David Long

Some additional musings:

When You Were Born Matters

Born 1925 – 1955

The best years to be born in the history of Earth & we got to experience it all. Thank God for all the times, the adventures, wars won, technology developed. Future Generations  will never experience what we did. What a generation we turned out to be.

To Those of Us Born
1925 - 1955:

At the end of this email is a quote of the month by Jay Leno.

If you don't read anything else, Please read what he said.
~~~~~~~~~
TO ALL THE
KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
1930’s, 40’s and 50’s !!

First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank - While they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs Covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps,
not helmets non our heads.

As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight.
WHY? Because we were always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day and, we were OKAY.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and
then ride them down the hill, Only to find out that we forgot about brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not
Have Play Stations, Nintendo and X-boxes. There were No video games, No 150 channels on cable, No video movies Or DVDs,
No surround-sound or CDs, No cell phones, No personal computers,
No Internet and No chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS And we went Outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and lost teeth,
And there were No lawsuits from those accidents.

We would get Spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand, and no one would call child services to report abuse.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt,
and the worms did Not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, 22 rifles for our 12th, rode horses, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and although we were told it would happen - we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes
or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.

Those who didn't had to learn to deal with Disappointment.

Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law
was unheard of ...They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers,
problem solvers, and inventors ever.

The past 60 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

If you are one of those bornbetween 1925 &1955, CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers  and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.


Kind of makes you want to run through the house
with scissors, doesn't it ?
~~~~~~~
The quote of the month
by Jay Leno:

"With hurricanes, tornadoes,
fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of Coronavirus, terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Linda Bristow (Elias)

David:  Hope this finds you feeling better!

I enjoyed your posting!  Thanks again.

Linda

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Thanks to Ann Bailen, these photographs from Monday's mini-reunion are now available for all you Raiders64 alumni. With some luck, maybe we can get Jack Keefe to post his, which as far as I know were the only others from that night. On short notice, 27 people showed up. It was, as we used to say, "A gas."

A table full of love and memories...

Annie Bailen and Judy (Winquist) Neal

Dianne (Shaffer) Troxel

Kay & Mike (JIm) Fry with Marvin Theobald Liz

Sandy (Jeakins) Singletary Sizemore and Liz (Spillman) Alex

Mel Theobald with Diane Gardner and her birthday drink

Mel Theobald, Pam (Hohnstreiter) Zweng and Marvin TheobaldMr.

Mr. & Mrs. Dave Nafziger with Mike Mink

Pam (Hohnstreiter) Zweng and Roger Troxel

Pam and Dwight King 

Jack Keefe

I hadn't planned to post these because I took them for another purpose (head count) and not really for sharing. But if you get anything out of these, good for you. Thanks to Ann Bailen for posting some excellent face shots from the dinner. 

Classmates at a table. Notice the watchful eyes of Dave Nafzinger and Mike Mink in the upper right hand corner. 

Classmate Dwight King holds court. This was an open-air dinner but ready for rain at any time. The rain never came and it was a perfect night for a mini-reunion.

Kenny and Patti Hocenic Lehr made the trip from Washington, Illinois for the dinner as did Madelon Newsom (not shown). Rita Moore Duncan and husband Jim drover over from Morton. Also shown are Marsha Hutson Brownfield and husband Ron, Diane Gardner, and Mel Theobald. 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Thanks Jack. I think you got everone but you, Jan and Mary (Giermann) Brucker.

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

Thanks for the pictures.  I always like to see them.

David Brock

Mel, et al.--Thanks forsharing the pictures.  It looks like a good time was had by all.

Allida Frisch (Altemus)

Thank you to Ann and Jack for posting the pictures. Loved seeing everyone and wished we could of been there. Everyone is looking great! Hope to see you at the next mini reunion.

Terri Baxter (Whirrett)

Love the pics from the Mini! Wish we could have been there! See you in August!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

A few months ago, I wrote to Queen Elizabeth II.  I found that I am a direct decendent of William the Conqueror who (from France) overthrew England, and became William II, King of England.  King William II is a decendent of Charlamagne.  On the other side of their family, it goes back to Vikings who moved to France.

Q E II is the 27th generation from William II.  Prince Phillip was the 26th generation from him.  I am the 35th generation from him.

In my letter, I asked to whom I would send my information for confirmation, for the sake of accuracy.  Today, I received a letter from Q  E II's Lady in Waiting from Windsor Castle, and mailed from Buckingham Palace.  The stationary is like none I've ever seen!  I found it interesting.

Our family has never mentioned anything about this information, and therefore, I believe they have not known about it for over a 1,000 years.

I have found that my geneology search has been like uncovering individual historical stories of each generation.  I have this side of the family back to 189 A. D. and cannot get it back any further.  Now, I will pursue the rest of the family to get it back as far as I can possibly reach.  After that, it will only be new births that will need to be recorded.

NOTE:  I found that Jeanne Shaffer was my 4th cousin.

I'll just bet that our class would have some pretty interesting geneology too!

Love to all!   Linda

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

I would like to thank all the classmates who served our country in the service.  Some of you made sacrifices for your families.  I also want to say thank you to one of our classmates who made the ultimate sacrifice....that would be Bill Buff!!  🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

David Brock

Linda--Regarding geneology.  I don''tthinkanybodyinour family has gonrbsck to the 11th century, but I know that the Biswell side of the family (mother) came on the Mayflower in the 17th century from England and Wales.  On the Brock side of the Family, the original emigrant was a Hessian/German soldier fighting for the British in the Revolutionary War.  I have seen 2 or 3 different Germanic spellings for the name--most considerably longer than Brock.   He liked the principles of the American way and stayed here after the war. 

More recently, my Father's uncle (George Wm. Brock) worked with Drs. Walter Reed and Leonard Wood developing Malaria medications during the Panama Canal construction.  He died as a result of a bad batch of test medicine.  My Father and his family  homesteaded in northeast Montana in the late 1920's and early '30s.  During the early 40s they moved back to Atlanta, just south of Bloomington.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

David Brock:

Thank you!  That is interesting.  It can be such a revelation to find out the stories of those family members who came before us.  Sometimes, it can be shocking, surprizing, bring pride and joy, etc.  This is just another way of finding out about our own  family.

Linda

David Long

Hi All,

Wishing you all a safe and healthy Memorial Day.  We are fortunate in Kansas City to have the Traveling Wall here for the day of remembrance  for the fallen heroes that gave their life for our freedom.

Dorothy and I, along with another couple visited the Wall last weekend.  Perhaps it’s my age, or the fact that the Traveling Wall is just a replica of the Wall in D.C., but I managed to walk away w/o shedding any tears.  The 1^st visit to the Wall had a totally different outcome. 

For those of you that may visit the Wall in D.C. and wish to look up Bill’s name, here is the info you will need to find Bill amongst the 58,318 names on the Wall.

HONORED ON PANEL 10E, LINE 57 OF THE WALL

WILLIAM REINHART BUFF

WALL NAME

WILLIAM R BUFF

PANEL / LINE

10E/57

DATE OF BIRTH

11/01/1946

CASUALTY PROVINCE

QUANG NAM

DATE OF CASUALTY

08/30/1966

HOME OF RECORD

BLOOMINGTON

COUNTY OF RECORD

McLean County

STATE

IL

There is also a virtual Wall of Faces in which Bill is recognized:

Thanks for everyone’s thoughts about the Wall.  I have many lost friends who are recognized thereon. 

Please keep in your prayers the 22KILL men and women.  22KILL is representative of the 22 veterans and first responders that take their own lives Every Day.  “One Tribe, One Fight” is dedicated to the suicide prevention of those suffering from PTSD and other factors that are leading to the deaths of these warriors. 

All the best,

Dave

aka – Sgt. Dusty

David Long

Great Pictures from the MINI.  Wish we could have made it but factors beyond our control kept us away.  Hope to make the next one.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Dave, thank you for this description of the Vietnam War Memorial and Bill's place on it. It is with special reflection that we recognize the difference between "Memorial Day" and "Veteran's Day." Those who gave their lives are being remembered this weekend, yet it is with gratitude that we also honor those of you who contributed to the freedom of America and came home wounded and/or traumatized by the loss of friends. I can't help thinking about how we say, "Happy Memorial Day" as if this were a holiday of glee, when in fact there is nothing happy about it except the memory of those who died. The significance is not lost on those of us who lived through the Vietnam era, but may be fading among those generations who have never experienced a time of war. Let's hope that they will never know what the true significance of this solemn day means. PEACE and LOVE!!!

James (Jim) Rookus

Happy Memorial Day to all you old raiders !  Can you believe were that old already! Wow, I still feel like a young man ... till I get up out of my chair and have to wait a few seconds to move!  Thanks Dave for you sharing about the traveling wall.  I too remember the sobering feeling of visiting the wall in DC and viewing my cousins name engraved on it!  Yes it did bring the tears !  Even though I've not been on site posting lately, I've been keeping up every few days observing !  Still having such good feeleing remembering my get together with a few of you as we passes through BN last November.  Thanks again to you guys who took the time to have breakfast with us!  Monday AM it's off to our local parade with our youngest grandkids complete with donuts and then to a full hectic day with our crazy family of about 35 around  the pool in the 85 degree heat!  I'll be in the shade of the umbrella table !  ALSO an exciting addition this year to our family get together will be my birth sister ( I Was Adopted) and her husband and one son and family.  I just found her a few months ago after my 37 year investigation and detective work finding her only 15 miles away and about 3 blocks from my youngest sons house!  It's been a real blessing getting to know her.  Even though she had no clue of my existence she has really embraced this and is really working at developing our relationship, Growing up as an only child, this is a new thing to get used to! BUT GOOD ! ..... Trust you all have a great Memorial Day weekend and take every chance to enjoy your families!

David Brock

Welcome to Memorial Day.  Some have recently discussed visiting either the original Viet Nam Memorial in D.C. and others have discussed the 'travelling wall' that tours the country.  For those living in the Midwest, there is a permanent, full size replica of the Viet Nam Memorial in Perryville, Mo.  It is known as the Missouri National Veterans Memorial.  It is dedicated to all veterans and branches of the service, but has a full-size replicaf the Viet Nam Wall. 

This museum is a work in progress, so the displays and facilities today may well e different in 6 months.  You can check out more details on line at Missouri National Veterans Memorial. 

Thank you to all the veterans for your service.
 

Jack Keefe

I know that some of you read a little Pantagraph column called "How Time Flies." If you do, you probably know that I have written the column for almost sixteen years. Now, with budget cuts, my gig at the paper is over and someone else will write the column.

I still have unpublished columns going into February of next year, and will be sharing these with a group of readers who have reached out to me over the years. Anyone else who wants to read them is also welcome to them. These columns were researched and written on my own time, and the paper doesn't have them.

To placed on the email list, send your email address to me at jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. The column will not appear on the class website, at least for now. The mailing won't cost you anything; I don't get any money for doing it; and you can cancel at any time.  Just thought I would offer.  

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Jack:

Thank you.  I received your email and loved reading it!  Looking forward to the next one.

Love ya, Linda

Linda Bristow (Elias)

What have any of you done to downsize?

I'm thinking seriously about what I need to do to make my next move.   Not so sure that I'm capable of downsizing?

I will appreciate any feedback.

Thank you in advance.

Linda

David Brock

Linda--Downsizing-- Last year we moved--and we downsized.  One of our objectives was that if we had not used an item clothing, furniture, etc., it was a prime candidate for moving --Goodwill, trash, pickers, e-bay sales--use your imagination.  It was amazing the stuff we had accumlated over 50 years.  And, the younger generations are not particularly interested in accumulating.  Good Luck!!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Gary Schad:

Found this..........

Judy Rohde was born 1/19/1947 and is 75 years old.  Judy currently lives in Washington, IL.  In the past Judy has also lived in Pekin, IL.  Other names that Judy uses includes Judy S. Rohde, Judith A. Rohde, Judy L. Rohde, and Judy M. Rhode. Any of these middle initials seem like different people.  Background details that you mightknow is that she is Christian and now single.  People such as family, friends, associates, and neighbors may be Alyce Rippon, Leah Palmquist, Mary Jabieski, Bernice Patterson and Alicia Myers.

Previous adddress:  200 Carlson Ave., Apt. 24 E. Washington, IL.

Judy A. Rohde, (309) 263-8385, PO Box 62, Pekin, Il  61555. 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

David Brock:

Thank you for your experience.  I'm trying to figure out what square footage I could possibly deal with and then figure out what I will save to furnish that with.  My library alone is a big effort.  I know that I can donate some to the city library.  My movies.......I have over 1500.  I do use them!  I have my work cut out for me.

Thanks again.

Linda

David Brock

Linda--It is amazing how many things we accumulate to support our hobbies,special projects and other interests.  Downsizing can be anything from Excedrin Headache 23 to the proverbial  'piece of cake'.  I know when my parents were downsizing, the kids had first choice--then they gave other items to people they thought would enjoy them.  The system worked pretty well.