Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

   Happy Birthday tomorrow to Judy McCall Nesbitt ('65) of NC!

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

NEWBIE:

Eric Huffstutler (Bethel HS - '75) - 09/24/04

   Welcome aboard, Eric!  Obviously, the time and place are off enough that not all of the site will have the appeal to you as it does
to most of our group, but there are still some areas we hope you'll enjoy.  You're already familiar with "Our Old Stomping Grounds". 
May I suggest these pages also:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/our-places-worship.html

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

   I've added your name here:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/alumni-list.html

  ( Don't worry, Tom.  Eric may have supplanted you as the Baby of the group, but you're still "Da Babe"!)

Why Is Gold So Rare?

From Eddie Beasley ('64) of Panama, now in the Sudan, via Ray Staton ('64) of VA, via Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 09/23/04:
(Didja follow all that?!?):

As you guys know, I took a job with a company who has a contract with the US State Department and have
been in Africa since April. Our project is called The Civilian Protection Monitoring Team or CPMT. Basically
our job is to monitor compliance by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/
Army with the agreement they made in 2002 to stop targeting civilians, their property and facilities. A
complete rundown on the project can be viewed at our website, www.cpmtsudan.org.

I am permanently based in Nairobi, Kenya, but our project HQ is in Khartoum and we have operational
camps at Rumbek and Malakal, South Sudan. I have spent time with both camps and have had the privilege
of working in the Darfur. Sudan is not your average vacation hotspot. Nairobi is another story.

I get a break every 4 months and I spent my first one on a 12 day Mediterranean Cruise with my wife, Bonnie.
What a trip. My next break comes in December which I will spend at home in Panama.

The attached pic is of a young warrior of the SPLM/A. I will send more, one at a time since my baud rate is
extremely low here.

If anyone wants to drop a line, please do so at beasley@africaonline.co.ke

Hope this finds all happy and prosperous; enjoy the reunion.

Regards,
EB

   Okay, I don't know about y'all, but I personally would call this entire exchange extremely Rare!  Thanks, Eddie - and Ray and Dave!

From Rip Collins ('65) of TN via Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 09/24/04:

   (This was an awesome visual of 22 images of the horrific destruction caused throughout FL and AL by the terrible Ivan.  I thought it
was a cool shortcut to a new page.  Alas, the pictures wouldn't save for me, so I'll have search and pluck my own.  As I said, I can
always find the more complicated path to practically anything... )

  Thanks anyway, Gentlemen!

Why Are Karner Blue Butterflies So Rare?

From Butch Ragland ('63) of CO to Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 09/25/04:

Joe: 
Thanks a lot for the response!  This is the same Carla Stewart!  Carla & I are the same age, but from what I remember she
ended up at Warwick High and I lost track of her after my uncle passed away.  I remember Carl very well, but did not realize
he had passed away.  My uncle, Charlie Ragland, who use to live on James River Drive was married into the Stewart Family. 
My dad died in 1983 after I left for Colorado, and since then I have lost contact with nearly everyone other than my brother.
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. 
Thanks - Butch

From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL to Butch Ragland ('63) of CO - 09/25/04:

From Butch Ragland ('63) of CO to Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 09/25/04:

Joe:
Thanks again for your assistance!  I will drop Louise a line in the next few weeks.  It has been nearly 45 years since I last
saw her.  It will be great to again touch base with her and Carla. 
You are right about Carol's dedication!  I don't understand how she can stay on top of things as she does.  She and a few others
have greatly contributed to the ability of many of us scattered souls in making contact with the past, which would have been
nearly impossible without their tireless dedication. 
Thanks again - Butch Ragland

   WOW!  Thanks for all your nice words about me, Gentlemen!  I'm just having fun here.

  This is a beautiful example of friends helping each other to reconnect, which is blessedly not quite So Rare as it once was!

Previously from Frank Blechman of Northern VA - 09/19/04:

Fifteen years ago, I was involved in the beginning of the story described
in the attached documents.  Although this is a "Hampton" story, not a
"Newport News" story, you have become something of an archivist for the
lower Peninsula and so I thought you might be interested to know "the
rest of the story" as a famous broadcaster used to say.

   (I had reported I had a problem with PDF files...)

   GOOD NEWS!  I found out why PDF files hated me!  It seems this particular computer still needed Mozilla and Adobe sumpin'
or other installed, so my #5 son, Nathaniel, walked me through - phoned me through - those downloads, and voila!  Now I can
read PDF files!  YAHOO!  So I've thoroughly enjoyed reading Frank's files on the Hampton Initiative. As soon as I can decide how
I'm going to present these to you, I will.  It'll come to me soon.  Keep the faith.  And thanks again, Frank.  It was fascinating reading!

Why Are Natural Lasers So Rare?

From Me ('65) of NC - 09/26/04:

   I have some sad news of my own to report.  Our sole pet has for the last eighteen months has been a gorgeous peacock blue fish
named Betty the Betta, who was not only fun, but graced and beautified our living room.  My #4 son, Joshua, named him Betty after
a character in one of our favorite goofy movies, Kung Pow.  Unless you've seen the movie, the name (exaggeratedly pronounced
"Bet-ty the Bet-ta", rather than the Southern "Beddy the Bedda") will make no sense to you.

   On Friday, Adrienne noticed a "bug" in Betty's bowl.  We were all gone more than we were here all weekend, so I thought I'd fish
said "bug" out of his bowl a bit later.  A bit later, Adrienne noticed a lump on Betty, and that he was not acting like himself.  So I
grabbed a fleeting moment, and extracted the dead "bug" - which proved to be a yellow jacket!  The lump (which by now had turned
a spooky, pale yellow color) was obviously where he had stung my poor Betty!

  After we returned home from our first excursion Saturday, Adrienne noticed that Betty had died - what we can only assume was a
horrible, painful death - not to mention the fact that the entire episode was so freaky, it must also be So Rare.  Sniff. Sniff.

From Brian Beachum ('72) of VA - 09/24/04:

http://www.beachumstudios.com/toy/

   GASP!!!  Brian, that's absolutely breathtaking - not to mention Rare!  Thanks so much!  I've posted this link on
"Our Old Cars":

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

   I'm glad you're enjoying the Newsletters!

From Eric Huffstutler (Bethel HS - '75) - 09/24/04:

I'll look and see what photo goodies I have, and also see your point of view about getting some "Now" images even though
the building isn't there any longer.  Sadly downtown Newport News isn't even a shell of what it once was.

Hey, I just thought of a gas station that was near a junk yard (both now gone) called Tanker Gas.  It had a railroad tank
car on the roof... remember that?  It was during the day when city ordinances weren't strict about signs or displays and
you could have animated or blinking marquees as well as unusual signage.

   Thanks, Eric.  Having spent most of the past 35 years in the Midwest, when I return to the carnage that was downtown Newport
News, to find so little remaining of what I knew, loved, and assumed would always be, I find it completely disorienting.  That's why
I like to have the images of the nothingness that remains to compare in my mind with the wonders that were.

  Tanker Gas, hmmm?  It sounds cool, but reminds me of the lyrics of "Once Upon a December":  "…things I almost remember…".

   Enter our Panel of Experts:

From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 09/24/04:

   Incredible, Joe!  You never cease to amaze me with your near total recall.  Thanks, Adonis!

From Susie Overton Jones ('63) of VA - 09/25/04:

Carol,
I have been in touch with Billy Rhodes' mom this evening. Billy had a heart attack while driving. It was his third attack
in two years.   Last year he had a heart attack also while driving.  Billy had been teaching in Mexico.
Regards,
Susie
 

   Oh, my!  Thanks, Susie!  I made note of this here:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/memoriam63.html

From Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 09/26/04. 0930:

   Oh, GLORY!  Be careful, Joe - and all of y'all!  This is not NEARLY Rare enough!!!

From Me ('65) in NC - 09/26/04:

Ken Griggs (Tinman); David Duke (Lion); Joe Ford (Scarecrow); and Lindsey Fuller (Dorothy)	Joe Ford (Scarecrow); a Munchkin, perhaps?; and Director Dirk Lombard	Lindsey Fuller (Dorothy)	David Duke (Lion)
09/10/04 - Weekender Magazine, The Fayetteville Observer	Backstage Snaps After Saturday's Matinee Courtesy of my Sister, Eleanor Buckley Nowitzky ('59) of NC - 09/26/04 Thanks, Eleanor!

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."

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

So Rare
(Scroll down to the bottom of this WGH page for the story...)

Words and Music by John Rufus Sharpe/Jerry Herst

Charted in 1937 by Gus Arnheim (# 2) and Guy Lombardo (# 3) and
a # 2 hit for Jimmy Dorsey in 1957


(So rare, so rare)
(So rare, so rare)

So rare, you're like the fragrance of blossoms fair
Sweet as a breath of air fresh with the morning dew
So rare, you're like the sparkle of old champagne
Orchids in cellophane couldn't compare to you

You are perfection, you're my idea
Of angels singin' the "Ave Maria"
Or you're an angel, I'd breathe and live you
With every beat of the heart that I give you

So rare, this is a heaven on earth we share
Caring the way we care, ours is a love so rare

(So rare, so rare)
(So rare, so rare)

(You are perfection, you're my idea)
(Of angels singin' the "Ave Maria")
Or you're an angel, I'd breathe and live you
With every beat of the heart that I give you

So rare, (so rare) this is the heaven on earth we share (so rare)
Caring the way we care (so rare) ours is a love so rare

(So rare, so rare)
(So rare, so rare)
 

"So Rare" midi courtesy of http://members.tripod.com/~rosemck1/jukebox-1950s.html - 09/17/04

"So Rare" lyrics courtesy of  http://www.joytunes.com/jk-dir/jimmy-dorsey-orchestra/so-rare.html - 09/22/04

Rose of Sharon clip art courtesy of http://www.bruderhof.com - 09/07/04

Flowered Vine divider line clip art courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04

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