09

Every now and then we receive a letter that just takes my breath away. This next letter is one of those.

Dear Carol:

I am emailing to tell you a little of what it is like now in Mississippi. I am not sure that people
will ever comprehend how powerful Katrina was. This hurricane was as strong as any that I
remember from my childhood.

I live in Starkville, Mississippi, which is 250 miles from the Mississippi coast. Yet when Katrina
hit Starkville it was still a hurricane. Hurricanes are not supposed to reach 250 miles inland, but
this one did. Meridian, Mississippi is about 150 miles from the coast and they had over 100 mph
winds. People realize the devastation along the Mississippi coast, but there were towns
in Mississippi that were destroyed that are 100 miles from the coast.

We had some minor damages, such as a gate ripped from its post and some shingles down. But
there was a lot of house and car damage from falling trees in Starkville.

My wife's cousin, her husband, and their three children are staying with us for awhile. They are
from Kenner, Louisiana and had to evacuate their home. They now have no jobs (both worked
at a hospital) and their children (ages 9, 10, & 16) have no idea when they will return to school.
I think my kids will remember this week for some time.

Many of my students are from the coast and no longer have no homes. Their parents no longer
have jobs and do not know when they will work again. My students' lives have certainly been
totally turned upside down. Their stories break my heart. I also will not forget this week for a
long time.

Steve

Stephen B. Klein
Professor and Head
Department of Psychology
Mississippi State, MS 39762

Steve, thank you so much for this update. I had no idea whatsoever that Katrina would have done so much
damage or impacted so very many lives. I read your note last night and thought by morning I would be able
to respond in some coherent manner, but the time I bought brought me no words, as I'm simply too overcome
with emotion.

Such mass destruction just defies all my abilities to even comprehend on a basic level, let alone the ramifications
it will have for years to come.

We will keep you and your family and your students and their families also in our thoughts and prayers. Please
continue to keep us posted.

From Jean Poole Burton ('64) of RI - 09/02/05 - "Happy Labor Day Weekend...":

I had the chocolate chip cookies ready to go into the oven and discovered that my oven would not light...so I
called my next-door neighbor to ask if I could use her oven. Sure, come on over. I was walking up the steps
to her front door, cookie sheet in each hand, when I tripped and fell, cookies go bye-bye! Luckily I was not
hurt except for a minor scrape, so I picked up the dough and deposited it in the garbage can. Fortunately there
was still enough dough back at my house in the bowl to make two dozen. I am telling them that these are very
valuable cookies and are to be eaten one slow bite at the time! Haha...Thank God my husband is taking us all
out to dinner tonight because I am ready for a drink the size of Texas! Have a great weekend!

Love, Jean (Poole) Burton '64

Jean, you're a HOOT! Thanks for sharing this with us; we could all use a bit of levity right now! I'm glad you didn't
really hurt yourself! Have fun with your little chickadees!!!

Think of the money I could have made.....from people screaming, "NO, please, STOP!!!!!"

(By the way, Jen, for the record, I am not a very sweet person. I am not even a regular sweet person. Although
I've known many, many nice people, I have only known about five sweet people in my lifetime, and I am definitely not
included in that number. I seem to be full of waaaaay too much mischief, nonsense, naughtiness, selfishness, and
downright meanness to meet the demands of the job description - but thanks for the compliment!)

Oh, my, The Oasis! That wonderful legendary restaurant in my stomping grounds is still open........on Kecoughtan
Road across from the White Oak Lodge......and that's another legend! So, you Typhoons visited Hampton territory,
huh? I'll bet you didn't tell anyone where you were from!?! I'm kidding, of course.......there were lots of places
in Newport News that I loved and still miss......like downtown......when I was a senior, I got my first credit card
with Leggett's Department Store. I dearly loved that store, and I was ecstatic when they opened one on Queen
Street in downtown Hampton, but it just wasn't the same. I loved walking Washington Avenue in the winter and
especially at Christmas and watching the parade!

The dinners are still great at the Oasis, but I have to say the breakfast are even better. I had the pleasure
of dining there the last time I visited the Virginia Peninsula. I happened to mention my visit to this favorite
Our Old Stomping Ground (to Sandra Canepa - '58 - of VA) and she confirmed the owners are still
very much involved in the community. Sandra has been spearheading a grass roots movement to save
Buckroe Beach Park. The owner of the Oasis Restaurant graciously permitted Sandra to set up a
petition signing station at the restaurant. One of the most pleasant surprises for Sandra was a gentleman
who came up to sign the petition. It was Marvin Turley, who was the Head Life Guard at the municipal
swimming pool for many years, and head of adult recreation at the World War II Memorial Recreation
Center. She was thrilled to see him, and shared this experience with me.

Joe Madagan ('57) of FL

Oh, yeah! I was soooo excited about that new image, I forgot to elaborate! Back in October of 2003 when I
learned they were still open, I could hardly wait to go there. Knowing that I would be coming to the Peninsula
for the Reunion of the Class of '63 in days, I called the Oasis and spoke with them. They told me the restaurant
had undergone some changes since I used to go there with my family back in the fifties, but they were still a
family-style restaurant, and they were now best known for their breakfasts.

With no time at all remaining, we sent out frantic emails and scheduled an all but impromptu mini-reunion:

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

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion2003.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/10-18-03-AM.html


Saturday, October 18, 2003
Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA, Pauline Collins Shofner ('65) of VA, Carol Buckley Harty ('65) of NC, and Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA	Dave Spriggs of VA ('64), Paul Harty of NC, Carol Buckley Harty ('65) of NC, Pauline Collins Shofner ('65) of VA, Charles Shofner of VA, Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA, and Lou Kressaty of VA	Dave Spriggs of VA ('64), Paul Harty of NC, Carol Buckley Harty ('65) of NC, Pauline Collins Shofner ('65) of VA, Charles Shofner of VA, Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA, and Lou Kressaty of VA

We had a delightful time. I make a point now of trying to stop there each time we visit the Peninsula.

Thanks, Adonis!

Okay, I redid the whole page:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/OOSG-N-R.html

From Gail Kiger Bonsey (Ferguson HS - '73) of OR - 09/02/05 - "Barbara Houston - loved her horse":

OH MY Goodness - get the word back to Barbara Houston - '68 a big big hello... just saw her comment
from Northern VA.......

I am sure this is the Barbara Houston, our Stuart Gardens neighbor. The class of '68 matches perfectly
with the time period.... Steve (Kiger '66) graduated with Joel Fisher; then I know you must be the
Barbara Houston - as the age of two years younger than Steve and about the same class as Joel's brother,
Jerry Fisher (probably same class as you - '68, I bet). I told this funny story about what we
did to Jerry (and unbeknownst you) once - wonder if we're talking about the same NNHS Barbara
Houston.

Do you remember my living across from your backyard? We were 1306-16th Street... you were across
backyard part... It was, hmmmm, about 1966 - you were a sophomore... had just gotten your drivers license...
and invited me to go with you to see your horse... somewhere boarded in Hampton(?)... my mother surprisingly
let me go... I got to rake horse manure - gee, thanks - but you let me ride some (my first of very few times
ever since on a horse).

I recall your mom and how she raised you alone and adored you; you and your long dark hair; me and
mischievous co-conspirator red-haired Beth Wingrove (Beth was about class of '70)... I said
co-conspirator as it was our idea to write a love note to Jerry FROM YOU and knock on his door and run
up in a big tree in front of their apartment. His mom, Rose, probably came to door... we thought we'd laugh
ourselves right out of the tree... Jerry was so cute, too - we thought it was a good match....

There was Jerry/Joel's unit; then yours, and Beth and her brother, Lester Wingrove (my 5th grade
boyfriend at that time - '66) lived on the end. Steve knows all these stories.....growing up there was like a
big college dorm - wasn't it? I would not trade Stuart Garden memories for living anywhere else on the
Peninsula...we had the beach at our front door/pony leagues/school/bus service - everything around us - sidewalks/trees/the tractor - man! How things have changed for kids of today. Guess that's why I like
Newberg, Oregon so much - it was like a little Mayberry town in the middle of a wine valley, raising our
son... just 40 minutes from Portland...the quaintness is just now starting to change.

Barbara, do you also recall the princess phones that Beth rigged up with the cord from your bedroom
to hers and you could talk? I was only 10-11, so to even have Beth acknowledge me was amazing...

Gail (Kiger) Bonsey - FHS '73 Portland, OR

From Tom Norris (Hampton HS - '73) of VA - 09/03/05- "WGHstuff coming for the website":

Hey there .... got this in the mail this week from Janice Pratt McGrew (HHS - '67) ... more to follow: "I was talking to my sister Sue (Sue Pratt Teadle, HHS - '61) after we hung up and asked her about the WGH Fan Club. It was just called the WGH Club. Sue was the secretary and Mike Mitchell (HHS - '58?) who is a member of my church was a vice president. Sue has a couple of newspaper articles about the club and it was begun either April 1958, 1959, or 1960. The clipping just says April and she did not include the date. I did not think that she had kept anything like that for she is not much of a packrat :-). She said she must have thrown away the minutes of the meetings for she did not have any of those. Will have to ask Charlotte if she has any 'stuff' from the club. One of the DJ's was the sponsor of the club but I did not recognize his name." I will get some scans and info over the next two weeks. Janice also brought over a few goodies the other night ... picture of her dad in his CRT uniform circa 1940s (with a great close-up of the CRT insignia on his hat) and some good driving pins including one pin with a beautiful 3D caricature of a CRT bus. I will conduct an actual interview with him to get his thoughts and memories on driving for CRT from 1939 until the strike in the '50s. Have a happy holiday ... and belated "un-birthday". Still planning on taking the red Vette down your ways .... whenever I can afford it :-). Babe

Sorry your trip was delayed, Babe. I was looking forward to that ride in your Corvette!

To: Carol Harty, Fred Mays, Dave Spriggs and Sandi Chestnut, Sat., Sept. 3, 05

I'm sorry to say I have had to cancel my trip to VA. I was scheduled to leave this morning.

Thursday I got two e-mails from friends in VA who warned me that gas availability is already a
problem there. Not just ridiculous price jumps, but NO GAS signs out at some stations.

I called my brother in Chesapeake and he said he has seen the same thing. Called daughter-
in-law in Kingsport, TN and she said she has heard similar from neighbors who have been out
driving.

Friday I went to AAA and was told that they are not recommending travel to the east coast by car.

My main worry was getting stranded somewhere, probably AR, TN or VA - states heavily dependent
on pipeline shipments from the Gulf area refineries.

I decided not to risk it. I had AAA cancel all 5 of my motel reservations. I also notified my high
school reunion committee to take me off the expected attendee list.

I'm not sure when I can put travel plans back together. Depends on things not predictable right
now. Maybe in the fall if early enough to avoid snow and ice. More likely in the springtime
between jonquils and tulips......

Dave - I was very pleased to see the postcard of the corner of Washington Avenue and 25th Street.
This must have been a very long time ago. I notice the streetcar tracks branching toward the 25th
Street bridge. I have a long article about the Boulevard Streetcar Line. Research on the story
revealed that there were a lot of routes in early times that were changed later. The original bridges
for 25th Street and 34th Street were similar to the 28th Street design - long slopes at each end.
This was necessary for streetcars and horse-drawn vehicles. The 28th Street bridge was the only
old-style one not changed. I need to update my streetcar article.

Sorry about the trip change. I promise to put it back together at some time.

Fred

I am soooo sorry you were forced into this position, Fred!! Not only was I personally looking forward to meeting you,
but missing a reunion to me is always a tragic event, and I'm so sorry you're having to miss yours! Thanks for telling
us.

...... Noticed Fred Field's cancellation. If you are of that mind, you can rationalize that all this
was part of a grander plan to avoid a car accident during his trip, and you can accept it as a
good thing. Either way, he has made a wise choice.

Well, of course, you're right, David. It's always better to exercise good judgment, and I certainly wouldn't want
Fred to be in jeopardy on such a long trip. It's just that I'm really such a brat. While I recognize in my mind that all
of that is true, emotionally I can still be having a silent tantrum. As you know, I'm far too outwardly polite to ever say
anything out loud, of course, but I'm still ranting and raving that Hurricane Isabel delayed the Reunion of 1963
for a couple of weeks, and forever altered so many things which were planned. AND it killed the beloved osage
orange tree of my childhood. But my parents and grandmother and aunts and sister all taught me never ever
to complain. Not only does it demonstrate a lack of gratitude and an insensitivity and disregard for others whose
sufferings are far greater than our own, it simply isn't ladylike, and hints of being ill bred, and is downright (GASP!)
tacky, so I would never utter a single word to that effect.

Thank you, Brown Eyes. I do appreciate your words. I'll try to be good, really I will. Sniff.

From Joe Drewry ('58) of VA - 07/05/05:

I'm forwarding the email I received from Julie, the daughter of Julius Benton.

From Julie Benton, daughter of Julius Benton ('58) - of VA and Renee Helterbran Benton ('59) -
of VA - 07/05/05:

Dear Mr. Drewry,

It is once again my honor to walk in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk on September 17, 2005
in my hometown of Gloucester, VA. I walk in honor of my Dad, Julius Benton, who has Pick's Disease, a
very rare dementia. Please click on the link below to access my personal website and find out more about
my dad.

Please remember that no gift is too small and every bit helps. It is through your generous donations that
family members and assisted living homes receive support to care for our loved ones with dementia.

Thank you so much for your help and God bless you!

Julie

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Alzheimer's
Association Greater Richmond Chapter

******************************************************************************
Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not appear to work. If so,
copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://memorywalkgloucester.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=104896&u=104896-45869446&e=332193286
******************************************************************************

Julie Benton

WOWZERS!!! I just checked Julie's page - that's mighty impressive!!! Congratulations!

Hi, Joe! Howard was indeed a member of the Class of 1959. Let's put out the word and see what we can find!
"Anyone? Anyone?"

Funding appeal?!? Well, a new scanner would be nice! WILD GIGGLES!!! Thanks, Joe!

		The Girl That I Marry Lyrics and Music by Irving Berlin, 1946 From the musical, "Annie Get Your Gun" The girl that I marry will have to be As soft and as pink as a nursery The girl I call my own Will wear satins and laces and smell of cologne

		Her nails will be polished and, in her hair, She’ll wear a gardenia and I’ll be there `stead of flittin’, I’ll be sittin’ Next to her and she’ll purr like a kitten

		A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be Her nails will be polished and, in her hair, She’ll wear a gardenia and I’ll be there `stead of flittin’, I’ll be sittin’ Next to her and she’ll purr like a kitten A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be