Stories and Videos
Almost makes you want to become a baby again.
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Twelfth Street //
Rag
57th Reunion Video
Stuart Jones Memorial Montage
//
Greg Doering is a Vietnam veteran who
served in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine
Corps, 1968-69. He is a retired dental
technician and is the author of an
unpublished memoir, Honor and Indignity,
Diary of a Marine 1967-69.
MOTOR T AND THE MULE
Lots of guys drove trucks and Jeeps in
Vietnam, but how many drove the M274
Mechanical Mule? Story and photos by
Greg Doering at:
http://www.vietnow.com/motor-t-and-the-mule
And then it is winter.
You know ... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
But, here it is... my friends are retired and getting grey... they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!
And so... Now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I'm on the back nine, and I'm not sure how
long it will last... this I know, that when it's over on this earth... it's over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in
a lifetime.
So, if you're not on the back nine yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as
you can never be sure whether you're on the back nine or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life.... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love
you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY Remember "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces
of gold and silver. LIVE HAPPY IN 2017!
LASTLY, to my "OLD" friends, CONSIDER THIS:
~Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect!
~Going out is good... Coming home is better!
~You forget names.... But it's OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like golf.
~The things you used to care to do, you aren't as interested in anymore, but you really don't care that you aren't as interested.
~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV 'ON' than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch...
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers.
~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will
never wear.
~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN; YET THE YOUNGEST
YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS
"Do Not Regret Growing Older.
It is a Privilege Denied to Many.
Sent from a friend.
I remember the big earth quake in 1965 when they shut down Ballard High School for damage evaluation. We drove over to Lincoln High School that day thinking the old rickety building would be leveled. It was still in operation, I don't think they even knew there was an earth quake.
Crack in the foundation.
I remember almost every day of senior year, Tom McGerr and I going after 1st period to sneak a quick smoke from the west exit to Mr. Blessing's roll room. Tom where are you now? I remember Pete Winechinko setting off a cherry bomb in the main hall trash can... I remember Frank Faylor.. I remember driving to Golden Gardens after the earthquake to see the tidal wave.. I remember skipping gym class for an entire semester and getting a "C" in the class. I remember all the great people who worked on the Talisman staff and the fun we had.. I remember wishing I was in the "in crowd", but also thanking God I didn't get picked on like some of the other kids.. High School was overall a pretty good experience and Ballard was a great school to be from. Happy Reunion!!!
Mike Allan
E-mail: mike.allan@sharp.com
I was sitting home the other day when my son stopped by with our grand daughter. She had just started the 4th grade and I was eagar to find out how she liked it. I asked her what she had learned so far. She replied that she had learned how to make babies. I was somewhat surprised thinking that the 4th grade may be a bit soon for this kind of information but continued with our conversation anyway and asked her just how do you make babies. She said it's very easy. You just
drop the y and add ies.
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"
"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, "SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD?"
WELL ... YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE!
I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST. I
NOTICED HIS DDS DIPLOMA, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME.
SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 40 YEARS AGO. COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN ?
UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT. THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE. HMM! M ... OR COULD HE? (are you thinking of about 3/4 of the guys at our last class reunion??)
AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL. "YES. YES, I DID. I'M A BEAVER," HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.
"WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?" I ASKED.
HE ANSWERED, "IN 1966. WHY DO YOU ASK?"
"YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!" I EXCLAIMED.
HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY. THEN, THAT UGLY, OLD, WRINKLED, BALD, FAT, GRAY, DECREPIT
SON-OF-A-BITCH ASKED,
"WHAT DID YOU TEACH?"
Lutefisk
Lutefisk, pronounced LEWD-uh-FISK, is dried cod fish that has been soaked in a lye solution for several days to rehydrate it. It is then boiled or baked and served with butter, salt and pepper.
The finished lutefisk usually is the consistency of Jello. It is also called lyefish, and in the US, Norwegian-Americans traditionally serve it for Thanksgiving and at Christmas. In many
Norwegian homes, lutefisk takes the place of the Christmas turkey.
It is said that about half the Norwegians who immigrated to America came in order to escape the hated lutefisk, and the other half came to spread the gospel of lutefisk's.
Now that you have a brief understanding of lutefisk here is a wonderful story told to me by one of our classmate.
When I was growing up in Alaska before moving to Ballard, we would quite often be visited by my Norwegian uncle. He was always welcomed to our home and in appreciation of his visit my
mother would prepare lutefisk for him. The house would reek for days of this god awful
smell. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized the smell that had engulfed our home
was the cooking of lutefisk. Up until that time I had always thought that the unbearable smell
came from my uncle.
Last night my wife and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug!"
So she got up, unplugged the TV and threw out my beer.
What I Have Learned
I've learned ..... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned .... That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned .... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
I've learned ... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned .... That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned .... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned .... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
I've learned .... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned ..... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned .... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned ..... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned .... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for..
I've learned .... That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned ..... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned ... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned .... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned .... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I've learned ..... That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned ..... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned .... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned ... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned ... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned ... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned .... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned ... That I wish I could have told my Dad that I love him one more time before he passed away.
I've learned .... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned .... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned .... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned ..... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned .... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
To view some of these video clips please click on the button in the center of the screen.
Enjoy!
Inside the old school
A final look at the old school
A performance by your classmate friend and mine Dan Brooks.
A video presentation in support of
Camp Goodtimes on Vashon Island.
By Millstream Video Productions
The Demolition of the old school
The Miss Thriftway Maiden Voyage.