Kitty writes that her big day is soon approaching. November 30, 1999 is the date of her retirement. She says she is ready, ready, ready---even though it feels more like she will be taking a long vacation because there are so many opportunities with the Red Cross. She is expecting other avenues to open up. She says that it feels like she is stepping toward new adventures and it really feels good.
Kitty has an idea for a column for this newsletter. She writes: "What if people sent in their ideas about things they want to do, goals or accomplishments. It would be fun to hear about people's dreams---and no problem if they do or do not materialize. Anyway, as you know, some people start out to go one place and end up another!!! All a part of life's journey." Kitty later submitted a good title for this column "HILLTOPPER DREAMS".
Editor's note: So let's hear from some of you before the next newsletter.
Judy belongs to a group that makes teddy bears to be distributed to hospitals, police depts, and ambulances. (Bears similar to the WI--blue and gold bear that Judy made and gave to Roleta--who collects bears). These bears are called Hug-A-Bears. They are given to children who are involved in traumatic events. Last year the group provided 683 bears to these children. She attends Hug-A-Bear parties where they get together and sew the bears.
Editor's note: Judy and husband Larry have posted more pictures on her web page ------ http://kimler.8m.com
make sure you check it out. Thanks again for all of your work. Also for you non AOL users, you can view this newsletter on Judy's web page with graphics, etc.
Charles writes that he saw Robert Matheny recently. Robert is a policeman in Clarksburg and is the son of our recently deceased classmate, John. Robert said that it had been about a month since John's death and that John's widow wasn't doing very well with the situation. Charles sent our sympathy to the widow. Please remember her in your prayers.
Phil wrote that he has signed up for AIM. Please put him on your Buddy List as: bumpes. He hopes to join us there soon.
Editor's note: On Sunday the 26th of September, we had 12+ classmates on line talking in our chatroom. We begin the chat at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. It is such a user friendly chatroom. We have a lot of fun visiting, teasing, and remembering. Remember, when you sign up for AIM and download this FREE program, you must notify someone that you will be available for the chatroom. It is by invitation only. Those in the chatroom will not know you are signed onto AIM and will not be able to invite you to join the chat if you do not share your AIM name with them. You can e-mail your AIM name to Sharyn Cottrill McGahan, Charles Burkhammer, Judy Daugherty Kimler or Roleta (to name a few). However, Roleta will not be available for the next couple of weeks. There are about 19 of we classmates now signed onto AIM. It is great fun, come join us.
WAITING FOR FLOYD
from:CHARLES BOWLING
(husband of Elaine Fowler) Zarvon@aol.com
Editor's note:To let you know what it is like waiting for a hurricane.(Floyd) Here are some excerpts from some letters Charles sent to his brother. Each paragraph is from a different letter:
Seems we did not get hit as badly as we thought we were going to. We thought the eye was going to pass within 30 miles of the shore when in reality it was about 130 miles off shore, so we have had no Hurricane winds at all---just severe Tropical Storm Winds sustained at about 70 mph.
Got through the night ok. Still have power and phone although half of our county have neither. We, as I type, are being pounded by 50 to 70 mph winds and rain. It should last until about 4 pm today and then start clearing. Here at the house we have had damage, lost at least one tree, lost the solar heat panels off the roof for the pool heater and the yards look like the wreck of the Hesperes with trash from the trees, etc. The cable TV is out. So we really have no damage to speak of compared to others. But it is still not over. Many buildings have lost roofs and many businesses have lost signs. We cannot find out anything about the business but know that it still has power and phones, but also know there is damage to Flagler Beach and they really started getting hit hard about 8:00 am this morning. So we will just have to wait to find out about it. Mandatory evacuation for that area is still in effect and the bridges are closed.
We are fine---could use a little sleep--but that is minor--we could be without a home!!! So we have no complaint at all.
Just wanted to let you know what was happening at this point in time. Our prayers are for the Myrtle Beach area and all those in between. Just talked to my elderly aunt and uncle in Mt. Airy, NC and they have been told to buckle down and expect heavy winds and rain and probable power shortages. They are 84.
Flagler Beach pier lost about 100-150 ft today. There were winds of 80 mph there most of the day. We still don't know anything about the store as it is still under evacuation.
Now we are at Flagler Beach--our shop has damage but not too bad--mostly water through the roof in my office. The carpet is wet halfway into the store. We have lost the telephone on my desk, my typewriter, the fax machine and maybe the postage meter--maybe some ribbon and other supplies. But other than that we are fine.
Worked all of today on the mess. Sucked over 50 gallons of water out of the carpet in the front of the gift shop.
Think that we are going to be able to save the typewriter with drying out and cleaning. Possibly can save the fax and postage meter.
Editor's note: this is another view of Hurricane Floyd from another classmate:
Hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall season in WV. We escaped Hurricane Floyd but there was a mandatory evacuation in Charleston, SC, all of coastal GA and FLA. I don't know if your heard anything about the horrible evacuation mess on the Intestates, but, believe me, it was a true nightmare for thousands of people. People began to flee their homes on Tuesday as Floyd was truly predicted to hit us by Wed. PM. Talk was that Charleston would have water where there had never been before. We live 12 miles from the ocean so believe me, I never prayed so hard in my life. We boxed up glassware, covered our furniture with pint drop cloths and plastic, put our pictures between the mattresses and boxsprings and just simply dismantled the whole house. We left on Wed. morning and went to Athens, GA. We were told to go west at least 100 miles inland. We left our car and our truck and fled in our Lincoln Town car which was packed to the brim with our new TV, jewelry, clothes, important papers, precious things and our 2 dogs. We went the backroads (2-lanes). People on I-26 got stuck for as much as 12-16 hours. A lot of them turned around and went back home where they had not prepared to do so. The new Gov. of SC finally opened up the other side of the interstate to get people moving. His butt is in big trouble. We stayed at a church in Athens, GA overnight. They fed us and had cots to sleep on. My husband slept on one, but, I chose to sleep in our car in order to take care of the dogs. They are 7 mos. old "poms" and still are so very playful, chewy and full of you know what! We came back home on Thurs. and found the house safe and secure. The yard was a horrible mess of tree limbs and leaves. We are about back to normal except, I still have lamps in closets and knickknacks to put back in place. We were just darn lucky, but my heart aches for the state of NC. Dead hogs are contaminating their water and the shrimp beds here in Charleston are closed for fear of further problems as the waters flow downstream. Enough is enough.
In the proud tradition of WI sports teams, the Robert C. Byrd varsity
football squad has compiled a 4 win, 0 loss record at the near midpoint of
the season. Dressed in their green and white school colors, the "Flying
Eagles," under the coaching of Richard Iaquinta (WI class of 64), have been
impressive.
The wins to date have come against Nicholas County, Lincoln (formerly
Shinnston), East Fairmont and Grafton.
The highlight game of the season promises to be against arch rival Bridgeport
on Oct 8th. A win there could almost insure a playoff berth.
As you know we are building a house in castle rock colorado. It has
progressed well since the reunion. However, Jean and I have tried to keep
busy by taking little trips. We have visited Durango/Telluride area. It was
so spectacular. The western slope is much greener, and more breathtaking
than the eastern side of Colorado. We visited the Great Sand Dunes, Mesa
Verde and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It is a great trip definitely worth
the time.
Next week we are going to Jackson Hole/Yellowstone - we expect the trip to be
as beautiful. We will let you know!!!!!
We flew to Philadelphia the week before the hurricane for our nieces
wedding. Her mother is the former Carolyn Hornor. She went to WI her
freshman/sophmore yr. It was perfect weather and we had time to visit the
historic district of Philadelphia.
Our daughter is visiting us this week from Cincinnati. She is expecting
our first grandchild in November. What a change that will be for all of us.
Of course the very best news for us since the reunion is my continued
negative blood work. Jim
Glen (or Bill to some of you) sent this beautiful site to visit. Try
it--you'll like it!!!!
http://207.235.5.94/rainbow/
In conclusion, my thanks to all of you who have sent articles for this
newsletter.
When you send your article, please tell me that you want it considered for
the newsletter. I do get a lot of e-mail. If I find something that I would
like to include, I try to get permission from the sender if it has not been
designated as a possible article. Please send articles to
ROLETA1@aol.com.
I wish to thank those who sent cards, prayers and kind words to me concerning
the death of my Dad. He had been ill for some time. He had done enough
suffering. We had a Celebration of his Life and his entry into Heaven. At
the funeral we relayed many favorite family stories. There were many laughs
and even a burst of applause at one point.
I recently found a letter from a friend and in the letter is this closing:
May you and yours have fair winds, a following sea and a star to guide
you.
