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.
 

William Nelson

Garry, I did appreciate Jim's explanation of how to insert pictures. I tried copy and paste and wound up with a line inserted "Inline Image Not Displayed" at the end of the message. Jim's method worked, although it's a bit more involved. And he did coin a new term for pixels. How many Garries will fit in a 7-hole outhouse?

My brother-in-law worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Montana for many years. During their campouts in the more remote regions, they often used outhouses or pits. One of his crew took pictures of unusual outhouses they saw along the way and wrote poems about many of them. I do remember one two-story outhouse with a sign for congress on the top door and The Rest of Us on the bottom door. Haven't seen the book since we moved, but hope to run across it again sometime.

Jim Cejka

So, last year, we were trying to  be good Californians and pay homage to our prolonged drought. We took out all our grass and several plants and redid everything into a waterless landscape. We put down decomposed granite, stones, and all drought tolerant plants. But, just like washing your car, now it has been raining, and raining, and raining. I think I should have planted seaweed, or kelp, or something. Either way though, I don’t have to mow the lawn anymore.

Lauren Dieterich

Snow; what snow? Usually we see some snow on the mountain peaks across the river; but, so far this winter, we haven't seen any. We've had 3 eighty degree days this month; but, the last 2 weeks have been in the low 60's and a couple of days in the upper 50's. We're freezing. Today's paper says that we're 3/4 inch below normal on rainfall, normal is 2 inches for the end of February. I don't know where their rain gauge is; because, there has been over 4 inches on our deck. We don't worry about mold. Everything dries out after it rains, before mold can start. Now, if someone could just do something about the wind.

Jim Cejka

Weather report

We had a nice storm come through today that pelted us with what the midwesterners call "hail. Here in California, we refer to it as "time-release rain."

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Since the Message Forum doesn't have a "Like" or "Ha Ha" button, I will have to thank Jim for the timed-release rain. [That's the "Ha Ha" button]. And another "Ha Ha" for the 40s-50s ads on the Home Page. Hilarious! I needed a laugh today. We are getting more of the "real time" rain right now, and it's getting hard to remember what blue skies and sunshine look like.

William Nelson

I agree with Terri that it's sometimes frustrating not to have a Like button on this forum. There's much more to like here than on Facebook most of the time. I liked Jim's definition of hail better than any I've seen before.

While on the home page to check out the pictures Terri mentioned, I noticed the posting about the 55th reunion. My mom's birthday was on November 4th, so I remember how the weather could really get nasty by that time of year. We made the mistake of visiting her one time in November and nearly didn't get back, due to a severe snow storm. We won't tempt fate again, so won't be attending the 55th reunion either.

I also noticed the birthday calendar and now understand what's wrong with Jim. We share our birthdate, but I suspect he was a '44 model. At least we both missed April Fool's Day! I had a friend who found that debateable, though. I'd almost forgotten that the music was back on the home page and it cranked up Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" immediately!

Jim Cejka

Garry - if you ask any of the girls at the Custer dances, or the Edison sock-hops, I didn't have moves like that back then.

Garry Sellers

I was informed of the passing of Tom Hansen recently.  Tom wasn't in our class but should have been.  Apparently he was held back (I think a euphemism for flunking).  But David Holm, who sent me the information said he was part of the 34th/35th Street and Hampton kids that included David as well as Rod Gehrig.  His picture in the yearbook suggests he might have been on the "hoodish" side but David says he turned into a really nice Dad and Grandpa..

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?pid=184462439#sthash.1S1lXm8R.dpuf

Garry Sellers

Is Easter as big of an event for you now as it was back in our childhood?   Boy, Easter use to be right next to Christmas at our house as kids.  Nothing like stale Peeps, only in pink and yellow back then ... once in a while white!  Part of my family is heading for Yosmite, one granddaughter is heading for Washington DC with her middle school class and we haven't even gotten out our Easter decorations!  We're going to an Easter Brunch instead of Easter dinner here.  It would be generous to say that I'm not a particularly religious person but still, even as a family event, Easter doesn't seem the same.  Maybe I'm getting old ... I didn't ask to get old it just sort of happened!

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Garry-- Easter, huh? Don't remember a whole lot about it from my childhood. Maybe it was a merrier, more exciting thing if one had siblings. Holidays are a whole lot different when you're an only child. Not much family celebration going on, at least in my experience. And now? Well, with Robert gone, it's just me. Yes, I've put out Easter decor, but truthfully, I have to wonder why, as I'm the only one who sees it. But to all of you to whom Easter is an important day, both religiously and secularly, have a wonderful experience, and enjoy the wonders of Spring.

Jim Cejka

I agree Garry. Easter was really big at our place too. We'd work for hours boiling and then dying the Easter eggs, seeing who could make the most original. Mine mostly looked like a tie-dye mistake. There was just my sister and I, but our folks always hid large baskets with enough candy to last until Hallowween. The biggest pleasure was finding my sister's basket before her and spoiling the surprise. Funny you should bring it up, because thinking the other day how I miss the religious aspect of it. Not a great church guy either, but it just seemed to add something to the day and be part of the good memories.

Jim Cejka

Another Good Friday thought - does anyone remember on Good Friday, between noon and 3pm, all the stores were closed?

Melody Jones (Parker)

Yes, we were a religious family.  Church every Sundays and holidays.  Easter was no exception.  Dying eggs on Saturday and church on Easter with a new outfit (including an Easter bonnet!).  We were a family of 5 and there is only my sister and I left.  I raised my 2 children as I was raised and they are both religious, carrying on traditions and theology.  Only thing different about this year is that for the first time in my whole 72 years, I will be spending Easter alone.  My daughter lives in N.J.  My son and his family have already relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina.  They will be attending a new church in NC and having a lovely ham dinner all together, without me.  I will join them electronically to exchange Easter greetings.  A Happy Easter to all who celebrate the joy of Resurrection in their hearts and homes.  In addition to the traditional Christian observance, my husband was Jewish so we had the added blessings of 2 Seders during Passover which always preceeds Easter.  I have the best of both worlds!

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Our Easter traditions were just like those you're all writing about. Finding Easter baskets full of what would now be an unacceptable amount of calories. (And haven't I had to pay at the dentist's office for all that candy consumed back then?) Dyeing eggs: at home we bought the Paas kit. But at grandma's house, she made her own natural orange dye from onion skins. Funny how you remember that stuff after all these years. I remember attending Good Friday service from 12 to 3, and it always seemed to be cloudy during that time frame. Wasn't school closed then? Or at least you could be excused from classes to go to service — or not.  I have remained active in my church, and Easter Sunday is always a joyous celebration, with brasses, bells and Hallelujahs. And I still get to enjoy watching the Easter egg hunt afterward, You just have to be careful not to stand between the kids and the eggs. But so happy not to have all that candy around anymore, and I can pass up the Cadbury eggs at the grocery checkout. 

William Nelson

I'm not religious anymore either, but my wife is. We don't participate in any of the local church services unless our kids are involved. They no longer live in the area, but our daughter-in-law's dad is a retired preacher who seems to be giving as many sermons now as when he had his own pulpit. He now fills in everywhere. We watch the  grand-kids find eggs on Facebook now. Our family did have a church home when we were kids, but we were seldom at our Milwaukee home for the holiday. My dad was a teacher, so we were all off at the same time. We spent Easter vacations at our cottage in the town of Tustin, WI for several years. I remember coloring Easter eggs there and making rainbows in the snow with the leftover dyes. Our adopted grandparents lived in that area and they too, made their own dyes, with onion skins, beets, greens, etc. Best use there ever was for onions and beets!
Many years, we took a trip. Destinations included New Orleans, Daytona Beach, Charleston, WV, Lake of the Ozarks, and Orlando come to mind. We towed a 17' Airstream with a tiny gas refrigerator, so our Easter baskets were limited to decorated cottage cheese cartons! All good memories though, despite a couple of floods and some car breakdowns along the way.

Hope all of you will enjoy the holiday in your own way.

Sandra Fligge (Axtman)

​We were raised in a time when values, religion, and tradition was an important part of our lives. I remeber the churches having 3 hour services and many of my Catholic friends would light candles during Good Friday afternoon.  Even television would televise local church services.   As I have grown older I  have embraced a stronger faith through study and mission work.  I have traveled to Africa and worked in a clinic and orphanges in Tanzania.  At the age of 70 I went back to Concordia to become a Lay Minister.  I am just finishing up the program.  I will work in hospice with patients who are going to die  and as a support for their families.  Death is one of those events  we often try to avoid discussing.  We plan for families, retirement, travel, occupations, and where we leave our money and assets.  We put off discussing the "what will happen" ....if I become ill....if I can't take care of myself...or if I am diagnosed with a terminal illness.  What I find interesting is that "Death" is not to be feared, but like all the other events in our lives is something we need to discuss and share with others and through faith even look forward too.  It is not dark....it is not the end!  Easter is to be celebrated with joy.  It is a great time of the year to reflect and be thankful.  I hope all of you have a blessed Easter and a wonderful Spring.  As we transition from one season to another, we realize how unique each season is.....and then we can acknowledge how each of us is unique and how much we have given of ourselves to others and our families. 

Melody Jones (Parker)

Sandra- very good message...AMEN!!!
God bless your ministry.  As a nurse who specialized in dementia geriatrics, I was counseling family on end of life issues regularly.  I found great satisfaction in assisting with the decision making process.  Part of being helpful is being open in discussions and also not being afraid of death yourself.  Your open attitude and your own Faith will serve you well.  You go Girl!!!

Tom Burger

Sandra...a joy to see your posting. Happy Easter...He has risen!

Donna Ertl (Eliopulos)

It is a beautiful Easter Day in Wauwatosa Wi.  Thank you for the Easter Massage.  Yes, He  has truly risen.

Donna

Jim Cejka

Terri - I remenber the getting cloudy or dark on Good Friday also. We never planned on doing anything at that time.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter. 

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Jeanne, good for you for putting out your Easter decorations even though you were the only one who would see them! I put ours out as well, even though both kids are in other states and we had just returned from a trip the day before Easter, so no one was invited. Never mind; every decorated egg (empty, of course), every tiny duck crocheted by my beloved aunt (long since gone), every wooden bunny from Germany, all the tiny things that hang on the "tree" ( branches cut from our garden) reminds me of years past. So many years! so many different houses! so many different guests! (so much chocolate !!) We need these things to help us remember our past. 

Here we are, with more past than future, and it's okay. I still have plans and goals, albeit more short-term and less ambitious. Well tailored to my diminished, yet unflagging, energy. 

Enjoy your deorations as you put them back in their respective boxes!

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Nancy-- I truly appreciate your vote of confidence. I needed to hear your message. Thank you!

Jim Cejka

Wisconsin People - Are raw beef and onion sandwiches still the official Wisconsin sandwiches for parties, weddings, etc? Is the Reunion Committee planning on serving them at this year's gala?

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

I don't know about Wisconsin, but raw beef is alive and well (or, rather, alive until shortly before purchase) in northern Michigan. Karsten doesn't mind driving 25 miles to Rygwelski's to get it. But you better get there early on Thursday, the only day they grind, or it will be gone. And if you like, you can also bring in your fresh (hopefully) deer carcass and they will reportedly produce a delicious sausage out of it. Hunting not being one of our hobbies, we have to rely on the shop and on our friendly chiropractor/hunter to offer an annual taste of his venison jerky. Karsten's only weapon (aside from his razor-sharp wit) is an old BB gun with which he terrorizes the squirrels that vandalize my bird feeders. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't offered them up with mashed potatoes and gravy as yet. (mmm.....maybe if the damn critters would skin and gut themselves for me)

Jim Cejka

That's at least somewhat reassuring Nancy. Out here, if you even mention something like raw beef and onions, everybody thinks you're weird - and that's saying something for Californians. 

We even tried calling it "Bovine Sushi,", but that didn't work either.