12/12/04 - NNHS Newsletter - Snowmen!


Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

   I love snowmen!  My chances of building one here in the South the way I used to do in the Midwest are rather negligible, but
fortunately, I have a small collection of cute, cuddly snowmen to fill that need.  My daughter usually manages to spot just the ones
I love, and being the considerate angel she is, buys them for me.  She found me two more this year, so my little snowmen keep
multiplying - even when the thermometer readings are in the 70s.


   I did it again... Glen Davenport ('63) of VA celebrated his 60th Birthday on Friday, and I was so focused on a half-dozen
other things, I missed it.  I'm so sorry!  Happy belated birthday, Glen!

   Happy 50th Birthday today to Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA.  Congratulations, Tom!  You finally made it to the Magic
Number.  But you're still Da Babe!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html


TRIVIA TIME

   Fifty years ago yesterday was the christening of USS Forrestal - right there in Newport News.  It's one of my sharpest childhood
memories.  Jimmy Parker ('62) of VA, Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA, and I all clearly remember a tragedy associated with the
weekend festivities.  I'd like to know how many others of you remember this.  I've been trying for over four years now to find a
documented account of this.  When enough of you send me your memories, we'll open a new page.  If anyone finds me that
documentation, you'll win a prize!


NEWS TIME

From Henry Hoyle ('65) of Northern VA - 12/07/04:

Hi Carol,  
This Pearl Harbor day is also the birthday of our 3rd grandchild, Kenneth Luke Myers.  His parents
didn’t take our suggestion to name him Oscar Myers.  Baby, sisters, parents and grandparents are
all doing fine.
Henry

http://home.comcast.net/~myersmj/baby.htm

KENNETH LUKE MYERS

12-07-2004, 10 pounds, 11 ounces, 21 inches.

   WOWZERONI!  He was even bigger than six of my own seven "little" whoppers!   And he's absolutely beautiful - as are his
sisters before him!  Congratulations to everyone!  Thanks for sharing these, Cousin Henry!  As you know, I think fresh little newborn
babies are just the neatest things on earth!

       
Kenneth Luke Myers Yvonne Hoyle and her grandchildren, Kenneth, Tracie and Erin Myers Kenneth Luke Myers  

 

     

 


From Me ('65) of NC - 12/11/04:

   My grandson was named student of the month in his pre-kindergarten class in Joliet, IL on Friday.  Way to go, Tommy!
 


NOTES FROM ALL AROUND

From Renee Helterbran Benton ('59) of VA - 12/07/04:

Carol
Would you please put me in touch with Fred Field, '45 (of CA), who has written histories of NNHS.  I am now chairing a
committee to compile a history of the NNHS Bands for the newly formed NNHS History Foundation.  Hopefully, Fred will
have some information for us.
Thanks,
Renee

   I forwarded your note to Fred, Renee.  I hope y'all have connected by now.  Thanks!


From Dale Parsons ('69) of HI - 12/08/04:

Aloha Carol! 
Worry not about the time.  We're five hours behind you here on Maui...so it was only a few minutes past 7pm
on the 6th of December when I received it.  Mahalo for all of your hard work.  I look forward to reading every
newsletter.
Dale Parsons ('69)

   OOOOH - I gotta letter from DALE PARSONS!!!!  GIGGLES, dancing, and splutters!  LA-LA-LA!!!

   Oh, I mean, uh (regaining composure), thank you so much, Dale, I never thought of it that way!  It's all a matter
of perspective, isn't it?

   Thanks for your kind words, Dale.  I'm never really sure unless I hear from y'all who is actually reading the Newsletters.
It's very flattering to know that Famous People are reading our news accounts!  I'm standing about two inches taller today!

   By the way, Dale, Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA gave us another image you might enjoy.  It's a WGH ad from the 1952
Newport News City Directory, and it is now gracing the WGH page (thanks, Tom!):

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


From Rip Collins ('65) of TN (sort of addressed to Wayne Stokes - '65 of VA) - 12/08/04:

Wayne,
 
Since AOL and Norton provide so many filters, I do not get all of Carol's news letters when first launched. However, I did
review the news letter dated 12/6 and ran across what I thought would be another one of your boring messages, but
for the first time found this one interesting, regarding Nick's Seafood Pavilion. I did not realize they had gone out of business.
I have been sending folks from Nashville who were visiting the Peninsula to this restaurant for years. No wonder they do not talk
to me when they return!
I look forward to learning about more interesting changes that occur on the Peninsula that you may post on this site.
Best regards,
Rip

   (For those of you who may be unaware, Rip and Wayne have been best of friends for many years, and delight in teasing each
other this way.)

   Thanks, Rip Precious!  It was a nauseating shocker to read that full account, wasn't it?  I hope you haven't seen downtown
Newport News
"up close and personal" lately.  You could become violently ill - or at least assume that you had been mysteriously
teleported somewhere behind the old Old Curtain.


From Kathy Pilgrim Clark ('63) of VA - 12/08/04:

There is a Sammy's Restaurant (small circle, eh?) on Rte. 143 as you enter Williamsburg.  As usual, it used to be some
other restaurant, like a Bonanza or a buffet place.  Anyway, Sam Canavos owns it, and the walls are covered with many
photos of downtown NN as we remember it.  There are photos of the Sanitary, the Central, the US Lunch and other
restaurants that Sammy either worked in or had some ownership in.  I can't remember which was his father's, but I think
it was the Standard.  The photos also show many other downtown sights that may interest some of your local photogs.  I
don't think that it would be impossible to ask about borrowing some photos to be scanned.  They might answer many
of the questions about where the buses are in the CRT section.  Bruce Sims ('56) told me about this.

   WOWZERS!  This sounds like a fun place to visit!  Y'all go check it out - and remind me to do the same on my next trip, please. 
Thanks, Kathy!
 

I had an idea about reunionizing.  It is, I am sure, great to reunite with the people you really knew well.  But I wonder
if there'd be any market for a designated weekend - say the second weekend on October - every year, for a get together
of all graduates who want to.  I expect that many former residents have family here that they still come to see and it
could be neat if they knew that a specific weekend was set aside for NNHS grads to get together.  Oh, it wouldn't be
of the scope of a reunion.  But we could volunteer to be a contact for a year.  Like I'd be the contact for 2005.  It would
mean that I'd pick a place and people would have to let me know about whether they were coming home by the week before. 
That way I could make a reservation for 10 or 500.  I guess that with each class having a reunion there already is one every
year.  But some of them either don't publish or don't include other classes.  I guess I'm just free wheeling mentally. . .

   I, for one, LOVE your idea, Kathy!  I'll promote it anyway I can.  It was such a thrill to have an open reunion in October, seeing people
from so many different classes all together again!  To be able to do that every year would be stupendous!

 
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday with your family and friends gathered around.  I had a thought the other day
that the realm of country music is probably the only place you can say "Merry Christmas" and not offend anyone these days! 
And I am a hold out; I do not say "Happy Holidays" to people.  I say "Merry Christmas" because it is the celebration of the
birth of Christ!  

   That's cool, Kathy.  I think I tend to say some of each, depending on what it is I think they're celebrating.  Personally, I try to celebrate
practically everything, because I love holidays.  And I tend to separate in my mind a secular Winter Festival from the religious Christmas
holiday, but pursue them both with almost equal fervor and delight.  This sort of blending drives most people crazy, but then, so do I, so
it all works.

   That reminds me.  In the past, I've tried to keep holiday-time postings general as I know we are an extremely varied group and didn't
want to cause any more offense than I normally do anyway.  This year, I decided to just go ecumenical - and celebrate it all.  I'll try not
to miss anything.  Consider it educational material. 
 

One more thing and then I'll let you go.  The grand Illumination in Williamsburg is on the first Sunday of Advent.  So it was
Sunday night, not Saturday night.  I have a ceramic nativity set that my great aunt had made for my family the Christmas
of 1950.  Each piece says 'Pilgrim 1950' on the bottom.  I inherited it many years ago because I was the only sibling
with children.  In my family, we place the wise men apart from the crèche.  As the days of Christmastide pass, we move the
wise men closer.  They are placed at the crèche on the morning of Epiphany.  The word Epiphany in Greek means 'manifestation'. 
It is considered the time of the manifestation of the Christ Child to mankind. 

   (Well, on a strictly personal note, thank you for that clarification.  Having remembered what I was wearing when I went there the
December I was ten, I had begun to wonder why I was so dressed up on a Saturday night.  If it was a Sunday, that explains everything!)

   See, Jimmy-Jimmy - I really DO remember what I wore on all my Life's Major Moments - Easter of 1956, Grand Illumination of 1957,
Christmas Eve of 1962 - it's a thing with me.  I'm weird - but you've know that for 44 years now.
 

 
When my kids were small, I told them the story as we set the figurines out.  As they grew older, they read from a children's
bible as we did it.  Then they used King James.  As they got older, they told the story.  Then they hit the teens and all hell
broke loose!  We've had a jive version, a rap version and a version told in Southernese with Bubbas, etc.  (the wise men are permanently the wise guys and the angel is Gloria, sung like Jim Morrison did!)  But we have many memories of this nativity
set, and the one thing that holds true is that the wise guys don't get there until January 6th.  Usually, both Christopher and
Dana will call me to ask if I let the wise guys in!  When one of my children becomes a parent, they will get the set.  It is
almost an antique!  The figures are painted and glazed and the wise guys have gold leaf on their gifts.  We have shepherds,
sheep, a sheep dog, a cow, the donkey, the Holy family, the kings, a servant to the kings, a camel that the kings rode on and,
of course, Gloria.  My husband made a little barn for it in the 70s.  He even glued straw from a broom onto the floor
of the barn!  

   How wonderful!  I delight in hearing people's holiday traditions.  Thanks for sharing this with us, Kathy! 
 

 
That's it.  Go back to your life now. 
Kathy         
  

   I do love hearing from you all so much!  It means a great deal to me.  When I'm slow in responding, I hope you'll all remember
that it's because like Yogi Berra, when I come to a fork in the road, I take it.  And sometimes that slows me down a bit.  And this
month it would seem that I've been dealing with a four-tined fork.


From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 12/09/04:

Hi, Carol:
In a recent Newsletter on the website, you casually mentioned that you did not taking typing in high school. What a shame!
I assumed you were touch typist. You sure do a tremendous job, but it must be most stressful for you if you did not pick
up the skills in NNHS.
I owe a lot of my success in business and in the military to the typing skills acquired at NNHS.
Always,
Adonis

   Hi, Joe!  It is one of the regrets of my life that I didn't study typing (not to mention Latin and drama) in high school.  Things might
have been easier that way.  Actually, though, after a couple of false starts at trying to learn to type he real way, I have built up a fair
amount of speed into my two typing fingers, so it really doesn't cause me as much stress to type as it does anyone watching me
type - my children, for instance.  ("Mom, Come ON!  Just lemme do that for you so we can get OUTTA here sometime today!!!") 
WILD GIGGLES!!!  
Thanks, Adonis!


From Joanne Kates Roos of VA - 12/09/04:

Dear Carol,
I am a cousin of Harron Ellenson ('65 of MA) and she told me about your newsletter with the Nachman's
Department Store
content.  I am one of the granddaughters of Ida Nachman. I have tried to get your web site
up but have not been successful.  I'll keep trying.  We have an annual Christmas luncheon of former employees
and I'd to show them what you have on your site.  The luncheon is on Thursday, December 16.  Let me know. 
Thank you. 
Joanne Kates Roos


From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/10/04:

At 8 AM I, too, cannot open the site.  Looks like a server problem, again.

What a serendipitous e-mail from Joanne. I bet those former employees have all kinds of memories and memorabilia
from the store.  Maybe Joanne could solicit those once she can show them what is on the site.


From Harron Ellenson ('65) of MA - 12/10/04:

Dear Carol
How cool. I hope Joanne can access the site. I am sure some of the people at the luncheon will love this and
perhaps have things they would like to share.
Best,
Harron


From Joanne Kates Roos of VA - 12/10/04:

Dear Carol - I got it!  It is just wonderful and I thank you and Harron for revealing this wonderful extension
of the Nachman story.  We have been meeting and giving the former employees a Christmas luncheon for many
years.  And it appears it was their happiest moments as well.  Many thanks for this extension of these memories. 
I will share it at the luncheon next Thursday on the 16th.  Happy Holidays. 
Very sincerely,
Joanne Kates Roos

PS.  I too was fascinated as a child with the shoe machine in the basement (that would be frowned on today) to look
at my feet.  It was fun for me too. Tell Jean Poole Burton ('64 of RI) my twin sister, Sue Anne Bangel  and I did the
same things she did and remembered that experience fondly.  Thanks for your Old Stomping Grounds contributions.  Sincerely,
Joanne Kates Roos

   WOWZERONI!!!  Isn't this exciting?!?  (And of course, the server kept vacillating back and forth every hour or so that day, but it finally all came together and stayed put.)

   We anticipate seeing an increase of memories posted on the Nachman's page very soon.  Thanks so much, Joanne - and Harron!

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


From Bonnie McBroom Clinton (Cookeville HS, Cookeville, TN - '85)

Thanks so much!!  Love your site
1985 Senior Prom - Cookeville High School - Cookeville, TN
Paul Itoney & Bonnie McBroom - (her prom)
 
Bonnie Clinton
www.bichonsbybonnibons.com

   What a nice surprise!  Thank you, Bonnie - this image of you "young kids" really brightens up this page:

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

   And I love your web site, too!  Of course, I will admit to being a bit partial to bichon frise puppy dogs.  They're soooo cute!


UPDATES:

   Yes, there really ARE some!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/REUNION-PICTURES-2004.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/SATURDAY-NIGHT-2004.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/10-23-04-PM-MORE.html

   Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA sifted through his vast collection of Anchors and Krabbas and shared with us many, many
wondrous images.  No, Babe, they're not ALL going to be posted by Monday!  I just like to PRETEND that I'm Wonder Woman! 
(I like to pretend that I LOOK like Wonder Woman too, but that's another story...)  But let's start with these:

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

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/B-M-Drive-In.html - brand new page!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/richs.html - brand new page!

   And there's much, much more to come.....  Thanks, Tom!


   The next Newsletters are due to be posted on the 13th, 16th, and 19th.  As I had planned for this one to be posted on the 11th,
let's see what really happens....

   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."

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



Frosty The Snowman


Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
and two eyes made out of coal
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale they say
He was made of snow but the children
know how he came to life one day
There must have been some magic in that
old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
he began to dance around

Frosty the snowman
was alive as he could be
And the children say he could laugh
and play just the same as you and me
Thumpetty thump thump
thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpetty thump thump
thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow

Frosty the snowman knew
the sun was hot that day
So he said
"Let's run and
we'll have some fun
now before I melt away
" Down to the village
with a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all
around the square saying
Catch me if you can

He led them down the streets of town
right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
he heard him holler "Stop!"
For Frosty the snow man
had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye saying
"Don't you cry
I'll be back again some day

" Thumpetty thump thump
thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpetty thump thump
thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow


 


“Frosty the Snowman” midi courtesy of http://www.santaland.com/ - 12/08/04

“Frosty the Snowman” lyrics courtesy of http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~av359/xmas/carols/frosty.html - 12/11/04

Animated Frosty and Tiny Snowmen clip art courtesy of http://www.always-safe.com/merrylittle.html - 12/08/04

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