Jack Habich

Not my finger on the pic.  I stayed clear of that party.

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Mel, I'm glad you liked that little statement.  I know it's probably not much different up there, but it is just so sad to see states and cities argue constantly over their budgets, which of course includes education.  First they hire firms to come in and tell them what they already know.  Then they alot monies to projects they say will enhance future growth and prosperity for everyone.  RIGHT.  Eventually, Education comes into the picture.  Then there is no money for Teachers, in fact, we have to cut teachers, cut programs, enlarge classes, etc. etc.  All the while, the big guns at the top have to keep their huge salaries, their compensation for cell phones, cars, gas, entertainment, and on and on.  Oh, and don't forget, we have to keep all three layers of assistants and middle management.  Then we have the school boards who need a window for their belly botton, so they can see where they are going.  That's because they have their head so far up their a--.  They just crawl up and give in to the big money power.  Who suffers the most.  The kids and this country.  Man Mel, I have had so many arguments over school funding, Private vs. Public, and of course, the all popular SS.  When I discuss these subjects, I have only two problems.  I'm very opinionated and always right.  Ha! Ha!

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Helen,

That was really beautiful.  It reminded me of two ladies.  The first was my mother.  When my dad had his last stroke he had to go to a nursing home.  My mother didn't drive so every day she would find someone to take her to see dad (she would pay them) and she stayed until I got off work.  She did this for 18 months.

The other one is my sister.  A lot of you ladies know her son Tom from the oldies but goodies days!  My brother-in-law always catered to my sister (to much).  About six years ago he was diagnosed with the dreaded disease Alzheimers!  They were both told (I later learned) and went home and cried.  Not because of the death sentence but because they both knew he would slowly not recognize any of them.  The last six months he was in an Alzheimers home because it was to hard for her to watch out for him.  But every day she would go over there and stay for hours.  She did this until he passed away last year.

So yes my dear class mates this is what love is!  It's not how much money you have or who you know or what country club you belong to.  Love also can be among friends.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Jack K what happened to you at the dinner?  One minute you were there and the next you were gone.  I hope you are ok!

Suz

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Don't get me started on School Funding!  I was an Administrative Assistant for an Executive Director of Finance of a School District in Colorado Springs, CO.  I learned first hand that all schools are definately top heavy and THEY work very diligently to keep it that way.  Want to freak out Directors and Executive Directors, just mention the word Charter Schools.  Their CSAP Scores are higher for a lot less money AND the money actually goes for education and the kids! Trust me, I've seen it in action.  If only we could get rid of the top people in all areas, we could reduce the National Deficit and probably even make it go away!  

Jack Habich

                                      Mini-Reunion Taste-Test Committee.  2007

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Jack,

Thank you for sharing pic.  It's a great photo.

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

That was a great picture Jack.  By the way, is Jetton back in town yet?

Helen,

I didn't mean to get you all uptight.  However, if you lived down here in Teeeexas, you would really be tearing your hair out.  How about this.  Like everywhere, the schools here are trying to figure out how they are going to keep the schools open.  This district down the road from me decided after cutting jobs, programs, etc., etc., they still needed to find more money.  So, they made this decision, everyone who rides the bus will have to pay between $500 to $600 per year, per student.  Oh, the parents are just so happy.  School started today and guess what happened last Friday.  The district found six, (6), million dollars that they didn't realize they had.  This is called financial accountability, just like the Federal Guys.  New question.  Where is that money going.  Should be interesting.  Here is the one that really set me off.  In our district, after the end of the last school year, a lady, we'll call Lizzy, retired after 38 years.  There was a wonderful party for her.  She was paid $84,000 for some job with a title that I have no idea what it provided.  Did they replace her.  Why, heavens no.  How could you replace someone who no one else knew what she did.  So, after great thought, they re-hired her, PART-TIME, at $63,000 a year, and all the same benefits. What are her hours.  No answer on that.  Next time I see you Helen, I'll have plenty of Horror stories for you.

Jack Habich

Rod, Jetton planned to be out of town "up until" Friday...so I wouldn't think he'd be back before Wednesday at the earliest........and that's only if his jet setting got stale.

Jack Habich

             With proper etiquette, they tasted the food so you wouldn't have to.  2007

Jack Habich

                           But then, Sue started flashing gang signals.   2007

Milan Jackson

She still has beautiful eyes.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Sue's my pal!  I pray she will eventually make a full recovery and be able rejoin the Class of 64!  It's also good to see great pictures of Jack and Cheri!  It's sad they're all dealing with health issues, but fun to reflect back on the GREAT TIMES!  I can't help but remember Sue's famous saying, "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough"!  

Rod, you didn't get me riled up, but I also, have many horror stories that I could share to include my crooked Executive Director of Finance boss miss appropriating funds.  Not a pretty scene, but a night mare! Guess that's the reason my feathers appear to get ruffled easily when that subject comes up.  That's water under the bridge.  I also worked for a crooked Principal who used all the kids hard earned money and spent it for unnecessary things for staff............another sad story.  So you see, I also have many stories we should share some time!  Sure am glad I'm retired and out of the loop of politics, however when mentioned, I have difficulty keeping my thoughts to myself.  One of lifes many learning experiences!  It's good to know someone else has similar stories to tell too!

I LOVE RETIREMENT!  No more politics just the jokes and great memories we all share on this site!  

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Helen,

As time has passed, I do look back on some really great times and pretty funny things that happened in H/S.  During my travel through time, like everyone else, I met people who have some really funny stories about their time in H/S also.  But, Oh how things have changed.

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Not being familiar with where everyone lives in Colorado, hopefully, everyone is safe and sound after the Quake there.  I'm sure if there is a need, and you reach out to the class, most would be willing to help in any way they could.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

 The Earthquake was no where near us and we didn't feel it in Colorado Springs.  4.4 isn't as bad as the 6.2 we were in on Easter at 3:50 PM in Yorba Linda, CA. two years ago.  We were also in a 6.4 Earthquake during a Cruise out of New Orleans 2 weeks before the Tsaumi hit in New Orleans!  If you've not experienced one, my explanation of how it feels is the same as walking backwards on one of those moving walk ways at the airport.  It's a very insecure and unstable feeling.  My husband was dealing with an Abdominal Aorta Anyrsm at the time that we were in the one in Yorba Linda, CA, and thought his anryrsm was bursting.  It was really scary!  Sure makes a person feel out of control of the surroundings.  Rod, thanks for your concerns and most generous support.  

Victor Jackson

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway,
I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage,
I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table,
put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table,
and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back
on the table and take out the garbage first..

But then I think,
since I'm going to be near the mailbox
when I take out the garbage anyway,
I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my check book off the table,
and see that there is only one check left.
My extra checks are in my desk in the study,
so I go inside the house to my desk where
I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks,
but first I need to push the Pepsi aside
so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The Pepsi is getting warm,
and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi,
a vase of flowers on the counter
catches my eye--they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and
discover my reading glasses that
I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk,
but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter,
fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV,
I'll be looking for the remote,
but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table,
so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs,
but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers,
but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back on the table,
get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to
remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:
the car isn't washed
the bills aren't paid
there is a warm can of
Pepsi sitting on the counter
the flowers don't have enough water,
there is still only 1 check in my check book,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,
I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day,
and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem,
and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail....

Do me a favor.
Forward this message to everyone you know,
because I don't remember who I've sent it to.

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!

What are friends for!!!

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Well Helen,

It's just nice to know everyone came out OK.  Sounds like ya'll have been through some pretty tough weather in the past and just barely avoided some.  I see you were on a cruise.  Well, that is for sure not on my Bucket List.  You remember Terry Snow, married Di Dierkes, they go on a cruise once or twice a year.  They just got back as matter of fact.  They always try to get us to go with them..  I say, I need a gun for the Pirates, and a Helicopter within minutes for when the ship goes down.  When I can't see land anymore, that's my signal to go into Panic Mode.  My wife looks at me funny and they just laugh.  I always say, look, I have a pool in my backyard, and the perfect cruise, is me on a floater, going from the steps to the deep end and back, after a round of golf.  Anyway, glad ya'll are OK.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Rod, I stand corrected regarding the size of the Earthquake in the Southern Colorado area.  I just watched the news and they reported that the Earthquake was 5.3 in that area and did do some structural damage. Buildings are really old there since it's a mining town with lots of underground mines.  They showed a business and a house that was pretty much totaled.  Poor people, that's everything they ever worked for gone in moments.  When we first moved to Colorado Springs we were returning back to our apartment, where we first lived after moving here, and were with Bill and Gloria Starkey Brown, and noticed people standing on the side of a cliff looking down into Manitou Springs, where we now live.  I even remember that it was on June 25, 1979 on my birthday.  The short of it all was that there was a Tornado that passed through Manitou Springs and hop scotched all over the West Side of town to include the neighborhood where we now live. It ripped up HUGE trees in a park in Manitou and sucked the roof off of a bi-level home in our neighborhood and bounced here and there on our West Side in the Old Colorado City area where our business was located.  It did lots of damage, however we haven't had another Tornado since then, thank goodness.  Other than that, the most extreme weather we get that causes the most damage is high winds and hail storms.  The temperatures drop so quickly that we get the hail storms and Black Ice in the Winter. My husband shares that it was reported we had tremors from the Earthquake at midnight last night. I was sleeping so didn't notice a thing.

Our son and his wife just returned from Puerto Rico last Sunday.  We're glad they missed the bad hurricanes that are going over there.  They timed their trip just right.  Guess it's that time of year when the weather begins to change, but hopefully we could probably all stand for things to cool down a bit.  It's really been a hot summer here this year.

We love Cruises!  I love them because you don't have to cook, make the bed or read a map, PLUS all the entertainment you could wish for is right outside your door.  We've met some wonderful people on the ships too!  In fact one couple we met is from Illinois and we remain friends keeping in contact via Facebook. Speaking of Bucket Lists, I would like to sail to Alaska one of these days.  Don't be afraid, they're WONDERFUL!  If you get motion sickness, they have patches for that, but for the most part sailing is very smooth.     

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Helen,

I'm glad you guys are ok.  I was shocked to hear that there was an earth quake in Colorado and a quake in Virginia.

Who are those cute little kids in your photo?  Grandkids

We leave two weeks from to day for Las Vegas.  I hope the weather stays nice.  My daughter and her husband are flying out on Saturday.  I'll be glad when they get off that plane.  It's the weekend  of 911.  They are going out there for a big conference for the labor union.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Yes Suzi, the 3 kids are our daughter and son-in-laws children. Thanks for the compliment.  Travel safe and have lots of fun!

Milan Jackson

 Happy Birthday Janet Cox !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harriett (Holly) Rust (Wood)

 I have been terribly remiss in keeping up with everyone since the mini-reunion!  My intentions are good, but my actions aren't.  I had a wonderful time seeing so many of you and really hope to be much better about getting together and staying in touch!  40+ years is too long to stay away!  The best part was I felt like I had just seen each of you last week.  

While it is on my mind (and things don't seem to stay long if I don't act on them), I intended to give Steve a check, even wrote it out, and there it was in my purse the next morning.  Please send me the address again!!  I will mail it immediately.

I also wanted to say I enjoyed the various music conversations.  Jack, you always make me laugh but you also always have great insight and provide things that make my day better.  My next to youngest daughter sang throughout her childhood and was a member of the Colorado Children's Chorale.  For her birthday one year, the two of us went to see Sarah Brightman.  OMG!!!  She is so amazing.  l am glad you appreciate her enough to not imitate her.  :)

Mel, Marv, Judy, and Judy, it was wonderful talking with you all and I'm sorry I wasn't able to see you the next day.  Annie, it is always a treat and I am sorry that I didn't get to tell you good by.  Ed, I hope to have the chance to spend more time talking with you at a future get together.  You have so many interesting stories to share!  And Milam, thank you so much for all you do for the Class of 64.  I had hoped to spend a more time with you, but you left before I got the chance.  Next time fellas!

We are a good group of people and have so much to share with each other!  Reconnecting is one of the best things I've done.  Thank you all!!

Jack Habich

Holly,

Steve is at:        Steve Jetton, 3712 Helen Drive, Bloomington, IL 61704

Now here is another little thing that slipped your mind. :)  Just yesterday, I went through Steve Wilson's very last e-mail to me and I quote from a portion:

"I've had a little correspondence with Holly. We were talking about a little memory from 8th grade and she says she has a picture us from that dance we went to. She said she will send me a scan of it when she gets back to CO from CA sometime soon. I told her that you might want to put it on the website so will let you know if/when I get it."

So?

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Well, now we'll have to wait and see if anyone on the East Coast might be in need of some help.

Helen, You picked the right cruise if you go to Alaska.  I have talked to at least a half dozen people who have taken that cruise, and every one of them said it was the best ever.  Everyone, when they get back, says, you gotta go on that cruise.  Now Suzi has the right idea.  Vegas baby!!  I could, I mean, I would, like to go there two or three times a year.  If you remember Moore's Pharmacy, on Oakland Ave., across from the Bungalow, you would most likely know Old Man Moore, as we called him.  He was a crusty, grouchy guy.  He had a million stories about Vegas.  He went out there about every other month.

Now Holly, that address on Jetton could change at any minute.  For all we know, he's in another country right now.

Did someone say it has been hot this summer.  Let me tell you about HOT.  The record here in Texas, in the area I live in,  for the most consecutive days being over 100 is 42.  That was in 1980.  We hit 40, it went down to 98, then 99 and right back up over 100.  The most days over 100 for a season is 69.  That also was 1980.  If we make it to Labor Day at over 100, and they predict we will, it will be the HOTTEST year in Texas history.  So, it's been between 98, (once & 99 once), and 112 everyday since July 2.  Oh, and we have had NO RAIN during this time.  But here is a good and a bad situation.  The city of Ft. Worth, almost 800,000 people, due to cost restraints, shut down all the public swimming pools for the whole year of 2011.  Bad.  But the smaller venues around the city have had a huge, huge profitable year.  Good.  Anyway, yes, it's been a HOT summer, to say the least.