04

Back to the birthday celebrations! And if you think the theme song from 1981's Arthur is a stretch for Sir John, you're right, but on the other hand, he did win an Academy Award (plus several other prestigious awards) for his role in the film.

21 - Betsy Turner Bateman ('70) of VA AND

My #2 Son, Brent Harty (Hillsboro HS, IL - '90) of TX (currently training again in GA)!

The Beacon article, on the other hand, I was able with the aid of timeanddate.com and the knowledge that the Beacon was published every other Friday, to definitively date as Friday, October 19, 1962:

Regarding the machine you reported in your April 9th edition:

Commentary:

A video that supposedly shows an incredible music machine created out of farm equipment is circulating via email and online. The video itself is certainly an incredible and inspiring piece of work. However, it is a work of computer animation and does not depict a real machine made of farm equipment or anything else. The video is a piece called Pipe Dream that was created by Wayne Lytle, and Dave Crognale and their team at Animusic, a content creation company located in Austin, Texas.

The company has created a number of quite amazing 3D computer graphics music animation videos that are available via the company website. According to information on the Animusic website:

Apparently, some unknown prankster saw fit to create a fanciful tale to go along with the unusual video. Even the university departments named in the message appear to be fictitious. There is no record of the "Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory" or the "Sharon Wick School of Engineering" at the University of Iowa or anywhere else. According to an article about the prank email on Iowa's KCRG:

There is no need to malign this fantastic animation by tacking on a foolish and totally fictitious cover story. Such clever work speaks for itself and needs no embellishment. Moreover, the real creators of the animation deserve credit for their genius. If you receive this email forward, please let the sender know the true origin of the "farm machine music" video.

ARGHHH!!! I can scarcely believe I fell for another one, Frank! I just cannot understand why some people like to perpetuate ridiculous stories, especially when as your source stated, "Such clever work speaks for itself and needs no embellishment."

From Christine Wilson Starkman ('68) of CA - 04/13/09 - "Check out 1929 LITTLE GIRLS PERSONAL DIARY FROM NEWPORT NEWS VA - eBay:

This belonged to Miss Elizabell Frances Knight of Newport News...maybe someone here knew her or her family.

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 04/14/09 - "RE: Check out 1929 LITTLE GIRLS PERSONAL DIARY FROM NEWPORT NEWS VA":

I can’t find her in any census listing.

“Elizabell” with any surname is very rare, and none were in VA.

I tried all the variations.

Perhaps there are other clues in the book.

Eight Keys to Hope

by Naomi Drew M.A.

Copyright © 2006 by Naomi Drew.

“I’ve been so overwhelmed by what’s going on these days,” a mother recently said regarding world events. “I feel like there's nothing I can do and the world’s spinning out of control.” Her words echo the sentiments so many of us feel each time we pick up a paper or turn on the news. War on the horizon, nuclear weapons in North Korea, a sniper in the Washington area, a family of six killed by a fire bomb in Baltimore, the massacre in Bali -- the list goes on. Right now, it’s easy to lose hope.

But loss of hope doesn’t have to be the path we walk down.

You see, hope is actually something we create. It’s not something that magically appears from an outside source. We each have within us the capacity to generate hope. That’s it’s critical that we be absolutely intentional about nurturing hope in our lives and the lives of our children.

Now more than ever overcoming fear and holding onto hope are essential. The eight steps below will enable you do this. Try these steps yourself and teach them to your kids. Do a couple as a family. Know that it is within your control to become more hopeful.

Don't let the news be your undoing. You can take charge. Here’s how:

1. Be kind to yourself. Think about what you need most, and then do it.

Is it a cup of tea, a brisk walk, some downtime, quiet music, a little rest, or reading inspirational literature? Whatever it is, grant yourself permission to do it, even for just a few minutes. If you’re at work, take a “care-break” where you take care of you for a brief moment. These small moments accumulate and transform the texture of our days.

2. Create a 5-minute of silence ritual every. Light a candle and pray, meditate or reflect.

You don’t have to believe in any particular deity to make this work. Just silently reflecting in front of a lit candle is extremely nurturing and healing. This may be the one time of day when you feel connected to your own soul, and perhaps even something larger. Don’t skip this step -- it’s very powerful.

3. Curtail your intake of news.

Oversaturation with news right now is detrimental to emotional health. If you read the newspaper in the morning, let that be enough. You don’t need to turn on the TV or radio too, especially before bed. Consider putting a complete moratorium on news at least once a week. Anything you missed will be there tomorrow. Drastically curtail any news you let your children watch.

4. Treat each day like the precious gift it is; be vigilant in looking for things and people to appreciate.

What if today were the last day of your life? How would you want to live it? Ask yourself this question throughout the day. It will help you let go of the countless petty annoyances that tend to throw most of us off balance. Shift your gaze to appreciation. Who and what are you grateful for? Make a list each day and add to it.

5. Every morning, afternoon and night, take a 30-second break to look at the sky, breathe deep and offer thanks.

Even though the world has its problems, the sun still rises in the sky each morning, and we’re awake and alive when we get out of bed. Let the sky be a touchstone to hope. Think of other people around the world as you look at the sky, and know that we all share this planet together. Among all of us, we have the ability to create solutions to the problems that now exist. Trust that this is so.

6. Express love tangibly. Hugs, words, notes, acts of kindness -- be indiscriminately generous with all of them.

Surprise a colleague or friend with a hug. Hug and kiss your kids longer and with deeper feeling. If you like how the clerk treated you in the store, thank her. Leave your partner small notes expressing gratitude for kind acts. Doing all of this adds warmth and positive energy to our lives and the lives of people around us. It’s also very comforting both to the giver and receiver of each loving act.

7. Say this affirmation every day, and see where it leads you: "I am the key to peace."

Most of us believe, erroneously, that peace will come from people or institutions much larger than we. Just the opposite is true. Peace starts with each individual and it will only come to this world from the people themselves. It is critical that we each create peace in the small and large moments of our lives. We must live it in our words and actions rather than giving in to fear, hatred, or resignation.

8. Make a difference. Reach out beyond your normal scope. This is your opportunity to live your greatest promise, highest self. Don’t wait.

Each time we make a difference in the lives of others, we create hope in ourselves. By reaching out to someone in need, be it your neighbor, a Guatemalan orphan, or people in a homeless shelter, we add a little more peace and hope to the world. Our accumulated gestures of care and compassion will ultimately transform our lives and the lives of others. We are each the source of that transformation. Knowing this gives me hope.

Thanks, Shari, I found these very helpful!

From Glenn Dye ('60) of TX - 04/10/09 - "Mother Goose Tells the Truth" (#1 in a Series of 8):

3. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 15, 16, and 17, 2009 - The Hampton High School Class of 1964 will hold its 45-Year Reunion at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. For details, see: www.hamptonhigh1964.com - HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL - CLASS OF 1964

4. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 4, 5 and 6 (Labor Day Weekend), 2009 - The Class of 1969 will hold its 40-Year Reunion at the Point Plaza Hotel, Newport News, VA. For details, see: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion2009-69.html and contact Jean Baker Howell at hokie13mom@cox.net - OPEN TO ALL NNHS ALUMNI

5. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 18, 19, and 20, 2009 - The Warwick High School Class of 1959 will hold its 50-Year Reunion at the Marriott Newport News at City Center, Newport News, VA. For details, contact WHSREUNION1959@aol.com.

6. Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10, 2009 - The Class of 1964 will hold its 45-Year Reunion at the Newport News Marriott at City Center, 740 Town Center Drive, Newport News, VA 23606: For details, see: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion2009-64.html - CLASS OF 1964:

Your NNHS 64/45 Reunion Committee is pleased to announce that musical entertainment has been arranged for our Reunion.

On Friday evening, we will dance to the tunes of DJ, Susan Voss. Those of you who attended our “Turning Sixty” Party in 2006 at Spirit Events will remember Susan’s talent and energy.

Once in your life you find her
Someone that turns your heart around
And next thing you know you're closing down the town
Wake up and it's still with you
Even though you left her way across town
Wondering to yourself, "Hey, what've I found?"

When you get caught between the Moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the Moon and New York City
The best that you can do ......
The best that you can do is fall in love

Arthur he does as he pleases
All of his life, he's mastered choice
Deep in his heart, he's just, he's just a boy
Living his life one day at a time
And showing himself a really good time
Laughing about the way they want him to be

When you get caught between the Moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the Moon and New York City
The best that you can do .....
The best that you can do is fall in love

When you get caught between the Moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the Moon and New York City
The best that you can do .....
The best that you can do is fall in love

Animated Tiny Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!

Marine Corps Seal clip art courtesy of the late Herbert Hice of MI - one of my Famous Marines who served in the South Pacific during WWII.
Thanks again, Herbie!

Army Seal clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 05/24/06
Thanks, Al!
Replaced by Norm Covert ('61) of MD - 02/09/09
Thanks, Norm!

				Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything.


IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT GROWING OLD				Well, CRAP! Now I forgot what I was gonna tell ya!