Update 4-27-04


Hey,

Let's start with good news, from Liz King Giordano, South's secretary to principal Stephen Lando:           The Booker Gibson Music Award was approved at the Board meeting last night. You will receive written confirmation of the approval from the Board. Mr. Gibson called me this morning to see if it went through. He is so excited about being honored by your class -- he is very fond of you all. He assured me that he will be at the awards ceremony June 9th, even though he plays the piano at a restaurant in East Islip every Wednesday evening (I had Easter Sunday dinner at that same restaurant two weeks ago with my family). The awards committee will reconvene to select a winner of the new music award. Most importantly, thank you so much for enriching our awards program and for providing college funds for our students. I am so grateful for your class's enthusiasm and energy.

From Booker, the same day: Hello to the fabulous Class of '65. This gets more and more unbelievable and wonderful. I can't really thank you all enough. You have your own lives to live, but you were kind enough to think of some good memories.
     Of course, I hope and plan to be there and give the award myself. The only difficulty I have, in my older days, is "tearing up" too easily.
     I called Liz, to hear if the music department chairman had been notified. I didn't want to "step over him." Also, I still have some guilt feelings about other faculty members, such as Teresa Bargeman, Bernie O'Brien, Ed Schmidt, and Toni Rea. Thank you all, so much.

[Rich -- from me to Booker, moments later: You can't feel guilty 'cause people like you a lot and want to honor you. Though maybe the fact that you have feelings like that, and you are so approachable, is why people like you so much.
     Again, congratulations. And it's even nicer that you'll be there to present the award.]

On a closely related subject, from Robert Fiveson: As I have been selected to present the upcoming, first ever Vincent Tampio award -- and I am deeply humbled and truly honored to do so -- if anyone has anecdotes or remembrances which I might cite, please mail them to me directly. My e-mail address in that regard is: fiveson@5son.com I have this fear that when I have to speak, I will lapse into one of Jackie Gleason's "Hamma Hamma" routines, so any help is appreciated.

Unrelated, except that it's also from Robert: Rugen was in the Hahn Flugplatz in the Army? What army was that, Larry, and which war? And if I somehow accept that, then you go on to suggest a place for the reunion that is "like Vegas, but without gambling" ... ? Isn't that like taking a hot shower, while wearing a raincoat!
     This Rugen person is now on my Watch list.

Our consumer affairs reporter, Zelda White Nichols, forwards this week's useful advice: Thought you might find this directory from the University of Oklahoma Police Department to be a helpful resource. It's about safety on the Internet, and it covers many topics, from such things as identity theft to computer security. Hopefully, we won't ever have the problems discussed in it. http://www.ou.edu/oupd/inetmenu.htm

From our man crouching near Omaha, Jerry Bittman: I have lost 48 pounds. I just hope that I can show this new bod off next year at the reunion. You see, I already promised my youngest daughter Abby, that I would take her to New York City next March for her spring break.
     On that subject, two anonymous suggestions, relayed like spam, for the location of our 40th:
     1. Thumperville, South Carolina: The Reverend Lionel Hogg, the man who put the "Dude" in Deuteronomy, and pastor of Thumperville's agony-based Church of Divine Regret, has instructed his parishioners to spend the next 40 days and 40 nights on their knees. Public water fountains and gas pumps are being lowered, as are the shopping carts at Piggly Wiggly.
     2. Woodbogger, Vermont: U.S. Census figures show that this village of 26,000 is home to some 7,000 weavers, 8,000 potters, and 3,000 T-shirt makers. The balance of the population consists of "filmmakers." There is a Phish store, but no supermarket. Attractions include a 20,000-seat Hacky Sack stadium, the nation's tallest National Public Radio antenna, and a 33-acre-wide, hand-sewn IMPEACH BUSH quilt that can be seen clearly from deep space.

[Rich, again -- I haven't forgotten Marc Jonas' Cub Scout dinner and bar mitzvah photos (those were two separate events) or Lynn Nudelman Villagran's sixth grade class picture. The first two are actually online, but the links aren't in place, and Lynn's photo is safely downloaded in my computer files, though in a format my PC refuses to recognize. But all should be made clear soon.
     Also, Donald Faber sent me something private, that I'd love to share. But he's afraid it will get him blacklisted from the next reunion. Oh, come on, Donald -- it's in Latin.]

Finally, this mail from someone whose name is so familiar, yet so strange: Greetings to everybody on Earth and especially to the Class of '65. My name is Sky Bittman -- my father graduated from your school. He told me that I can contribute to your newsletter. Thank you for allowing me to do so.
I am currently living in the International Space Station with a couple of cosmonauts and a mooshuporknaut. That's the Chinese name for astronaut. You must be wondering what it's like to live up here. Actually, life is very tranquil -- it's about as exciting as listening to your ex-president Lyndon Johnson speak. However, the view is great -- I get to see, and eat, a Milky Way every day. Earth is so small and blue. It looks like a blue ball. Though there are some distinguishable landmarks we can easily identify: The Eiffel Tower. The Great Wall of China. That part of JLo my late cousin Buddy was so fond of. Also, Andy Dolich's ears.
     My Russian hosts are from Chernobyl. They have a certain glow. We play a lot of Charades so we can communicate, since I don't speak Russian and they can't understand New Yorkese. I am losing a lot of weight, because, three meals a day, we eat freeze-dried borscht. I feel like I'm up in the Catskills.
     I did try to have sex with the female cosmonaut. I explained how much it would benefit international relations -- I think I sounded like James Bond. She totally agreed, however, she said she was saving herself for a guy named Peter Rosen. She and the Russian male cosmonaut also play a game called Torture the American -- when I go to sleep, they put on a VCR tape of Yakov Smirnoff.
     On a serious note, my Red Chinese counterpart keeps informing me that Red China is preparing to invade the U.S. of A. He insists they are the world police and are doing this for the good of all Americans -- since so many people in the U.S.A are mistreated, hungry, and homeless. I keep insisting their real motive is to gain control of all the corn in Nebraska. It is so stupid that so many soldiers and innocent people must die because some Peking Duck is a war monger and has a personal vendetta against Dubya.
     Well, I must depart now -- it's my turn to drive. Can somebody please send us 638,556,184 drachmas so we can buy fuel and pay the tolls to get home? Again, thank you for letting me be a part of your group. Peace on Earth -- now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one.

The new home page: http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65


Rich