Message Forum

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Linda,

That was a wonderful jesture on your part. However, it may have serious repercussions. You saw what Jack would do for $5. So, I would think he will most likely be showing up at your house shortly and personally play the Bongo's 2 hours for you, and he will be recording it, so as to leave a tape for your enjoyment later. As if 2 hours of Bongo music is enjoyable. Although, that previous picture of him looked like he does have a good time. I think maybe alcohol was involved.

07/26/11 02:44 PM

#1511

Ed, there'd better be a Gulf Shores, AL, because that's where we have reservations to stay at an RV Resort this coming winter, otherwise we'll be driving there from Colorado lost in the South!

None of us would have ever dreamed that we'd be converting from good old Rock and Roll to Country Western 47 years ago! It's amazing that time and age really does change our interests!

Linda and everyone else who has donated money, thank you so very much for your most generous contributions allowing us to continue enjoying this site! Sorry I'm unable to make the August Mini Class Reunion, but are certain you'll all have a great time together. Hope to see you at our 50th Class Reunion! WOW! I can't believe I just said that! Where have the years gone?

07/26/11 03:47 PM

#1512

Well, Helen,

We all know there is a Gulf Shores... the question is to whom does it belong? It is so different from my beloved Alabama that I wonder if maybe it isn't part of Mississippi... after all they have that great Gulf Coast...Of Course, Fla could claim it, provided it could explain away Baldwin County ( great places there )and Mobile...

07/26/11 05:06 PM

#1513

Ed my man,

I just realized something that I should have known when I got on this site. You don't actually live in Alabama. You live in Chatham, Il, and that brings me to a question or two I have for you. Does the name Harlan Vance or Drew Vance ring a bell? The other question is, did you ever know or did any of your Sons ever go to school with, or know a family with the last name of Utterback. Please let me know one way or the other.

07/26/11 05:25 PM

#1514

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Suzi,

You're most welcome. And you are right, Mickey Gilley is a really great one. Like wise was Marty Robbins and Conway Twitty. There are just so many. Mickey was either just here, or he will be very soon. Maybe I will go see him. Since his accident, I'm not sure if he still plays, but I know he still sings. You may know this, but Mickey, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Jimmy Swaggert are all cousins. I know, Jimmy Swaggert, but he really can play the piano and sings really good. Of course, they are known to not get along very well, Duh!! Once and only once were they ever on TV together. I remember it well. The piano's all faced in toward each other. They played and sang their hearts out, each one trying to out do the other. It was a great performance. I'll have to research and see if it is available anywhere.

07/26/11 05:37 PM

#1515

Rod,

Yes I knew they are cousins, and Mickey was cracking jokes about the three of them when they were kids. I didn't know Mickey was in an accident. What happened? Maybe I'll find him and kiss him and make him well!! HaHa!!!!

07/26/11 06:59 PM

#1516

Judy Tynan (Danielson)

Jack,

I plan on giving my check to Sandy tomorrow morning at breakfast. Sounds like alot of us are stepping up to the plate. Guess if we want a 50th reunion we better start now. will cost alot more in 3 yrs.

Gee Helen, I really do hope Gulf Shores is in Alabama cause alot of us will be screwed come this winter, if not. Love it down there and I really do hope it is not a part of Flordia cause I don't want to be known as a SNOW BIRD there.

There is nothing better than good ole country music, Willy, Waylon and the boys. Anyone ever heard of Rusty Wier? Great Album. I still have alot of the old country but have to dig out the turntable to listen to them.

Have a good day, all

07/26/11 08:04 PM

#1517

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Judy, you're right about Gulf Shores, AL. We're really looking forward to spending the winter with you guys. Wonder how hot it is there right now?

07/27/11 08:41 AM

#1518

Suzi,

While helping a friend move, Mickey fell on some steps I think, and tore up his neck and back. It was quite serious. He was paralyzed from the neck down. That was in the summer of "09". He went through rehab for a year or more before returning to Branson. He got feeling back in his legs and progressed up to his arms and hands over time. Some friends of mine saw him last year and he could sing, but he was still in a chair like thing, and he couldn't play the piano yet. You can go on the net and there are several stories about his recovery. Hopefully he will be able to play again, because he is one of the best and think he is most comfortable behind the keys. If he was a BONGO player, it wouldn't matter. Ha!!

07/27/11 09:26 AM

#1519

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Rod,

The Vance name is unknown to me, except for a young man in Springfield who is a banker.

I did know a Paul Utterback who was a meat cutter in Farmersville, IL, when I lived there ... he now runs a head shop in Springfield. He does have a couple of sons and they would be the age of my sons... and of course they would have gone to school together in the Farmersville days...

Paul was divorced from a woman named Nancy, who was my secretary at one time

07/27/11 12:14 PM

#1520

Rod,

Thank you for the info on Mickey. I will go on the internet and read about him.

Suzi

07/27/11 12:33 PM

#1521

Ed,

I wasn't sure how long you have lived in Chatham. We had some really great friends who lived in Springfield, but their kids went to Chatham schools. They would all be in their 30's and 40's now. That was the Utterback's. They now live in Fl. Harlan Vance and his son Drew lived in B/N. Harlan has passed, but Drew still has the business. He has a pretty good paper supply business. I don't think it is as big as what you do, but I just thought being in the business you're in, you might have known of them. Well, that was a dead end. Hopefully everything is going well on the health issue. I read up on this new method of isolating one's own DNA, then injecting it into the cancer cells to slow the growth and possibly stop it in some cases. It's not there quite yet, but progress is happening every day.

Rod

07/27/11 01:27 PM

#1522

Rod,

Springfield is far enough from B/N that we would not necessarily know each other.. when you say paper supply business, can you be a little more specific. For example, we are a "stationers", but the one thing we do not sell is stationery.. or printing .... We are really an office products company. As my son says, we sell paper clips and paper clip accessories... all 30,000 of them (including furniture)

Our paper supplier has a warehouse in B/N, but they are out of Wisconsin

07/27/11 01:49 PM

#1523

Sharrie Peasley (Orendorff)

Does anyone know how Jack Keefe is getting along?

07/27/11 03:13 PM

#1524

I happened to talk with Jack this past Sunday and he seems to be doing pretty well.

07/27/11 03:30 PM

#1525

We’ve got some really upright people in this class. The Lehr’s join Linda Bristow in the $100 club, and their money is in the bank already. In fact, all the people who have contributed to date have given more than the requested $5.

We should end up with enough to extend the website for another 3 years beyond the current, and to put some money back into the Class treasury, down to a paltry $67.

The larger message is clear. People want to stay connected despite the negatives that had crept up over the past few years.

Remember, it’s not a contest, and we’re only asking for $5 if you can spare it. Thanks .

07/27/11 09:06 PM

#1526

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Mel, opera is reserved for the shower, but then you said you’d pay double…double of what? With the right number, I might be interested.

Now, if you could get me to sing “Time To Say Goodbye” like Andrea Bocelli, along with Sarah Brightman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbN0g8-zbdY pretty much everything I own in the world is yours. Ed might not approve, but I wouldn’t care. I’d make up everything with a couple of performances and sit on the Mediterranean sipping cappuccino.

I suppose you can pay Sandy or Steve on the 8^th, but make sure it’s in check form. Otherwise, they could easily forget and eat or drink up the proceeds.

07/27/11 10:45 PM

#1527

Marilyn Evans (Tate)

I prefer Wedowee, AL and Gene Watson.

07/28/11 10:38 AM

#1528

Jack, it would be great if you could make a presentation like the video! That is AWESOME!

07/28/11 12:32 PM

#1529

Helen, I agree it would be great, but unfortunately the goods just aren't there.

That's why I'm sitting here trying to raise funds for the Class instead of performing in some hall in Europe.

About once a month, when I need a certain kind of boost and am in a certain kind of mood, I'll visit Bocelli and Brightman or listen to Sinead O'Connor sing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shR99NnwCA and the rest of the day goes well.

You don't want to listen to what I listen to in between.

07/28/11 12:52 PM

#1530

Marilyn,

Gene Watson is a great choice. He has some really great songs, with quite catchy titles.

Now Ed would know more than me, but I know there is a Lake Wedowee in Alabama, in the Appalacian area. I think Wedowee itself is a little town, (less than 1,000), around the Lake. The other for sure thing I know, is that I would never be on that Lake, in that area, with a Banjo player. I might end up running around hollering Weeeeeeeeedowee.

07/28/11 01:42 PM

#1531

Steve Jetton reports 7 checks in today, and I have not heard from Sandy yet. We are both surprised by the generosity of the donors.

We have enough to keep this website going for three more years beyond the current, and still will have enough to significantly boost the Class treasury. No more $67 in the account.

Sharrie Peasley Orendorff, you are a comedian and get the clever award. Hope you don't mind me divulging the amount of your contribution, because it is more than enough. She donated $19.64.

All the money will be accounted for, even the 64 cents.

07/28/11 02:29 PM

#1532

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Jack, thanks for the Bocelli/Brightman song. It is beautiful. I have forever loved opera and Broadway which I think was in large part due to Mr. Wilson and Thespians at BHS. Being eclectic as I am, I also love Johnny Cash, Tom Waits and Laura Branigan. There is no end to the magic of music. When I came to Chicago in 1964, my first job was working as an usher at Orchestra Hall and then I became addicted to the Lyric Opera. I am only sad that you reserve opera for the shower, it's also good for breakfast.

So, am I to deduce that you would be willing to prostitute your musical skills to save the class budget? Let's just say I am joining the $100 dollar club to find out how far you'll go to give all of us a good laugh. Don't worry, I'll bring a check so Sandy and Steve won't turn cash into liquid. Can't wait for the recording to arrive in the mail. Bongos accompanying you singing "Santa Lucia". It will be like the most amazing recording in my collection. Yes, I mean it will be right up there with Susan Zagon whistling Mozart's "Rhondo in D".

Really, really, Jack....a BIG THANK YOU for getting the word out to help raise those funds and for the generosity of all who have given. This will go a long way in helping all of us stay active and in touch. Very important at this time of our lives.

And for those who are courageous enough, you might listen to this one by Angela Gheorghiu. It is a beauty from Puccini's "Tosca". https://www.youtube.com/watchv=_OIExoUb8jk

07/28/11 02:44 PM

#1533