Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Liz is getting nothing and I'm gettign a lump of coal???  Have we really been that bad??

Marvin Theobald

Sandy - Where did you get that awful Christmas list? I don't want to be stuck in the Bahamas with Mel. When I go I will get airline tickets for you and Liz even though you are supposed only get at most a lump.of coal. "A prison sentence " for April! Really? Looks like Judy is getting a new car.🤗 Hope everyone one had a stellar Thanksgiving. Judy put on a scrumptious feast. I provided the pies - pumpkin, Dutch apple and chocolate silk. It's on to Christmas now with our holiday mini-reunion Dec 7 next on the schedule. For you southern based classmates, Bloomington temp is 21 degrees headed for a low of 14 tonight. 🥶

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Sandy, I am so excited to see this. I've already started backing my bags for my trip to the Bahamas. Too bad Marv won't be joining me, but I get his hesitation. As for coal in your stocking, that is so yesterday. Maybe you will get some kind of solar power to put on your roof. Not sure that Santa is into that, but I'd like to think that he is trying to save the environment. Maybe, just maybe, there is a message in there and you will benefit from it. Love your humor. It is much appreciated. Say hi to Liz. You guys are a treasure.

Terri Baxter (Whirrett)

Well, while Dave goes off to prison, I will not be lonely with my new Labrador !🤣

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Sandy:

Saw your list. I would get nothing.

However............, over 50 years ago I realized I had never received anything that I had actually wanted.  Also, I would never ask for anything.  So I decided that in Oct. of every year, I would buy something I really wanted for myself.  I still do this.  Also, I don't have to wrap the darn thing!

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

I hope Carol's orange doesn't get moldy by two months later when I get my cheezecake so that I can put orange slices on top of the cheesecake to give it an orange flavor !

PS:  Who's going to be first to show us your 2024 decorated Christmas Tree ?

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Rookus:

Not me.  I only put out a Nativity on the grand piano.

Happy Dec. 

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

Linda ... as I recall you cannot upload pictures, so if you can text a picture of your nativity scene to me I will post for you and consider it to count as your "tree" picture !!! Hope to see it soon !!! My # 616-443-3679 .... if your phone won't do it ... perhaps a friend who comes over to enjoy some of your festive Christmas treats !

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Rookus:

It isn't that I can't post, but, that I refuse to do so.  I am more private (along with my family) than most anyone you can imagine.

Thank you anyway!

Linda

Ray Bledsoe

Linda, for someone who is "private" you share a lot of your life with us, which by the way, we love and enjoy.  And, like Jim, I would enjoy seeing your "Nativity" as I have made one for each of my own kids when they left home.  Merry Christmas.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Jim, I have two pictures of a famous Chicago bear player I was wondering if you could post for me then I will post the story that goes with the pictures?

Suzi

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Bledsoe:   Ha Ha!   Oh, but the things that you don't know!

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

Linda..... You are making Ray and Me even more curious about your supiciously "private" life....is there possibly a connection to the Gambini family from New York or the Capone's from Chicago ??? 

Suzi .... Absolutely, text those pics to me and I will post then you can expain them. 

WHERE is that first decorated

CHRISTMAS TREE picuture ?              

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Interesting question!

I know a lot of people.   I happen to know a lady in her 60's who dates a grandson from one of those families.

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

Where are the pictures of the decorated trees?? 
Guess I'll have to be first !

James (Jim) Rookus

Linda .... be careful who you invite for dinner ... you might end up with FBI agents barging through your front door ! 

Marvin Theobald

I'll go next! This is the first time I have decorated a tree since moving in to this house 12 years ago. I had a little help but they could not reach very high. Santa supervised the event.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Rookus:

I didn't say they would be welcome in my home............ever.

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

Great job Marv ..... beautiful tree decorating and love your table setting!!!!

Lets Go RAIDERS ...

let's see more !!!

James (Jim) Rookus

GREETINGS FRIENDS ! ….. THIS IS AN ANNIVERSARY, REFLECTION & PRAISE !                           

Yesterday was the 26^th Anniversary of my quadruple by-pass open heart surgery! As I reflect, I cannot help but being so thankful and amazed how GOD saw fit to give an undeserving me a second chance to live 26 more years.  At that time a young Dr. (still my GP today) I had just visited for my first physical in about 25 years found something suspicious in my EKG so insisted that I go in for a stress test.  After passing it twice but still something suspicious showing up, he then insisted on a heart catheterization!  After my argument that I didn’t need it, he won and I went if for the procedure.  Since I was so sure I was OK and it was a waste of time and insurance company money, I did not tell Carol or family!  Almost immediately after the procedure started, the DR. showed me on the monitor the two MAIN arteries and said they both were 95 % BLOCKED.  Then he asked for my wife’s phone number so he could call her and inform her I’m near death and he is going to save my life with By-Pass surgery!  Guess I was overly optimistic!  Had that young Dr. VanNoord not Insisted on my checking this out I would have missed out on the past 26 years of sharing daily life with my amazing Carol, 13 additional grandkids in addition to the 4 little ones at that time and the one great grandson (another on the way) and God’s amazing blessing of life.  I also would not have finished my 37 year amateur detective work resulting in finding my loving birth sister (I’m adopted), 6 nieces and nephews and 9 wonderful cousins, my church family, and of course the many Raiders '64 that i have connected with, and so much more! 

I AM HUMBLED, THANKFUL and truley BLESSED ! ! !

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Jim, this is an astonishing and honest testament about how fortunate we are to be living today. I just had cataract surgery two days ago...nothing compared to what you went through. For years I have resisted going to the doctor, but last spring, through a chance encounter, my blood pressure was measured at over 200. Since then I've had numerous medical treatments for my back, essential tremor and more. Not that all is perfect, but I am greatful that there are so many solutions to the things we often take for granted. No more shakes, blood pressure is arountd 120 and all else is good. Thank you for being so forthright about your experience. Hopefully we can all learn something from it. We have seen so many classmates endure much worse, yet we know we are all in this fight together. Thanks for sharing. Glad you're still around to tell this story.

Marvin Theobald

MINI-REUNION REMINDER

Alexander's Steakhouse

Saturday Dec 7 at 5:00pm

Please join us for a fun eveing of friendly conversation

James (Jim) Rookus

Two More Raider Birthdays Today !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAYs TO :

PAM HOHNSTREITER ZWEIG

                          and

TERI SUE GUHLSTORF RAPP

BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL

DAY TO BOTH OF YOU !!!

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

My tree. To the right is my computer desk with snow and figuriines.

James (Jim) Rookus

SANDY .....  Beautiful tree ! 

Thanks for posting !!

WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE DECORATED TREES ?