New Movers and Shakers

Let's face it. Our days (the CHS class of '54) of "moving and shaking" are over!
However!!!!........We can still bask in that special feeling and glow of  pride when our children and grandchildren receive special honors and appointments!

Such is the case with our own R.L. Clark, whose son, Robert has just received and important and prestigious appointment from the Governor of Michigan:

Gov. Rick Snyder makes appointment to the State Board of Accountancy

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Robert (Lee) Clark of Saline to the State Board of Accountancy.
Housed within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the nine-member board oversees licensure and certification requirements for certified public accountants and public accounting firms.
“I thank Lee for his commitment to overseeing the licensing of Michigan accountants. I am confident he will be a positive asset to the board,” Snyder said.
Clark will serve the remainder of a four-year term expiring June 30, 2019. His appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Ed

Goodbye, been nice knowing ya!

Ah. those Sunday afternoons....watching professional football!  Eddie LeBaron scramling.....Sammy Baugh throwing those perfect spirals....Sonny, Billy, Joe, etc. What a hoot!  What entertainment, What pleasure they brought to our Sunday afternoons!

Thanks, Guys!

But your bosses (the NFL) have ,by  allowing all this political  BS  (Colin Kuperknick, etc. to get out of hand) in essence, told us to take our white, conservative  butts and take a hike.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do!  And I have a feeling I won't be the only one.

This ain't 1950 (unfortunately).  There are lots of other things to do besides watch football games on TV.

By the time you realize the huge mistake you're making  by caving in to this "political correctness crap," it will be too late.

We'll be gone, baby.....GONE!   And we ain't coming back.

RIP, NFL!

Ed

A Note from the Highlands

I love getting emails from old CHS54 buddies!   It's a feeling very close to the way our soldiers overseas must feel when they receive a "LETTER FROM HOME!"  -Ed

   "I can't remember whether or not I sent you the picture from Warren and Mary Sandra's visit.  They came to Highlands for a brief overnighter and it was great.  We did some reminiscing but actually spent more time sharing our thoughts and opinions about what is happening in the here and now.  Pretty amazing that we are all "on the same page"! Wish we could do more real life visits rather than virtual visits.  I will say that if things play out, Frances and I will be in the DC area twice in the coming months.  We will be there the last week in October and probably the first week in December.  I'm thinking the December visit will give me the opportunity to visit with my classmate Edward.

    Irma hit us up here, some places worse than others.  We lost power for about 18 hours but I have a small portable generator that runs my refrigerator, furnace and one circuit of lights that I can hook up in situations like this.  My adopted hometown, "The Holy City", Charleston sustained a lot of flooding.  Am attaching a picture of the market.  They just deal with and move on.  My first hurricane experience was in October of 1954 as a freshman at The Citadel.  Hazel came roaring through moving up the coast to Ocean Drive and wiping that place out.  Then in September 1989 hurricane Hugo did a direct hit on Charleston and headed due north and slammed Charlotte.  We were out of power for two weeks with that one. Opal hit us here in Highlands in 1995 and we sustained a lot of tree damage and power outage.  In 2004 Ivan ripped through and brought about 8 inches of rain.  This was the hurricane that swept the community of Peeks Creek down the mountain killing 4.  Now here comes Irma September 2017 and I go through that again.  What's wrong with this picture.  Here we are in the mountains, elevation 4118' and 200 miles from the coast and we keep getting hit by hurricanes! "

    

Obie Oakley

Say WHAT?!

There'll be no peaches down in Georgia, no oil in Oklahoma
No sun in Arizona, no stars in California
No cowboys out in Texas, no wheat fields in Kansas
No Colorado skies of blue
When I stop loving you

AND......When teenage boys stop wanting to drive cars!

Old age is full of surprises, and one of the most incomprehensible facts about today's teenagers that frankly knocked me for a loop....was learning that today's boys don't give a hoot about getting their drivers licenses!

I Don't know nothin 'bout a lot of things....but I thought I knew a lot about teenage  boys, because I used to be one...a long time ago...and the thrill of driving a car was almost as exciting as kissing your girlfriend.  In fact, the two pretty much went together.

I haven't seen any explanation  that makes sense to me.  Some blame it on the internet. They say today's teenage boys do their flirting on the internet...so they don't need to do it in person.

That sounds pretty dumb to me.  You can't kiss a computer screen.  (Well, you CAN......but it won't kiss you back.)

But, I'm 81and a half years old....and kissing girls is just one of the many things I don't have to concern myself with anymore.

Dammit!

Ed 

Donald Cooke Update

Note from Donald Cooke's Daughter:

"I am the eldest daughter of Donald Bundy Cooke. I regret to inform you that he passed away in 1989. He is survived by his wife, six children, and nine grandchildren. I'm sure that I speak for my entire family when I say that we appreciate your recognition of his military service."

LDL Next Tuesday

By Jerry Gaudet

"LDL" (Let's do lunch) will be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 11:30 AM at "Jimmies" Restaurant in Mint Hill.

We look forward to seeing you.  Please help spread the word!  Invite other classmates to come!  Even better, bring someone with you! 

We sure hope you'll come!

 -JG

 

It Takes Courage...

...sometimes when you're our age....to make a simple phone call.

I had been planning on calling an old radio and TV buddy of mine I hadn't spoken to  in years to see how he was....and probably reminisce a bit....BUT....what if all I get for my effort is "bad news!"  ...such as....he's very ill, or he's in some old folks home...and can't take phone calls.....or...or....who knows...maybe he isn't even "vertical" any more.

I have enough "old man" issues of my own (Nothing big at the moment, thank the Lord) without hearing about others.

But, I gathered up what courage I have left....and dialed!
Lo and behold, "HELLO" a strong and familiar voice answered......
It was the same one we all were so familiar with....when we were "young and beautiful!"

Jimmy Kilgo

I almost expected him to say, "Welcome to another big old Friday date night...."
but then, I remembered ....we were on the phone....not the radio.
....and I was talking to a Charlotte teenage idol of the 1950's.....and a good friend of mine from our days at WSOC-TV...Jimmy Kilgo!

What a "hoot" it was talking with him...like it was 1958 again!
Who says there's no such thing as "time travel?"  Balderdash!

He still sounds exactly the same as he did almost 60 years ago!

He said that I did too.  

Which gave me a great idea!

We'll produce a new TV show called...."Dancing With the Fogies" featuring seniors over 80 jitterbugging....and shagging....and ....and....

Oh well....back to the drawing board!

-Ed

Old Times

"Getting old....ain't for sissies!"

True words, if there ever were any!  But, there's a price for just about everything, and living way past our expiration dates...ain't cheap.

And I'm not talking just about money.

But that too.

I'm talking about the cost to our egos.......by simply glancing in the mirror from time to time....suddenly becoming aware of how slowly we get out of our cars....well meaning strangers insisting on helping us carry packages.....check out clerks not even asking if we qualify for senior discounts anymore (It's been years since I was asked that question.).....being called "Pops" by the bag boy at the Giant......etc....etc....)

But, there's also an "up side!"  Chiefly, in my opinion, not having to get in horrible traffic....and go to work every morning!"   

Or got to school!  No POP QUIZES!   NO HOMEWORK!    NO REP:ORT CARDS!  NO DETENTION!  NO "BEING LATE" AGAIN!  

Now that I think about it....getting old ain't so bad.

-Ed