----------------MY 15 SECONDS-----------------

We have all had our 15 seconds of fame in varying degrees. Mine came in my senior year at good old NTHS. I was a benchwarmer on the basketball team, usually playing in the games that were blowouts whether we were up or down. Coach Fabri had his '40s style pick and roll offenses for us to blindly perform never allowing any room for individuality or inventiveness. Well we were playing the defending Suburban League Champs, Evanston, and our rock solid starting offense was sputtering. Evanston was not the team from the year before losing 2 of their big players. Coach looks down the bench and says "Andy, go and check in". I practically trip over my feet rushing to the scorers table worrying that the coach might change his mind and also wishing he would change his mind. We set up in our usual cookie cutter offense and one play has me setting up at the freethrow line and receiving the ball from a guard. Then both guards are supposed to run past me trying to lose their defenders on picks. If they aren't open for a pass I am supposed to pass the ball back out and we do another basic setup. Well I thought "this is my chance to break the mold" so I turned quickly and drove to the basket. I could dunk back then and that would've been a real crowd pleaser but I played it safe and laid it in. The move still was appreciated by our loyal Trojan rooters. Mind you this was the 2nd quarter of the game. I went on the score 3 more baskets and 2 freethrows for a total of 10 points in 1 quarter. We went on to win and Monday morning the sports reporter on our morning show heard in all of the rooms mentioned my name and I was so proud in front of all my homeroom classmates. After that game I got more playing time but that was my night.

$$$$$$$$ CURRENCY IDEAS $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Two things related to currency. In the Tribune Sunday there was an article about pennies and nickels costing more to make than they were worth. That is true but the coin conservatively lasts 10 years and probably is used at least 10 times a year, therefore the nine cent cost for a nickel would amortize to .0009 cents over it's life. The same would be true for pennies. Now I propose doing away with all currency and use debit cards for all transactions. Not credit cards because that encourages spending money you may not have. The younger generation seems to be doing this already. Our currency is no longer backed by gold and silver but by Fiat Money which is basically a promise by the government to support the currency. This leads to my 2nd point. If we don't back the currency with gold then why not sell some of that 147,399,000 troy ounces of gold held in fort Knox and use the proceeds to pay down our national debt. That works out to be almost $132 trillion. We could sell 1/10 of that and we're back in business. This would have to be done gradually or the price of gold would drop but I'm sure the bean counters in Washington could figure it out. These ideas have probably put me on several hit lists such as people who count on tips and people who own gold.

--------THE COMPETITION--------

I basically grew up in Skokie. My very early years were on North Christiana Ave. in Chicago but we moved to skokie when I was 7. My father was born in Sweden and moved to Chicago at the age of 12. He didn't know the language but even more important he didn't know American sports. I remember the first baseball mitt that he bought for me was for the wrong hand and I had to put it on backwards. This put me at quite a disadvantage trying to play little league baseball. Back in the '50's they didn't take everyone like they do now. I didn't make the cut but my good friend, Emil Lazar, did make it. I persevered over the next couple of years and finally learned enough to make a pony league team. Emil peaked at little league and stopped. I played freshman baseball at NTHS but, and this might sound like sour grapes, the coaches had their ideas as to who was a good athlete and who wasn't. After a bad experience with frosh football and baseball I was type cast. The summer between freshman year and soph year I went to California to stay with my aunt and uncle for 2 months. When I came home my parents were surprised to see that I grew 6 inches. I played basketball and had a modicum of success but nothing great. Moving on through marriage, children, coaching T-Ball through colt baseball (7 yr olds to 17 yr olds) I decided to play senior men's baseball. I was 55 yrs old and those 90 ft. bases were a long run. I enjoyed it so much that I invited Emil to come and play. Needless to say Emil and I have had an ongoing competition going over just about everything. He was really in bad shape but we played a whole summer. Well we are in the last game of the season and I'm hitting a couple of points better average than Emil. He gets a couple of hits and I get a hit and came to bat for the final time with everything on the line. I hit one up the middle (right over 2nd base) and their shortstop races over to get the ball. I am streaking down the line trying to leg out a hit. The shortstop gets to the ball but because it was a difficult play he juggled it. When he recovered he threw to first but missed getting the blue flash. The manager on our team was sitting next to Emil on the bench and I know there was some money being transferred when he called it an error and Emil won the batting competition (TILT).

////////////THE DAY I LOST IT?>?>?>?>

It was a nice day. The sun was shining, my son was getting married, all was well with the world. I just got back from the hair salon after getting my hair styled ( never before, never again) and the out of town guests were arriving. My cousin and her husband were staying with us. My brother-in-law was stopping at our house after work to change. We were late so I told him to leave through the garage and close the electric garage door with the button. The wedding went off beautifully, I found out later that a pair of butterflies were trying to nestle in my coiffed hair. After the dinner and dancing my cousin and her husband wanted to head back to our house so I gave them the garage opener. As we were saying goodbye to the last of the drunks my brother-in-law came to me and told me that he locked the entry door between the garage and house for security. Oh No, there isn't a key for that lock and I had meant to change the door knob. Aarghh that was the second time he had locked us out of our house. We jumped in the car and rushed home to let my cousins in. As we approached the house I realized that I had left the house keys inside so as not to bulge my pockets. Now I'm getting mad. I picked up an ax and proceeded to smash the doorknob to smithereens to the horror of my cousins. Just then, of course, my daughter showed up with the house keys and let everyone in the front door leaving me standing with an ax, broken knob and red face. That was 8 years ago and I just recently allowed my bro-in-law back in our house, under watchful eye.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoLOVExoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The other day my daughter and I were talking about her car. I didn't think she needed it since she takes the train to work and plans on moving to downtown Chicago where mass trans handles your travelling around. She said, "But I LOVE my car". I told her I never remember loving any car. Well in a fit of confrontation she stated that I don't love anything. I started to think about that and questioned just what is love. According to Wikipedia (disambiguation) or Love is any of a number of emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong affection[1] and attachment.
My heritage is Swedish and I believe there is something to the theory that Nordics have a more distant approach to relationships. I, of course, have a strong affection for my wife and children.
Wikipedia goes on to say that the word Love is not a single feeling but an emotion built from two or more feelings. Anything vital to us creates more than one feeling, and we also have feelings about our feelings (and thoughts about our feelings).
I would rather use the word ENJOY when pertaining to inanimate objects.
Sometimes we hold back our feelings to avoid heartbreak if those feelings are crushed. Whether we LOVE or ENJOY is a far better option than hate.

++++++++COMPLIMENTS++++++++++

Recently the Chicago Tribune ran a front page article about 2 college boys at Purdue who would stand outside the Chemistry building every Wednesday for 2 hours giving out compliments to all passersby. I did say FRONT PAGE. We need more happy news like this rather than the usual tragedy of murders and political crime. We had recently cut our Trib subscription to 4 days a week just because their content was so depressing. There is a link to the boys: chicagotribune.com/compliments

The article also mentioned a man with a sign giving out free hugs on a busy street corner. Another about a bus driver leading holiday singing on his route. At first thought these acts may seem a little over the edge but maybe we need a little more of this. It's too bad we have to live in such a guarded world where we can't trust anybody or their actions. I guess the P.T.Barnum saying "There's a sucker born every minute and two to take him" has caused us to calcify a veneer around us. Well I believe kindness breeds kindness and I'll stick to that philosophy.

50th?????You must be kidding

When I call our classmates and mention that we are sneaking up on our 50th reunion they are surprised, almost disbelieving. I look at the pictures sent to me of Bronson, Bill, Fred and Dick and haven't changed much at all. We move a little slower, ache a little more and clear our throats more often so as to not sound 90. I hear sad stories and happy ones. From recently lost loved ones to new born grandchildren. I'm glad we are all revisiting each other now rather than all at once for one weekend of celebration that when it is over its back to the routine. Pat Paul Leider told me she talked for 40 minutes with one old classmate she hadn't seen in nearly 20 years and Carol Woods Houston mentioned the same thing. Try it. Call someone and see how they are. Laugh with them or cry with them but in the end you feel good. I've been talking about this bond we have. Our parents came to Skokie, Morton Grove, Niles, Glenview and Lincolnwood so that we could enjoy a better life and we did. Now that we've scattered all over the map technology has given us the opportunity to reunite in a phone call or an e-mail or in a blog. When we were in school there were jocks, greasers, Harvey Nilehis and of course the India Plaid Society ( hey it's my blog and Chuck Worthington would like me to mention that obscure club). Now we are all in the same boat. My only concern is that there are literally hundreds of girls (now women) out there that we may never find to say hello again. Why didn't you gals keep your maiden names after marriage like they do today. And why did the Smiths name their son Bill or the Browns naming their son Howard.
Well I'll just keep searching with White Pages.com and with your help maybe we'll be able to circle all the names as found.

RED CARPET NIGHT

Before I start I'd like to allay any concerns and correct one thing. I posted an e-mail that I received from Mel Rieff. He wrote the nicest note to me about the website. The concerns may stem from my blog about prostate woes. If you read the blog I let you know that all is well and even if it wasn't it takes that rascal at least 10 years to do you in. As to my health I walk 5 miles every other day and work out at Ballys on those same days. Dolores keeps us on a rather healthy diet and I practise yoga a couple times a week.
Now for the correction. Mel mentioned this is MY reunion. I hope that isn't what you are all thinking because this is OUR reunion. Pat Paul Leider, Howie Moldofsky, Barb Kalfen Halegua, Rochelle Laskov Zuniga and Iris Daglas, to name a few of you, are helping out by calling classmates and bringing them into the site. There is still a long way to go and I'm afraid there are old friends that we will never find. Now to the title "Red Carpet Night". We, Dolores and I, get rapped up in the Academy Awards every year. We try and see all of the nominated movies before the event and I love the pre-show Red Carpet. I know how hard those beautiful people must work to look like that. To quote a line from today's Chicago Tribune "The Red Carpet is one big permission slip to let your inner shallowness roam free. I pretty much set out a bowl of milk for myself at the start and start meowing", Barbara Brotman
That's it for now, Keith

We are a happy group

In talking to and swapping e-mails with many of you I find us a rather happy group. Family life was centered around an extended core including grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and even neighbors. Rarely did anybody move away so we had a good solid core. In generations following ours that pattern changed. Families were uprooted by job transfers or job offers too good to pass up.
I remember talking to aunts and uncles about problems that I would never want to discuss with my parents. We had summertime together with the dinner table often seeing a dozen or more of us sharing the days experiences. I look at today's generation distancing themselves from each other via e-mail, text messaging, twitter, etc. There is little personalization anymore. Soon they will have virtual sock hops and proms (sock hops, what are they). I agree that the advent of computer technology has its advantages, allowing web pages like ours and instant communication with e-mails. I can see that I am boxing myself into a corner here but I hope you can see where I am going with this. I don't have any background in psychology so these are just my personal observations. Now I want to hear your thoughts. Are there any answers? Is the world going in the right direction? Does anybody want to skip school today?Click comments below to start your rebuttal.

I REALLY HATE CHICAGO WINTERS

After 65 winters in Chicago you might think that you get accustomed to suffering but alas it seems to be getting worse. Maybe I feel this way because we just returned from sunny California where it was beautiful day and night. Why don't you leave, one might say, and I answer, in a heartbeat, except the 401K and home values have pushed that dream off a while. I walk to my gym every other day and now I have to climb over huge piles of snow that the plows have pushed onto the sidewalk. OK enough whining Keith. Lets talk about something more pleasant. Iris Daglas had an idea as did Gari-Sue Greene. In conjunction with our reunion, preferably after, why don't we take a nice cruise for a week or two. Gari-Sue said she could arrange the whole thing, just a thought. Think spring, Keith

-------------DROP A DIME-------------

IT TAKES SO LITTLE TO SIT DOWN AND E-MAIL OR CALL AN OLD FRIEND. YEARS HAVE SEPARATED US BUT IT FEELS SO GOOD TO RECONNECT. AT OUR LATEST DINNER THE TIME WENT BY TOO FAST. I WAS A LITTLE TIRED WRAPPING UP A 10 DAY VACATION BUT THE MEMORIES WERE FLOWING OUT AND IT FELT GOOD. CHUCK SCHARF, IRIS DAGLAS, ROCHELLE LASKOV, BEV DUFFEY AND VAL IVERSEN. I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO MEET AND INCLUDE MORE OF OUR CALIFORNIA CLASSMATES. IT IS SO DIFFERENT NOW. BACK IN SCHOOL THERE WERE CLIQUES BUT NOW WE ARE ALL AT THE SAME TABLE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE OLD DAYS. EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE STORIED LIVES AFTER 47 YEARS. LASTLY I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU INTO LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFE SO WE CAN SEE YOU IN 2 YEARS. DIET AND EXERCISE ARE DRUMMED INTO US CONSTANTLY BUT FOR GOOD REASON. KEITH

THE DUST SETTLES

NOW THAT ALL OF THE PRESENTS ARE PACKED AWAY, THE TREE WRAPPED UP WAITING FOR NEXT YEAR AND OUR NEW PRESIDENT HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING IT'S TIME TO EVALUATE WHAT JUST HIT US. UNLIKE THE TWIN TOWERS DISASTER, WHERE WE HAD A SPECIFIC CULPRIT, THIS ECONOMIC DISASTER SNUCK UP ON US FROM ALL AREAS. WHEN I LOOK AT THE PROBLEM THE WORD GREED SEEMS TO POP UP. WE ARE ALL GREEDY TO SOME EXTENT. WE WANT TO IMPROVE OUR LOT AND WHO CAN BLAME US. I HAVE A FRIEND, IS ALSO A CLIENT OF MINE, WHO DOESN'T GAMBLE WHETHER IT BE POKER, FOOTBALL POOLS OR STOCK INVESTMENT. HE SAID HIS INVESTMENT WAS HIS COMPANY WHICH HE RAN RATHER EFFICIENTLY. AS THE CARDS STARTED TO FALL AROUND US AND STOCKS DEVALUED 50% OR MORE HE FELT COMFORTABLE IN HIS DECISION. THEN THE SECOND WAVE ROLLED IN. THOSE THAT WERE HURT CIRCLED THE WAGONS AND SQUEEZED THE BUDGET FORCING THEM TO STOP BUYING. MY FRIEND'S BUSINESS GOT FEWER AND FEWER ORDERS OR LOST ACCOUNTS TO OVERSEAS PIRATES. POINT IS NOBODY WAS UNAFFECTED. NOW WHAT DO WE DO. AS AMERICANS IT IS UP TO US TO LEAD THE WAY, AS ALWAYS, AND START THAT ECONOMY ROLLING AGAIN. THERE IS ALMOST 8% UNEMPLOYMENT BUT THAT LEAVES 92% OF US STILL EARNING. IF WE ALL RELAXED A LITTLE AND WENT BACK TO OUR NORMAL SPENDING HABITS, A LITTLE WISER, PROSPERITY WILL RETURN. IN FACT I'M GOING OUT TODAY AND BUY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

************************2009******************************

Friday, January 2, 2009

WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR. THIS IS MY 65TH (OR 66TH) NEW YEAR. AS I WAKE UP TO THIS HORRIBLE CHICAGO WEATHER I THINK ABOUT OUR PLAN TO MOVE TO A WARMER CLIMATE. OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR (BERNIE MADOFF) RECOMMENDED THAT WE HOLD OFF FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. ACTUALLY I HAVE HAD 7 OF THE LAST 8 DAYS OFF AND I HAD TO COME DOWN TO WORK TODAY. I RAN OUT OF THINGS TO KEEP ME OCCUPIED (DON'T TELL MY WIFE). IS THIS WHAT RETIREMENT FEELS LIKE? THIS LOCATING OF OLD CLASSMATES HAS BECOME A FUN HOBBY. IT'S LIKE FISHING. THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE NET. MY LATEST IDEA WAS TO LOOK IN THE OLDER YEARBOOKS FOR SAME LAST NAMES AND CONTACTING THE OLDER BROTHER. I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ARE MILDLY AMUSED BY MY HOBBY BUT I HAVE RECEIVED SOME GOOD FEEDBACK FROM A FEW CLASS MEMBERS. YOU PROBABLY ARE ASKING WHY DO YOU WANT TO RECONNECT WITH PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD FROM IN 47 YEARS AND ALL I CAN ANSWER IS THAT WE HAVE A BOND THAT NEVER WILL BREAK. OUR PATHS ARE SIMILAR JUST BECAUSE OF AGE. WE ACHE, WE TAKE THE SAME MEDICAL TESTS, WE TALK OF OUR CHILDREN AND THEIRS AND WE THINK OF THE OLD DAYS, WHETHER HAPPILY OR BITTERSWEET, AND WANT TO SHARE OLD STORIES WITH SOMEBODY WHO REMEMBERS GOOD OLD NILES EAST. WE WILL ALWAYS BE TROJANS.

PROSTATE ROULETTE

WELCOME TO KATHY AND JUDY'S MERRY MEDICAL CHRISTMAS. AS I MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER BLOG I WAS POSED WITH THE DILEMMA OF WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THE PROSTATE BIOPSY. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE LIFE INSURANCE I WOULD HAVE PASSED IT UP BUT I WENT AND HAD IT DONE. THIS IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH. I MET WITH MY UROLOGIST AND AFTER DINNER AND A FEW DRINKS HE PROCEEDED TO JAB ME WITH A LONG NEEDLE WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE. NOW THAT HURT BUT I ONLY WHELPED A LITTLE. THEN AFTER HE WAS SURE IT WAS NUMB HE STARTED SLICING OUT SMALL SAMPLES OF PROSTATE. THAT I DIDN'T FEEL AT ALL. HE KEPT A STEADY CONVERSATION GOING ABOUT HIS HOME LIFE AND THE TIME PASSED QUICKLY. THE WORST PART, I GUESS, WAS WAITING A WEEK TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS. WELL THEY CAME OUT NEGATIVE, THAT'S GOOD, ( CAN NEVER FIGURE WHY THEY CALL SOMETHING GOOD NEGATIVE, I WOULD SAY POSITIVE), SO NOW I HAVE TO CLEAR MY SYSTEM OF THE RESIDUAL BLOOD FOR 4 TO SIX WEEKS. I HAD BETTER GET THIS INSURANCE POLICY NOW OR I COULD GO POSTAL ON THE AGENT. POINT IS THAT FOR YOU GUYS OUT THERE THE BIOPSY ISN'T THAT BAD AND WHETHER NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE CATCHING PROBLEMS EARLY CAN ADD 10 OR MORE YEARS ONTO YOUR LIFE.
I HEARD FROM JIM SLACK AND HOWARD SYLVESTER THE OTHER DAY. JIM WAS HAPPY TO HEAR FROM ME AND HOWARD SAID "KEITH WHO" BUT THEN IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. I'LL HUG HIM ANYWAY WHEN I SEE HIM. ALL FOR NOW, KEITH

CHRISTMAS CARD ROULETTE

DON'T GET ME WRONG. WE LOVE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. THE PEOPLE WE SEE SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR KNOW ALL ABOUT MOST OF OUR ACTIVITIES BUT THE PEOPLE WE RARELY SEE, EVEN THOUGH THEY LIVE IN OUR AREA, FIND IT SUFFICIENT TO SEND A CARD AND ONLY INCLUDE THEIR NAMES. ANYWAY AS IT GETS CLOSER TO THE BIG HOLIDAY WE HAVE HELD OUT SENDING OUR CARDS TO SEE IF WE RECEIVE A CARD FROM THESE DISCONNECTED SOULS CAUSING US TO RESPOND IN KIND. SOUNDS PETTY DOESN'T IT. NOW IT IS THE 21ST AND WE CAN'T WAIT MUCH LONGER OR WE WILL NEED TO WRITE AN APOLOGY IN THE CARD THAT THE MAILMAN LOST OUR CARDS AND WE HAD TO WRITE NEW ONES. IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG OF COURSE WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT YOU.
I THINK I HAVE FOUND WENDY BELGARBO. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM HER AFTER I LEFT A PHONE MESSAGE. SHE IS (I THINK) LIVING IN MARSHFIELD, WISCONSIN. I ALSO TALKED TO KERMIT CREAGER. HE HAS A HORSE RANCH IN WESTBY, WISCONSIN. WE MIGHT VISIT HIM THIS AUGUST WHEN THEIR AREA HAS A WILD WEST DAYS. CHUCK SCHARF CALLED ME LAST WEEK AND HE WILL BE JOINING US IN TEMECULA FOR DINNER ALONG WITH ROCHELLE LASKOV AND BEV DUFFEY. MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE DOESN'T READ THE BLOGS BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM AND THUS I REALIZE THAT NOBODY ELSE READS THEM. IF YOU DO READ THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW. MAY I EXTEND WISHES FOR HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF MY CLASSMATES. KEITH

RETIREMENT

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF THOSE EXTRA HOURS IN THE DAY WHEN I FINALLY DECIDE TO RETIRE. THAT IS THE GENERAL TOPIC WHENEVER WE GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER. WE COULD VOLUNTEER, TRAVEL, SIT AT THE COMPUTER AND TYPE THESE CATHARTIC BLOGS OR GET A PART TIME JOB AT WAL-MART (PLUMBING FIXTURES IN AISLE 7A SIR). I MIGHT BE WORKING NEXT TO STEVEN SPIELBERG AFTER THAT MADOFF-PONZI SCAM. HOW ABOUT MOVING TO AN EXOTIC ISLAND (NO MEDICAL CARE), OR A CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY LIKE COSTA RICA. MAYBE JUST ANYWHERE WARM WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT TRAFFIC IN SNOW STORMS OR SNOWBLOW THE DRIVEWAY.
LET'S HERE SOME IDEAS FROM YOU ABOUT YOUR CHOICE OF ACTIVITIES AFTER RETIREMENT. JUST CLICK ON COMMENT AND WRITE AWAY. KEITH

I HATE NEGATIVISM

I READ IN MY SOON TO BE DISCONTINUED DAILY NEWSPAPER THE WORST OF OUR SOCIETAL PROBLEMS.WE ARE TOO FAT, TOO VIOLENT, TOO SELFISH, TOO GREEDY, TOO UNCARING AND THE LIST GOES ON. WHEN I VISIT WITH PEOPLE WHETHER IT IS ON THE PHONE, ONLINE OR IN PERSON I FIND THAT WE AREN'T ALL THAT BAD. UNEMPLOYMENT IS UP A BIT BUT SHOULD THAT BRING DOWN THE GREAT MAJORITY OF US STILL WORKING. GRANTED MOST OF OUR CLASS IS EITHER RETIRED OR HEADING TOWARD RETIREMENT BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IS AFFECTING US ALL. SPREAD GOOD NEWS AND IT CAN BE AS INFECTIOUS AS BAD NEWS. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE GOOD OCCURRING IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO INHERIT OUR LEFTOVERS.
ANOTHER THOUGHT, I WATCHED "IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME" LAST NIGHT. VAN JOHNSON, JUDY GARLAND AND SPRING BYINGTON STARRED IN THIS UPLIFTING STORY. EVERYTHING WAS SIMPLER BACK THEN AND YES IT HAS A HAPPY ENDING.
IN CREATIVE WRITING, WHICH I CLAIM THIS IS, THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE IS THE LAST ONE, THE 2ND MOST IMPORTANT IS THE FIRST AND THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT IS THE SENTENCE THE READER IS READING NEXT. IF I HAVEN'T LOST ANYONE YET THEN I HAD BETTER THINK OF SOMETHING GOOD TO END WITH. I LOVE HOT FUDGE SUNDAES WITH NUTS AND A CHERRY ON TOP, THERE. KEITH

MOMBAI ATTACK

IF ANYONE HAD A DOUBT ABOUT TERRORIST COMMITMENTS TO CAUSING CHAOS AND KILLING INDISCRIMINATELY THIS PAST FEW DAYS IS QUITE CONVINCING. IF THIS CONTINUES WE WILL BECOME ISOLATED IN OUR COUNTRY UNABLE TO TRAVEL SAFELY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE MINDSET THAT TEACHES TERRORISM TO YOUNG PEOPLE TURNING THEM INTO PSYCHOPATHOLGICAL KILLERS. WE HAVE PSYCHOPATHS HERE IN OUR COUNTRY BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INTENTIONALLY TAUGHT TO BE THAT WAY. WHATEVER THE CAUSES FOR THIS HATRED FOR US, WHETHER IT IS OIL, RELIGION OR IMPERIALISM, WE HAD BETTER DO SOMETHING SOON OR THIS CANCER WILL GROW WAY OUT OF CONTROL.
SORRY, DIDN'T MEAN TO GET SO HEAVY BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THINGS AT A DISTANCE AND AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY AFFECT US WE FEEL SAFE.
MARVIN FEINBERG IS DOING WELL, LIVING IN BUFFALO GROVE AND ENJOYING A SECOND CAREER AFTER RUNNING THE PARK RIDGE SCHOOLS. LARRY DALLIA IS NEAR MADISON, WISC. WORKING FOR THE STATE. MORE LATER, KEITH

I

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

ANOTHER THANKSGIVING IS HERE. AS A KID I LOOKED FORWARD TO THANKSGIVING GIVING THANKS FOR A 3 DAY SCHOOL WEEK. NOW I ENJOY A 3 DAY WORK WEEK. WE WOULD GO FROM OUR HOME AT 4100 BLOCK OF CHRISTIANA IN CHICAGO TO 5900 VIRGINIA AVE. TO ENJOY MY GRANDMOTHERS MASTERPIECES OF FOOD. I WAS A RATHER ACTIVE CHILD AND USUALLY ENDED UP PINNED ON THE COUCH BY TWO OF MY AUNTS. IT WAS SO NICE TO GATHER WITH MY RELATIVES, WHICH WE DID QUITE OFTEN, AND I COULDN'T WAIT TO HEAR MY GRANDFATHER'S STORIES ABOUT LIFE IN SWEDEN AND EARLY CHICAGO. MANY OF OUR CLASS ARE GOING TO ENJOY A NICE DINNER TODAY GIVING THANKS FOR FAMILY, HEALTH A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS. THERE ARE SOME OF US WHO DON'T ENJOY THOSE THINGS AND WILL SPEND THE DAY ALONE. WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO CALL JUST ONE OF THOSE MATES AND SHARE EXPERIENCES OVER THE PAST 47 YEARS. I FIND THIS CAMPAIGN OF MINE TO BRING TOGETHER AS MANY OF US AS I CAN VERY REWARDING. IHAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND NONE OF THEM HUNG UP ON ME. THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO TO FILL OUT THE LIST OF CLASSMATES AND YOUR HELP IS VERY IMPORTANT. MORE LATER, KEITH

San Diego Visit

Dolores and I are visiting relatives in southern California in January. We will fly to San Diego, then drive to Anaheim, then on to Palm Desert and finally back to San Diego where we will have dinner with Rochelle Laskov Zuniga and Bev Duffey Altes and their husbands. I hope more of you can join us. Contact either me or Rochelle or Bev if you are interested. I called Marvin Feinberg and Jim Dahlquist today. Call Rod Bartels and cheer him up, he has the stock market blues. Did you know that since 1981 all of our presidents have been left handed except "W".I'm not sure which hand Barack uses.