10/03/04 - NNHS Newsletter - Butterflies Are Free

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

   Just a Reminder:  Paul and Adrienne and I will be flying to St. Louis on Thursday, October 7 for a reunion with five of my six sons,
all eight of my grandchildren, assorted in-laws and friends, and the wedding of my third son on Saturday.  I won't arrive home until late
on Monday night, October 11.  I'll not be able to access my files, do any work on the web site, write any Newsletters, or reach my
regular mail account (NNHS65@nc.rr.com) while I'm gone.  It will all be there when I return, but I won't see it until then.  Should you need
to contact me, you may use my old account: NNHS65@yahoo.com.  A couple of you also have other yahoo addies which will work too. 
Thanks for your patience.

To hear Puccini's incomparable Un Bel Di aria from Madame Butterfly

From Me ('65) of NC:

   Thank you so very much for your recent financial contributions.  They were most gratefully received.  Y'all are the best!

   "Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real."

   - Jules Verne (1828-1905)

From my sister, Eleanor Buckley Nowitzky ('59) of NC - 10/01/04:

Carol,
Here is the famous Toto. The question is, "Just how many has he kissed?" The second question is,
"Is the Toto a boy or a girl?"
Love,
Eleanor

 
Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - York Campbell following another incredible performance as Toto
in "The Wizard of Oz" - and friend
 

   Ah, good questions!  I just do not know the answers.  Thanks for the adorable pictures, though, Eleanor!  What a sweet little
puppy dog!  I'm glad you were able to snag some kisses, too!

The Story of Madame Butterfly

From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 10/02/04:

On behalf of the NNHS 64/40 Reunion Committee, I am pleased to report
to the Class of 1964 that Mr. J. William Etheridge, our esteemed former
Principal, has accepted our invitation to attend our Reunion on Saturday,
October 23rd, 2004.

   Thank you, Dave!  This is now posted:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion2004.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion2004-attending.html

OTHER PAGE UPDATES:

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

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/colonial-motor-courts.html - two additional images

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/doumars.html - BRAND NEW PAGE!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/nehi.html - additional image

Everything You Need to Know about Madama Butterfly

From Eric Huffstutler (BHS - '75) - 10/02/04:

Carol,
 
"DUCK AND COVER"
 
This classroom filmstrip starring Bert the Turtle, is probably more familiar to you guys than me yet resonates
in my mind.  I even own a copy!
 
The term was born out of the Cold War as were many Federal Agencies that precedes the US Department
of Homeland Security.  In 1961, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and its familiar yellow and black fallout
shelter signs arrived on the scene. You know, the three yellow triangles pointing towards the center posted
outside of public buildings directing to their basements.  They eventually disappeared once the Cold War
threat lessened and people became complacent then totally disappeared by 1979 when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was established to take over.  Of course the thought of a basement saving one
in a nuclear blast is laughable today but serious in the 50s and 60s.  I remember seeing these signs all
around including at the Stonewall Jackson Elementary School (long demolished) I attended for a couple
of grades in the mid 60s.  The siren tests too from the Shipyard and seeing many military trucks driving
down the streets coming from the Armory near NNHS which later became the site of architect offices
for Newport News Shipbuilding, and the knowledge of missile silos off of Jefferson Avenue.  It really gave
you a feeling that you were in the middle of a military town and something was going on!
 
What are your Cold War memories in Newport News?
 
Eric

   Thanks, Eric!

   I personally remember the signs (see one pictured below) better than I do any attending stories.  In fact the only thing that's coming
to mind now is I remember thinking at the time what a ludicrous thought it was that anything would be able to protect anyone under such circumstances.  Given my scientific aptitude (or amazing lack thereof), it's rather amusing that I made that deduction at 14.

       
1965 Anchor - Henry Hoyle ('65) and Carol Firestone ('66) outside Nachman's        

   Okay, Gang, bring out the stories for Eric!  I'll keep searching the deep recesses of my mind.

   By the way, Eric, how on earth did you get a copy of that school film?!?  I've always wanted a copy of one of those many, many,
MANY films they showed us (presumably because we were "city kids") about Farmer Brown and his big combines and tractors and
livestock and Life on the Farm.  The rich baritone of the narrator's voice remains with me still.

  
   Meanwhile, Eric, I consulted my Panel of Experts:

From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 10/02/04:

Hi, Carol:

While attending Walter Reed School in my youth, I can recall drills that required all the students to leave the classrooms and
proceed to the basement of the building. We were timed as to how long it took the student body to make it to the basement,
which was considered a safer location in event of a nuclear attack. The all clear signal would be given, and we would make our
way back to the classrooms for more instruction in the "Three R's" (reading, 'riting, 'rithmatic).
Of course, we had numerous drills that involved getting under the desk for cover in event early warning was not given in time
for evacuation into the basement.
These drills continued while I attended John W. Daniel School and Newport News High School.
The Korean War was going on at this time, and the Chinese had entered the war and the Soviets supported the North Koreans.
The threat was real for within a 30 mile radius there were 18 military installations, and the world's largest private shipyard 
building naval warships.
Most of us had endured years of "Black Out Drills" during World War II. These were really frightening for I was much younger,
and the threat was very real with German Submarines entering U.S. waters on the east coast of our Nation. I remember running
to the different rooms of our house to pull down the dark green windows shades to comply with the black out sirens warning
of danger. We never knew if it was a drill or the real thing, until the "All Clear" signal was sounded. To me the best defense was
to join the military, and do my part, and I enlisted in the USMC on my 17th Birthday. I wanted to stand up to this threat, and
the Marines seemed to be getting the job done in my youthful eyes. Later, the Cuban Missile Crisis manifested all of our fears
of a nuclear holocaust with Russian-made missiles only 80 miles away from our shores. It was "Lock and Load Time" for the
Marine Corps back then.
Always,
Joe

   Thanks so much, Joe.  Your unique perspective and near total recall of practically everything always delights and amazes me. 
You're giving me quite an education, and I really appreciate it.

From Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA - 10/02/04:

Thorpe Junior High in Hampton had a fallout shelter .... and those loud-ass air raid sirens on the roof. In 8th grade my
homeroom was on the third floor right beneath those sirens. What a treat to hear them go off once a month! I lived three
blocks away ... and they were loud at my house. Ear-splitting at close range!

Now .... working at Surry Nuclear Power Station .... we have the 21st century versions scattered throughout a 10 mile radius
of the plant (same at North Anna in Louisa County) to alert residents in case of the 'big one'. Denbigh and Lee Hall fall
within the radius ... one siren is in the schoolyard of R. O. Nelson Elementary in Denbigh. During my married years I lived
one block over .... and let me tell ya it's just as loud as those old CD sirens.

    Thanks, Tom.  It's equally nice to hear the impressions of one of the "babies" of our group - and always fun to hear from "Da Babe"!

Aria Translations

From my niece, Shari, of VA - 10/02/04:

"Some of the shells that wash up on the beach were once very beautiful.  We don't know
what kind of journey they had to take to get them in their fragile condition.  The same is
true for people.  Be kind."

  ~ Linda Gifford

   Thanks, Shari!  That's a good reminder.

From Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA - 10/02/04:

Reading the Daily Press article on the 52-0 whoopin' Hampton put on Bethel last night! Looks like it could be Hampton's
year to win state again (last title was in '98). They play Kecoughtan next Friday .... another old rivalry.

    That does sound promising.  Enjoy the game, Babe (assuming you get back from CT in time to catch it!) - and thanks for the update!

Full Italian/English Libretto of Madama Butterfly

Y'all take care of each other.

                                   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."

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

1920 - Jos Rentmeesters http://www.bocelli.de/
en/live/
opera2002.htm   		 http://www.music-with-ease.com/puccini-butterfly-story.html  http://www.omm.de/
veranstaltungen/
musiktheater/
AC-madame-butterfly.html		 http://www.martino
connor
photo.com/nashville
_arts.htm

http://www.stallercenter.
com/0203/butterfly.html

http://www.ompersonal.
com.ar/music/madama
butterfly.htm

Un Bel Dì

Un bel dì, vedremo
levarsi un fil di fumo sull'estremo
confin del mare.
E poi la nave appare.
Poi la nave bianca
entra nel porto, romba il suo saluto.
Vedi? È venuto!
Io non gli scendo incontro. Io no. Mi metto
là sul ciglio del colle e aspetto, e aspetto
gran tempo e non mi pesa,
la lunga attesa.
E... uscito dalla folla cittadina
un uomo, un picciol punto
s'avvia per la collina.
Chi sarà? chi sarà?
E come sarà giunto
che dirà? che dirà?
Chiamerà Butterfly dalla lontana.
Io senza dar risposta
me ne starò nascosta
un po' per celia e un po' per non morire
al primo incontro, ed egli alquanto in pena
chiamerà, chiamerà:
Piccina mogliettina
olezzo di verbena,
i nomi che mi dava al suo venire.
[to Suzuki]
Tutto questo avverrà, te lo prometto.
Tienti la tua paura, io con sicura
fede l'aspetto.
[Butterfly and Suzuki embrace with emotion]
 

“Un Bel Di” midi courtesy of - http://www.ao.net/~jmo/john/music/bravo.html - 09/28/04

“Un Bel Di” lyrics courtesy of - http://www.columbia.edu/itc/music/reserves/cd2263/act2.html#track02 - 09/28/04

Butterflies clip art courtesy of http://members.tripod.com/~emelinda/index-12.html - 09/28/04

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