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Michael McLeod

I read the news today, oh boy.

Got a bad feeling about this. Fearing scary times ahead in Iran. Hope I'm wrong.

Joseph Gentilini

Happy Birthday, Mike!  I love  your idea of a reverse birthday party.  Let me know how it goes.  Joe

Peggy Southworth (Townley)

David Mitchell-  I too treasure the older films.  "The Quiet Man",  "Mrs. Miniver", "How Green Was My Valley", and "The Best Years of Our Lives" are films I've enjoyed many times.   
 

David Mitchell

I think it's a safe bet that any film with either Greer Garson, or Bette Davis will be a great movie.

Add "Random Harvest" (wirh Greer Garson and Ronald Coleman ) to your list. I belive she made that and "Mrs. Miniver" in the same year.

David Mitchell

Congrats to Columbus

I just saw a day-old article in USA Today naming Columbus one of the best cities for Pizza (over NYC, Philly, and Chicago) in the US. It named Massey's and Donatos and gave a bit of local pizza history, but I will always think of Riccardis on High Street near Morse Rd and those nights after football and especially basketball games.

My mother and I sometimes dined there, in additionI to those school game nights. I walked into Ricacardis one night after years living in Denver to pick up an order and Mr. Riccardi remebered my first name!

But I also recall Tommys, Agriestys, Tiburzios, Ricardos, Romeos, and others.

I recall that night after the football team had just beaten DeSales for the CYC championship. We gathered in a huge crowd ouside Ricardi's, filling half the parking lot. Mr. Ricardi (Gene or Geno) came out and yelled, "Okay, Seniors, the back party room is all yours, everyone else go home. "

We had a great night in that back room.

p.s. About 40 years ago, I once looked into the pizza business and found an article in a trade journal "Pizza Time Magazine" claiming that Columbus had more pizza restaurants per capital than any other major city in America.

John Jackson

By the way, Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Should be Ireland's national anthem...

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dave, a little back storyb o n Donatos.  Do you rember that McDonalds paid about $120 million to buy Donatos when the chain had about 300 stores.  Within less than five years they sold it back to the family for $20 million.

Massey's  is, and has been, a great Italian pizza place.  I was asked to attend a special event with the cousin of the Masseys after Confirmation in grade school.

Pizzuti's had great Pizza as well as Tedeschi's bakery.

John Jackson

I'll put in a pitch for the pizza at my wife Carol's family's place, Plank's Cafe. Her sister Mary has a starring role in this video. 

Daniel Brown

John J, et. al. :
In Cols, The Venetian on High St near Lane Ave was the best pizza. (RIP).
 

if you ever get to Cinti (Siverton), it's Krimmer's Italianette. 

David Mitchell

Yes, Planks - and I also forgot the Venetian, TAT, Iaconos and Amicons.

(forgot one of my favorites - Anton's - up on High Street near St. Michaels - a wonderful homey, casual, family place where we always got served our Cokes in the old 6 ounce bottles with the straw already in. it.

(Love Mary Black too!)

--------------------

Pizza and Golf in Columbus  (feel free to add to the story if you know more than I do)

Years ago (and maybe still today?) there was an interesting connection between a number of Columbus pizza parlors and the many golf trophys dispalyed in their restaurants. Someone once pointed out the reason. 

Many of the Pizza restaurant owners in Columbus were second or third generarion Italian immigrants. Their fathers were originally stone workers (I think - from northern Italy) and came to live in San Margherita (across the river from Arlington) and found jobs in the Marble Cliff quarry across the Scioto river.

Their sons and grandsons found work as caddy's at Scioto Country just a short walk across the bridge at Trabue Road and up the long driveway to the clubhouse and golf course. Many of them eventually became excellent golfers as they grew up and played the game all their lives - winning many samll local tournament trophies, which they displayed at their restaurants.

Isn't there an "Italian Country Club" now somewhere out in the northwest outskirts of Columbus?

P.s. I seem to recall the grade school in San Margherita still taught clases in English and Italian up until the 1960's ??????

Michael Boulware

Just had lunch with Dave Dunn, Brian McNamara, Bill Tribbie, Chuck Kaps,and  Fred Clem. They asked about the money that I am collecting for the reunion. I explained to them that everytime I get a check, I have a fond memory or association of some sort. For example, Barb Boggs reminded Sue that they not only have the same birthday, but they were born in the same hospital with cribs right next to each other. Kathy Harper's payment made me think of the great backrubs she graciously gives at our reunions, I can visualize Bob Curtin walking the hallway with his boisterous laugh and big smile just making everyone feel better.

Joe McCarthy wanted me to let everyone know that Homewood Suites is a great place to stay. Latasha is there from 9 to 4 and gives a special rate to friends of Joe and Watterson reunions. Joe, would you put her phone number and address on USER FORUMS ? 

The payments have been coming in steadily. We have enough to put down deposits for St. Andrew Church, The Berwick Party House, and The Eck Center.

If you have not send in your payment please do so in order for me to have another pleasant memory. Make out your check to - Watterson Class of 1966 Jane Blank and mail it to -Mike Boulware - 2056 Thistlewood Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43235

Joseph Gentilini

Mike B - let me know if someone says they can't come because of the $60.  I can help them by paying their $60.  joe

Michael Boulware

Joe, You are an example of the kindness and generosity of our classmates. I really anticipate this reunion to be a really special occasion.Thanks

David Mitchell

Coolest invention ever!

Michael Boulware

Joe McCarthy's suggestion for a hotel is 3841 Park Mill Drive in Hilliard. Joe ALWAYS give great suggestions, Check it out.

Michael McLeod

Joe G.:

I, too, appreciate your generous spirit.

Michael McLeod

useful nerd-alert:

statistics indicate that neglecting to floss can negatively influence longevity. Or to phrase it more positively, flossing, if only incrementally, will help you to live longer, statistically. How they did the research and came up with the estimate I couldn't tell you. A survey of some sort, I'd assume.

• Reduced Systemic Inflammation: Gum disease triggers chronic inflammation, which can cause damage to blood vessels and arteries throughout the body.
• Preventing Bacterial Spread: Harmful bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, can travel from infected gums to the brain and heart, contributing to dementia and cardiovascular disease.
• Heart Health: Regular flossing helps prevent bacteria from adhering to heart valves and arteries, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular events.
• Preventing Tooth Loss: Studies show that maintaining natural teeth through proper hygiene, including daily flossing, is associated with a lower risk of death compared to people with substantial tooth loss.
• Improved Immune Function: By eliminating consistent oral infections, the body faces lower levels of chronic immune system stress. 
  
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James Hamilton, M. D.

Oral Health

Good advice, Mike 🪥!

😁

Jim

Michael Boulware

Michael McLeod

Forgive me if I've shared this before.

It's a poem that helped inspire me to pursue an occupation I loved, that being journalism.

I never met Robert Frost but he gave me the advice that put me on the path I chose for myself when I read this poem many years ago..

Such a gift that man had: it's poetry, but upon reading it you fell more like you're a kid, sitting on a davenport in your jammies in your grandparent's living room, and your grandpa's reading you a story before sending you off to bed.

Here's a good example, and one of my favorites among his many beautiful poems.

love how arfully yet humbly he sums up the weather.

Two Tramps in Mud Time

• • by Robert Frost (1874-1963)

     

• Out of the mud two strangers came
  And caught me splitting wood in the yard,
  And one of them put me off my aim
  By hailing cheerily “Hit them hard!”
  I knew pretty well why he dropped behind
  And let the other go on a way.
  I knew pretty well what he had in mind:
  He wanted to take my job for pay.

  Good blocks of beech it was I split,
  As large around as the chopping block;
  And every piece I squarely hit
  Fell splinterless as a cloven rock.
  The blows that a life of self-control
  Spares to strike for the common good
  That day, giving a loose to my soul,
  I spent on the unimportant wood.

  The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
  You know how it is with an April day
  When the sun is out and the wind is still,
  You’re one month on in the middle of May.
  But if you so much as dare to speak,
  A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
  A wind comes off a frozen peak,
  And you’re two months back in the middle of March.

  A bluebird comes tenderly up to alight
  And fronts the wind to unruffle a plume
  His song so pitched as not to excite
  A single flower as yet to bloom.
  It is snowing a flake: and he half knew
  Winter was only playing possum.
  Except in color he isn’t blue,
  But he wouldn’t advise a thing to blossom.

  The water for which we may have to look
  In summertime with a witching wand,
  In every wheel rut’s now a brook,
  In every print of a hoof a pond.
  Be glad of water, but don’t forget
  The lurking frost in the earth beneath
  That will steal forth after the sun is set
  And show on the water its crystal teeth.

  The time when most I loved my task
  These two must make me love it more
  By coming with what they came to ask.
  You’d think I never had felt before
  The weight of an axhead poised aloft,
  The grip on earth of outspread feet.
  The life of muscles rocking soft
  And smooth and moist in vernal heat.

  Out of the woods two hulking tramps
  (From sleeping God knows where last night,
  But not long since in the lumber camps.)
  They thought all chopping was theirs of right.
  Men of the woods and lumberjacks,
  They judged me by their appropriate tool.
  Except as a fellow handled an ax,
  They had no way of knowing a fool.

  Nothing on either side was said.
  They knew they had but to stay their stay
  And all their logic would fill my head:
  As that I had no right to play
  With what was another man’s work for gain.
  My right might be love but theirs was need.
  And where the two exist in twain
  Theirs was the better right — agreed.

  But yield who will to their separation,
  My object in living is to unite
  My avocation and my vocation
  As my two eyes make one in sight.
  Only where love and need are one,
  And the work is play for mortal stakes,
  Is the deed ever really done
  For heaven and the future’s sakes

David Mitchell

Back to the movies for a moment.

For a long boring evening I decided to watch Braveheart with Mel Gibson as lead actor and director. It's one of those epic films (I guess) that I had never watched all the way through, and I had a whole evening to kill.

And yes, it is loooong!

Anyway, there is a part where Rob Bruce (another historic Scottish hero) comes into the story and betrays William Wallace (Gibson) in a key battle. That seemed odd to me so I looked it up.

Apparantly there was never such a betrayal, and in fact, historians believe the two men never met. 

So I ask myself, why on earth would you create such a major falsehood in such an important movie?

(You three readers can go back to something interesting now)

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mike, The best rates for thw Homewood suites inHilliard can be obtained IF someone in the committe calls, ask for Latasha, and sees about a Group rate or discount.  

Spoiler alert, Spoiler alert.  Dave is once again giving away the biggest film plot in Braveheart.  Way to go, now I don't have to watch the film.

David Mitchell

March Madness

You are probably all familiar with the young NBA star from France, Victor Wembanyama. He's 7' 4".

But Florida has a young player who is 7' 9"!

His name is Oliver Rioux 

Look it up.

David Mitchell

Did somebody say March Madness?

The same group of 6 of us - one Captain, 2 of us Warrant Officers - (alll 3 pilots) and 3 enlisted guys, played full court (partly pictured) basketball several nights a week off and on throughout the year. Great way to relax.

Michael McLeod

For some reason that picture reminds me of basic training.