Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/22/2012
Dateline: Richland
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6 Bombers sent stuff today:
Rex HUNT ('53wb), Tom VERELLEN ('60)
John ADKINS ('62), Helen CROSS ('62)
David DOUGLAS ('62), David RIVERS ('65)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marie RUPPERT ('63)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Deedee WILLOX ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Helga BLANKINGSHIP ('66)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim SCHODT ('67)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Paul BOEHNING ('85)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sarah AVANT ('94)

BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
    Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Rex HUNT ('53wb)

Re: Snow

I have seen the pictures of all that snow you Washington folks
had to endure. Just another reminder to me why I don't care 
for snow in any of its many forms or usages. I have slid in 
it, skidded in it, hiked in it, even biked in it.  Shoveled it,
groveled in it. Worked in it, shirked in it. Been snowbound
twice. I don't even like snow on Christmas cards.

Fog I hate, rain I tolerate, and now with skin cancer I am not
so sure about sunshine.

-Rex HUNT ('53wb)
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>>From: Tom VERELLEN ('60)

To: Picture of Bill BERLIN ('57) and Larry MATTINGLY ('60) 

I really don't have a clue when that photo was taken but it is
in my front yard on Bernard looking North. I am assuming that it
was sometime when we were attending Carmichael. Pat and I hung
around together in those days. And I am guessing either '56 
or '57, personally I consider it a triumphant success that I
remembered your names and didn't file it under those two guys. 
I can't help but think about there has to be some way to average
it all out: I am sure that we all were wanting to be a little
older back then (at least 16 so we could drive) and now I could
sure use a little fountain of youth (so I had some drive). Pause
... remember to age gracefully, I tell myself. Keep your powder
dry.

-Tom VERELLEN ('60) ~ Near-Lacey is warming up, still have
          power; so far, so good.
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>>From: John ADKINS ('62)

Re: The Snow Event

First it was the snow -- then the cold -- then the ice and snow
-- and today? ... The gates at Carmichael hill are closed and 
yellow taped -- the temperature is in the 40s the wind -- out 
of  the south at 20 to 25 mph -- it is ...  A full-on Chinook.

The cycle is complete.

-John ADKINS ('62) ~ Richland
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>>From: Helen CROSS Kirk ('62)

Re: Max CASE ('57-RIP)

I am scanning the Sandstorms I missed while we were out West,
and I just ran across the notice of Max Case's ('57) death on
January 9th, just as we were leaving. I briefly got reacquainted
with Max when we tried to put together an Indiana Bomber get-
together some years ago. I remember him from Central United
Protestant Church as a kid.

My sympathies to all his family. I'm sure he will be sorely
missed, but we can rest knowing he is in a better place, after
all his dedication to our Lord over the years.

Re: Sliding down Carmichael Hill

I too remember the fun of sliding down Carmichael Hill, except
for the one time I somehow slid into a tree and knocked myself
out so when I tried to stand up my body kicked me flat again. Of
course as I lived in the ranch houses just past Swift and almost
to Cottonwood, I was in good shape from so much walking, now 
if I did that, I'd end up in the hospital. Anyway, Carol RICE
Forister (also from '62) and Billie Cummings (NAB), decided I
could ride home with a strange man who offered to take me home
(before cell phones) and he was there with his kids. I even got
to stay home from school for at least a day because I couldn't
walk ... but if I lived in Richland I'd take my grandson to sled
there. Doubt I'd try it at my age ... unless they've taken down
all trees.

Re: the North Central gathering

My husband (NAB, a Brewster Bear) and I were just in Wenatchee
to see his mother briefly between 2 harrowing trips over Stevens
Pass, but we did manage to fly out of Seattle in the big snow 
on January l9th, and even visited a friend in West Seattle the
early evening of January 18th, all without incident thanks to
the great service National Car Rental at SeaTac did, as they
found us an Endeavor which made it through all that snow without
a slide. Anyhow, I'd love to make it to the Campbell House for
that gathering, but I doubt I will be able to make it. I knew
your sister lived in North Central Wash., but didn't remember
you did. It was beautiful coming over the pass, as long as our
car performed well and it did, even in the 2-hour wait we had on
top of Stevens coming over, but we made it...

We've just returned to Grandview, near Evansville, IN where
there is no snow, and we missed the snow in Cincinnati by 
hours, but got caught in a little of it last night coming 
out of Indianapolis late, but our Prius did well in its snow
indoctrination trip ... Thank the Lord. It's cold here, but easy
to drive or walk, as I've started my lose weight after Christmas
and traveling, as before we hit Seattle, we had a fun 6 days
with my son, his wife, and our grandson, age 7, in Garnerville,
Nevada, another place without snow, as my husband hoped to ski
and he only got some man-made skiing in a few days in the
Sierras. He wanted to ski on Stevens, but I said we didn't have
time...

I know it's late in the year, but I've happily heard from a few
more of the Class of '62 who are planning to make our 50th
reunion on the last weekend of August. Looking forward to it...

Blessings of the New Year to all.

With my love and prayers,

-Helen CROSS Kirk ('62)
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>>From: David DOUGLAS ('62)

Re: Snow

We had high winds a day ago, but no snow here in Kaneohe,
Hawaii. The yards were covered in leaves -- I've raked up the
front yard but not the back one.

The last time I can recall going down Carmichael Hill on a sled
was December 1969 while my wife and I were spending Christmas
with my parents. I almost got killed. Well, not from going down
the hill, though. My wife was expecting our first son (born in
January), and I let her sled down the hill. She fell off the
sled about half-way down. My dad really got after me for letting
her do that. Say, maybe that's what's wrong with my son...

To tell the truth, I don't miss snow that much. While in Arizona
we would go to Sedona in December to see the Red Rock Christmas
Fantasy, or to Flagstaff to let the grandkids play in the snow.
It's fine for a couple of hours, but after that it's just 
cold. My last job in Arizona was with the Department of Health
Services. We had an office in Flagstaff and we went up there
once a month for staff meetings. I began working for the
Department in November 2004, and my first trip up there I had to
drive. It was pouring rain in Phoenix, and half-way to Flagstaff
it turned to snow. Yeah -- let's let the guy who lived in Hawaii
for 32 years drive in the snow! My birthday is in December, and
I took Driver's Ed and got my driver's license just before
Christmas, so I had some experience driving in snow, but that
was almost 50 years ago. We had a very adventuresome staff.

Try riding a bicycle on snow and ice, which I did only once in
China. After that I walked. Fortunately, the ice and snow melted
within hours.

-David DOUGLAS ('62) ~ Kaneohe, HI bright and sunny, about 78° today
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>>From: David RIVERS ('65)

Re: snow n Bomber-babe birthdays

Wow... lotsa talk about snow... brrrrrrrrrrrrr... it's fairly nice
here... just cold... news keeps saying we are gonna get a storm
coming down from the North... gonna run over and help a friend for
the Grand national Roadster show so I'll be outa touch for a few
dayz... gotta kick outa Uncle Burt ('59) a few dayz back when he
called about making a video for Missy's ('59) b-day on my phone...
hadda tell him the cow goes moo... the sheep goes baaaa and my
phone just goes ring ring... but did find someone inna office to
help me out with a "smart phone"... I just keep my phone dumb in
case it tries to get a mind of its own like the computers do in
the sci-fi movies... "Hello Dave... ." No thanks and it's David
not Dave, Hal! Thinking about Carmichael hill and flat top and all
sure does bring back memories... remember we used to take car
hoods up flat top and slide down... those old hoods usually had a
nice big rusty seam down the middle..to slice and dice as we slid
down... lucky any of us lived to see another snow... then when we
could drive we weren't content with sliding down and would tie
them to a car and play roundy round... arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh...
as bad as drinking gutter water but again... we lived thru it...
didja know we gotta Bomber-babe birthday today? Well we do... 
I have such a fondness for this girl it just ain't funny... wuz 
so good to get to spend some time with her at her class reunion... 
I see her brother ('62) most every year but don't usually getta
chance to spend time with her... but this time I was able to and
catch up... so HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Helga BLANKINGSHIP ('66) on her
special day, January 22, 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-David RIVERS ('65)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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