JULY 2017

Fellow Wildcatters:

I am using this format as it gives me unlimited ways to post pictures, etc. Some email providers block HTML documents or my files could get too large. I can also go back and fix typing errors or bad grammar. I certainly do not want BAD GRAMMAR. I thought I would try it this way, once.

QUICK STORIES

* First item is the All School Reunion is in about a week. August 4th at the old Mr. D's....Now called the Lincoln Club.....If you pre-register, they will put you at the class of 68 table.....You can still walk up and register that night.....CLICK HERE to print off or to get the address and where to send your money.....They are honoring the Class of 67 and their 50th......Gulp, we are NEXT YEAR......It should be fun to visit with those that we spent three years with in high school.....Hope to see you there....Tracy is flying in from Utah (at last time I heard)......I will be there and some of the regulars...Should be fun.....That Being Said.....

* Peggy broke her hand in a fall.....She has worn a cast for weeks and is just getting it removed. I have not heard the particulars of how it happened. Some say she was chasing Jim......carrying a rolling pin or something....and others say Jim was chasing her....in a nice, playful way....but I have no details...Either way, it MUST be Jim's fault........Pictured is artist rendition. Always wishing PCI the very best....That Being Said.....

Remember that the winning team is the one that gets closest to or becomes, World Champs....tie breaker is total wins.....Can the Cubs repeat?  What got into the Astros?.....and the D-Backs are still hanging tough....Poor Orioles and Cardinals.....Yanks are competitive. That Being Said........

LIMIT OF TRACY'S ATTENTION SPAN

*Today's History Lesson:
I spent 36 years teaching in the high schools....Over 30, I taught American History. I just loved every minute of it. Well, the history and most kids. (reason for my gray hair?) For example, I had the greatest mini-Rock and Roll unit in the history of public/private education when I hit the 1950s. R and R has so much to do with Civil Rights and segregation of the 50s. Whites singing and playing black rhythm and blues songs, but many black performers did very well. Chuck Barry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, I am sure you remember. I have told this before, but when I was about 7, I was playing with my neighborhood friend, Ricky. (seems like we always got into trouble) We snuck into his older brother Gary's room and played his 45 record collection. If caught, I am sure I would have been killed. I could visualize Gary dragging me around town behind his motorcycle and he would do it, too. Closest I ever came to death, I think.

I first heard of Elvis Presley, while playing those records. I thought what a stupid name. Elvis? He will never last. Loved Tutti-Frutti, All Shook Up, Don't Be Cruel and everyone loved Hound Dog. So in my history class I would show this picture and ask who it was? (He is relaxing, not dead.) A smarty would say Elvis, then I would explain that he was drafted in 1958 at the height of his career and served two years......Eh, who were we fighting?????.....I hear silence.....Someone would say Vietnam and that does not really start until 1963.....and he is stationed in Germany....Hmmmmm?.....Wait, we had a PEACETIME DRAFT?....Kids had (and have) no concept of a draft.....any kind of draft......What? You have to go?.....Not me.......Why Germany?.....Uh, Keeping the Nazis from coming back?.....Nope, Hitler died 14 years before this.....Well, we end up discussing the Cold War....but imagine a PEACETIME DRAFT.....Would we ever do that again?....Some politicians want to. It is called Compulsory Conscription....Everyone serves for two years....Mandatory, but not necessasarily in the military.....Serving The Government For Two Years,..... Eh, I'll go with Abe Lincoln and believe that the government should serve the people, not the other way around.......Uh, I love volunteer things, but not mandatory........not in My America.....no matter how good the cause. But that is just me. Rock and Roll died in Iowa....Feb. 3, 1959, see photo....It still pops up now and again.........but you have to search for it. Every year I gag on who gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.....I would guess 90% never played Rock and Roll.....Just Me Being Me......That Being Said......

OK, this happened numerous times.........Acknowledging the problem is the first step to recovery.......