09

Just in case something happens and I don't publish a Newsletter tomorrow (which is entirely possible),
Jeanette Parrish Houston ('64) of VA will be celebrating her birthday then. So Happy Birthday, Jeanette!

Here's the first thing I'm trying to remember. I think I attached a midi of one of my favorite songs somewhere, and I can't find it.
It's entirely possible that I imagined the whole thing, but should one of you chance to find the words and tune to Evanescence's
"My Immortal" on one of the pages - and I really can't imagine what it might be, please let me know. Thanks.

The second thing that's bugging me is a popular song which popped into my head last week. It's sung by a woman. That's about
all I remember. My poor little brain has at last recovered the entire melody but no lyrics. If anyone wants to play "Name That Tune"
with me, please send me your phone number, and I'll call you up and "La-La-La" it to you.

I have NEVER waited five days before posting Dave's lovely images before! If I'm not more careful, he's gonna quit
sending me those gorgeous images, and then I'll have to just cry forever.

This brings me to the third thing I'd like to remember. My favorite Stuart Gardens bus driver was a pretty, petite brunette
with curly hair. When I first met her, it was shoulder length, but sometime in about '64 or '65 she cut it quite short. She was
unfailingly smiling and cheerful. Does anyone remember her name?

Carol,
I have attached a brief history of track at NNHS. There are some great memories for those of us lucky enough
to have run for Coach Conn and Coach Nuttycombe. Thanks,
Albert

Obviously, we've opened up a new link, to which we'll be steadily adding images and memories - and music. Dave Spriggs ('64)
of VA selected the title music, John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare". Raoul Weinstein ('57) of FL chose "Speedo" by the Cadillacs
which will be attached to the '57 page, and Albert himself thought of 1965's "Catch Us if You Can", which will be added to the '65 page.

From Susie Overton Jones ('63) of VA to Suzanne Van Noy Minks ('64) of OH - 09/12/04:

Gosh...you were so tall, how well I remember you. The GIRDLE THING! UGH! How dreadful! All the girls wore them,
they were the IN THING!! I as a senior in high school - 5' tall, 90 lbs. wore a girdle, and thought I was FAT! Now I look
in the mirror, and think NOW I need the girdle, do they still sell them?
Looking forward to seeing you and all the alumnus in October.

Yeah, I remember that...Suzanne was always gorgeous. I never saw her looking even the slightest bit disheveled. I'll bet she's
still a knockout, too.

I remember when I graduated I was 5' 2-1/4", weighed 115, and had a 22" waist. Sigh. Leave it to me, with all the things I've
managed to forget, to remember such tormenting data! Have y'all seen that hateful commercial where it says that women can
expect to gain ten pounds every decade or sumpin'? How rude is that?!?

Hi Carol,
Our 35th reunion (class of '69) weekend was a fabulous success! I would like to thank you for all of the help you
provided us in our efforts to find missing people. The "missing list" really helped. In total, we were able to locate
approximately 150 of the 208 classmates and ended up having 68 in attendance. Next time (our 40th) we will start planning
earlier, because there were a number of people who could not come due to the fact that they had made other plans before
knowing of the reunion.
I guess you can now eliminate our missing list from the website at this time. In its place, I would love for you to put
a note that everyone in our class should make sure that any name, address, phone or email changes should be reported to
Jean Baker Howell at hokie13mom@cox.net or Lee Grizzle at ngrizzle69@yahoo.com so we can continue to keep them informed. Again, thanks for all your hard work.

I removed your missing list (though I still have it in my files, of course), and I'll attach these changes soon.

Hi Carol,
Surprise!! I was reading your website about Briarfield. I too was a Briarfieldton. I remember Manor Market and the Cut Rate
Drug Store where all the "Bad" guys hung out. Along with a police officer name of Saunders, who later was a Captain in NN and
later still went skating with me and others after he retired. I too went to the community center. Had my 16th birthday party there.
I lived on Marshall Ave almost directly behind Donna, Sandra, and Gay Worsham. I was sorry to hear about their Mom passing.
We used to play together as 9, 10 years olds, etc. until we were in our teens. Also, we were considered in Warwick County and I went
to Warwick Jr. High school in the 8th grade. Hated it. Transferred to NN after that, loved it. So lots of us folks in the Briarfield area
did go to Warwick High School. I have lots of "friends" that went there. Some of their parents still live in that area too! I even married
a Warwick Farmer. But you and I know that we in that area are certainly a part of the NNHS tradition. True Blue and Gold.

Thanks Carol for keeping your website going. Mine is still there, just no one else goes there, only me. But at least I inspired you to make
one and keep it going. Having time means a lot to doing this I know. And of course a little expert help doesn't hurt. Hee hee. right??
Heard about Brownie, sure know they will be glad to get away from Storms if nothing else. I really thought that they were not moving
for about 2 years.
Well, keep up the Great work. Enjoy it so much.
Brenda

Hey, Brenda! I posted your comments on the Briarfield page:

I still go there on a regular basis to see if anyone new has signed your Guest Book, but for some reason, it's hard to talk people
into doing that. And you were indeed my inspiration for this website! And I'm only able to maintain it at the moment by investing
12-14 hours days on it. Few people have that luxury. Fewer still had the advantage of the live-in tech reps I had (my #5 and #6 sons,
Nathaniel and Dale) for the first three years of its existence. That's another good reason I miss those guys!

Carol -- I read Stacy Dorn's ('64 of VA) notes on Antine's with interest, since it was one of my favorite hang-outs.

However, when I looked at the first picture on the page, looking down Washington Avenue at the intersection of 28th, I was hit
by a totally forgotten memory. In that picture, Antine's was on the left. The red brick building on the opposite corner was the old
First National Bank.

In grade school at John W. Daniel, many of us would go to the bank after December 1 and get one of those neat "one-page-per-day"
calendars they gave away. That was the easy part.

The big game was trying to get a second one! The lady who was in charge of the calendars had a memory like a steel trap -- you
couldn't get a second one no matter what. We would go in and wear disguises, change our voice, etc. -- in essence, try anything
to fool her. It never worked -- even if you came in several weeks later. She'd say "I think you already got one, and I can only give
one per person." It didn't do any good to protest. She was never nasty -- & probably enjoyed playing the game against us. Sure
wish I knew her name. I bet she could really tell us some hilarious stories about our shenanigans.

A group of three or four of us did fool her one time, in about the 5th grade -- we forged a note from one of our teachers. I got elected
to take the note to the bank, and was terrified the whole time that the cops would show up and arrest me for forgery! I think the whole
group lived with that fear for several weeks! We didn't try that trick again in the future. We drew straws to see who would get to keep
it -- can't recall who "won" the extra trophy.

By the time high school rolled around, we wouldn't even try -- we'd just go get our one per year. Anybody else remember
playing that game?

Thanks, Ron! I share your enthusiasm of Antine's. I think it was one of the first ten places added to "Our Old Stomping Grounds",
It was certainly one of the very first that I remembered.

I suppose we'll need to add a First National Bank page. This is too charming a story just to bury in the Newsletters.

My grandmother, Birdie Harwood, made clothing for the Darling family and delivered the items driving a horse and buggy...
as a young woman before she was married. She was a talented seamstress and sewed beautiful clothing for the wealthy
Hamptonians. Later she married and had five children and sewed for her family. She made me a dress for my first piano
recital at age 6. She sewed many beautiful things without using a pattern. My piano teacher was Audrey Walker, mother
of Jane Walker and Melinda Walker, who graduated from NNHS. Jane was a cheerleader (I do not know what class she
was in but I believe a couple of years before us...probably '62). The Walkers lived down the street from us on Maple
Avenue. Just a bit of trivia to add to the Hamptonian section of our site! Hugs,
Jean

Thanks, Jean! Jane was indeed the Head Cheerleader in '62, and Melinda was in the Class of '59. I remembered both
of those correctly without looking, but I double-checked them just to make sure!

I think I saw it somewhere but couldn't find it today - my e-mail address. Would you mind putting it with the Class of 1966?

Also, I saw that you had posted the dinner invitation on Sept. 18 at Angelo's in Newport News (starting at 6:00 p.m.) for all classes.
However, when I went into this e-mail I couldn't find it.
You have so many neat things out there that I forget which link I clicked the last time.

If Ivan decides to give us bad weather, most likely I will send out a notice to postpone. We certainly won't cancel the dinner but
simply find a later date - any excuse to get together will do!

Giggles! I hope I've made it easier for you, Dee! There are NO emails posted on the Alumni List, but I did attach a note to it today:

Thanks, Dee! DO keep us posted! Last year, '63 of course was forced to cancel theirs due to Isabel (which ruined my life, grumble, grumble),
but then you remember far more about Isabel than I ever want to know.

Okay, Carol - here goes my maiden name .....Melody Clendenin. It's a doozie! Thanks for the nice responses. I so enjoy
reading what folks write to you. LOVED the message about girdles from Suzanne Van Noy Minks ('64 of OH).. I can relate.
Now I won't bother you with anymore petty dribble, but will continue to read your wonderful newsletters. You're the greatest,
Carol!

P.S. I do want to mention that Joe ('57) and Eva (Ellis - '61) Madagan (of FL) were in our Sunday School class
at Northside Church of Christ back in the '70's:)

I always thought Clendenin was a very melodic name, Melody, so I guess you have the perfect first name, too! Thanks so much
for all your notes. Please chime in any time - it's a pleasure - and you're certainly no bother! You and Jimmy are coming to the
Glorious Reunion, aren't you? I'm really looking forward to meeting you!

Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA sent us the latest list of people confirming their reservations for that gala event this morning.
Y'all take another peek to see just one more reason why you want to be there, too! Then send the man your paperwork and $$$!

Once again, I've spent about eleven hours on the keyboard today, once again I'm not finished, and once again, I'm gonna hafta stop.
What's wrong with this picture?!!? I must not be holding my mouth right...

Try to Remember

From The Fantasticks

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.

Try to remember and if you remember, then follow,
(echo) Follow, follow, follow, follow
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.

Try to remember and if you remember, then follow,
(echo) Follow, follow, follow, follow
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Deep in December it's nice to remember it's nice
To remember altho' you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December it's nice to remember it's nice
To remember without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December it's nice to remember
The fire of September that made use mellow.

Try to remember and if you remember, then follow,
(echo) Follow, follow, follow, follow
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Thanks to T. Roberts (marmoht@bellsouth.net)