12/13/07 - NNHS Newsletter
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions
of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth,
and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!"

- Charles Dickens
(7 Feb 1812 - 9 June 1870)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

We first used this theme for a Newsletter three years ago today - and the sentiments I expressed in the opening line to it have not changed one iota!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-13-04-NNHS-Most-Wonderful-Time.html

"Have I mentioned that this is my favorite time of year? I've never once kept pace with it in all its areas, but maybe that's part of the fun and excitement."

BIRTHDAYS - TODAY AND UPCOMING:

Happy Birthday today to Kay Davis Smith ('57)! On Friday, we'll have another Two-Fer! Elizabeth Mitchell Hedgepeth ('57) AND Kathie Avant Taylor ('64) of GA will both be celebrating then! On Saturday we'll have yet another Two-Fer! Jewell Hamner Crowe ('57) and Buster Vest ('63) of VA will both be observing their birthdays then!

Many Happy Regards to all of y'all!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html

From Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA - 12/06/07 (but not inexplicably not appearing in my mail until 12/11/07) - "You Gotta Watch This!!":

I've sent you things before but this is by far the best ever! April (my daughter) and her family attended a performance of this last night. The performance you will see is the one from last Christmas; it is done each Christmas at the West End Church Of God in Richmond, Virginia. Please tell me how much you enjoyed this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWOcaRQDhyo

Thank you, Joyce! I've never seen anything like this - especially the ending!

From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 12/09/07 - "Daughtry":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C_oHwLcivY

GREAT SONG! (My daughter) Emily and I have played this about 8 x tonight!

Thanks, Shari! (Y'all will need to open this in another window.)

From Pat Beck Letzinger ('57) of VA - 12/10/07 - "One Day at a Time":

This is great!!! Click link or copy and paste into your web browser (or whatever it's called) Anyway,

enjoy.

Pat

http://www.frontiernet.net/~jimdandy/specials/onedayatatime/onedayatatime.htm

This is a great reminder of things that are all too easy to forget, Pat - THANKS!

From one of my Famous Marines, Herb Hice of MI, who served in the Pacific Theater during WWII - 12/10/07 - "Dear Carol / Dimples, Today's Christmas ???":

Dear Carol / Dimples

I don't know who wrote this BUT, It's worth thinking about.

Herbie

Today's Christmas??

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy with Christmas time chores

Like decorating, and baking,and shopping in stores.

No one sang, "Away in a Manger, no crib for a bed".

Instead, they sang of Santa dressed up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap

As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap.

When what from the TV suddenly caught their ears?

'Twas an ad which told of a big sale at Sears!

So away to the mall they all flew like a flash...

Buying things with their credit cards, others with cash.

And, as they made their way home from their trip to the mall,

Did they think about Jesus? Oh no....not at all.

Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things,

No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.

How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior...they had not time to stop,

Because they needed more time to "shop til they dropped!"

On Wal-Mart! On K-Mart! On Target! On Penney's!

On Hallmark! On Sales! A quick lunch at Denny's!

From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall,

They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!

And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter,

As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash, he hung lights that would twirl,

Yet he never once prayed to Jesus, the Light of the World!

Christ's eyes...how they twinkle! Christ's spirit...how merry!

Christ's love...how enormous! All our burdens...He'll carry!

So instead of being busy, overworked and uptight,

Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This is very nice! Thanks, Herbie Darlin'!

From Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 12/10/07 - "4th Marriage":

From my long time good buddy

Rip (Collins - '65 - of TN); yet another bit of his infinite wisdom!

The 80 year old woman

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married -- for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband's occupation.

"He's a funeral director," she answered.

"Interesting," the newsman thought.

He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she'd first married a banker when she was in her early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, later on a preacher when in her 60's, and now in her 80's, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go."

WILD GIGGLES!!! Thanks, Wayne Honey - and Rip Precious!

From Pat Beck Letzinger ('57) of VA - 12/10/07 - "I WISH FOR YOU TODAY":

Today...I wish you a day of ordinary miracles -

A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.
I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing along song on the radio.

Your keys right where you look.
I wish you a day of happiness and perfection-little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.

I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this phrase to the people you'll never forget.
It's a short message to let them know that you will always remember them with a smile in your heart.
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're just too tired. Get some rest. Keep this as New and send tomorrow!!!!

Such happy thoughts! Thanks again, Pat!

From Jean Poole Burton ('64) of RI - 12/10/07 - "You will love this":

Ode to Plurals

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,

But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.

One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,

Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,

Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,

Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,

And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,

Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,

Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,

And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren,

But though we say mother, we never say methren.

Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,

But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

Let's face it - English is a crazy language!

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither

apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't

invented in England. We take English for granted,

but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that

quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,

and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't

fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but

not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends

and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a

humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the folks

who grew up speaking English should be committed to

an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play

and play at a recital? We ship by truck but send

cargo by ship. We have noses that run and feet that

smell. We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.

And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the

same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a

language in which your house can burn up as it burns

down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out,

and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

And, in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?

WILD GIGGLES!!! Oh, yes, I DO love it, Jean! Thanks!

From Colin Faison ('58) of VA to Glenn Dye ('60) of TX - 12/11/07:

Hi Glenn;

Plugging in your "bionics" will make a big difference for you. With a slow heart, your body does not get the fuel and oxygen that it needs to properly operate. When your pacemaker gets your body fuel levels back to where they should be, you WILL notice the difference. Warning, just be careful and carry the little card they give you to show people when you go thru metal detectors ;-) They have been known to set them off !! - not often, but once in a while it happens.

Hope you make it to the gathering in the Spring;
Colin

P.S. Sometimes I wish mine did not work as well; might be able to get out of some of the "honey-dos" my wife has for me :-)

GIGGLES! Thanks so much, Colin!

From Kathie Avant Taylor ('64) of GA - 12/11/07 - "New Typhoon":

Hello Carol,

I am Kathie Avant Taylor. Jean Poole Burton ('64 - of RI) has mentioned me in a few of her notes to the NNHS letter you write each day. I enjoy the newsletters and thank you for all the effort you put into this. I have never been to a reunion but plan to come to them from now on. It has been great to keep up with classmates from your daily notes. I have also reconnected with two of my friends from high school, Brenda Todd Kruse ('64) and Nancy Mitchell Wynne ('64 - of MD) and it has been great.

I am writing to see how I add something to the newsletter. I do not have anything right now but would like to know for future reference. I did notice you list birthdays and mine is this coming Friday, December 14, but I think you have already listed the ones for December.

Merry Christmas,

Kathie

Just send your thoughts to me in an email, Kathie; I'll do all the work! My children keep badgering me to simply create a blog and give myself an extra ten hours of free time a day, but that's not likely to happen any time soon.....

And as I try to announce a week's worth of birthdays beginning each Monday, you made it to our list just in time! Happy Birthday, Lady!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html

From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 12/11/07 - "A reindeer cloud":

With Christmas just around the corner, a Wellington photographer's skyward discovery has all the makings of a jolly prank. But Alan Blacklock's shot of a cloud formation that looks remarkably like a reindeer is the real deal and not some festive lark. The happy snapper, a photographer for Niwa, captured the shot while sitting in the backyard of his suburban Paparangi home late on Sunday afternoon. "I was just in the right place at the right time. It was a fluke, just one of those things," he said.

HOW COOL!!! Thanks, Shari!

From Barbara Brewer ('69) of VA - 12/12/07 - "HI":

I have enjoyed the recent letters. I concur with Glenn Dye ('60 - of TX) as to the X-phone sound. I was one of the "Bells" at times. After I advanced to the French Horn, I had to play the bells in a parade due to an illness. I remember having someone renewing my memory of the musical lines in the bus on the way to the parade. Those were the days.

I also enjoyed seeing the B-days for the class of '57. I would really like to see the photos of the reunion as I have a brother, Bill Brewer, in that class.

I hope that everyone is having a really good season and are remembering the troops. I have a trooper and I am trying to send something to him. I usually do something really practical. I will send something that will be practical and may be shared to someone other than my son. Iraq does not have the same season, although, we will have had some almost 80 degree weather.

Most of our customs are an mix of other cultures. We need to be respective of those cultures. Growing up in N. News gave us all a really important cultural experience. We have grown from the experience.

We need to keep in prayers our friends and families in this season.

Barbara Brewer

Thanks so much, Barbara!

From Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 12/12/07 - "Dedicated Packer Fan":

A guy named Bob receives a free ticket to Lambeau Field from his company. Unfortunately, when Bob arrives at the stadium he realizes the seat is in the last row in the corner of the stadium he is closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the field..

About halfway through the first quarter, Bob notices an empty seat 10 rows off the field right on the 50 yard line. He decides to take a chance and makes his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat.

As he sits down, he asks the gentleman sitting next to him, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" The man says no.

Now, very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Bob again inquires of the man next to him, "This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at a Packer game and not use it?"

The man replies, "Well, actually, the Seat belongs to me, I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Packer game we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967.

"Well, that's really sad," says Bob, "but still, couldn't you find someone to take the seat? A relative or a close friend?"

"No," the man replies, "they're all at the funeral."

OHHHHH - that's bad!!! Thanks, Wayne Honey!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

1. Friday and Saturday, May 16 - 17, 2008 - NNHS CLASS OF 1958

From Glenn Dye ('60) of TX - 11/28/07 - "Feel good - AAAHHH!" (#8 in a series of 10):

Have a great week!

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God!

Get angry once in a while...

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Thanks so much, Glenn! I love these images - and the advice is great!

There's much more to come - next time! Meanwhile, Good Yule - and Merry Christmas!

Y'all take care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!

Love to all, Carol

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

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

"I only have two kinds of days: happy and hysterically happy."

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

Carol Buckley Harty
219 Four Ply Lane
Fayetteville, NC 29311-9305
910-488-9408

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

- Eddie Pola and George Wyle, 1963

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
With the kids jingle belling,
and everyone telling you,
"Be of good cheer,"
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

There'll be parties for hosting,
marshmallows for toasting and
caroling out in the snow.
there'll be scary ghost stories and
tales of the glories of Christmases
long, long ago.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
There'll be much mistletoeing
and hearts will be glowing,
when loved ones are near.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

“It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” midi courtesy of http://www.walkthroughlife.com/midis/christmas/mostwonderful.htm - 12/13/04

“It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” lyrics courtesy of http://www.rienzihills.com/ChristmasSing/themostwonderfultime.htm - 12/13/04

Holly Image courtesy of http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?cat=477 - 12/12/07

Holly Bar Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/lines-christ7.htm - 12/17/05

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 Herbert Hice of MI - one of my Famous Marines who served in the South Pacific during WWII.
Thanks, Herbie!

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