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Classmates from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, and from the Canadian Border to the Mexican Border, including Hawaii where Paul Thomas
and Gwen Richardson Redmond live, and The Netherlands where Lucy Eaton Jonckheere calls home, I send warm greetings to all
Maroon Devil classmates from the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where Mother Nature is finally shedding the
last of her fall foliage.
Autumn colors were spotty this year and there has not been a definite week when color
was any better than the other. Individual trees and some colorful shrubs highlighted the landscape here
and there with colorful foliage but the massive blanket of mixed color we usually see at one time in the woodlands was missing.
The color gradually changed from week to week. Now we see the barren trees and await the bleakness of winter.
But that too shall pass and soon it will be spring.
I do hope
everyone is doing well and all of you have managed to stay ahead of the H1N1 virus that our government says is not a threat
to seniors our age. (Do we take that statement as a confirmation all is well or, are they really trying to kill us off to
drain the burden on Medicare and Social Security? Hmmm…does make one think for sure!) I have had
no reports from very ill classmates suffering with the H1N1. Sidney Mitchell and his wife, Vera, were not feeling well on
the 10th as they had to pass on having dinner with the Upstate Maroon Devils--nothing serious, just a mild touch
of the common variety flu.
With regard to illnesses, I do
have an update from classmate Don Printz with a progress report on the colon cancer treatment his wife, Debbie, is
undergoing at this time. Don’s latest e-mail on the 18th follows.
Dear Rex: Debby has now completed five weeks of radiation and chemo. She is now in the two weeks
rest period. Within 24 hours of being off chemo, the nausea and fatigue was almost completely gone. Her blood test yesterday
was good. The plan now is to see
the surgeon on December 1. If the cancer has shrunk enough to be removed, that will be done in January. If not, she will
get some target radiation in December and then look again. Pray that it would be smaller than they expect. She is starting to feel the burn of the radiation
as expected but local care has helped. Pray that her burn is not too severe. (It usually peaks about a week from now, i. e.,
at about Thanksgiving.) All the children except for one daughter are scheduled to be here for Thanksgiving. We will go to
our daughter in Atlanta for the celebration. In Him, Don
Don
and Debbie are firm believers in prayer and feel God’s comfort and spirit during this time of concern in their lives.
Continue to remember them in your daily prayers. Classmate Bette Wilson
McClain of Charlotte, NC advised me that
Becky Atkinson Aydlette called her last week with news that her father, Luke Atkinson, died Wednesday, November 11th.
I know we all remember Mr. Atkinson, the owner of Luke Atkinson’s Furniture Company in West Asheville. Mr. Atkinson was 98 years old. Following is a brief paragraph from his obituary that appeared in the Asheville
Citizen Times on November 13th. In 1955, he established Luke
Atkinson Furniture Store on the corner of Haywood and Brevard Roads in West Asheville, where it is
still doing business, managed by his son. The building was constructed in 1917 and is a unique part of historical West Asheville: it marked the end of the line of West
Asheville's first trolley car. Becky does not have e-mail but her mailing address is: 3801 Crown Pointe Road, Unit 1273, Jacksonville, Florida, 32275. You will recall Becky recently had a mild stroke and is recovering quite nicely
according to Bette.
Speaking of the Upstate SC Maroon Devils dinner on November 10th, I‘m happy to report we had ten
Maroon Devils from the Classes of 1957-60 in attendance along with seven spouses. Ann Ingle Boone (57), Morgan Pritchard,
B.L. Coleman, Becky Denton Lawrence, Jo Anne Dalton Vaughn, Jo Ann Chandley Elliott and Rex Redmon (58), Elaine Scott Brown
and Bill Gardner (59) and Elaine Chandley Pack (61). Jo Ann Chandley Elliott and her husband, Les, drove from Asheville to
accompany her sister, Elaine to her first gathering. We missed Sidney (58) and Vera Mitchell, Kay
Nelson Strange (57) and J.C., and Jennie Lazenby Padgett (58) and Al who had to cancel at the last minute. Everyone had a
great time and we look forward to gathering again in February for a Valentine Champagne Breakfast.
Rex, the Oct. newsletter was well done, and had very interesting and informative entries. Seems you arrived
to publishing with enough to fill it. (Earlier you had said you had not received as much to tell this time around) Also, I
always enjoy your musings...I am certain they come from the deepest sincerity of your heart.
This time of year through Thanksgiving, I recall the orange icing and pumpkin face sugar cookies my dear mother used to mail
to her grandchildren (she lived in Black Mountain, but did not drive). The mail carrier, who walked our route for years, would not leave the package
by our on-porch mailbox. He would ring the front door bell and pass them on to the first little hands which reached for them.
This year, with sculpture clay, I fashioned a good facsimile of them...with orange painted "icing" and a pumpkin
face. As I pass the decorative shelf in the kitchen where the cookie rests upright in a small stand, I think not of Halloween,
but of past happy times, and this makes me smile. I send this smile to you and Margaret (and all the '58 classmates) that
you have joy in the coming seasons, with good memories, and more to come.
The second e-mail from Sally is about a recent trip she made to Washington DC with members of her extended family. Rex, We traveled to Washington for my daughter and son-in-law who were volunteer judges on the first day of the
First National Bible Bee. I stayed with my four year old Grandson back at the Comfort Inn at Andrew’s Air Force Base.
The following day, we visited Arlington Cemetery; I (with a bad knee) drove a rental scooter with my grandson perched in my lap.. We boarded the Metro, got off near
the Federal building, snapped photos of the most beautiful architecture on the buildings, then took a short walk to pick
up my "vehicle", and off we went to the cemetery.
We were strolling along,
when we heard the sound of hoof beats and a voice declaring, "No Pictures! No Pictures!" Coming up behind us,
then passing by, rolled a caisson pulled by the most immaculate horses ridden by a stately military attachment. What I only
read about in newspapers, became a stark reality, somber, and eye-opening as the caisson held a casket draped in black. The
quiet around us was deafening, although there were dozens and dozens of visitors on all of the walking paths. The scene was
almost as if the world stood frozen in time for a few moments.
We then watched the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier/s. I was unaware, until
my son told me later; the Vietnam War Unknown Soldier had been identified a few years back, and re-buried elsewhere. An internet
site states the Vietnam tomb remains empty. Also, another ceremony followed. A
military family was invited forward to place the wreath. We saw that they were crying, and made a guess that the horse drawn
vault had held their loved one. After my daughter briefly cautioned my grandson to stay quiet, he stood without making
a sound for a half-hour. I was very proud of him, as this was a most remarkable achievement for the little chatterbox who
talked almost continually for 8-9 hours as we drove to and from Washington. As we had only one day to tour, we passed up several grave sites of the rich and famous and various Memorials, so I
could visit the place I wanted most to see...The service women Memorial museum. I also picked up a form so I can enter my
mother and my eldest Army daughter if she wants to be in the museum's registry. We hope to return for a longer trip next time.
I would like to visit the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, and get a closer look at the Capitol Building and White House. The hurried trip was tiring, but worth
the effort. Sally
Sally and all classmates; allow me a moment to reflect on the Washington experience.
As a veteran, military funeral services for me are the most moving services I have ever witnessed. The flag ceremony, Taps,
the twenty one gun salute and the sense of pride that comes with serving your country will move any military man, or woman,
to tears. There is an unspoken brotherly and fraternal camaraderie among military personnel regardless of when or where one
served. We are unified in spirit and when a veteran brother goes down, whether from combat or from natural
causes, regardless of age; we all feel the pain and are emotionally moved. I shed a few tears this past
Veterans’ Day when I saw the many memorial services held around the country that were on TV. On Veteran’s
Day I usually go to the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial here in Greenville and place a small American flag beside Eddie Rudeen’s (57) name
that is engraved on the memorial. I played varsity basketball with Eddie at LEHS and remember him as an outstanding young
man and friend. Eddie lost his life in a plane crash during the Vietnam War in August of 1965. However,
I was feeling poorly on Veterans’ day and did not venture out into the rain.
Raleigh, North
Carolina, classmate Dale
Briggs sends greetings along with an address change.
Hi Rex, I look forward to reading your news letter each month. I know that is a time consuming
endeavor and you are doing a fine job with it.
About
3 years ago, I did what old folks do. I decided to sell the house I had lived in for 36 years and "downsized"
into a new townhouse. The wisdom of that decision is still in question. As I was reading your letter this month,
it finally occurred to me your class directory still had my old address. If you would like to update the directory,
my new address is: Dale Briggs, 6063 Viking Dr., Raleigh, NC
27612
Many
thanks for all your work in sending us the news letter. Dale
Ever faithful classmate, Sandy Setzer Rau, manages to send a few words each month which are always
greatly appreciated.
Hi Rex! Thanks for another wonderful newsletter. We are renting and living in our old house for a month so
we have time to prepare the new one. We'll be moving around the end of November - just in time to decorate for Christmas!
:) Will send new address next month if I can catch my breath! :) Blessings, Sandy :) Sandra “Sandy” Jones Lee, whom I visit when we travel to
Mobile, Alabama sent a nice note.
Sandy is a neat lady and I enjoy visits with her. We are both historians and talk about
the most interesting topics.
Rex, Good to hear about classmates and so glad to hear that Margaret's son is doing well.
Chris and I, with two friends from Boston, were in Charleston the same
weekend that you were there. Besides being hot, hot it is a fabulous place and we think the restaurants perhaps better
than New Orleans. Our favorites were High Cotton and Magnolia.
The initial reason we went was to visit granddaughter, Margaret, who is a freshman at the College of Charleston. I instructed her to remain there all four years
so we'll have an excuse to go. How I
wish I lived closer and could join you at some of those near Asheville
gatherings. Since I live where it is always green, I dream of the mountains, trees and changing colors. For years
I went home for my mother's birthday, October 24. My father used to call me when snow was predicted and I would hop
a plane and stay a few days reveling in the beauty and cold air.
Those were wonderful days; however these days too are wonderful, but just different--yet fulfilling. I'm taking
an on-line course from Harvard on Masterpieces of Irish Literature. Interesting to those with heritage from those
hardy Scots and Irish who settled our mountains. Blessings to you, Margaret and all my classmates of 1958. Sandra
Following is a message from
classmate Cissy Brown Hampton
Dear Family and Friends,
Members of Tom's family, his extended family and I will be walking the mile at NCSU Centennial Campus on November 7th.
We want very much to make a difference for others who may be afflicted by this devastating cancer. I am looking
toward the week-end with determination to complete the walk and I hope we will have helped in some small way alleviate the
pain for others. Please support
our efforts! Any amount will be appreciated. It all adds up and together we can truly help. It's easy to
click the link to my personal page and donate on line or if you prefer you can contribute by mail to the address listed below
using this downloadable donation form: I keep thinking about the fact that if each person could send as little
as $2.00--small amounts add up and can make a difference National Lung Cancer Partnership,
22 N. Midvale Blvd., , Suite 6Madison, WI 53705 As I am not an individual who feels comfortable asking
friends and family for money, I want each of you to know that I realize many of you have your own charities where you contribute.
However...this project is dear to my heart and when you read the statistics about this disease, you will realize they are
devastating!
Many of you knew and worked with Tom and know he was a fighter for those less fortunate. I add the following as inspiration
to plead for all of us to work together to make a difference for others. Please read the facts and support "Team
Daddy Tom."
For
information about the National Lung Cancer Partnership and its programs, visit www.NationalLungCancerPartnership.org or www.FreetoBreathe.org.
Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable
link, you can visit the web address:
http://participate.freetobreathe.org/site/TR/RunWalk/General?px=1131541&pg=personal&fr_id=1137&et=rNsZXjKREkZ23RWRi3YVDw..&s_tafId=1249 Click here to view the team page for Team Daddy Tom
If the text above does not appear as a clickable
link, you can visit the web address:
http://participate.freetobreathe.org/site/TR/RunWalk/General?team_id=4440&pg=team&fr_id=1137&et=b2NOM56vWCldoDUDxInRMg..&s_tafId=1249
Love and my thanks to each of you.
Cissy Hampton
Even though Cissy’s walk was on November 7th, it is not too late to send a donation in Classmate Tom Hampton’s
memory. As the end of the year approaches and we begin to look for additional ways to save money on our
income taxes why not make a donation by sending a monetary gift to the National Lung Cancer Partnership.
Following
is a follow up letter from Cissy.
The Hampton Family completed the race for Lung Cancer and the Team Daddy Tom, as his grandchildren called him, was blessed
with contributions. We met our goals. Our group was small. The experience was meaningful, emotional, and
very hopeful. We count our blessings for the friendship and love of everyone who made donations
and supported us.
After the race, we were told the web site will be up until the end of December.
Additionally, the web site was not as user friendly as I personally needed it to be and I hope others didn’t
have a problem with it. Thanks
again for your support and I look forward to reading the latest fun “happenings” of the class of ’58.
Cissy PS Rex,
I've thought often of how you touch the lives of so many people and enable them all to stay connected. That's a
remarkable contribution. I hope you realize how important you've become to everyone
Some interesting events are occurring at the Asheville High School/Lee H. Edwards High School Alumni Center. Read the following message from Dave Keyes, Asheville
High school Class of 1973. (The only nickname I have ever claimed is “Red”).
Red, My name is Dave Keyes, the Class of 1973. I am also the webmaster for the Alumni Center website for the Asheville City Schools. I am currently working with Marcia Britt Amos on a project she started,
scanning all of the donated yearbooks for Lee Edwards, Asheville High, and other schools in the city school system.
So far I have complete 21 different classes, and your class is the recent one. I will be scanning in the Class of 1957,
1959, 1956, 1962, and 1963 in the next week. I wanted to get your and the classes around yours done.
(2nd message)
I have the Class of 1957 yearbook on line now. It is at the same web site as the Class of 1958, http://www.TheAlumniCenter.com click on the Yearbooks button at the top of the page, and click on the drop down and select the Class of 1957, and click
on the Go button. button that will appear after you make a selection. I have on this page the instructions on how to
navigate the yearbook photos.
The requirements to view the yearbook, you will need the latest copy of Adobe Flash installed,
you can go to http://www.Adobe.com click on the Get Adobe Flash Player image located in the right hand side of the page. It is free. I recommend IE 8.0.6001.18828, or Firefox 3.5.4, or Google Chrome 3.0.195.27, or Apple Safari 4.0.3.
These are the browsers I tested with.I saw your photo on Page 30; it is good to put a face with a name. Dave Keyes, Class of 1973
And now a word from Shirley McDonald Hedrick who lives in Knoxville, TN.
Hi Rex, I hope you and Margaret
are doing well. I am trying to do something to forget the terrible football game the Vols (University of Tennessee) just played. Wow! Oh well, it's just a game right?
I have been checking on the addresses that you gave me for the people living in E.Tn. Several apparently have moved.
Could you ask, in the newsletter, those who would like to be included to either send me an e-mail or a note or even a phone
call. You have all my information and I don't mind it being in the newsletter. (Editor note: Shirley is planning to gather some Maroon Devils who live in east TN
for a mini gathering). Have you heard from Sidney lately? I sent him an e-mail
a few weeks ago and haven't heard from him. Perhaps he didn't get the change of address. I know he is always very busy. (Sidney,
Send Shirley an e-mail). I have continued to try to talk to Dot (Sutton) without success. I had a great time at the beach (Gulf Shores,
Alabama) with my girls. Now I am looking forward to the holidays. As usual, I am busy
with my Bible study and volunteer work. Time passes far too quickly.
As always, thank you so very much for continuing to do the newsletter. I love hearing about what others are doing and
wish more people would send in things for it. (Me too Shirley) Take care and much love,
Shirley Maroon Devils, Closs of 58, gathering for the Upcoming Holidays.
There are several mini-gatherings for the
Class of 58 members happening in various locations in the Carolinas and Florida.
First, if you attended Ron Rice’s Halloween party you already know what kind of gathering he puts together. If you
missed the Halloween party, then do make plans to attend his Christmas gathering on Thursday evening, December 17th, also @ the 6:00 p.m. hour. This is an open invitation to all Class of 58 LEHS graduates. The Christmas party requires
one to dress more appropriately—no Jeans! Reservations are requested through Ron’s assistance,
Lara, at 386-672-7577. You must RSVP to get in the door. This would be a great opportunity for all the
Maroon Devils living in Florida to get together for a mini-reunion. Spouses
included.
Second; A Christmas dinner is planned at 6:00 p.m. for WNC Class of 58 graduates on Thursday, December 3rd
at O’Charleys’ Restaurant on Tunnel Road in
Asheville. Classmates from East Tennessee are invited as well plus those living in the Upstate
of SC. Tom Hatcher even drives down for the dinners from his home near Bristol, Virginia. Classmates Allan White and Sally McCanless are sponsors and co-hosts
for the dinner on December 3rd and you may RSVP to Sally at Sallys_alley@live.com or call Allan at 828-350-9155. You must RSVP as the Restaurant needs a headcount. Mark your calendars
now for this very special event. Everyone attending the dinner was asked to bring a universal gift (suitable for male or female)
valued at no more than $10.00 but that expectation has been scratched. (Spouses are included and expected
to attend).
Third; Charlotte, North Carolina Classmates, Judy Lance Smith and Bette
Wilson McClain are co-hosting a Christmas
dinner at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, December 8th at Providence Café on 110 Perrin Place in Charlotte. Everyone attending (including spouses) is asked to bring a wrapped Christmas gift to exchange at random drawing (suitable for male or female) valued at no more than $10.00. Please
RSVP to Judy Morrison Smith at judy@morrisonsmith.com or Bette Wilson McClain at bettemc@carolina.rr.com No Later Than Saturday, November 21st.
How can I close a November newsletter without commenting on Thanksgiving? As a historian I read
an interesting article in Parade Magazine last week about the original
Thanksgiving. According to the article, the traditional Thanksgiving feast we celebrate today is a mythical
carry-over from the 1860s when President Abraham Lincoln first declared a Thanksgiving as a National Holiday.
Turkey, with dressing and all the trimmings such as pumpkin pie, were foods eaten in the 1860s and became
the established norm for a Thanksgiving dinner—with a few exceptions here and there.
How then do we connect the original Thanksgiving holiday the Pilgrims celebrated with the Holiday dinner of the
1860s and the one we celebrate today? First, it starts with eating more turnips than turkeys the article states and
it was probably held immediately after harvest in either September or October and was attended by about 150 people and lasted
three days. I quote from the article
Was there even turkey at the original dinner? Eyewitnesses of the account recorded for posterity
that wildfowl was eaten. But that could have meant ducks, swans, passenger pigeon or other native birds to the region. Venison
was definitely one of the main dishes because the Wampanoag Indians provided five deer. The three day celebration may also
have contained lobster, eel, mussels, and most definitely a variety of fish, Indian corn, radishes, turnips and spinach. The
food was all broiled or roasted as sautéing and stir frying wereunheard of then. Oh, and there was not a buckle in
sight because the Pilgrims never wore them—another
myth created by Victorian era magazines who illustrated the Pilgrims wearing accessories with buckles.
I learned the Native Americans crashed the Pilgrims Thanksgiving party. Contrary to what many of us learned in school,
the first Thanksgiving was not a carefully orchestrated diplomatic event. It was serendipity. Neither were there metal forks
because the Pilgrims ate with their hands, spoons and knives. They held their spoons like shovels and certainly not like felt
tipped pens, the article states.
Also, teeth picking was done after the meal and spitting was moderately limited. There was no smacking one’s lips like
hogs and while sitting, one does not move back and forth, lest your fellow diners think you are “breaking wind.”
(So help me that was what etiquette was in those days Morgan).
One final ingredient was added to the menu feast of the original Thanksgiving and that was liquid refreshment. What did they
wash all that food down with? Why beer and wine, of course. While the Pilgrims did partake of the spirits,
they frowned upon public drunkenness.
My favorite poet once said, Life comes in the form of opportunities which are easy to
recognize—once they have been wasted! I will add, waste no more--and be eternally thankful
for the wisdom you have learned while wasting!!! Amen!!!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone…
Rex Redmon
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