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	06/26/09 - NNHS Newsletter I'll Cry Instead “When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” - Kahlil Gibran (06 Jan 1883 - 10 Apr 1931)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,   

  Today's Newsletter theme is being "rerun" from exactly three years ago today:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/06-26-06-NNHS-Ill-Cry-Instead.html

   Happy Birthday tomorrow to   Jimmy Dick ('65) of FL AND     My #1 Daughter-in-Law, Mary Bennett Harty (Litchfield HS, IL - '89) of IL!

   Happy Birthday this week to:

PAGE HITS:

   Hit #85,500 was made on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM by an unknown user.

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/page-hits.html 

HEALTH UPDATE:

       From George Helliesen ('61) of MI - 06/25/09:

Carol,

For those of us who care.  What is the progress on        Paul (Harty - Bardolph HS, IL - '61 - of IL)?

Have a great day!

George Helliesen, 61

   Well, George, "progress" is a rather frustrating word right now... His next appointments at the VA Hospital are on July 20.  Meanwhile, he's primarily eating foods recommended for a gall bladder diet to avoid exacerbating the pain in his back - which of course is also complicated by some actual skeletal/muscular problems and who-knows-what with his left kidney.

   As a result, he's lost 35 to 40 pounds since January, and his clothes are all hanging on him.  His suit (being at least two sizes too large now) looks quite ridiculous, as we discovered Sunday, when he was able to attend church again for the first time in several weeks.  (Hmmm.  I should have gone on that diet with him, but it consists largely of raw vegetables - especially raw tomatoes - which are just so nasty.)

   Beyond that, he and I both have unpredictably good days and bad days, and we just hope our bad ones do not fall on the same day.  Furthermore, we hope that tomorrow we shall both have a good day, as we're going up to Winchester (no, not THAT Winchester!) for a family reunion with most of his eight younger brothers and sisters and their families.  It just wouldn't do for either of us to be moaning and groaning and grimacing with pain.  That would be tacky, n'est pas?

   Thank you so much, Sweetie!

REUNION ALERT:

    From Karen Weinstein Witte ('60) of FL - 06/26/09, 8:07 AM - "NNHS Class of 60 - 50-Year Reunion":

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 6, 7, and  8, 2010 - The NNHS Class of 1960 will hold its 50-Year Reunion at the Marriott Newport News at City Center. For details, contact Karen Weinstein Witte at  kwitte@tampabay,rr.com. - CLASS OF 1960

   COOL BEANS!!! Thanks, Karen! I've triple-posted this - on the main page, the reunion page, and at the bottom of this and subsequent Newsletters:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-page.html

  From Wayne Agee ('58) of FL - 06/25/09 - "Close your eyes and remember":

Carol:

For all of us Typhoons to sit back and remember.......................

http://bitsandpieces1.blogspot.com/2006/08/close-your-eyes-and-go-back.html 

Wayne

   Thanks, Wayne! (I found the item you sent as an attachment posted on the link above.)

       From George Helliesen ('61) of MI AND   Elaine Wilkinson Bracken ('61) of VA -  06/25/09 - "God's Wings - A little something to put things in perspective...":

God's Wings - A little something to put things in perspective...

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the dead bird with a stick.

When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.  The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.  Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast... because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

"He will cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you will find refuge." (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life.  Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.

God bless you. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend...lose one.

   This is a very moving, comforting passage, George and Elaine - thanks so much!

      From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 06/25/09 - "~j~ Are...":

		ANGELS ARE... A Part Of Our Everyday Lives... In the voice of the stranger who has said a kind word; In the hand of the stranger who has helped, When you needed that extra insight to make a decision; Many times we are helped by Angels that appear from nowhere, They come to us as poor or rich, tall or short, But all have the same purpose, One of love and Heavenly protection.. Do we recognize an Angel when we see one? Author Unknown

   Thanks, Shari, I like this!

        From David Whitley ('67) of VA - 06/25/09 - "A Beautiful Message About Growing Old":

		A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE ABOUT GROWING OLD   Well, crap... Now I forgot what it was....

   David, you delightful hoot! When I saw your subject line, let us simply say that I was feeling rather antagonistic about the entire aging process, and thought to myself, "Well, THIS oughta be good..." - and it was!

   Thanks for the rose - and the laugh, Gorgeous!

      From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 06/25/09 - "Thursday":

Finally appears that I got my email working properly.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Shari

=====================

"Kind words do not cost much.
Yet they accomplish much."

- Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, French Mathematician, Physicist and Theologian

=====================

Not until each loom is silent
And the shuttle cease to fly,
Will God unroll the pattern
And explain the reason why
The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver's skilful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
For the pattern that He planned.

=====================

Groaner

A man stopped at a gas station to fill up. As he finished, the nozzle dripped a little gas onto his sleeve. The man didn't think anything of it as he went inside to pay and then left. He lit a cigarette and then dropped the lighter. His sleeve caught on fire. He thought he'd try to put it out by hanging his arm out the window and driving a little faster.

The police pulled him over for having an "illegal fire-arm".

=====================

Light's Out

I live in Atlanta, Georgia and we had a thunderstorm last night that knocked our power out. It went out around 12:30a.m. I was still awake, that's how I know what time it started. I went to bed soon after the storm began. All of the power was out.

When I woke up this morning the power was still out! My two oldest sons and myself had to get dressed and ready for school and work. When they awoke and tried to flip on the light switch it didn't work, when they looked up at the microwave to check the time it didn't work, when my oldest son tried to get two minutes in on his play station it didn't work, when my youngest son tried to turn on The Disney channel it didn't work!

Nothing that required power (electricity) was in working order! This was a MountainWings Moment. In spite of all things that were not working, everything was still alright. I opened all of the blinds and doors and there was light. I could use my senses to find things that I could not physically see. I realized that God has given me all of the things that I need.

When storms come your way, know that God will make a way for you to see. He will provide light when all of man's techniques fail. So the next time a storm comes into your life, remember that after the storm the light of God will always shine through!


~A MountainWings Original by Veronica Williamson, Atlanta, GA~

   Thanks again, Shari!

  From Jerry ('65) and    Judy Phillips ('66) Allen of VA - 06/25/09 - "Penguins":

So now you know...

Did you ever wonder why you never see dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica ? 

Ever wonder where they go?  Wonder no more. 

It is a known fact that the penguin is a very ritualistic bird which lives an extremely ordered and complex life. 

The penguins have a very strong community bond.  They are very committed to their family and will mate for life. 

They also maintain a form of compassionate contact with their offspring throughout its life. 

If a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of the family and social circle have been known to dig holes in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird to be rolled into and buried.

The male penguins then gather in a circle around the freshly dug grave and sing............

"Freeze a jolly good fellow…"

   GROANING GIGGLES!!! Thanks, Sweetie-Pies!

From Karrin Williams Frankie (Warwick HS - '61) of VA - 06/26/09, 9:33 AM - "PLEASE NO EMAIL FROM 27 JUN - 09 JUL 09":

  Joe (Dickson - '66) and I will be going on vacation from 27 Jun-09 Jul to Tulsa, OK for the Honda Goldwing "WingDing".  Yes, we will be riding the bike.  We have about 16 people going from our chapter so we should have a good time. 

Please remove me from your emailing during this time.  Thanks so much. 

Karrin

   Yes'm, Karrin, I have that duly noted! Thanks - and y'all have fun!

From  http://www.selfgrowthtest.com - 06/22/09 - "Awareness":

Awareness - You've Got Spinach in Your Teeth
By Cindy Loughran


Ever been in a conversation with someone who has a little piece of spinach between their front teeth? There it is, glaring at you with every syllable she speaks, yet she has no idea it's there. You keep thinking, I wish she'd get that piece of spinach out of her teeth. If she only knew how that little green glob was detracting from her message and eroding her credibility. You know that everyone she speaks to is going to walk away remembering the spinach rather than her words.

You want to fix it for her, take your pinky fingernail and scrape it away, but you can't. You want to tell her, but there are others around and you don't want to embarrass her. You sit helplessly wishing you could change things for her.

As with the spinach, we all have aspects of ourselves and our behavior that we aren't aware of. We call them our blind spots. They are evident to everyone else but ourselves. For example, I have a client who is a fast-paced, no-nonsense communication manager for a highly visible organization. She is very talented, passionate about her work, the mission of her organization and its reputation. In her haste to be responsive to media requests and to get 'the right message' out, she often is abrupt with co-workers. In fact, she's brought more than one to tears. But she's moving so fast and is so focused on the outcome that she isn't even aware of the effect she has on others. When this was finally brought to her attention, she was genuinely shocked.

I was hired to coach her to help her identify and implement a different, more effective approach. The first time I met with Donna, she was still in the dark. She had heard the message that she was upsetting and alienating others, but she still didn't get it. She was still not aware. We sat down with her boss, and I asked him to give her some examples of when she had upset others. Her boss had several, which he shared in very specific terms. While Donna recalled the events, her memory of the impact she had had was quite different from the picture her boss painted. In fact, she had no idea that she had such a negative effect. Once aware, Donna was on alert. She started paying close attention to her interactions. She started to watch how others responded to her. She became aware of the powerful and often intimidating way in which she came across to people. She got it!

Awareness was only the first, albeit, critical step. Like the first smell of smoke when a fire is about to erupt. Now, she had to discover what triggered her behavior and develop new, more effective actions. I asked her to begin to observe herself, just as she had observed the reaction of others.

As a result of being a witness to her own behavior, she noticed that her body felt tense and her breathing became shallow under stressful circumstances. She actually felt fearful. Her inner voice began to warn her that things were going to go badly. She began to respond out of fear. You know, the place where you'd come from if you were being stalked by a tiger. That fear. It's a natural response. It's automatic, fight or flight! But it's a bit of overkill under the circumstances. Once she saw what was happening, she could take proactive steps to respond differently. She could change the conversation in her head, tell herself there was no real imminent danger, and she could choose a different, more effective way to communicate to gain both the information she needed and the relationships she wanted.

Now Donna's challenge is to make being an observer of herself a habit. She has to slow down enough to notice the physical and emotional cues her body is giving her and to quickly assess their relevance and respond appropriately. With enough practice, this process will become as automatic as her current fight or flight response... but it will be much more effective and will help her be much more successful and satisfied in her career.

If you aren't getting the results you want or having the relationships you'd like, pay close attention to people's reaction to you. Then, create a habit of observing yourself just as you observe others. It is a powerful way to increase self-awareness and therefore, self-development and growth.

About the Author:

Cindy Loughran is a certified professional coach and the founder and president of New Leaf Touchstone. Her products and services help people break out of their habitual patterns and make desired changes in order to turn over a new leaf and create a fulfilling and satisfying life. http://newsletters.selfgrowth.com/t/5877411/26408851/1057/0/

Check out the Experts page for Cindy Loughran, the SelfGrowth.com Official Guide to Habits: http://newsletters.selfgrowth.com/t/5877411/26408851/1058/0/

FINALLY:

        From David Whitley ('67) of VA - 06/23/09 - "Redneck Humor" (#3 in a Series of 11):

		Redneck Cellar    Thanks again, Gorgeous!
Redneck Cellar

1. 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

    To donate, click on the Donate Button on the left,  or just mail it to my home. Thanks! nnhs65@gmail.com
 

 I'll Cry Instead

- Words and Music by John Lennon composition credited to Lennon/McCartney

(The Beatles, 1964)


I've got every reason on earth to be mad, 'cause I've just
Lost the only girl I had. If I could get my way, I'd get
Myself locked up today, but I can't so I cry instead.
I've got a chip on my shoulder that's bigger than my feet, I
Can't talk to people that I meet. If I could see you now,
I'd try to make you sad somehow, but I can't so I cry instead.
Don't want to cry when there's people there, I get shy when
They start to stare, I'm gonna hide myself away, ay hay;
But I'll come back again someday.
And when I do you'd better hide all the girls, I'm gonna
Break their hearts all 'round the world. Yes, I'm gonna
Break them in two, and show you what your loving man can
Do, until then I'll cry instead.

Cry-Love Image courtesy of http://xergio.net/ampliar-6-2350/cry-love.html - 05/21/06

Blue Neon Bar Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.wtv-zone.com/nevr2l82/bars1.html - 06/25/06

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

Page Hit Counter clip art courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 03/07/06