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David Mitchell

Tim,

Anything to do with "the oceans and Pangea"?  

Or maybe the "bipods" before the Dinosaur demise?

I'm really just guesssing here.

(True confession - I liked "3rd Rock" better)

So jealous of your travels to New Zealand. I hear it's wonderful. I got to got to Australia on a  7-day R&R from Vietnam but that could not compare. Three nights in a hotel room, some bars and restaurants in Sydney, plus 3 days skiing down in Thredbo - in July - among the "gum gum" trees. I met some older couples (early 40's, you know, real old) who took me under theri wing for the last two days and took me out to dinner. Also met a really cute girl at a USO "pig party" first night in Sydney and went back and spent all of my last couple nights with her. We wrote for a while and I almost went back there for her. New Zealand should be on my bucket list - Scotland and Greece already are.

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

To all of the heroes of the Class of '66 

David Mitchell

Thank You Mary Margaret. 

(and Mike, would ya stop with the references to th e Mouseketeers. I still haven't gotten over Annette)

Timothy Lavelle

Maggie,

Beautiful job and a wonderful memorial to all who served. Jim would be so proud of you. Thanks.

Mark Schweickart

Tim,

My guess is that they mention the Great Wall of China before the Pyamids of Egypt. And less I give myself too much credit for this, I should admit that when I mentioned this challenge to my wife, she immediately began singing to herself the lyrics of the Big Bang song, then said, "Oh, they put the Wall before the Pyramids." All I could do was stand there with mouth agape and ask, "You actually know the words to that song?" Then we pulled up an episode on our Tivo for verification, and she was right... of course. So what else is new?

Lawrence Foster

Very well done Mary Margaret.

David Mitchell

In honor of Veteran's Day, I thought I'd show you some of the group I think of first and foremost on this day. The "Scout" platoon (Loach) pilots of "Comanche" Troop (Company), of the "Blackhawk Squadron" in Vinh Long, sometime in 1969. These were some of the guys I Iived with, ate with, drank with, flew with, and at times - gritted my teeth and hung on for dear life with (AND laughed myself silly with) during my first tour. We were Warrant Officers, First Lieutenants, and Captains - young, crazy, and so full of ourselves we really tought we were invincible.

(only about 19 "shoot-downs" and about 9 or 10 DFC's in this particular photo - missing several guys - about 28 total "shoot-downs" in my platoon that first year - with zero killed - that is, while in the air, and while flying the mission !!!)      Our two sister Companies - not so good.

(posing as bad guys behind our "hooch" - the Cavalry hats were ceremonial - we did actually wear them for certain occasions -  there is a class of '66 "snEagle" in the back row - doing his impersonation of a complete dork)

David Mitchell

To all of you guys (but especially Kevin Cull, and Al Judy) who joined, served, went, did, spent, worked, risked, fought, gave, and stuck it out - Thanks.

And;

WELCOME HOME BROTHERS !

Timothy Lavelle

Mark...great job. I'm not sure if Dave found an additionally anomoly but the one that always plagues me is as you said...no, no, as your lovely said...is the wall b4 the pyramids.

Great game today...jeez I love a good slaughter.

James Hamilton, M. D.

David Mitchell

Sorry - didn't mean to shut down the forum - couldn't resist sharing a memory about some special guys in a memorable "season" of my life. Not seeing them for 45 years until our get-together afew years back, or even  speaking of it for most of that time has created a bit of pent up desire to share.

Back to some more memorable thoughts - my "Scarlet and Grey Memories"

About 1957 Dad decided to try to take me to another game at the shoe. One of our star payers was a guy names Galen Cisco, who played fullback and linebacker (remember, they all played both ways back then), and  later beacme a rather famous baseball player in the Majors. But I was still not quite ready. Again, I could see no big Mexican hats, and still no horses anywhere on the field.

Oh Poncho!   Oh, Cisco!

and so Dad waited another year

Timothy Lavelle

Weather.....or not

You've seen the forecast. Rain, followed by snow soon, here in the PNW. But here's the GREATEST THING...We're MOVING!!!!

See, right after taking this picture, I went into our front yard, down the slope, and located a medium sized metal pot, gleaming, and a very little man named Patrick O'Leary, not gleaming. More than a little drunk. The pot contained old gold. Patrick contained a fifth of Bushmills Black. He spent long minutes trying to walk, then crawl, all the while singing "...they're magically delicious". He is sitting on the couch now, holding his head, while the dog just stares at him.

"Midgetly dellicious..." the dog thinks. The dog knows nothing of correctness.

We(e) are considering, now that we are gold-rich, moving immediately to Palm Springs, Tucson or Key West. Someplace warm and pretty wealthy so we can show off our new riches a bit but also, someplace very cool. I did get an immediate call from Portland, Oregon asking us to move there in order to support their goal...Keep Portland Weird. Love Portland but looking for warmer climes.

So, we need your suggestions. Where can we be rich, warm, cool and 'weird'. It has to be a place that accepts tiny people like Patrick, because he says we must feed and care for him now. We will accept your own bucket-list type suggestion of a place to live the next phase. Where would you go??

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

TIm.....b/c you asked:  

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/columbus-ohio-ranks-best-city-world-daniel-white/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/ohio/why-columbus-should-be-on-your-travel-radar-hipster-city-ohio-next-brooklyn/

https://youtu.be/zJ6VT7ciR1o

But the #1 reason to move back to Columbus...............you can have coffee with me at Bob Evans every morning and debate all of the serious issues of the day!!!!

James Hamilton, M. D.

Janie Albright (Blank)

You are all so much fun! I love all of you! Thanks for putting a smile on my face every day! And Tim, of course I recommend Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- but only in the winter. Perfect weather. Ocean breezes. Amazing food and almost 20 pesos to the dollar makes your cocktails muy barato. 

David Mitchell

Yo, Tim!  

Check out websites about Bluffton, SC (that's South Cackalatchie). Seems to be on everybody's list about best small towns in "Murica" to retire in. Right on the May River (Johnny Mercer's inspiration for his song "Moon River") where we have the best "ohystahs" and "shreeimp" on da planet. A quirky little town with a new "downtown" for nightlife. A short drive from Hlton Head with a beach that goes on forever (if one can stand the waves of Ohio and Michigan touristas - and the traffic getting on and off the Island)

* But more to the point, you and I would not have to yell so loud to hear one another, and I could maybe come over some days and borrow your crayons. I might even show you my stamp collection.

Oh, and we (almost) have Hurricanes if you need some break from those boring forest fires. Although we do offer "heat stroke" in the summers.

But bring the cash with ya - in small unmarked bills - you can take me out for Shrimp and Grits - every Friday night - and I can dance with your "lovely" down at the local "Squat 'n Goble" - (SHIRT REQUIRED) 

David Mitchell

And how could I forget, this is where Pat Conroy lived when he wrote "Prince of Tides".

Linda Weiner (Bennett)

The gorgeous mountains of North Georgia is a great place to retire to.

I say that because thats where we retired to! 

Fred Clem

Tim,

You might want to consider Asheville NC.  Beautiful small city in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Very eclectic with many interesting activities.  Weather is usually not extreme summer or winter.  I visit there often and totally enjoy the experience.

And you would be able to drive to our next gathering.

Fred

David Mitchell

Fred,

Good point. Everybody loves Asheville!  Artsy, quirky, and pretty.

You could become a "halfback" (as my friends in Asheville call them)

It's an expression for the people who end up there from Ohio. First they move down to Florida for four years. Then find out they don't like thunder storms every single afternoon, and miss the change of seasons.  But they don't want to go all the way back to the cold weather.  So they move "half way back".   

Timothy Lavelle

KEEP 'EM COMING.

The funniest post will be the one that comes to me in two months from someone asking me where we finally decided to move to, huh??

Maggie: Columbus may be "a legend in its own mind" but I do recall winters that were so hazardous to our health that I truly believed (for a couple of weeks when I was 4 or 5) that my father was sentenced to live there for doing something horrible. So thanks but I think your internet links are just another reason to distrust electronic news.

Jim, any compliment from you re the picture is well received. I saw the r-bow, then I had to get on my slippers and find the camera and then try to dodge the puddles on the front deck before it disappeared. Got lucky. Like your area there in Colorado, Washington is truly gorgeous as you can see. If you look very closely you can see Lake Mayfield down the hill way beind the big tree on the left. Colorado is too beautiful for me. The idea of Florida with Frank G is great but I don't think the rest of the population there could handle so much levity when they ar so intent on driving 15 MPH and getting to dinner at 4:00 PM.

San Diego. Like that. Puerta V...helll Yes!! South Carolina and the rest of the East Coast probably would not fit but all offers are worth thinking about.

How about international (other than Janie's pick) locations? I am hoping for some suggestions from some of you more quiet folks. I do remember being on the Badgers little league baseball team and learning from a teammate that LaVelle and Hell rhymed! There's a free hint!! It would be warm for sure and carries with it the good chance of seeing friends.....

Patrick O'Leary is now sitting here softly singing "Erin go braless" I think. Strange fella.

David Mitchell

Ah shucks! There goes my Friday nights at the Squat n' Goble.

John Jackson

Tim,  Patrick’s funk is undoubtedly due to the strangeness of his current surroundings, so why not repatriate him to his home turf (and get back to your own roots) by moving to Ireland?  Ireland is renowned for its warm and sunny climate - if you don’t believe me, check out the opening paragraphs of “Angela’s Ashes”. 

Carol and I have visited Ireland a number of times over the years and while we love to hang out on the wild west coast,  Dublin, at least over the last 30 years, has become one of the coolest European cities (that is, if you don’t mind the paucity of pubs and the corresponding difficulty of slaking your thirst from the hot Irish sun).

Jeanine Eilers (Decker)

Tim--You should consider Arizona.  I think Tucson would be better for you than Phoenix and it is a bit milder.  We haven't had rain in 90 days (no loss) so it's nice to enjoy rain when it finally happens.  On the international front, I agree with John about Ireland.  But please consider Spain.  Donna can tell you about Barcelona (outstanding) but there are many wonderful cities throughout the country.  Just remember, Tucson would be the easiest of the choices.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Tim,

One more thought if you decide to stay in "Murica":

In an effort to keep you west of the Mississippi River may I suggust you consider Santa Fe, New Mexico?

It does have a change of seasons, the winters are relatively mild with some snows but the dry air makes most colder days feel reasonably comfortable.  The autumn is beautiful and, since it sits at an elevation of 7000 feet, the summers are not as warm as as it's neighbor to the south 45 miles and 2000 feet below, Albuquerque. It is the State Capitol but a rather small city, very eclectic and a mingling of Indian, Spanish and Mexican (there is a difference) and Anglo cultures with a strong art presence. Great restaurants featuring a lot of "Northern New Mexico Cuisine". (I love the food especially with a Zantac appitizer and a Mylanta dessert.) Can't beat the Margaritas!

Jim