Linda Peate (Powrie)

Barbie's surgery went very well.  The third day should be the charm but today she is in a greaat deal of pain.  The doctor told her that's the case for the second and third days  But she's walking on both legs which they were happy about because some cannot..  I'm keeping her in bed today again and she has a bathroom in the room so it's better than the long walk from my couch!  Prayers for recovery quickly.  

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Sadly, we lost another classmate, Randy Smith, passed away on June 19, 2022.

Linda Peate (Powrie)

Blessings to Randy's family and we'll see you again one day, Randy!  

Paul Berns

Sorry this so large - Donna and I and wine club bocce playing…all is well - beastly hot in summer in The Villages - 3,000 clubs 140,000 people all families with golf carts - playing drums in 3 groups - praying everyone got through Covid - I will avoid politics  Paul

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Happy Birthday to my Wombmate a day late....Linda Peate Powrie!  👯

Clark Smyth

Watched a pretty good movie last night called Tender Bar that about halfway through has a background song that we all should be familiar with.

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Thanks, Clark!  Will have to go find that one!

Cheryl Grube (Fredericks)

 I love the idea of a reunion the weekend of August 15/16 and have it marked on our calendar. Thank you for setting it up. 🌺

Cheryl 

Linda Peate (Powrie)

I am sadly posting that Barb has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.  We are so close as we've shared everything, even our wedding day.  I am heartsick and asking for prayers for her.  She will begin chemo shortly.  Thanks in advance.    

Clark Smyth

Just found out that I'm accepted fsor USA over 80 Team USA hockey team that plays Team Canada in Toronto in October.

I guess there are some good things about turning 80!

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Congratulations, Clark!  That is so awesome!

Linda Peate (Powrie)

Barb as you know has Stage 4 cancer.  I have known several people who have had cancer. But you never know the struggle involved until your sister, brother, or any close relative has the disease.  Cancer is a cruel and heartless disease.  To watch how it ravages a body is awful. Watching Barb fight to save her life is heartbreaking. The weight loss, the pain, and the fatigue and isolation as the body weakens and makes it hard to do simple tasks you once did and every day a battle.  If you know someone who is fighting cancer, realize how courageous these people are and I'm asking for prayers for these people and specifically Barb.  We have been so close as twins and we depend on each other.  Send a card if you want to brighten a cancer patient's day!  It's so easy.  

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Ditto, Lin.  Prayers for Barb!

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Thank you to those classmates from whom I've received cards.  It is heartwarming to know people care.  This diagnosis was certainly a shock since I had no signs or symptoms with cancer starting in my appendix (very rare) and over about a year metastasized to my liver and peritoneal (area below the breast that covers the organs).  I also have a pelvic mass.  The tough part was being told it's incurable.....treatable to extend your life but not curable. Right now we're praying for a miracle.  As of now, some of the lesions and the mass have gone down in size.  My red and white blood counts were low, so I wasn't able to get my chemo this week.  Praying they go up enough to get my chemo next week.  Thanks to all who have sent cards, called, and remembered me in prayer.  I appreciate your concern.

Barb

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Thanks for the kind words and concern, Cheryl Grube Fredericks.  

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Good news was my counts are up, and I was able to have my chemo yesterday.  So far only tingling in my fingers with cold (neuropathy). Thank you to Cheryl Grube, Ellen Aspinwall, Pat Gillespie, Mickey Matlak, and Kathy Kleist who sent wonderful notes.  Thank you Kathy Rspprich and Angie Alfano for the cards.  Hearing from classmates after over 60 years has been amazing and so uplifting.

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Asking for your thoughts, prayers and meditations for Don Zbin and his family.  Service is Friday, the 8th at 10:00 at the United Methodist Church in RR with what as been described as a 'party' afterward.

https://www.buschcares.com/obituaries/Linda-M-Zbin?obId=43810092

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

From Pat Osorio in Chile:

/000/7/9/4/11497/userfiles/file/PatOsorio.mp4

Kathy Kleist (Derheimer)

I am wishing all my classmates who are gettng together for the August reunion a Wonderfull time. I so wanted to come but had scheduled a Viking river cruise with my sister- in -law. We leave August 12th from Amsterdam to Budapest and return August 27th. I wish I was more tech. capable and could navigate the coputer and pictures. I did a 5 week trip in January. First week was a yoga retreat with my Colorado teacher in Tailand and then I want off on my own and hooked up with a small group I found on line and did Anchient Temples in Tailand,Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. I have some fantastic photos. I hope you all are safe and happy. Blessings to all, Kathy

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Update:

Had my ultrasound yesterday and chemo today.  I learned the cancer has progressed.  There are additional lesions, the majority of lesions in the liver and peritoneal have increased in size, and the pelvic mass has also increased in size.  Bummer but will continue the positive attitude and praying a lot.   Dr. K put me back on the “bad” chemo but a lower dosage to help with side effects…..no side effects today but time will tell.  I’m losing my hair that I thought wouldn’t happen, so I’ll have to do the wig thing.  🤦‍♀️🤭 Have to get used to the idea, but we women have our vanity, and I can’t do the scarves I don’t think.  😊

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

UPDATE: 

Fred is healing well after his heart surgery.  Lin and Fred are selling their “dream home” to go into a one-floor condo to accommodate their age….steps only to the basement that are doable.  

Yesterday my Oncologist upped my dosage to try and make the lesions and tumors smaller.  I had a reaction…long story short my oxygen level dropped, so many nurses, doctor, respiratory in my room.  I was very relaxed though and waited until they did their job to get me home.  Amy was with me thank goodness but we never got home for 8 hours.  I felt fine by then but a quick nap helped me too.

So, I had a choice of desensitizing (beginning with a 6-7 hour infusion and then each round increasing the dosage) or trying a new chemo that causes diarrhea and vomiting.  After careful thought, I decided right now to go the “desensitization” route for quality over Christmas.  The whole family will be at Amy’s for the first time in years, and I want to enjoy it.  I’m content with my decision and, since everyone seems to ask the same questions, it’s easier to let everyone know this way.  Thanks to all that are praying and have sent well wishes…..they mean the world to me. ❤️

Paul Berns

Hi all - this is 6 ft 1 inch RR drummer Paul - at the 50th you were all surprised I was so tall because there are 2 yearbook pictures of me sitting 😂😂 behind a drumset ……well I thought you might be interested in my career.  Though retired we left Florida after 6 wonderful years to be with grandchildren and great grandchildren 😳…after 45 years with Indianapolis Symphony and teaching at Butler University and U OF Indianapolis to get away from performing we moved to The Villages where I immediately became exclusively a drumset player in a Dixieland Band, Big Band, great rock band and low and behold drummer for country singer R.I.P. Margo Smith - look her up…now back in Indy I am playing again…through my career as a classical percussionist during our Pops concert I had the honor to play drumset for Debbie Reynolds as sweet as you would expect, Rosemary Clooney, Doc Severensen who would practice in stairwells hours a day and during breaks do push-ups in the musicians lounge😳🎉…I shared as a percussionist the stage with Art Garfunkel. >, The Moody Blues, and the list goes on.THANKS GOES TO MR T the RR band director…in grad school in Boston I often spoke to and played for Arthur Fiedler…so I lived my Dre's and I hope many of you did…I send my love to all of you…these times I find difficult but through the gift of music we can all enjoy I hope you have good sound systems😂 I am active on Facebook 👍🏻🍾👏🎈🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🎉PAUL BERNS 

Paul Berns

Hi all - this is 6 ft 1 inch RR drummer Paul - at the 50th you were all surprised I was so tall because there are 2 yearbook pictures of me sitting 😂😂 behind a drumset ……well I thought you might be interested in my career.  Though retired we left Florida after 6 wonderful years to be with grandchildren and great grandchildren 😳…after 45 years with Indianapolis Symphony and teaching at Butler University and U OF Indianapolis to get away from performing we moved to The Villages where I immediately became exclusively a drumset player in a Dixieland Band, Big Band, great rock band and low and behold drummer for country singer R.I.P. Margo Smith - look her up…now back in Indy I am playing again…through my career as a classical percussionist during our Pops concert I had the honor to play drumset for Debbie Reynolds as sweet as you would expect, Rosemary Clooney, Doc Severensen who would practice in stairwells hours a day and during breaks do push-ups in the musicians lounge😳🎉…I shared as a percussionist the stage with Art Garfunkel. >, The Moody Blues, and the list goes on.THANKS GOES TO MR T the RR band director…in grad school in Boston I often spoke to and played for Arthur Fiedler…so I lived my Dre's and I hope many of you did…I send my love to all of you…these times I find difficult but through the gift of music we can all enjoy I hope you have good sound systems😂 I am active on Facebook 👍🏻🍾👏🎈🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🎉PAUL BERNS 

Linda Peate (Powrie)

I have had such difficulty dealing with Barb's being gone.  My heart aches when I wake up and when I go to bed.  We were so close and somehow I guess we felt we would leave this earth at the same time!  She became sicker after they changed her chemo as the lesions had all grownb, as well as the tumor.  By Christmas, she laid on my couch for 10 days.  So many classmates contacted me which touched my heart.  Thank you to all who  for prayed, cared and those who were there for Barbie!

Debbie Benn (Mormon)

It was so good to see what is going on, and sad to see those who have left us. This is the first time I saw Larry's beautiful montage.  Many things I recognize, many others, I do not.  Is that the Westlake Hotel?  When we first came here, we lived there for several weeks while looking for a home.  It was fun in the beginning, but got lonely and stale after the first two weeks.  Believe it or not, we all got tired of eating out at every meal - even to Bearden's.

Saw my church, where Sue Weigel and I sang in the choir and I was married by a minister who gave up a great football career to serve the Lord.  

Question - I have often wondered what happened to those in other classes., before and after ours. What did they do with their lives?  I was certain Jim Weston would be a TV star, and Bev Sperber a model.To this day, I remember a talent show where DoDo Rockenstein and another senior sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" dressed in safari gear and danced on stage.  The entire auditorium was in hysterics.  Would she be a stand-up comic? 

We bought a house on Whittlesay Lane with some auspicious neighbors.  Joe Finan (the disc jockey) lived next door and had a pool, which he generously shared with neighborhood kids each summer until the "payola" scandal hit and he lost his job - and the pool!  Jess and Bonne Bell (cosmetics) lived three houses away - I babysat for them many times.  On down the street were Elmore Bacon's aunt and uncle  and further down were the Stouffers of food fame.  I took care of their kids, too.  Sue Weigel lived on the corner and Judy Miller and Nancy Patch lived on the next street over.  Judy and I were back door neighbors.and walked to school together.

When I remember Detroit Road, I cannot understand why my parents let me walk by myself to school - even in the snow - and how dangerous that would be today!  Times were certainly different in so many ways.

My greatest secret - I had a huge crush on Scott Nehoda from 8th grade to graduation.  I don't think he even knew my name!  

To those who are still hanging on, I hope you can look back at those memories that still exist and be thankful for that beautiful city and how uit shaped each of us.

Debbie Benn Mormon