Update 7-16-02


Hi,

Barbara Blitfield Pech has asked that I stop leading off with obituaries, no matter how pertinent, so I won't even mention the silliness going on with Ted Williams' frozen DNA.

From Zelda White Nichols:  Jerry -- I do hope you are on the road to a fast recovery. Hearing news like that always brings me up short.  At first, I think "We are too young for that," then it occurs to me that, "No, we are not."  It does make one pause and vow to do something important with the rest of one's life.
      Also, one of our local radio stations had a tribute to those who signed the Declaration of Independence.  As it was read on the air, I was very moved. This country really is wonderful.  If anyone is interested in the full story, they can find it at:  http://www.histar.com/mornings/starchive/2002/07/4th_tribute/tribute.php   Even those who aren't history buffs should be interested in what these people went through to fight for freedom.  Thanks Jerry for starting this off.

From Tom Calise:  To Jerry Bittman -- I doubt if you would remember me, but I thought you were a funny-as-hell guy way back when, and I can see you still are.  I truly would like to wish you the best of health, and hope you overcome all your present problems.  I am just a guy who's never quite shaken the great memories I have of Ann Ciliberti and Nancy Nudelman, and I hope to see them, and all of you, again.  Once more, it's a real shame I had to miss reunion, but I just had too much going on in my life.

From Judy Hartstone:  Two weeks shy of her twelfth birthday, my sweet little dog, Shayna, died as a result of multiple chronic problems.  She was a mellow and intelligent black miniature poodle who always thought all company was coming to see her!  My neighbor called her Princess Tippy-toes because of her prancing gait.  Looking back over old photos of her running and playing, I realize how circumscribed her life had become over the past two years.  Now she's at peace and frolicking to her heart's content.

From Barnet Kellman:  To add 2 cents to recollections of the pledge -- like Peggy Cooper, I remember learning the pledge at Clearstream Avenue, and then, later, having to relearn it at Forest Road.  Neither I nor my parents had a problem with my saying "under God," but I remember talk (this was 1st or 2nd grade!) that Roy Harris' mom was against it.  When I asked why, I recall that she was portrayed to me -- not as bad, or even wrong -- but as a Bohemian and a bit of a kook.  That must have caused some awkwardness for Roy!  This is exactly why adding "under God" was such a lousy idea in the first place, and why the court's right in ruling it out.  No kid should be subjected to the "conformity test" that way.  Roy, if you're out there lurking around this web site -- your mother was right!

Finally, from me:  Before I start using my collection of classic e-mail jokes for filler on  really slow weeks, here's something you haven't deleted at least a dozen times---a  sample from Wisecracking Across America, my travel journal:

      When we asked the motel manager for a good place to eat in Bangor, Maine---we'd long given up on the best food anywhere---she cheerfully said, "Miller's Buffet.  They have over two-hundred items on their steam tables."
      Run!  Run Away!  Now!  Leave everything you own!  No wonder Stephen King lives in Bangor.
      But no, we had to explore.
      Actually, the restaurant's full name is Miller's World Famous "All You Can Eat" Buffet.  It's right there on the sign.  "Would you like the buffet or the Lion's Room?" the merry hostess asked as I stood nervously by her desk.  Tom was already snooping, wondering if we really wanted to do this to ourselves.
      "What's the difference?" I replied.
      "Well, you can have either the buffet or the sit-down menu in the buffet room.  But you can only have the sit-down menu in the Lion's Room."
      The Lion's Room sounded too much like the lion's den, and besides, we'd come to experience the worst.
      At that point, Tom returned.  "It looks... okay," he faltered.
      "You're sure?" I reasoned.  Not that we had a lot of choice.  There were absolutely no dinner recommendations in any of our guidebooks.  We'd hit a Bermuda Triangle.
   "Y-yeah," he stuttered.  Since food means more to him than to me, I took his word, and we followed the waitress toward steamed death.

The complete trip's at:  http://hometown.aol.com/jqxz13    Good for when you're stuck at your desk.

The South home page:  http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a


Rich