Be aware, the "Message Forum" is NOT password protected.  Unlike profiles that are password protected, anybody who gets to this webpage can see what is written here.  Nobody can contact you directly based on this forum unless you reveal your personal contact information.  Use the "Message Center" for sharing personal contact information with another classmate.

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.
 

Kenneth Pallaske

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah to all. 

Jim Cejka

And may all your ingested tryptophans and that other stuff you piled on your plate bring you peace, tranquility, and a good nap.

Melody Jones (Parker)

Jim, at the rate I ate mashed potatoes and gravy yesterday, it will also create a bigger butt!!!

Jim Cejka

Melody, I always make the gravy with diet water, then I don't have that problem.

Jim Cejka

For all our biker chicks and wild hog wannabees, here's something that'll let you ride nostalgia from our days and still be cool. The Fonz would love it.

Take a Harley, add a 57 Chevy and  - 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Jim, this is SOOO cool! Even in Custer colors! Jon (husband) wants to know if the gas tank is in the tail fin - where the gas tank was originally located in the Chevy.

William Nelson

Jim,

That is a very cool bike. Hope you don't mind if I copy the picture and send it to some of my friends. One was a factory engineering mechanic at Harley for many years, but I don't think he worked on one like this. Do you know who owns it?

Jim Cejka

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

-Nelson Mandela, 1918 - 2013

Jim Cejka

A philosophical question:

Now that we are past our growing up years, and have been parents ourselves, what about all those rules and manners that our parents taught us? E.g., never wear a patterned tie with a patterned shirt, men don't swear in front of women [and women didn't swear, at least in public], children should be seen and not heard, elbows off the table, ladies first, etc., etc.? How did you feel when you transgressed? Were we the generation that closed one eye while those quietly went by the wayside? Are those rules and stories we tell our grandchildren about and get that "deer in the headlights" look in return?

Marian Schopp (Bringe)

Way to go with the "Welcome Home Blog!"  Now I can wash my face and put on fresh makeup.  We had this celebration Thanksgiving week.  Christmas will be quieter then New Year's Eve week at Disneyland together again.  Merry Christmas to all!  XOXO

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

I didn't know what you meant Marian - everybody needs to look at the home page to find out. And now, as I go to wash MY face, too, I wish all my wonderful Custer classmates the best Christmas and holiday season! 

Melody Jones (Parker)

Jim,   To answer your question-I was a rebel at the time and transgressed...a lot!  Never felt guilty, only lucky not to get caught.  Except one day when it was springtime and the sun was shining after a very severe winter, I did something really naughty and got caught.  I called in to school and pretended to be my mother saying Melody would not be in to school that day.  I intended to "play hookey".  Well, to my surprise the school secretary knew my mother's voice...it turns out my mother, who sold real estate, was a client of hers!  Busted!  I got to school late, but I did make it to the middle of first period.  I didn't try that one again.  I told that story to my children as a warning; they thought it was hilarious!  And, yes, I did tell them about walking a mile to school in blizzards and sub zero weather...only that was a fact.  I drove the distance from 50th and Congress to Custer High School one day when I was about 30 years old just to prove the point to my kids.  Yup, it was a mile.  They were impressed. 
Funny thing is that my granddaughter will be starting high school here in CA next September.  Their house abuts the statium stands of Woodland High so all she has to do is walk 1/2 block to school and NEVER in snow.

LOL!

Garry Sellers

We non-cold weather residents can talk among ourselves while our other classmates shelter in place!  I wonder why we don't still live there!!!  15 below in Wisconsin ... windchill at my sisters minus 27?  Oh please ....!!!

Mel - My walk was just under 2 miles to 33rd and Thurston but the story my grand children hear is 3 miles, up hill ... both ways!  Of course, being the second youngest of 9 (true) I was also forced to sleep in a snowbank as well!  I may have stretch my credibility a bit thin even with my 3 year old!  Man, I remember some sub-zero days walking home at 6:30 after practice ... my hair frozen because I refused to wear a hat, just earmuffs, my toes non-existent and always ... always the wind in your face.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

We are here in Boulder with our kids since two days before Thanksgiving, reading the weather reports from Presque Isle, MI which foretell a challenging return home on12/27. Snow every day for the next week and, unlike here in Boulder (59 degrees today), it won't be melting soon. With boots and shovel in the trunk and the snowblower at the ready in the garage near the road, we're ready to plow ourselves in. Nothing like arriving at your 45 degree house as the sun is going down, after a long trip - turn up the heat and the hot water, check the mousetraps, turn on the heated mattress pad, light the fireplace, and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the wind blow snow across the lake. Also, enjoy some peace and quiet. Being here makes us marvel at how long we kept up the pace of jobs and child-raising.....and we're glad we don't have to do it again. It's extremely comforting to know the job is over, and reasonably well done. With children who are responsible, independent, interesting, and caring, we feel blessed. Are they perfect? Not at all; but then, are we? My greatest wish is to live long enough (if healthily) to see what this wonderful grand daughter will be like as she grows. I'm sure many of you share my feelings.

We wish you all peace, love, and joy for the holidays and the coming year.

Ray Thompson

Jusr a quick note--My hip replacement went very well. Ready to dance again--Maybe  a line dance but not a polka yet. Good enough to get the big snow blower out and get us to the road. Expect local plows in a few days. Welcome to upnort small town Wisconsin. Lake frozen and fools are ice fishing. Not this guy.

Wishing all of my clasmates a very Blessed and Merry Christmas.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Ray, so happy to hear your hip replacement went so well. Just FYI my cousin had one, and less than a year later, she was doing Rockette kicks at my son's wedding reception. I am impressed!!  Melody, you can call on me if you ever need someone to vouch for the experience of walking to Custer in the winter from our neighborhood. I walked from 51st and Congress; that foot bridge across Lincoln Creek got slippery in the ice and snow. Surprised we never ran into each other. I walked with Darlene Connor, who lived just across the bridge. The kids at the school where I substitute here in CA had another "Let's Walk to School Day" today - they are bribed with stickers. It's a hard sell here when the days high temps are in the 40°s. We are very "wussie" compared to Wisconsinites. 

Melody Jones (Parker)

Well, it is 60 degrees today...just bragging!  My family was on the church float in the Woodland town Christmas parade.  I'm all ready for the Christmas season to begin, presents ready to be wrapped and plans for a big family dinner at my son's house with 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons!  We have so much for which to be thankful!  I know Gary and I can just drive up to the Sierra foothills if we need to see snow!  (but never need to shovel it on our front sidewalks.:>)

.

Terri, I took a different route to school.  I walked down Congress to Sherman.  My friend Victoria drove her own car to school from Capitol Dr. and occasionally stopped to give me a ride.

Merry Christmas!  God Bless everyone in the New Year!!!

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Hi,

I'm back to the world of the living!!  Had the surgeries on the 25th & 26th of November - one front, one back.  After the hospital, went to rehab until Dec 13th & now I am HOME again!  I have a fire engine red walker - look out world, here I come!  I also have to wear a brace for my back for a couple of months - just when I'm up.  It looks like one of those belt thingys that the wrestlers wear - my grandgirls think my belt needs some bling!

I'm just happy to be on the other side of the surgery.  It was a little more than what I had anticipated.  Now I just have to proceed with the therapy & I'll get better & better.

Wishing everyone a wonderful & blessed Christmas.

Barb

Jim Cejka

Barb,

Glad to hear all seemed to go well. Did Santa at least give you a back brace/belt that was insulated or heated to get you through the WI winter? You should have it off in time for hula hoop season next summer. 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Congratulations on making it through successfully, Barb! Best wishes to you for health and healing in the coming year. Keep us posted!

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

When I'm back to "normal", no more snow shoveling for me!!

Barb

Jim Cejka

So much nicer to move to CA to get out of snow shoveling than to have back surgery.

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

I sure agree with you, Jim!!!

Jim Cejka

WI Fans - the WI Badger women's volleyball team just knocked off #1 Texas in the NCAA final 4. They're on to the championship. Go Badgers!