We Are Who We Are Because We Where Where We Were When

Our eventful trip to Texas was completed just a few days before departing for one of the most ________ events of a lifetime. (The perfect word fail me, it was so, so sweet, good, maybe bitter-sweet.)

This was a fabulous GOLDEN REUNION of graduation from The University of Ala Hospital located in Birmingham, Ala.

Little did we suspect that when we packed and moved out of our dorm, most of us would not be together again for 50 years. Our lives lay before us ~ We each went our separate ways and now we came together ~

50 years later

A few chose not to come ~

other beloved classmates had completed their lives.

~Our graduation photo~

How was our 50 year reunion?

Interesting, unbelievable, unrealistic, wonderful, loving, sweet, bitter-sweet, warm, happy, grateful and best of all, totally over the top !!!

Our Sweet Sarah worked many, many hours to find us and to make it totally perfect. SARAH, IT WAS !!!

What a lovely, loving event.

We were thrilled to come together again ~ 50 years later !!!!

Jean, Evelyn, Nola~

Sarah, Kathy, Louise
Betty, Joyce, Jean B.

Hearing every one's story of their 50 years in two minutes was interesting~

I was so proud of everyone. Made me think of the fact

"We are who we are today because we were where we were, when."

Charles, Patsy

Our Class Officers~Our Class Officers left to right June (me), Helen, Pat and Evelyn ~

Three out of the four of us were there~ we lost Pat in 04.

We had only 18 classmates at our fabulous reunion~

Evelyn and Sarah look back on our student uniforms~ all noticed how small the waist was...

Yes, we are proudly a part the University Medical Center Museum.

An photo of class~ maybe our Jr. Class photo?? The class had loss over half of the hopefuls who started with us...had to be our Jr Year.

Me? I am third from right second row.

Photos of our home away from home.

There were no secrets, we shared everything. We remembered all the card playing that seemed like an ongoing event. Some games were left in place while we had class. We had a wonderful, wonderful time with our classmates who were our close friends.

This was our goal ~ to wear the cap with that coveted BLACK BAND

Not only did we make it to that Black Banding Ceremony~ we walked across the stage and got the little rolled up piece of paper that started us in our lives to come.

The way we are now~
Photos doesn't have all who were there~.

In the hotel lobby

June,

Joyce,

Kathy,

Sarah,

standing is Jean R.

At the Brunch at Louise's






And is the lady who brought us together for this event~ Classmate, Sarah. She holds all degrees needed plus a few more to be the VIP she is at the University at this point.
Organized, intelligent, and thoughtful with powerful leadership skills, she found 99% of our graduating class and brought us together with love.

SARAH~
We can't possibly thank her enough.

Together, we watched the setting sun over B'ham. Sort of appropriate for the ending of such a momentous occasion.

















The sun gave us a spectacular show.

I scooted around to the room in The Club, where my wedding reception was held over 43 years ago...they have remodeled and all is now different~ Nothing stays the same...another truism.

Thanks all for a fabulous event in my life, June


Comments~

From Gail~

Good to see you yesterday. I know each of you had fun Friday. I called Kitty when I got home and talked with her for a long time. She was busy remodeling her house and could not come. She said she should have but was tired of the mess in her house since Oct. She kept in touch with Annette and Peggy. We plan to meet some where close to Jacksonville or half way one Sat next month.All of us stay busy with family and close friends it is hard to keep in touch with long ago friends. We should. Make new friends and keep the old. I will call Peggy some time this week. That is why I like email. I like to hear what is going on in their lives. Not to big on forwards unless it is really good. Keep in touch. Send pictures when you can. Gail

From Bobbie:

Hi,
I hate that I missed the reunion. I know that you had a good time.
I think that I am about to old to travel ................I was so tied when we got home that I slept about 2 days.
We are going to Argentina in August.....if my energy level goes up.
Bobbie

BLOGS BELOW~

Check it out~


More to come

More To Love 'bout Texas ~ Day Four, Five and Six

Yes, they have mansions in West Texas

andcows with expressions on their faces...he is thinkin'

"Say whut?"







This one could have been the inspiration behind

"Don't Mess With Texas" ~

Get a load of those Long Horns!


This one is thinkin'...


"Aint no way in hell you're going down this road, cowgirl."





AHHHHHHHH how I love to ride!



Especially in Texas were you can ride all day and never see even a house.

And last but not least...I love the Strong and Good Looking Cowboys~


AHHHHHHH ~ these are a few of my favorite things.


Our friendship with this cowboy, pilot, rancher, Judge has endured 45 years...years ago, he gave up flying to go back to his ranch in west Texas... While we were there, he gave us the grand tour to see that part of the world. Looks to me, he owns a lot of it.

We drove all day taking in some of his 6200 acres... I can't wrap my head about that number, can you?
Lunch time, we stopped at a little grocery store where the lady there had a little business making sandwiches for stragglers like us.
What a neat experience.

We really enjoyed the VERY WIDE and OPEN SPACES~
It was a lovely, lovely time there with Bobby.
We can't wait for Christmas as he will be here with us.
YEAH!!!

AH HA! Secret Shots of Photographer With Camers With Eyes on Texas

Story of Texas will be completed when I am back from Reunion and trip to Florida.

THEN will have yet another story to share. Thanks Travis for catching this girl in action. Texas is a BIG STORY to share.

He even caught me saying "Just one more."

Never have enough photos of a good thing.

Day Three in Texas ~ Putting Over 1000 Miles on Rental Car

We stopped at one of the oldest family cemeteries.


The intense heat, harsh winds blowing dirt, sand and rain onto tombstones soon wipe away all information left of the lives of forefathers.

Our destination took us by "The Hanging Tree" as it served just that purpose in that County in Texas. Of course, that was when judgement and justice were swift.

I can imagine a bunch of cowboys around the tree ~ saddled horses and dusty trails

as the backdrop.
None of our family were involved on either end of the rope.

We left Central Texas and drove across the state to West Texas to visit a dear friend.

OUR TOTAL MILEAGE on the rental car was over 1000 miles

and we never left the state.

Texas~ Day Two ~ Don't Mess with Texas

We had a lovely day with Travis and Sharon, cousins who live in Central Texas.







We visited a quaint little town not too far from their home.


Found neat little houses with tin roofs and flowers planted everywhere~






We enjoyed exploring around this little Texas town. !!!



Lunch was fun; only two choices in the tiny town..

Both were crowded~ where did all the people come from?

Inside we settled in for a Texas cafe experience.
I was the only one not ordering steak. I went for the catfish...

When our lunch arrived...I had hit the jackpot~

five large catfish filet's topped fries and rings~ on a
Texas size platter. Another Texas size bowl of coleslaw came with it. DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!

Around the corner was parked THE CAR...seen before in my joke page.

Think it belonged to the owner of the other restaurant. I couldn't resist going in to just to check it out.















There I met the owner who was seated holding his 6 wk old baby ~ his young wife joined for the photo. ~ The place was packed with happy, happy people.

Made me want to sample their food too. .

This nice, neat sandwich and tea room had no customers at all. Back home in Virginia, this room would be packed...those Texans seemingly love being surrounded with lots of stimulation and real man food !!

Leaving the little town, along the roadwe stopped for a few photos.

Large and wild Jack Rabbits are very abundant in West Texas

We stopped for a close look at what was still in bloom of the famous and prolific Wild Texas Blue Bonnets ~

They grace the roadsides for miles and miles of Texas highways in the Spring.

As you can see...we were a little late in the season to see them at their best.

Have you ever seen Thistle in Bloom?

Wild and considered a weed in Texas.
One guy out there decided to gather, package and sell the seeds.

Word is that he made millions in the seed business.

I think I have actually bought some.

They didn't grow in Virginia.

Neat little wildflowers ... worth a stop and photo to share.

They are growing wild along the roadside and in the fields of Central Texas;

Texas Trip ~ Day Two ~ The Wedding

Family Wedding at Texas A & M UniversityFather 0f The Bride on Left
Bride center with Sister, the Maid of Honor
Surrounded by all blood relatives there to help celebrate her big day!

I think August, the baby,

is perhaps the only one in the photo without at least

one Degree
from Texas A&M
To be an Aggie is family tradition and lives on.



All pictured have the same last name or maiden name

as the Bride

Texas family of proud

German Decent

This was indeed a wonderful day to be in Texas.
We really enjoyed being a part of this wonderful Celebration !

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Arriving in Houston , we needed a rental car appropriate for our two weeks and
the many, many plans for

the Texas visit.








I kinda like this one...but many to choose from...





I really like the blue...

Comfortable? You BET..LOVE IT !!!

I think I had this one in a past life...just perfect to arrive in style...

all needed here is one of my BIG DERBY HATS!



But then....maybe not the convertible








....hummmmm





This one it neat too...

But back to the one I liked first...
feels good...

It is my style, with a picnic basket on the back...

And this color is perfect~ too many decisions...

I want this one... maybe...hummmmm

(Made this photos at a Cadillac Museum somewhere deep in the heart of Texas)

FINALLY~
just the right one caught my eye....

Get a load of this one...

Getting the car settled, we took off across the still wild and wonderful state to see all the family~