12/24/09 - NNHS Newsletter -
Happy Christmas Eve!

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions
of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures
of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller,
thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!”

- Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836
(07 Feb 1812 - 09 June 1870)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

It's no secret that I love absolutely everything about Christmas - even the things which might tend to annoy most people - but it's the Christmas music that I really love. And of all the hundreds of Christmas songs and carols, Silent Night is my absolute favorite.

Today's Newsletter is being revisited from exactly four years ago today:

http://nnhs65.00freehost.com/12-24-05-NNHS-Happy-Christmas-Eve.html

BONUS #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6gnRvumDiA&NR=1 - Stille Nacht - The Innsbrucker Capellknaben

BONUS #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-2Tnp9whDU&NR=1 - Silent Night - Bing Crosby

BONUS #3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6P3fCDQVMI - Silent Night - Olivia Newton John - WOW! Lovely rendition; it's interesting that she repeated the first verse in place of the third; probably more politically correct or something....

BONUS #4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3uPrJR7IY&NR=1 - Silent Night - Enya - in Irish with subtitles and translations

PRAYER REQUEST:

From Me ('65) of IL - 12/13/09 (altered for date and repeated):

I feel strongly impressed today to ask your fervent prayers on behalf of five people whose issues have not been mentioned here before. What I'm actually requesting is Five Christmas Miracles, as the various problems all need to find a resolution by New Year's Eve. I know that's only seven days away now, but I also know among us there are some Mighty Prayer Warriors, and I would deeply appreciate your efforts, as I'm sure would they! Thank you all so very much - and Merry Christmas!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/requests-prayers.html

REMINDER FOR LAST-MINUTE SHOPPERS:

From Mark Friedman ('65) of VA - 11/05/09:

AT MARK FRIEDMAN’S JEWELERS IN YORKTOWN I AM GIVING A 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL MERCHANDISE IN STOCK FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND 15% OFF ON JEWELRY REPAIRS TO ALL THE NNHS CLASSMATES.

BEST REGARDS,

MARK

WHOO-HOO! Thanks, Mark!

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:

Happy Christmas Eve Birthday today to James Gay ('57) AND Ann W. Hutcheson ('57) AND Sandye Jordan Murray ('67) of VA!

Happy Christmas Birthday tomorrow to Patsy Bloxom Meider ('57) of NC AND Doug Dickinson ('69) of VA!

Happy Birthday this week to:

27 - Anita Morgan Becker ('66) of VA;

29 - Roy Tate ('57);

30 - William Gwynn ('57) AND Ron Miller ('59) of NC AND (if Plaxo is to be believed) Carole Althaus Tanenhaus ('65) of MD AND Sarah Stewart Vance ('69) of VA;

31 - Pat Floyd Pride ('62) of VA AND Susie Overton Jones ('63) of VA AND (again, if Plaxo is to be believed) David Rosenwasser ('64) of MO!

Many Happy Returns to You All!

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

THIS DAY IN WWII:

December 24, 1939 - Pope Pius XII made a Christmas Eve appeal for peace.

December 24, 1941 - Hong Kong fell to the Japanese Imperial Army.

December 24, 1941 - Kuching was conquered by Japanese forces.

December 24, 1942 - Jean François Darlan, French admiral and collaborator in the Vichy government, was assassinated in Algiers by French monarchist, Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle.

December 24, 1943 - U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower became the Supreme Allied Commander.

December 24, 1944 - A German submarine torpedoed the Belgian transport ship S.S. Leopoldville with 2,235 soldiers aboard. About 800 American soldiers died. The soldiers were crossing the English Channel to be reinforcements at the battle that become known as the Battle of the Bulge.

THIS DAY IN 1964:

Friday, December 24, 1964 - Actor Mark Valley (Boston Legal) was born in Ogdensburg, New York.

From Al Farber ('64) of GA - 12/23/09 - "BEST GIFT":

The BEST GIFT for Xmas....YOU on the WEB again...
Wishing all a MERRY XMAS @ HAPPY NEW YEAR...
TYPHOONs FOREVER

Thank you so much, Al! I must say it's wonderful to be back! Happy Holidays!

From David Whitley ('67) of VA - 12/23/09 - "Mopey Christmas":

Hey, Merry Christmas, sweet cheeks, and here’s hoping for a great new year too.

And I’m on my way back to the size I was in my Glory Days. Lost 32 lbs in 3 weeks. Not bad huh?

Love, me

PS I’m very envious ‘cause I’m betting you guys (will) have SNOW, am I right? Heck, we had a veritable snowstorm last weekend, prolly close to an inch or two. Almost covered the crabgrass. Oh well. Take care, and memember that Christmas song “snowflakes & spittin’, and snowplows on kittens” or something like that.

   You had surgery on November 27 and you lost 32 pounds in three weeks?!? Hey, could I get whatever you had?!? No, wait a minute - no insurance. Scratch that. Or as my OB/GYN's wife said when I showed up at the hospital for a far-in-advance-scheduled D&C, newly pregnant with my daughter, "Some people will do anything to get out of surgery!"

   No snow yet; just lots of rain.

   Merry Christmas, Even-More-Gorgeous-Than-Before! And you're still the funniest man I know!

From Fred Field (June '45) of CA - 12/23/09 - "Christmas NN 1930s":

December 22, 2009 - Seasons Greetings Fellow Expatriates,

Remember this?

Over the river and through the woods,
To grandmother’s house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow, oh!

Well, tomorrow the river becomes Interstate 10, the woods will be palm lined Inland Empire avenues, the house becomes Granddaughter's in Loma Linda, the horse's name is Honda, and the white snow is the fresh powder dusting the ridges and ski lifts of Big Bear Mountain.

But long ago, in a very different time and place . . . .

Washington Avenue became a magic kingdom when the Christmas lights were strung up. And all the department stores put special Christmas displays in their windows.

The biggest department stores had a Santa Claus. Mothers had to decide ahead of time which one would be visited. No use confusing kids with multiple Santas.

In later years my mother would tell the story of her childhood friend whose mother got behind in Christmas planning. When the child began whining about the delay, her mother looked in the newspaper to find where the nearest Santa Claus would be available. As Christmas approached, streetcars would be crowded, and parking near Washington Avenue would become impossible. So the mother chose to go to Shapiro's on the more convenient Jefferson Avenue. They didn't realize until they had been in line for a while that the Santa at Shapiro's was black. The mother quickly came up with the explanation that they put black makeup on Santa when he visited Jefferson Avenue stores. But of course they left the beard white.

Christmas day was usually at my grandmother's house on 30th Street. In addition to my grandparents, there were my mother and father, and my younger brother Graham. Also my mother's English-born older brother, David Arnold Lloyd, his wife Catherine, and their only child, Martha Jane.

Dinner would be an absolute feast with a huge Smithfield ham, all kinds of vegetables, and a number of traditional English delicacies including chutneys, an authentic plum pudding, and of course, mince pie. The mincemeat would have been lovingly made by my grandmother months earlier and stored in a large crock where it soaked in rum and brandy as it patiently waited for the holidays.

Kids got to open a few presents before dinner and the rest after. In mid-afternoon, family friends came by. Sherry wine would be served along with fruitcake and savory tidbits. People that we kids hardly knew would bring us presents.

And there would be candy! Open boxes of exotic assortments and samplers. Bowls of colorful hard Christmas candies of various colors and flavors. And the kids' favorites - flat round discs wrapped in gold foil embossed to look like gold coins and with wonderful imported chocolate insides.

Visitors seemed to fit into two generations:

1. Elderly friends of my grandparents - mostly English and Scottish immigrants. The air would tingle with accents of Liverpool and Clyde Bank as they reminisced about the Auld Country.

2. And friends of my parents whose accents bent more toward the Tidewater as they exchanged news from mutual acquaintances.

So memorable - but all so long ago.

Happy holidays,

Fred

===========
Fred W. Field
Fullerton, CA
fwfield@juno.com

Thank you so much for this delightful remembrance, Fred! Merry Christmas!

From Pat Beck Letzinger ('57) of VA - 12/23/09, 7:45 AM - "Check out The Christmas Tree - animated Flash ecard by Jacquie Lawson" AND From My #1 Daughter-in-Law, Mary Bennett Harty (Litchfield HS, IL - '89) of IL - 12/23/09, 10:19 AM - "This is beautiful":

This says it all.

Pat

This is beautiful. Merry Christmas!

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2007134554829&source=jl999

Thanks so much, Pat and Miss Mary! This is beautiful - one of her very best! Merry Christmas!

From My Friend, Judy Bundy Bowermaster (Litchfield HS, IL - '59) of IL - 12/23/09 - "Our Christmas Card this year":

So cute!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

http://www1.yahoo.americangreetings.com/ecards/display.pd?path=40715&fr=bps755702&prodnum=3166187&source=yahoo501

OOOH, a snowman! I love snowmen! Thanks, Jude! Merry Christmas!

From Linda McKenna Sivilich ('66) of PA - 12/23/09 - "hi":

Hi Carol,

Wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas!

I enjoy reading your emails.

Is there a link to currently living class members?

Have a wonderful New Year!

Linda McKenna Sivilich

'66

Thank you, Linda! Merry Christmas to you, too!

Um, ah, no, the closest I can come to that are the Contact Pages and the In Memoriam Pages:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/SITE-MAP.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/contact-ALL.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/memoriam-all.html

Not everyone who is alive is to be found on the Contact Pages, but hopefully the In Memoriam pages are fairly accurate, though not necessarily complete. If you don't see their names and faces there, chances are that they are still here with us on earth - somewhere!

From Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 12/23/09 - "Perspective":

This has made the rounds previously, but I think worthy of another read.

Perspective

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the trip?'

'It was great, Dad.'

'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked.

'Oh yeah,' said the son.

'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?', asked the father

The son answered:

'I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them. '

The boys father was speechless.

Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.'

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?

Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
.
"Life is too short and friends are too few."

Thanks so much, Wayne Honey - it IS a good 'un!

From Richard Dawes (NNHS / HHS - '62) of VA - 12/23/09 - "What can I say???":

http://media.causes.com/611645?p_id=44185871 - Trace Adkins and the West Point Cadet Glee Club, USMA, ACM 2009

Thank you so much, Dicky! It is good to be moved to tears on a regular basis, and this certainly ought to do it! Merry Christmas!

From Domi O'Brien ('64) of NH - 12/23/09 - "a blessing":

http://www.e-water.net/viewflash.php?flash=irishblessing_en

Thank you so much, Domi! This is quite lovely, and somehow brought me to deep, blubbering sobs. It's good to cry! Good Yule!

From Norris Perry (Warwick HS - '59) of VA - 12/23/09 - "The awesome power of a wife's love"

This really touches your heart!

A very old man lay dying in his bed. In death's doorway, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookie wafting up the stairs.

He gathered his remaining strength and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands.

With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven.

There, spread out up on newspapers on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies.

Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. The aged and withered hand, shaking, made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when he was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife.

"Stay out of those," she said. "They're for the funeral.”

      Thanks so much, Norris! It's good to laugh, too!

ABBREVIATED ALERT:
From Jane Chambers of VA - 07/01/09 - "CNC BOOK BROCHURE & AD":

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/CNC-CNU/brochure(2).pdf

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/CNC-CNU/CNC-Memories-Book-219390602.pdf

   Contact Dr. Chambers at cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com.

   Thanks, Jane!

FINALLY:

From ArcaMax Jokes - 12/23/09:

Protection

A female truck driver decided to buy herself a big dog for protection while she was on the road. She went to the local animal shelter and asked about one particularly large and fierce looking dog and the attendant told her, "He doesn't like men."

Perfect, she thought, and so she bought him. Later that week, she was in a dark parking lot and two big, rough looking men started walking toward her. Sure enough, as the attendant at the animal shelter had told her, the dog didn't like men. He promptly ran and cowered under the nearest car.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

1. Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, 2010 - The NNHS Class of 1970 will hold its 40-Year Reunion. Saturday night will be at the Kiln Creek Golf & Country Club. For details, contact Carol Comer Cutler at ca23comerww@aol.com or visit the reunion website at NNHS1970Reunion.myevent.com - CLASS OF 1970
2. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 6, 7, and 8, 2010 - The NNHS Class of 1960 will hold its 50-Year Reunion at the Marriott Newport News at City Center. For details, contact Karen Weinstein Witte at kwitte@tampabay.rr.com - CLASS OF 1960

PRAYER ROLL:
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/requests-prayers.html - updated 12/20/09
BLOG:
http://nnhs.wordpress.com/ - updated 08/04/09

Y'all take good care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!

                          Love to all, Carol

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

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

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

Carol Buckley Harty
618-530-9092

    To donate, click on the Donate Button on the left, or just mail it directly to my home (address available upon request). Thanks! nnhs65@gmail.com

Silent Night

Words by Josef Mohr (11 Dec 1792 - 05 Dec 1848), about 1816

Translated to English by John Freeman Young (30 Oct 1820 - 15 Nov 1885), 1863

Music by Franz Xaver Gruber (25 Nov 1787 - 07 June 1963), about 1820

"This hymn’s history is the source of some disagreement. The traditional story is that Mohr and Gruber
wrote it in Oberndorf, Austria, on Christmas Eve when they discovered the church organ was broken
(different versions say it rusted out, or mice chewed through vital parts). However, recent evidence
indicates this may be only folklore. An old manuscript has reportedly been discovered that shows
Franz Gruber wrote the score 2-4 years after Mohr wrote the lyrics. Whatever the truth, this carol
has been a Christmas favorite for almost 200 years."

Stille Nacht

1. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigten Haar,
|: Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! :|

2. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
|: Jesus in deiner Geburt! :|

3. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Die der Welt Heil gebracht,
Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn,
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt sehn,
|: Jesum in Menschengestalt! :|

4. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Wo sich heut alle Macht
Väterlicher Liebe ergoß,
Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß
|: Jesus die Völker der Welt! :|

5. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Lange schon uns bedacht,
Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit
In der Väter urgrauer Zeit
|: Aller Welt Schonung verhieß! :|

6. Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Alleluja,
Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah:
|: "Jesus der Retter ist da!" :|

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

"Silent Night" midi and German and English lyrics courtesy of http://www.ylw.mmtr.or.jp/~johnkoji/hymn/xmas/ – 11/22/05

"Stille Nacht" history and "Silent Night" English lyrics courtesy of http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/i/silntnit.htm - 12/23/05

Baby Jesus with Bluebird clip art courtesy of http://www.corlisselizabethwilliams.com/files/gimgs/ - 12/23/09

Holly Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/lines-christ7.htm - 12/05/05

Animated Tiny Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!

Pine Forest High School (NC) Trojans Logo clip art courtesy of http://www.pfhs.ccs.k12.nc.us/alumni.htm - 05/19/07

Army Seal clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 05/24/06 (still missing...)
Thanks, Al!
Replaced by Norm Covert ('61) of MD - 02/09/09
Thanks, Norm!

Navy Seal clip art courtesy of http://www.onemileup.com/miniSeals.asp - 05/29/06

Litchfield High School's Purple Panther Paw Print courtesy of http://www.litchfield.k12.il.us/ - 06/23/07

Animated Laughing Woman courtesy of Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA - 02/23/09
Thanks, Joyce!

Back to NNHS Newsletters - 2009
Return to NNHS Class of 1965