 

Jan I believe in angels too. I'm glad one took care of you.

Love you all. AND I'm ready for some RAIN!!!

Can't believe the only story about me in the TJH JOURNAL was about kittens. No wonder I never had a boyfriend. I still have a litter or two several times a year, but since we are in the country the coyotes and bobcats usually keep the numbers under control.

Connie Lee (Ash)

Wow, so much activity, I love it!

Debbie Nelson Ferriter, I never  knew that you had a 'social' column!  Telling about all of the romances, that had to be fun, and getting to tell about all of the scandals - Deltah and Barbara's cat's , really Deltah, I guess at 10pm you didn't know where your cats were!  

I have to say I am amazed that I actually scored a 90 on a physical fitness test!  In high school the thing I liked most about them was watching the boys play them!   

Jan, I too believe in Angels and their creator, God. 

Deltah Roberts (Henard)

Well, Connie, since I didn't have a romance I had to tell about my cat's! You know how important those Junior High years were! I think I was a little snot that year.

I can remember some fun times in that journalism room. Think what we could do now with all the new technology. Remember the memo-graph machine...purple hands...but the smell was pretty cool.