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This message forum is an ongoing discussion about anything and just about everything ... within reason.  One thing our class was good at was having opinions.  Almost 70 years of life experience certainly qualifies us as experts on most everything!   Ask a question ... give an opinion ... share some insights ... it's our web site, it's our forum.  That said, it's probably not a good idea to get into arguments about politics, religion, and the like.  While we're experts on everything, we also have a wide range of values and beliefs. This site belongs to all of us ... the whole range ... and we are not here to isolate, alienate, or subjugate anybody.  Of course insults, humiliation, sophomoric barraggadocio, and demented humor is expected behavior among some of us less mature people.
 

Jim Cejka

OK, Otto. As you might be starting to realize, as a fellow Californian, we have an extra onus on us (pun intended) to put up with Garry. 

To set the matter straight, as we know, our state has recognized that our reservoirs are full, proving ex-corpsmen (the Army has medics) can still hold their water (figuratively, at least). 

And, there is nothing wrong with the bullet train. If Garry had ever driven down the 5 to Bakersfield, he’d realize that even spending $100B is better than that drive. Plus, he’s not counting all those Bay area folks who really want to go to Bakersfield.). The only negative about the train is that you probably couldn’t stop at Pea Soup Anderson’s on the way. 

Garry Sellers

Just in case anybody is wondering, the difference between an Army medic and a Naval corpsman ... the corpsman has 2 photographers and a biographer assigned to him as does every Marine!

Jim Cejka

And they're worth it.

Jim Cejka

My son borrowed my car the other day, and when he returned it, he said, “sorry, but it turned over 100,000 miles” when he was driving it. Even took a picture of the odometer to prove it. I hadn’t been thinking about it over the last year – car still looks and runs good. Then, an awakening occurred. 100,000 miles! I was never a car guy growing up, but I do remember that cars just never lasted beyond 50,000 miles. By the time they got even close, they were usually rusted, at least one something didn’t work anymore, provided suspense starting in winter, and the repairs usually ran to more than the monthly payments. “Planned obsolescence” was the whispered conspiracy of the day. We hated the car buying process (still do), but you could just about do some math and predict when you had to get a new one. Now 100,000 and going strong. One less thing for my old mind to worry about. Wow.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

We hear you, Jim. Went along happily with our old Beemer - it seemed like she woud last forever. Twenty years and a quarter of a million miles later, she finally gave up the ghost. Still looked great without a speck of rust - Karsten hated to let her go. 

Melody Jones (Parker)

I was just thinking the same thing yesterday.  My daughter-in-law had an accident a week ago with a 2003 Honda Pilot.  No injuries, but totaled that car.  It had 234,000 miles on it and she hated to see it go.  So, yesterday she bought a "new" 2008 Honda Pilot that has 237,000 miles.  My son is driving a Toyota compact with over 250,000 miles.  My "new" car, a 2011 Chevy Impala had just reached 92,000 and of course, she has to last me until the end of my life.  Funny how much better cars are being built to last when everything else is going downhill; especially wahers, refrigerators, TVs and computers.  (Don't get me started on talking about that mess.)

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

It's nice to be able to reflect on the things that have made life better  - like the longer lasting cars. We have never had to take our Nissan Altima in for a mechanical reason other than regular servicing. The other innovation I am constantly grateful for is not having to physically go to the bank except for unusual circumstances. I remember, when computers first arrived on the scene, they said one day we could do all our banking with it.  I hoped, but didn't really believe we could ever actually deposit a check at home! My mom, who did all the family finances but didn't drive, would have loved this. Do you think our computers will ever be able to print cash???? 🤑

Jim Cejka

So Garry, with the new PGA rules, are you now putting with the flag stick in or out?

Garry Sellers

Funny you should mention it.  Tuesday I tried with the pin out for the 1st 9 ... 20 putts.  Second 9, with the pin in ... 12 putts!  Of course I also tried opening my eyes on the back 9!

Jim Cejka

Let me guess, you found a golf ball that was magnetized and attracted by the metal flag stick.

John Gilbert

Gary, now I know how you did better on the back nine. Love those golf shoes.

Jim Cejka

Has anyone noticed that when you put a coffee cup in a microwave with one of those go-around things, that when it stops, the handle always faces the rear, away from the door?

Garry Sellers

Folks - I just renewed our subscription to this website for another 3 years!  That must make me an optimist.  Now the question becomes, can I or any of you remember that it's here!  Actually we get a lot more "hits" on the website than you might imagine, classmates who want to look but don't sign in ... I hope.  And there's still a core of 40 to 50 people who log on each month. Some of the names might surprise you. 

If anybody has ideas on how to improve the website or you want to take over from me ... be my guest!  I always wonder how long it'd take people to notice if I kicked the bucket and the website didn't change. (Jim, your suggestions about what I can do with the website are not anatomically possible at this stage of my life!)

Jim Cejka

Garry - thanks for the renewal. It's a great forum for those of us who aren't into Tweeter, Twitting, FacePlant, or whatever those are. I can handle Custer1962. Besides, it's about the only people I'd want to hear from anyway.

As for the anatomical impossibilities, from what you've told us about your medical history, anything is possible - if you have a good surgeon.

Melody Jones (Parker)

LOL!!!   Jim and Garry!!!

Garry Sellers

So, without Googling it (can you believe our lexicon these days?), what's the origins of "to kick the bucket"?  Sure, we all know it means to die ... but where did the phrase come from? (You couldn't stand not to Google it, could you Jim?)

Jim Cejka

Garry - that's easy, no need to Google. It's from the opening scene of "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" where the Jimmy Durante character (Smiler Grogan) car wrecks off the road, dies, and with his last breath mutters about the W and his foot kicks out and knocks a bucket, which just happened to be there, down the hill.

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Garry, I don’t need to Google. The saying is derived from hangings, be they lynching or suicide. The "victim" would stand on a bucket with noose around the neck and the rope tied to something higher such as a tree branch. When the bucket was kicked out from under the person's feet, sayonara!

Jim Cejka

Garry - 

 I don't have to use Google because I have a 4 year old granddaughter who knows everything and always has answers to my questions.

Lauren Dieterich

First off, thanks Gary for renewing the site. I always read everything; but, it's usually when I'm going through my e-mails. I tell myself that I'll reply later; wishful thinking, out of sight-out of mind.

Here are 2 Facebook sites that I think that everyone will find interesting. They're both supposedly closed groups; but, I had no problem joining them. The first is: 'Historic North Milwaukee' it's primary focus seems to be the Villard Av area. The second is: 'Historic Milwaukee Architecture' it's mostly the old buildings in the downtown and near South side.

If the birthday bash does happen, I do plan on coming. If so, it will probably be my last trip to Milwaukee. Even though I drove semi's for awhile; four 500 mile days in a row does not appeal to me any more. After the last plane flight that I was on, I don't know about flying any more, either. I spent 3 1/2 hours jammed into the corner of the seat and the window. I could only move my arms. When we landed, I wasn't sure if I could move my legs.

Garry Sellers

Don't know if any of you read Randy Wayne White's "Doc Ford" series.  "Doc" is a sometimes marine biologist, sometimes secret agent, all-time adventurer.  In a book I just finished he called an old friend who was miffed that he hadn't heard from Doc in years.  Doc reflects, "The man was right.  I had called simply to trade stories and catch up.  There are certain people in our lives who are so powerfully linked by events or chemistry, that we are lulled into believing contact is umimportant.  These rare few, it seems, are always there, close at hand, their presence unaffected by distance or the passage of time.  By the age of 40 (I would say 60) most of us have learned that is not true."

It just constantly amazes me at how we let important people in our lives slip by, expecting they know how much we care or value their relationship.  And here we are, at or near 75.  How many of those people aren't part of our lives ... when they should be?  Jim alluded to it when he said something about the website was the only people he wanted to hear from anyway.  It's this silly website that has linked me up with some of the friendships I value most.

David Holm

We love you too!😋

Jim Cejka

"Great buildings, like great mountains, are the work of centuries."

Victor Hugo

Melody Jones (Parker)

Jim,

You nailed it!

Jim Cejka

I have never subscribed to having a "bucket list" (Thanks to Rick Nelson - "My buckets's got a hole in it.). But, I had an opportunity once to visit a cathedral, albeit in a small town, in Sweden once (". . . and this place is twice as old as my country!? "You could put Pewaukee in here."), and co-study some European ones helping my daughter with art history one year. I have been hooked and facinated ever since. They seem to defy anything I could imagine as engineering, laws of something, and modern construction, let alone anything 800 years ago. 

The cathedrals, temples, mosques, and similar other places have emerged, and lasted, as incredible places of beauty, inspiration, and reverence, and centers of culture and society, as can be built by man. I am in awe of you Melody, and anyone else who has had an opportunity to experience that awesomeness in person.