Hi everybody, I'm back and I'm cold.

Hawaii was wonderfull, but I missed my kids so I spent a couple of hours everyday taling to them on-line.

Today I starting a group of 30 learning how to knit. I do have fun"~!!!!

Hi Everyone! I have ten from Rich's family coming here starting this Wed. I am really looking forward to it but I have been pretty busy trying to get ready. Beds for sixteen is a trick! It has been cold here for GA. We may see some flurries on Sunday or Monday. I hope everyone has a great time with family and friends. We can all commiserate when we get on the January diet and get healthy kick!

hi, it is cold here this morning but it will warm up and i will go do xmas shopping and ?? work is slowing down and people that i work with are disappearing until after the holidays. it seems early, but i think it is because the co. i work for did okay this year after 3 bad years. only one guy lost his job this year. i will be doing a new job starting jan. 1 (at the same place) and i will travel a little more. i will manage people again after a two year (very welcome) break. and snowbaording?? next friday for sure! sugarbush is selling tickets for $5.50 for xmas eve skiing. hope you are all getting ready for some relaxation with your families and friends.

Great Richard. Please send a cd. Would love to view it and give feedback to you. My address in in the note to Pat just before yours. If you miss it let me email you the address. Looking forward to it!

Sounds like everybody is busy, busy, busy. I am trying to get everything ready to fly down to Raleigh NC on Sunday for the birth of my granddaughter. My husband unfortunately couldn't get the time off during the holiday season to come with me. Hopefully, he'll miss me enough for 2 weeks he'll remember to come to the airport and pick me up! Luckily I will miss the last three days of hectic Kindergarten. The little darlings will be really wound up next week. We have been making and creating those lovely gifts that parents treasure for years.....hopefully. May everyone cherish your families and their memories. Happy thoughts to all of you.

Thanks, Roland. My woodworking method is especially good for wood from Georgia. Just kidding, it is good for any wood that can be glued. That means any wood from North America. There are qute a few tropical woods that are difficult to glue. My first target for a building project is something at the scale of a small cottage or large out building. If you have MS Powerpoint i can send you a cd that shows what it is about. We have snow, at last, in Burlington. I haven't made it out snowboarding yet but will go between xmas and new years and maybe a day before then. At times last summer, I thought it felt like winter (like the whole stinkin summer!!), but this is definitely different. Be good, have fun.

Richard.....awesome man!!!!!!! Go for it. Sounds exciting and very practical and maybe wil send you through the roof financially!!!! God Bless You!!! Keep us posted please. What kind of native woods? Could it be used here in Ga on some of ours?

Thanks Pat. It is music to my ears (love you too). I will be doing my presentation at the Forest Products Lab in Madison, Wisconsin on January 7th. I am pretty excited. Fortunately, I can add it on to a business trip that get's me all the way to Milwaukee on January 6th. The VT Natural Resources office has also gotten Pat Leahy's office interested in what I have been developing and I think I will be talking with them before Christmas. It is all about my basic scheme which is to be able to use native timber for a classic style of building- kind of like post and beam- smaller parts- assembly like legos- and making use of wood that is not being used now. I'm needing some good vibes out there guys!!!

Why Richard, I have loved you since 1971. Go figure........ - )

We're on Maui now, just a couple more days of surf and sand. I'm loving it. there is a band playing below us in the courtyard Lori. You'd enjoy it.
True is though, I'm getting homesick.

That's great, Richard. When do you think you might be going to Wisconsin? I hope the woodworking works out for you because it seems like that is where your heart is.

Have fun, Patti! Which island are you on? I love Hawaiian music. Something erotic about it.

yeah, whoops my new email is lovelessr@verizon.net. lori reached me a couple of times and that has been great. it has not been that satisfying an email connection but it seems to be working okay now. if you write, i promise to tell you the secrets for being a really boring engineer. some think it is all about mindless attention to details. i think it is about avoiding decisions. the truth is that i am going for it right now. i have a new patent in place that i hope will get me back into some woodworking that is cool. i think i will get invited to the forest products lab in wisconsin to present my ideas. that place is mecca for future wood tech. please wish me good luck. this means you too, pat!!! i am not asking you to understand me, i just want you to love me. is that so much to ask?

I'm enjoying Hawaii very much. Any place warm is great for me. 5 degrees back home yesterday a.m. Ouch....

Pat, thought I gave you my updated info but email is punchman@joimail.com and address is pob 2294 loganville, ga 30052. Enjoy Hawaii!!!!!!!

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving holiday.

I have a few names that need work so if you know what to do to correct their return of the new listing please let me know.

The following came back: Rick Fagan, Richard!!. Roland!!, Karen Hack, the Nancys Cordle, Yancy, and Bladyka, John LaPlante!!

We have heard from Dave Perrin and I can add him back in with his new address. Anything else you can tell me to help straighten this out, I will appreciate it.

Happy Thanksgiving from me, too, to all of you! We'll be having it at our house with all of Avi's family, plus boyfriends, girlfriends, and visiting cousins--so it might be a group of about 29 people. His sister helps me with the turkey, and another sister-in-law is bringing some vegetarian stuff. Otherwise I'd be panicking by now! Enjoy your families!

Limited rain up here in the north country. Kevin is driving home tonight about 5 1/2 hours so we're glad it's warm and not freezing on the roadways.

I left school about 2:30 and the pie baking began. It's fun to have the boys home to bake for. Kevin will stay maybe till Sat. Then back to southern Maine.

We leave right after school this coming Wed. for Boston. early flight to Hawaii TH a.m. Yummy!

Happy Thaksgiving everyone, may you all be with those you love - Pat

Glad there was no damage to your house. Its pouring rain here right now. The temp was very mild, its still 45 now at 5:30. There was no school today so it was cook and clean day. My daughter called last night and said she was taking Amtrack home and getting in Thursday at 5:00. That was a surprise, she usually doesn't make it home for Thanksgiving. She'll stay until Monday morning which is great since she has only been home once since last Christmas. It'll be a much smaller Thanksgiving with only six of us. Some change from the old days when all the in-laws would come and there would be at least 15 for dinner. I am most greatful for my wonderful family and good friends. Everyone have a wonderful holiday, wherever and whomever you are with.

Happy Thanksgiving and Gods Blessings to All!! PreThanksgiving weathere here is about par. We had tornado warning till 2pm toady and a few fronts come through and trees down, 2hr airport delays, and mucho freeway backups. Glad I did't decide to drive north this year. All I got was a limb on my roof and thankgoodness it is tin so no damage. Good weather for ducks though, ha ha. Cold front coming tomorrow night but supposed to be only into the 40's at night.

The very same to you Karen and to everyone else!
No snow here to speak of just cold and anticipating.

Hope you have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

No snowboards here Richard...... dips into the low 40's at night and will bounce back to mid 70's daily probably till after Turkey Day. We had to put down one of our prize show goats last night. It was sad but life on the farm. The Llama looks in on me eveynight through the window just to make sure I'n there. His name is Ghost (as he's all white and was born a year ago on Halloween). Hope all is well. Spending this Turkey Day here in GA at my friends sisters house.

Best Wishes to you Kathy and safe journey. Sounds like a wonderful Christmas present for a grandma. We will be driving to VT on Tu, picking up one of my boys in Winston-Salem, NC on the way. We will have Thanksgiving on Friday at my brother's in Southampton, MA and start the drive back on Sat. evening. I am a little worried about going to cold weather but glad to hear you have had 50's. My mom and dad said they have a momma bear and two cubs raiding their bird feeders ... yikes!

It was in the low 50s today in Springfield, so no snowboarding here. Neil and I will be celebrating our 32nd anniversary on Thursday. I always chuckle because all my male relatives had to miss deer hunting for a day to come to the wedding...they always reminded me of that even years later. Anyways, I hope everyone is well and getting ready for the holiday season to begin. Anyone have big traveling plans? I am going to Raleigh to my daughters on Dec. 19. She is having a baby on Dec. 20...a planned c-section. So I will get to be with Caleb my 2 year old grandson and a new baby for Christmas...

Hi, Can we go snowboarding yet? Real life sure has really hard experiences to get through. I like snowboarding because it gets me out of my head and into a world that doesn't freak me out. Maybe I'll get better at reality with a little more practice. I was in San Francisco for halloween. It was a blast. I also walked in a redwood forest for the first time. Wow. 2300 year old trees, 325 feet tall. Be good, have fun.

Wow, thanks Brian. I'd forgotten about someof those people. Springfield still lives!! Dick always made people happy and you're right, there's lots to live on the fun side and take all you can now because you can't take it with you.

Brian, thanks for giving us the details of the funeral--and for your reminder about not living "timid, uninteresting lives."

Got a note from Krishna yesterday asking for MaryAnne's address. I don't have it unfortunately but she did follow this a.m. with a copy of Nickki's letter to her following attending the service and gatherings for Dick. As Brian said an amazing tribute. Nicki didn't find the address either though.

My suggestion is that the Davis Memorial Chapel must have the family addresses on file and will forward messages to them.

We got snow starting lst Friday and it's cold enough that the ground is still white and there's a lot of black ice. I'm really having a little trouble with the idea that my son is on a bicycle in the dark of night wearing no helmet. I've got to convince him to start walking. For a smart kid he's not very bright. Parenting never ends..........

Did anyone get MaryAnn's address?
We just had the first ten minute snowstorm of the season. Tonight is suppose to be the coldest night of the fall. Makes you want to dig out your longjohns for recess duty tomorrow. We had a kindergarten come in late today minus a coat. "I forgot it". Imagine a parent bringing a 5 year old to school not knowing he doesn't have a jacket on. Anyone have big plans for Thanksgiving?

How great that the turnout was so large. I figured it would be. Wish I could have gone.

Wow! What an amazing time at Dick Tracy's Funeral Party!

There was an incredible gathering of the cream of the partying crews at the Elks Club. It was packed with so many people I haven't seen in so-o long. All the Vogels, the Goodrums, including Mrs. Goodie, Vegetable!, Carl and Paul Albanese, the Fielders, and of course all the Tracy siblings, and so many more.

The party at the Country Club the next day was even bigger. Dale Whitney, Jeff Lawrence, Bill Drake, Bob Hildreth, Leslie Bibbens, Linda LaBonte, Casey Spindler, Pam and Pete Wearing, oh the list is endless. The funeral itself was impressive. The Catholic Church was absolutely packed; standing room only.

Okay, I didn't take a lot of pictures.

The Tracy brothers Mark, John and Will gave eulogies that had everybody in tears (laughing, that is). it ended in thunderous applause, which blew a few Catholic minds. Hendrik family members were there, as well as the mother of Liz Morrison, Dick's co-pilot. The food was great (I'm still stuffed), and I came away with my head reeling with stories and catch-up tales from dozens of old friends.

Dick pushed the buttons that make living really fun, and it was a wake-up call for many of us to stop living timid, uninteresting lives. Don't avoid memorial gatherings, and say YES every time you can.

-=Wise Sage Party Animal Brian

Sorry to hear. My condoleances to the Tracey's and friends. Have sold my place in Lilburn so they can build a mini strip mall and temporary moved to a bunk house on the farm. The hurricanes damaged the houses too bad in Barnesville so we sold to a developer and are looking for something a bit further out and maybe even more land.

Thanks for the updates. I've sent sometihing along to the Davis Funeral Chapel. They'll see that it gets to the family. I didn't realize both the Tracey parents were gone already. Time really is going by quickly.

Here's some more Dick Tracy details. I'll be there, at least on Saturday, but Friday night will probably be the best tribute, after the viewing hours are over.
-=Brian

Visiting hours will be held Friday, November 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Davis Memorial Chapel, 99 Summer Street, Springfield, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Springfield, VT on November 6th, at 11 am. Burial will follow at the St. Mary's Cemetery. A reception celebrating Dick's life will then be held at the Crown Point Country Club following his burial. Davis Memorial Chapel, Springfield, VT is serving the Tracy Family. (802-885-3322) Published in the Charlotte Observer on 10/29/2004.

That list was with John I thought. Not sure though and it's somewhat incomplete. this is a tough one. Id like Maryann to know we're thinking of her.

Yes, I saw the obit. on line. I guess the Elm Hill house is rented out so that is not a good place to send any condolences. Who is it that has the alumni mailing list, is that John?

On a lighter note,

I'm helping a friend out (much younger friend) whose little girl is involved in a sticker club. It's a sort of chain letter with stickers. So if anyone has any little "friends", grandkids, neighbor kids or whatever, who you think would like to receive 72 packets of stickers from all over the place (one packet at a time) through the mail, just let me know and I'll send them the letter.

-Pat

Thanks Kathi, Just a street(home)address in Spfld. then I guess. Would you mind checking the phone book? thanks - Pat

The obituary was in the Springfield paper yesterday and listed her as living in Wilmington, MA. The funeral being next weekend here in Springfield. Friday night calling hours and St Mary's Church at 11am and reception at The Country Club after the service and burial.

Don't forget to turn your clocks back tonight! It will now be the official start of hibernation in Vermont.
Happy Thoughts for your weekend!

Karen, I'm glad you asked for that address, I'm hoping it will be posted here. I too would like to send a card. - Pat

If one of you has an address for MaryAnn Tracy Murphy could you send it to me? I would like to send a sympathy card. What a tragedy. When we think of Dick a story comes to mind that makes us smile. Rich was sitting in an airport several years ago waiting for a flight. He looked up as the flight crew approached the gate. Rich yelled "Scumbag?" and Dick saw Rich and yelled "Stovepipe!" They shook hands and caught up for a minute or two and then Dick said the crew needed to board. Rich sat back down and only then realized that people were looking at him strangely and one person finally said, "Did you just call our pilot SCUMBAG?" I think they made some comment like, can this guy fly a plane? and Rich had to laugh and thinking back on life in high school, that thought may have crossed his mind too!! He was a good guy and my sympathy to his friends and family. God bless.

Lori I'm so glad the leaves arrived. I'm surprised that any were intact. I had the feeling they would all end up crumbs over the journey. Tim, my mail-man things I'm nuts!

I'm sorry to hear about Dick (but glad to see Brian surface) and really sorry about your brother, Kathi. I wish I could say something to make you feel better, but I know there's nothing I can say.

On a lighter note, I got your leaves in the mail yesterday, Patti, and was really excited! I think they lost some of their vibrancy on the way, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that it's really exciting to get a whole envelope full of leaves in the mail from a friend in Maine--and that you went to the trouble to pick so many beautiful leaves for me and to actually bother to put them in an envelope and send them to me. I'm touched. I consider you a really good friend to do that for me. Thank you!

I remember Dick very well. He was a good friend of my brothers and spent a lot of time at our house. So sad. Thanks for letting us know Brian. I wouldn't have heard otherwise. thanks for the links also. - Pat

Loosing your parents is sad but loosing a sibling is devastating.

Hi Everyone,

My brother Pete called today to ask if I had heard that Springfield's Dick Tracy had died in an air crash Sunday. http://newsobserver.com/news/nc/ncwire_news/story/1765687p-8049789c.html
Darn. I hadn't seen Dick in quite a while, and was just wondering what had become of him. Actually, it was awesome to hear he had become a pilot, but this is sad. I hope to make it to Springfield for a service, if they have one there. He was living in North Carolina.

And Kathi, I am so sorry to hear of your brother. I never made a connection when I read about his death in the news, because he was from Milton, Vt. and so much younger than us. I visited the memorial site at http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/sheehankevinf.html and I am deeply affected and saddened for your loss.

I love you all, enjoy every breath you take!
-=Brian

Kathi, do me a favor please and send me a quick e-mail message so I'll have your address again. I lost it when my hard drive crashed a while back and I'm in the process of re-building the list from an original copy I had . Some of these addresses will be invalid because folks change their addresses and don't notify me to update the list but you'll have quite a few that are correct.
Getting this list finished up again is my weekend project. When the a message come back as undeliverable, I'll remove the addresses from the list and re-send it to the names that are left as the most correct listing we have available. In the meantime, if anyone reading this has a "new" address send it along to me and I'll correct the list as much as possible before I send it out Sat.

Thanks - Pat

Kathi, I did know about your brother and I am so sorry. I can't imagine what you all have gone through. Your kids sound happy and successful ... you dun good girl! Enjoy your time off. We have 62 this morning but it has been rainy, so not sure we will see the sun today.

Patti: No, you did not send me the email list but it would be great if you did. Raw and chilly here today. It was 42 degrees at 8:30. No school for the rest of the week. Vermont Teacher Convention, so today was like a Friday. No big plans, probably the yard, garden cleanup for fall. Our leaves are just falling so we will probably still be raking in November. I don't think the leaves were that vivid this year, maybe from the wet summer. Thank you for the welcome. You all will have to tell me what you do, etc. It is nice to connect with you.

Hi, Kathi. Welcome to the blog from me, too! It was good to get caught up on your life. I have musician kids too--my daughter and my middle son. They're both in bands and have gigs around here. It takes a lot of persistence, maybe even more in L.A. where they're not so good about paying musicians. I've heard that they're better about that in other places. Maybe there's just too much competition here.

Patti, I'm looking forward to getting those leaves! I actually wrote a poem a few years ago called "Craving" cuz I had such a craving to see those beautiful New England leaves.

Hey Kathi, of course no one minds, WELCOME. The purpose of the site is to share and keep in touch and support each other. Not as many since the class reunion. I joined just after and its nice to hear about different lives etc. Its till warm here in GA. Mike Grahams bro lives only a town or two ovger from me and has for quite some time. A kid a went to kindergarden with in Ct lives just the other side of town. The net brings much together and the great thing is you can just listen in or participate.

Good morning all! Especilly hi to you Kathi, It's great to hear fromyou again. I can attest to how now her cards are because I was the lucky recipient of one some time back.
Hard to think of any of us having grandkids. I'm ready I think to be a grand parent but I know my sons are sure not ready to be parents. So I'm patient. None of us needs that added to our already complicated mix.
Did I ever send you a listing of the class e-mail addresses Kathi? I don't remember after I lost all the addresses if I ever re-built it?

How bout those Red Sox!!

Sending your leaves tomorrow Lori!!!! I picked some beauties yesterday and they are drying now.

Karen, I have been working for 18 years as a Para in Kindergarten. Now I am working with Angela Asermelly at Union Street School. I like working with the younger kids...they usually still like you at the end of the day! My oldest daughter, Suzanne, is 28 . She has been living in NYC since college. She is trying to get into the music business and has a band, or is in a band. She is very artsy and musical. My middle daughter, Amanda, graduated from BU, moved to Raleigh, NC, got married , has the cutest little redheaded 2 year old son and is expecting a baby in December. We don't get to see Caleb that often which is hard. And Andrew, having been to college in Maine, moved home this summer for a while to regroup. He is working at Best Buy in West Leb. for the moment. Its actually quite nice to have him home. Our schedules are so different that I really don't see him that often. It has been extremely difficult dealing with my brother's death in Iraq in May. I have been trying very hard to stay busy! I do a lot of creating. I like to make cards and have come up with some that I have been selling. The teachers like to buy them and there is always a birthday or some holiday to make new ones for. So between family, work, house, yard stuff (though I have a new mower back in the house!!! My Son.) I try to keep busy. Its a big production to go shopping from here as you know! Please tell your Mom hi for me. Thanks for listening and making me feel welcome. Happy thoughts, Kathi

HI KATHI! So nice to see you here! I drove by your house this summer when I was with my mom. Hope you are having a nice fall. How old are your kids now and where are they? Do you work? What do you like to do in your spare time? I would love to hear about YOU! Are you still funny and bubbly like high school days?

Hi. It is fun to get an insite into all your "exciting" lives. Traveling, redecorating, sharing ideas and thoughts, reaching out to your friends. It is nice that you still all share that friendship after 30 years. Hope you don't mind that I join you sometimes. Happy thoughts are sent to all.

Okay, Patti, now I'll be waiting for them!

Of course I'm serious Lori! I'll pick the biggest and prettyiest leaves I can find and send them to you. Right now, they're wet from the wicked rain storm we've just had but I'm gonna get you some as soon as they're dry. Count on it!

Of course I'm serious Lori!1 I'll pick the biggest and prettyiest leaves I can find and send them to you. Right now, they're wet from the wicked rain storm we've just had but I'm gonna get you some as soon as they're dry. Count on it!

don't know why it published twoice but lets take it as a sign of my sincerity.

Patti, are you serious? In case you are, it's 13913 Chandler Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91401. You may be kidding, but even now I can't seem to shake the habit of believing everything I'm told.

Not sure why that posted 3 times but lets take it as a sign of my sincerity.