Letter from Keith Hattery

Homecoming Mixer...more pics later!

The festivities begin!

Thursday night at 140 Club
Who are they?

An email from Mississippi

... I just got back from shopping (still have nothing to wear to the reunion). I was in Cato's looking at the summer dress sale, there were these plain white sun dresses and as I was flipping thru to my BIG size, I noticed this one had a little lizard design on it so I flipped back to it and THE LIZARD MOVED!!!!

I stepped back and said to the lady next to me "there is a lizard on that dress". She, then, stepped back and I got a clerk to come over and she shook the dresses and he fell to the floor and she stepped on him and killed him. At least we think it was the same lizard, could be a whole family of them in there.

Needless to say, I didn't find anything in that store to wear either.

See ya in a week, Cherylee

Mailbag, August 29

There are some real cuties in here!

Postcard from Reunion Van, 08.28.07

The Cookieman

I've had the pleasure of getting to know various classmates via email and by phone over the past several months. Again, I wonder to myself, where was my head when I was going to school - these people are truly nice and I don't even remember talking to some of them during high school! And, people like "Cookieman" a/k/a Rich Hendrix is a fine example of this.

Rich used to call me the "Milk Lady" back in junior high 'cause I worked in the lunchroom and sold the little cartons of milk out of the cooler. He was a real tease and has a special place in my memories, past and present. I've asked Rich if I could make a compilation of the emails that we've exchanged so everyone else could get "reacquainted" with Rich like I have. He has, finally, agreed.

Rich met his wife, Jenny, in Minneapolis in 1973 and they were married in April of 1974. They have 2 children, Angela 33 and Christopher 31. They have 2 grandsons, Justin will be 11 in October and Jordan will be 9 in November. After being married in 1974 Rich joined the USAF and served until 1978. They moved back to Minneapolis in 1978 and now live in Apple Valley, MN, a suberb of St. Paul, with the SPICE GIRLS, their 2 dogs. Sage and Rosemary, are half Rat Terrier and half daschound. Picture of Rich & Jenny, his wife.

Rich worked for OEI Business Forms, from 1978-1989. Later, he went to work for a small family-owned trash hauler, Dick's Sanitation, in Lakeville, MN, where he has been employed for the past 18 1/2 years. He has done residental pick up, commercial pick up, roll-off containers and is now doing cart delivery with a 22ft box truck. He says this is good "Old guys work". Of all the work he has done at Dick's, his favorite was Residental Trash Routes. He, like Harold Schaaf, has found lots of "good stuff". The best was a full set of 4 BMW spoked rims that were sold to a local dealer for $100.

Rich mentioned that he really wasn't permitted to spend much time with school kids or participating in school activities because his folks were very strict. He told me that he spent that first year and half after graduation trying to do all of the DON'TS from the list of DOS & DON'TS. Regardless, he is thankful that his parents were strict in their way because it has helped him remain grounded for the majority of his life.

Even though he was quiet around school, Rich claims to be a Master of Sarcasm. (I bet I know a few classmates who could give him a run for his money!) The Cookieman stated he hasn't changed much...still short...still chubby...still wears a crew cut...still has freckles, but now you can actually see 'em cause they aren't covered with pimples. (Well then, I guess I'm still in puberty 'cause I had a pimple about 4 days ago!)

Picture of Daughter - Angela & Family

Picture of Son - Christopher & his friend, Amanda

Does anyone out there hunt? Rich does. He said he's not real good at it, but really enjoys getting out in the woods. Rich said his grandsons both enjoy fishing "out of a boat" so "Papa" is in the market for a used boat this year.

Rich hopes to get in more camping time this year regardless of the steep gas prices. He and his wife just bought a 33 foot Sunnybrook, set up in a permanent site on Oak Lake. About 40 miles SW of Duluth. Good fishing and only 2 hours from home. The Coachman 5th wheel they have been camping with since 2000 is now for sale. This is much more economical than pulling the trailer around and the campground holds lots of memmories for he and Jenny because they had a permanent site there for about 5 years when their kids were young.

Rich also remembers a local Bethalto haunt and wrote "Hey, does the 140 Club still have the best burgers in town? I worked at the bank senior year and Mr. Prange used to order in burgers from there on the holidays when we worked. Funny, the things ya remember. LOL"

Rich also mentioned that he must have won one of the Blog drawings a while back because Helen Downing Eyers sent him the cutest little gourd, a Mosquito House which was VERY appropriate for Minnesota that time of year. He sent Helen a "Thank You" and in the course of corresponding, they discovered that they had attended Humbolt Elementary, in Alton, during the same time in K and 1st grade. What a hoot!! Then, Rich's family moved to Cottage Hills in 2nd grade, and Helen's family moved there in 6th grade, after she attended E. Alton schools for a while. Small world!! Talk about small world, Rich's son roomed with Jim Barnes' (aka Neal Osaga) nephew for a couple years in college.

Rich's message to all of us is "Don't forget the ME TIME in your summer schedule. Whatever it is that re-news and relaxes you - do it and, make some new memories!

BTW, any of you CH kids remember David German. Rich says he's the one that gave him the nickname "Cookieman", because Rich always brought Hydrox cookies in his bag lunch. Hydrox....Hendrix...LOL

Mailbag, August 28

PONDERISMS - Lois Collins FrankLIN

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.-

Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.-

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.-

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.-

There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead. -

Life is sexually transmitted.-

Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.-

The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.-

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.-

Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to? -

Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again-

All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.-

In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.-

How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?-

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?" -

Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt."-

Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?-

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?-

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests? -

Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup? -

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?-

Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?-

Mailbag, August 27

Dr. Beret's blog line is open and ready for your questions. Fire away!

Harold Schaaf

After roaming the halls of CMHS, Harold Schaaf joined the Navy and shortly thereafter married his first wife, Linda. While this marriage lasted only 2 years, Harold did become the proud father of daughter, Jamie Lynette. Jamie is nearly 29 and is attending her last year of law school. Harold seems to think it might come in handy someday having a daughter who is an attorney.

Harold met and married his current wife, Chris, in 1981. One day, he climbed up into an 18 wheeler and started driving for a living. He drove for several years but disliked being away from home so much. He did enjoy seeing the countryside and even tried living in California for 2 years in the late '80's before moving to the Brighton area fourteen years ago.

The last few years, Harold has worked for a family-owned sanitation company. He says it's a smelly job, but pays good. AND, every once in a while, you do come across some good stuff. Like the time this lady was mad at her boyfriend and threw away his whole set of Craftman's tools!

Recently Harold and Chris started doting on the the newest member of their family - a CFA Registered Maine Coon kitten.

Unfortunately, on Jan, 16, 2006, Harold suffered a mild stroke. The doctors say it mostly affected his short-term memory so Harold says he should be able to remember all of his classmates!

He also enjoys fishing, camping and going to the drag races, and says "other than that, my life is pretty normal".

I want to personally thank both Harold and Chris for their attendance at the various "mini-reunions" we've hosted over the past year. It's been a real pleasure for me to get to know them. They're both looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion, so be sure to say hello!!!

Postcard from Reunion Van, 08.26.07

Happy 35th Anniversary!

This adorable classmate and her hubby celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary yesterday. Who can tell us who she is?