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Michael McLeod

Yep. They took down Olympic a while back. I think I probably bemoaned it on this forum at some point. It was a communal haven that cannot be replaced. The broad lawn around the pool, the fresh air, the way the chatter of kids in the pool blended together into a single happy, ongoing chorus -- at least until the announcement "It is now time for the 3 o'clock break" cut it off. We lived close enough that I could hear that hourly announcement all summer long from my bedroom window. I can hear it now.

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Ah, another reference to your window on the Olympic Beach world, Mike!  Last month I received a surprise call from Sue Endebrock and I told her about the Forum bantering that she should check out.  She especially laughed when I mentioned the memories shared about Clintonville and our cabana at Olympic pool. Isn't it fun how memories trigger other memories?  Sue immediately jumped in with her own recollections.  We decided that our cabana with the brightly painted daisies on the walls was probably my first unofficial decorating project. 

By the way, a couple of weeks after our call I received an email from Sue's husband Tom telling me that it was his first day home after undergoing an unexpected  triple bypass operation.  He is recovering well but they have had a lot in the last couple of years.  Sue often mentions how much your cards and letters meant to her after her surgery and I am sure she would love to hear from you now.

Stay well, friends.  

Linda Weiner (Bennett)

New memory: We heard those Olympic pool announcements from our house on Beulah Rd before I71. 

There were train tracks between the pool and our house. When the trains went by, they would make our house quiver and the crucifix & palms over our front door would jiggle.

Another memory (not so sure why this sticks in my head): When I was about seven or eight years old, my sister, who was six years older, took my brother and I to an A&P somewhere around the pool. 

I remember crossing the tracks via Oakland Park Av, (back before freeway) on foot—my first experience touching RR tracks...oh so dangerous it seemed!

Michael McLeod

Yep - I remember exactly where that A&P was, Linda. Straight behind our house on the north side of east north broadway. We could cut through a vacant field right behind us to get to both the A&P and Olympic.

There was a family story about the time my mother sent me there to guy a melon for breakfast, meaning a muskmellon, and a head of lettuce. And I came back with a watermelon and a head of cabbage.

I'm reading Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, and there is a section where he discusses the rhythms of his childhood, and how they leave an indelible imprint on you unlike any other. He speaks of a tree that he remembered from childhood that is no longer in his old neighborhood that has been cut down - but its roots are still there, in him. That memory - of the announcements of the breaks at Olympic - is with us so strongly for that reason. It was the bell that tolled for us, beckoned us, throughout our childhood summers. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Joseph Donahue

I can still smell the Jade East, English Leather and even Old Spice Jim. I also remember taking five minutes to separate myself from a girl after a slow dance. It seemed as if Adorn hairspray, Brylcream and sweat turned to glue after Elvis sang Wise Men Say...

I loved going to Whetstone on July 4th. I played baseball for The Civitan Club and we played on the main field 3 years in a row.  The fireworks were fabulous. Not in the baseball game-the real fireworks. 

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Whetstone Park brings to mind hours of playing tennis and participating in the summer theater plays directed by a fascinating woman who lived in a fabulous house on EN Broadway.  Anyone else remember participating? 

Also please fill in the blanks about who else was in THE Cabana.  I think I remember a couple of names but there were a lot of us. Sylvia, Mary Margaret......?

Happy New Year, everyone!

Mary Ann Nolan (Thomas)

Donna, I do not remember the IC girls cabana but remember our OLP cabana. I remember Kathy Burk, Barbara Boggs, Carol Weiner, Kathy Hockma,Kathy Shanahan, Toni Cardi and Mary Kay Freeman. What a great throw back memory. I miss these girls,some of the best friends I have had. I hope I did not forget anyone. Maybe Jane Connor and Sue Lally.

David Mitchell

Wow Linda,

"pre- I-71".

Now that really is going back to another era. Growing up on Overbrook  (actually Yaronia) near Indianola, we watched that construction for years. That really did alter our universe. 

And as for those railroad tracks - endless hours of fascination. I along with Dave Wall (Whetstone) Susie Russeau (I.C.), Frank Strange and others would pick wild black berries in the bushes along those tracks. We put pennies and nickles on the tracks and stood all of 15 feet away (yikes!) to watch the New York Central or Pennsylvania cars flatten them out for us - so cool!  I used to love to go to sleep at night to the sound of those passing train whistles.

Michael McLeod

Ah yes. Adventures on the railroad track. East North Broadway used to dead-end about 20 houses east of Indianola. And that was where we lived; between Indianola and the dead-end. So it was traumatic when they extended east north broadway and built a railroad tressel over the road, turning our quiet street into the busy one it remains today. 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

To everyone who has been using this forum, I want to let you all know that I just received word from Janie (Albright Blank) that Dennis passed away this morning.  I know that you will all keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers tonight as we usher in a New Year.  "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and may the pepetual light shine upon him.  May his soul and the souls of all of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen". 

May God spread His peace and bring good health and prosperity to everyone in 2017.  MM

Joseph Gentilini

To my classmates!  May our New Year 2017 be one of peace in our hearts, our families, our nation, and our world.  Love to you all.  I am so glad I made it to t he reunion!!  Peace, Joe Gentilini

Mark Schweickart

I just saw Mary Margaret's post saying that Janie's husband Dennis has passed away. I never met Dennis, but since he was the man who won her heart, he must have been a very special guy. We all love you Janie.

Joseph Gentilini

So sorry to hear of Janie's  husband Dennis passing into God.  May your heart be healed.  JOe Gentilini

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Janie. Much love.

David Mitchell

Janie,

So sad to hear the news of Dennis' passing. I know you share in the beleif that if the "promises" made to us these last two tousand years are true, then he is experiencing a peace and joy that goes beyond our wildest dreams. 

Margie Davis

Janie. I am so sorry for your loss; losing Dennis,  the one you love!  Know that I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers!!  Margie

Deborah Alexander (Rogers)

Janie, I am so saddened to hear of your great loss.  Hold on to  your memories of your life with Dennis, which I pray will sustain you at this difficult time.  Please know that I am  keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.   Love, Debbie

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

Hi,classmates. I checked with Janie about arrangements for Dennis.  He was the love of her life and for that she feels very lucky. She said there will be no service at this time but a celebration of his life is being planned for sometime in the spring. She will let us know & appreciates everyone's expressions of sympathy and love. 

Clare

Joseph D. McCarthy

Clare,

Thank you for keeping us informed.

Monica Haban (Brown)

To Janie, and all who have lost a loved one, keep in mind a reassuring quote attributed to St. John Chrysostom:

They whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before.  They are now wherever we are.

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

This was in today's (Sunday, January 8) paper:

Timothy Lavelle

Dear Abby,

Your representative just left my home. Pleasant young man. I will put the following synopsis in writing as he requested.

1) No, I did not know that I had written you 17 complaining letters, questioning, whining letters since the early November debacle. Of course I am sorry for wasting your valuable time.  But I was earnest in both my comments and my queries.  For instance, maybe you recall my comment....The man who first said 'making a mountain out of a molehill' probably did not have moles in his yard." That was an example of one of my ernest comments. I have a Japanese film crew, camped on my property, making a movie to be titled "Mozilla, This Time He Means Business!".

2) Also, I asked you what I thought was a really fair question - and one you have no doubt heard before in your undertaking as Grand Pubah of the Confused. "Abby" I asked politely, "why does my wife think I should be able to read her mind"? Maybe I have to read your mind to get an answer??

3) And in my earliest letter your team seemed to misread what I wrote completely. Your rep suggested that I had complained about not being able to get a table for five with Al and Judy at some recent party for fifty would-be friends! Read the ^%$&*& letter will you? I asked why, after having good wood-working tools for five years, I couldn't make a table like Al Judy did for the 50th Reunion.

Maybe I'll write to Ann Landers instead. Or...Or better yet...Yeah, better yet, I just won't open a newspaper for the next four years! What a great idea!

Old friends...No doubt this posting seems crass and untimely to many. I've just always thought it was my job to make you laugh...especially when things seem dark. Just take it as a loud fart in church...

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

Please tell us you photoshopped all those piles of dirt around the tree stump, Tim.  Otherwise whatever you are doing to eliminate the moles is definitely NOT working. But I have no helpful suggestions. Maybe check online for a mole chaser in your area.   As far as Al's woodworking skills, you need to visit his shop back here in Columbus. I'm not an expert but I think his set up would put any craftsman's to shame. His projects really are pieces of art!!!  Good luck with your mole battle.  Chin up, buddy. Forward. 

Clare