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Michael McLeod

Best to you Joe and here's to 20 more.I'll be prayin' on it.

Joseph Gentilini

Congrats to you  Joe on your great anniversary!!  Joe G

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Joe, today is St Juan, an important holiday here in Catalunya.  Last night was a night of fireworks, bonfires and parties around the city.  We had a great time with a large group of friends viewing the fireworks from a rooftop terrace.  I now have the feeling that there may have been some extra fireworks set off in honor of your anniversary.  Here's to many, many more!

PS The photo is not mine but I wish it were. 

Michael McLeod

Hey Donna:

Denise is in Europe at the moment. Not that you could, like, go next door and say hi. She's in the netherlands for a wedding. Her daughter's. 

Anyway we're doing great. Hope you are, too.

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Hey Michael,  Jessica´s getting married in the Netherlands?  Will she be living there or is a destination wedding? In any case our warm Congratulations to all!

Michael McLeod

Destination wedding. 

David Mitchell

Hey Joe,

I can show you how to induce another one if you are interested. 

But then, you'd have to agree to go without drivng for 6 or 7 months.

And worse still, I never realized how awful daytime television is.   

Michael McLeod

this made me laugh. from a story about the upcoming debate:

But many Democrats, as well as independent and Republican voters who are opposed to Mr. Trump, are feeling not so much “rah-rah” as they are a more anxious “ruh-roh.”

Joseph D. McCarthy

Thanks to all.  However, my noting the "anniversary" was just in response to Mr. Mike saying he was feeling the heat or a stroke.

In my case the doctors said there was one major thing that saved me.  Besides taking an aspirin when I felt something was wrong, I had my wife drive me to an emergency  room at a hospitl that wa about twenty minutes from where we lived in the Portland, OR suburbs.  When I walked into the Emergency room and explained my symptoms I was whisked into a room with a number of doctors.  That was even before my wife could park the car and come looking for me.

And Dave, If you were a smoker I could tell a great way to quit colde turkey in an hour - have a stroke.

While I was in rehab I met others who had a stroke, with differing results.  One in particular was a fellow in his late thirties, a carpenter as I remember, who hadn't shown up for work and his son found him on the kitchen floor where he laid for twelve or more hours.  I don't think he was ever able to go back to work.

For more, please ask the immensly knowledgable doctor, and superb photogrqpher, in our discussion group.

Michael McLeod

really interesting story.

enjoy your freedom of expression folks

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/world/europe/russia-playwright-director-terrorism-trial.html

Joseph D. McCarthy

Speaking of anniversaries.  How many of you celebrated your 60th anniversry this year?

It was 60 years ago this month that all of you graduated from grade school; except maybe Mike who is still in school practicing English.  Why else would he be in school unless the money is too much to gove up.

David Mitchell

I (and two other classmates) just got an email from classmate and long time friend Steve Hodges, announcing the 50 year anniversary of his ordination.

I believe this link will connect you to the ceremony website to occur on Friday at 11:00 Pacific time. 

https://www.stmichaelsabbey.com/live

Sheila McCarthy (Gardner)

Thank you for the post, Dave, about Father Steve/Robert... 

Timothy Lavelle

There's this smallish butler's desk in a corner where emotional pieces of this or that wind up instead of the round file. Maybe once a year (...or so) I tend to go through those heart-hitting pieces to recall why they got placed there. This one goes back to early last year. 

Remember me at Christmas

When the stars are shining bright

Remember all the love we shared,

As you hold each other tight

Remember me in stories told,

As you gather around the tree

Remember only happy times,

When you think of me

And most of all, remember, Each

day,

right from the start

I will be forever near,

For I live within your heart.

By Judith Bulock Morse. RIP Al Morse from 15 Jan 2023. RIP everyone we've lost.

Michael McLeod

It's hard to break old habits. I remember as a child helping my mother with her garden and the first step was always finding the sunniest place in the back yard for it.

When I go out to my back yard down here and start planting flowers and such I can practically hear them yelling at me: DON'T PUT ME IN THE SUN YOU IDIOT!!! PUT ME OVER THERE IN THE SHADE!!!!

Actually there a plenty of flowers that can handle full sun. I just keep forgetting which ones they are.

Tim: thanks for that poem. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Joe McC.,

We have been in Columbus the last few days visiting Janet's family so I have been away from my computer for awhile.

You obviously had state of the art (at that time) treatment for your ischemic (clot, not hemorragic, bleeding)  CVA ("cerebral vascular accident", "stroke") which allowed you to have what sounds like a very good to excellent outcome.

Since timing of treatment is extremely important in stroke care, there are even newer and better thrombolytic ("clot busting") drugs available as well as "stroke response vehicles" in many cities that can perform CT scans and administer the drugs on the way to the hospital stroke units. "Time is brain" certainly applies to strokes as does "time is heart muscle" applies to heart attacks. First step should always be dial9-1-1!

The year that you had your stroke was the same year I had my transient ischemic attack ("TIA" or "mini-stroke" ). I did not fit the criterea for thrombolytics since my symptoms resolved soon after the ambulance got me to the hospital. Fotunately, the medications I have been on since then seem to be working well and I have had no recurrences as to present. Post stroke treatments vary with the individual and involve modifying risk factors to prevent future occurrences.

To all,

I did not take my camera with me to Ohio as I wanted to force myself to use my cellphone to capture some early summer pictures.

This was from Overbrook Ravine which was pretty much in full summer bloom:

My wife's sister and brother-in-law live in Plain City and are close to a pond which their dog loves to visit. Just before evening I was able to capture this shot of that golden retriever, Lucy, watching the frogs scurrying back into the water as she approached:

I liked the calm water reflecting the surrounding trees and deep blue late afternoon sky.

Yes, beauty is everywhere! 

Jim

Joseph D. McCarthy

Thanks Dr. Jim for your insight.  I still have some mobility problems on my right side.  As I have said to a few classmates, if you want to go walking in a woods known to have bears  - take me along.  You don't hav to outrun a bear, just me (and I cnnot even trot anymore).

Second, as always, with a camera or your  phone the pictures are great.

Mike M.  One of the other  side affects of the stroke is making comments I wished i hadn't.  I made that when I was talking about the 60th anniversary from grade school.  I shouldn't have used you, or anyone, to joke about school.  I'm just jealous of you still having a fun time teaching something you love.

When I started teaching (being an instructor at work) we had to learn a mantra.  It goes something like this: "Those who can, do.  Those who can"t, teach".  It actually relaxed everyone.

Michael McLeod

That's interesting about the source of your crack at my expense, Joe. I didn't take offense. Or expense. Or whatever. 

Joseph Gentilini

 Hi Father Steve (Robert) - Congrats on your 50th anniversary of your priestly ordination!  I lost your email address.  Can  you please send it to me at: joe0848@outlook.com.  Thanks.  joe

David Mitchell

If anyone would like to watch Steve (Father Robert) Hodges 50th anniversary ceremony, the link below will take you to the Youtube page. It's about an hour and a half, maybe a little more. He sounds like he has bad a cold and he only speaks when he says his parts of the mass, plus his own short "Thank You" list.

In the early part, there is a very nice sermon/tribute from a priest he taught years ago at Mater Dei High School near Los Angeles.

https://www.youtube.com/live/LskC90nRYCo?si=5MUbSmA2EjMx-gP7

(NOTE: skip ahead to about 13 minutes  nothing happens before that)

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

I have shown this photo before but thought it was a fun reminder of our joint past. This is the day (about 40 years ago) that he visited with us at Disneyland and he and I rode the elevator after dinner with Michael Jackson, who Steve did not even know until we got off the elevator (with two little 13 year olds who wanted autographs) and he asked me "what was that all about?" 

He told me that his nieces have never let him hear the end of that story.

David Mitchell

Sorry Mike, I dont know whats wrong. 

I have a confession to make. I have been busy all day talking to people on the phone from Democratic Headquarters, asking me how old I am.

Joseph Gentilini

I was able to watch Father Robert (Steve Hodges) 50th Anniversary Mass this afternoon.  It was beautifully done.  The homily given by one of Steve's students of years ago was just like the Steve I remember from grade school and high school.  Congratulations, Father Robert.

Joe

Michael McLeod

Thanks Joe. What an elegant and inspiring affair that must have been.Wish we could have all been there to get his blessing as a group.

Sheila McCarthy (Gardner)

I agree with Joe about Father Robert, our Steve from St. Agatha's and Watterson. The ceremony reflected the love for him from his community, students and parishioners over the past 50 years. In his brief remarks, Father Robert spoke with the kindness, humility and gratitude that have characterized him from his earliest days. So grateful to be able to watch the jubilee Mass. 

Michael McLeod

Thanks, Shiela (and Joe). Again,wish I could have been there. 

I just took a break from writing and made the mistake of walking out into the Florida sunshine, which HURTS -- quite literally it is so intense this time of year that it stings if you stand in it for more than a few seconds, at least if you're an indoor soul, as I am these days. The noctural creatures in these parts have the right idea.