When I began the "Bobcat Treasure" blogposts on September 15, 2007 with Pearls ... of Wisdom ... and Giants and Windmills (the editorial written by our blog friend and former teacher Darryl Morris for the May 19, 1963 Senior Edition of The Corral), it seemed natural to continue the planned series of updates on the Class of 1963 with the "treasure" theme. To date, in discussing our classmates, we have used analogies of a precious metal (gold on October 20) and precious stones (diamonds on September 21, jade on December 31, rubies on February 4 and emeralds on April 16), as well as one precious occasion (Amarillo Style, published by Nicki October 24, 2007).
But, as I pondered this entry which I anticipate will conclude the series (although I have learned never to say never ... because there is always and always, ever), I could not avoid thinking that there are so many other treasures, valued through the ages, which have not been included, which in their time have been accorded more worth than diamonds or gold. And it seemed to me that the incredible diversity of the individuals of the Class of 1963 almost demanded the further diversity of analogy. So I have taken inspiration for this post from ancient treasures from fabled lands ... silk, spices and perfumes (essence) ... which may have bedecked, stimulated or anointed Pharaohs and Emperors, or the Queen of Sheba, or Cleopatra ... as well as our thoroughly modern selves.
Silk fabric was developed in China between 6000 and 3000 B.C.E. (Before Common Era, a/k/a B.C.), and was originally intended solely for the use of Chinese Emperors, either to adorn themselves, or to bestow as gifts to favored members of the court. Through the enterprise of far-ranging Chinese merchants, starting about the time of the Han Dynasty (114 B.C.E.), silk eventually reached lands throughout the world on the storied Silk Road, which ultimately extended over 5000 miles and also was the conduit for other luxury trade goods like musk, rubies, diamonds and pearls.
The earliest evidence of the silk trade came with the finding of silk in the hair of an Egyptian mummy of the 21st Dynasty (1070 B.C.E.). In Homer's Odyssey, it is said that Odysseus wore a "gleaming" shirt, which scholars believe referred to silk. The secret of silk-making reached Europe at the time of the Byzantine Empire, around 550 C.E. (Common Era, a/k/a A.D.). Merchants of Venice traded extensively in silk and encouraged the growth of the industry in Italy; since the 13th Century, silk from the province of Como has been considered the most valuable in the world. Beautiful silk is also produced in Brazil, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, India and Thailand, as well as in other areas, and the finest examples are highly prized and quite expensive even today.
I've always been fond of the Robert Frost poem, The Silken Tent:
She is as in a field a silken tent
At midday when the sunny summer breeze
Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,
So that in guys it gently sways at ease,
And its supporting central cedar pole,
That is its pinnacle to heavenward
And signifies the sureness of the soul,
Seems to owe naught to any single cord,
But strictly held by none, is loosely bound
By countless silken ties of love and thought
To everything on earth the compass round,
And only by one's going slightly taut
In the capriciousness of summer air
Is of the slightest bondage made aware.
But I digress....
Exotic spices (including salt, once known as "white gold" and for a time worth more than its metallic namesake) were also part of trade along The Silk Road, but had an even more extensive reach via other trade routes. Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and ginger were trafficked extensively well into antiquity. Pepper and nutmeg became popular around the 7th Century C.E.
Expanded maritime trade led to an explosive growth in the distribution of spices from the Indian Ocean throughout Asia, from the Sunda Strait in Indonesia to the Cape of Good Hope, through the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea during the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt, where overland routes carried them to Europe and Africa. Java and Borneo in particular became hubs for the increasing trade in aromatic spices. Despite early Asian, Indian and Arabian supremacy in spice trading, from the end of the Middle Ages until modern times the spice trade was dominated by European traders, primarily the Dutch, Portuguese and the British. Penang in Malaya (now Malaysia), the setting of Tan Twan Eng's novel The Gift of Rain (recently referenced more than once by me on the the blog), was established as a pepper port by the British in 1786. The Kingdom of Aceh (now part of Indonesia, and devastated by the horrendous December 2004 Asian tsunami) was a powerhouse of the Southeast Asia spice routes. The Republic of Venice was also a major factor in the Spice Trade.
A major consequence of the Spice Trade was the discovery of the American Continent(s) by European explorers, since Western Europeans did not want to be dependent on, nor pay the heavy taxes levied by, the Muslim Ottoman Empire. The first Asian spice grown successfully in the New World was Jamaican ginger, a root originally from Southern India and China.
Silk enhances the appearance of those who wear it, and delights the eye of those who behold its splendor. Spices titillate our palates, and their judicious use often lifts quotidian nourishment into the realm of the extraordinary, and sometimes the sublime. Silk and spices are without doubt life-enhancing and give pleasure to those who encounter and appreciate them. And so, I give you silk and spices....
Sharon Molloy: Office assistant, "Molly." Sharon is married to Ray Kelley (CHS Class of 1960) after 20 years of widowhood following the death of her first husband, Billy Smothermon (CHS Class of 1959). Sharon has published a wonderful update in "Show and Tell" (May 18, 2008), and she and Ray plan to be in attendance for the class reunion in Childress October 3-5, 2008. We look forward to seeing both of them then.
Bill Bailey: His Jeep, filming all of the CHS football games. Bill has allowed us to publish a great update on "Show and Tell" (June 10, 2008). He is presently Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, (where his wife Jean also works), after a 31-year career with the United Methodist Church. Bill unfortunately will not be able to attend the Childress reunion in October because of his school schedule, but we urge you to read his referenced bio.
Joe Hix: DE student, blond hair. We believe Joe lives in Childress. He plays the organ beautifully, as he did for my mother's funeral there in 1983.
Carolyn Z. Mooney: Tall, senior play. We believe Carolyn resides in Childress with her husband, but we have no additional information at this time.
Gerald Holeman: DE student, Kirkland. We believe Gerald has been living in Dallas, and we recently published an obit of his brother Curtis (CHS Class of 1960) on "Short Notes" (June 26, 2008). We have no additional information.
Patsy Poling: Hair, new Ford. Pat Sledge and her husband have been traveling in Colorado, but anticipate returning soon to their home near Waco. Pat does plan to attend the class reunion in October.
Don Morgan: DE student, black hair. Don is married to Billye and lives in Childress. They have two sons and no grandchildren. Don graduated from West Texas State University in Canyon, then entered the U.S. Air Force and was an officer/pilot for 7 years. He has been farming in Childress since leaving the USAF in 1975. Don said (in our conversation this evening) that he is enamored of a French singer named Isabelle Boulay (look/listen on YouTube) and is contemplating a trip to Paris. He adds that he will plan on attending our class' dinner reunion on October 3 ... if he is not in Paris with Isabelle by then. (Billye was present during our conversation, and he was still living when I hung up .... grin....) I enjoyed talking to Don and look forward to seeing him soon.... Since publishing, we have been informed by unnamed (but reputable ... more or less ... grin) sources that Don is a devotee of the TV program "Dancing With the Stars." On one viewing, when the end of the show was somehow cut off, Don (through Billye) registered a complaint with the local ABC affiliate, which was later broadcast with other complaints received about the abrupt truncation of the show.
John Steed: Student council, Senior play cast. In recent e-mails from John, we have learned that John is a lobbyist working in Austin and, when not working, is at his homes in Arlington and Fort Worth. His next door neighbors are the actor Barry Corbin (Northern Exposure, etc.) and the novelist Sandra Brown. He is married to a doctor of Internal Medicine who practices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Sherry Sides: Betty Crocker Award winner, green Ford. Sherry and her husband, Dennis Haddon, live in Lubbock. Sherry works for the Lubbock I.S.D., and we wonder if her path ever crosses with Wayne Havens (see "Show and Tell" published May 22, 2008).
Johnny Thornton: Basketball player, National Honor Society. John and his wife Katherine live in Fairview, in the Dallas area. John graduated from Texas Tech in 1967 and obtained his MBA from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. John is retired from a career which included more than 30 years with U.S. Steel. He and Katherine have one daughter and three grandchildren, one girl and two boys. When I spoke with John on July 24, he indicated that he will visit the blog and consider attending the October reunion in Childress.
Carolyn Bruce: DE student; dinner ring. Carolyn Bruce Lane lives in Childress. I talked with Carolyn this morning (Saturday, June 26) and she told me she and her husband Dwayne have adopted and are raising two grandchildren (ages 15-17). Between them, they have four children and eight grandchildren. Carolyn and Dwayne are both retired. Their home was severely damaged in the recent Childress tornadoes. She said she had been hoping for a new roof, but that wasn't exactly the way she had imagined getting one ... and we both laughed over the wisdom in the old caveat to be careful of what you wish for ... or at least specific in the details of the request. Carolyn has also been battling cancer, and hopes to be able to attend the Class of 1963 dinner on October 3 at K-Bob's, if her health permits. We certainly send our best wishes to Carolyn and do hope to see her soon.
Bettye Galyean: All-Star volleyball player and NHS [National Honor Society]. Bettye Galyean Seagroves lives with her husband in Westcliffe, Colorado. after retiring from their jobs in Childress.
Philip Tutor: Basketball player, FFA. Phil (a/k/a "The Bish" and "Mzunga" as well as other colorful appellations) is pastor of the New Life Church in Stafford, Arizona and has traveled the world and the U.S. in the course of his ministry. We were privileged to publish a topic post from Phil, Change ... It's Good for You!!! on March 4, 2008. There was a wonderful mini-reunion with Phil and his wife Winnie, Jim and Nicki, Linda Kay and Wayne, Coach Joe Warren and Yahn and I at Pappadeaux's in Dallas on April 9, 2008 (to read about the mini-reunion, see It Was a Dark and Stormy Night..., published April 11, 2008). Winnie and Phil have 16 grandchildren!!! Phil is in Rwanda as this is being published. At this juncture, Phil will not be able to attend the Childress reunion in October, though we continue to hope for a change in his schedule.
Barry Wakefield: Junior play cast, UIL poetry interpretation. We understand Joe Don is in occasional touch with Barry and are awaiting information from him, but have nothing further at this time. We believe Barry is considering attending the October reunion. We have just learned that Barry graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in accounting, following a stint in the Navy. He has lived/worked in Oxnard, California for Helena Chemical for a number of years. We understand that Barry frequently travels to Texas to visit family and friends, and so hope this bodes well for attendance at the reunion.
Patricia Painter: State FHA Degree, Corral staff. Patricia Painter McCain lives in Missouri City, Texas (outside Houston).
Gayle Whitten: Best-Natured, National Honor Society. Gayle is married to our classmate Kay Eatherly Whitten and they live in Lubbock. As Kay reported in connection with Bobcat Treasure: Gold ... "King Tut" ... and the "Lost Buddha"... (published October 20, 2007): I retired from teaching 4 years ago, and Gayle still has his painting business. He quit teaching after 12 years so he could own his own business and I could be home with our children. So for 20 years I did not teach but was mom to Melissa (nearly 38) and Mark (36). Melissa and her husband live in Lubbock and they have 3 precious children: Lindsay (7), Aaron (5) and Colby (3 months). Mark lives in Houston and has Kamber (6) and Asher (4). When all the "grands" are together, they are like "fireants" What a blessing! Gayle and I have an intense desire to serve our Lord Jesus in any way He leads. We have been on a couple of mission trips to the Czech Republic, and we may begin a ministry of "mom and dad" to missionaries. We are not sure right now. We have been blessed to travel a lot, and we love people, so we are waiting. Kay and Gayle have confirmed that they will attend the Class Reunion in Childress in October, and will definitely be at our Class dinner at K-Bob's at 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 3.
Johnny Wilson: Greenbelt football player, student council. John and his wife Pam live in the Fort Worth area, where John coaches and Pam teaches middle school, after both retired from careers in education in Oklahoma. They have two children, a boy and a girl. We understand his son is getting married in close proximity to the October reunion, which may preclude his attending.
Bryce Wormsbaker: Wavy hair. Bryce lives in Childress, is married with children, and works for the U.S. Postal Service.
Johnny Wright: Debate team, black eyes. We believe John is living in Greenville, South Carolina, but have no further information at this time. We will update if possible. Since publishing, I have spoken to John Wright in South Carolina and sent him the link(s) to the blog. We are hopeful that John will provide us with an update which we can share with the class. It will be appended here when received.
Perfumes (from the Latin per fumus meaning "through smoke") have been valued for trade throughout recorded commercial history. The blending of perfume began in Ancient Egypt, and was expanded by the Arabs and the Romans. The oldest known perfumery, dating to the Bronze Age about 4000 years ago, was excavated on Crete. The first recorded chemist was Tapputi, a perfume maker mentioned in a Mesopotamian Cuneiform tablet from the 2nd Millennium B.C.E. Gaius Plinius Secundus, a/k/a Pliny the Elder, author, naturalist, philosopher and naval and military commander at the time of the Roman Empire, described the basic ingredients and methods of making perfume in his Naturalis Historia, which was dedicated to the Roman Emperor Vespasian. (Pliny the Elder died during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 C.E. But again I digress....)
Early perfumes were made from amber, musk, aromatic oils and spices. Persian doctor/chemist Ibn Sina (a/k/a Avicenna) perfected the process of distilling oils from flowers, the process most often used today.
Scientific research (and sometimes personal experience) suggests that scent is the strongest trigger to memory. The smell of cut grass or baking cookies may remind us of childhood. The smell of woodsmoke can evoke thoughts of autumn or cozy winter nights before the fireplace. The scent of a particular perfume can recall a mother, a special friend, a lover.... Sugawara Takesue no Musume (1009-1070) knew the poignancy of memory manifest in a tantalizing waft of perfume when he wrote in Perfume Laden Air:
When from the neighboring garden the perfume-laden air
Saturates my soul with memories,
Rises the thought of the beloved plum tree
Blooming under the eaves of the house which is gone.
In about the 15th century, essential oils and blended perfumes used by ancient Greeks and Romans were often transported in amphorae, ceramic vases with two handles and a long neck which was narrower than the body of the jar. Amphorae have proven of great benefit to archaeologists, since amphorae found in shipwrecks or in caves or ancient cellars are sometimes so well preserved that the original contents are still present. Even when the amphorae have been broken, or lost for centuries, there sometimes remains a residue which can be reconstituted to a remarkable degree as it was in its original state. And so, finally, for those Bobcats, our former classmates, for whom we have been unable to find any information, I give you perfumes ... essence....
Juanita Foster: DE student and shorthand. No information.
Linda Ham: Larry's big sister, brown hair. No information.
Woody Maggart: FHA sweetheart, white convertible. No information.
Darrell Manuel: Track and speech club parliamentarian. Despite leaving messages for Darrell on the Classmates website (where he is registered), we have heard nothing from him and have no information.
Barbara Moore: Librarian's Club President; Joe's big sister. No information.
Linda Ritchie: Engaged, red hair. No information.
Eddie Simmons: DE student, student council. No information.
Eddie Worthington: DE student, green Falcon. No information.
If we have inadvertently missed any of our graduating classmates in this series, or have unknowingly conveyed incorrect or incomplete information, we would appreciate your letting us know.
We also hope to catch up more with our classmates at the Class of 1963 dinner at 7:00 p.m. at K-Bob's Restaurant in Childress on Friday, October 3, 2008, held in conjunction with the All-School Reunion October 3-5. If you do plan to attend, please let us know so we can arrange for the appropriate number of seats. See you soon???
)O(
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bobcat Treasure: Silk ... Spices ... and Essence ....
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Bobcat Treasure: Emeralds ... Spring ... and Green Fire ....
The Gachala Emerald, 858 carats, found at La Vega de San Juan mine in Colombia, housed at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Cool green fire caught in stone ... a symbol of Spring, denoting rebirth and renewal, running the palette of greens, from light new growth to dark primordial forests.... Emeralds of a deep, ethereal green tinged with an intense blue may be more valuable than diamonds of equal size and are considered the most rare of the five "precious" stones (including pearls, which are not true "stones"). Emeralds are the birthstones of those born in May, and also the representative gemstones for the birth signs Taurus, Cancer and sometimes Gemini.
The translucent green gems are uniquely found in the rock in which they are formed, and never occur in scattered gemstone gravels, as do diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Emeralds signify abundance and riches, are said to ensure domestic bliss, and instill sensitivity, loyalty and harmony within oneself and in others in close proximity to the wearer. Emeralds are thought to eliminate negativity in one's life, and also are believed to foster strength, creativity, spiritual insight, focus and intensity to help fulfill one's destiny and complete a life's journey.
Emeralds have ever been considered sacred to the Great Goddess, the Earth Mother, the giver of fertility and bounty, called by many names throughout history from Paleolithic times (some 2.5 million years ago) to the present day, and including the Celtic Goddess Danu, the "mother" of the Tuatha De Danaan in the Emerald Isle. (See Guinevere the Druid Goddess: St. Patrick's Day ... the Shee ... and 'Kiss Me, I'm Druid' ... posted March 8, 2008.) The stones have long been associated with the Goddess Diana, patroness of the hunt and guardian of women and young girls. In 1531, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, the Emerald Goddess Umina, embodied in a huge emerald crystal, was removed from her dominion over the Manta Valley in Peru by the conquistadores and carried back to Spain along with hundreds of her "daughters" (smaller but nevertheless sizable emeralds which had been arranged around Umina in her temple).
The lustrous stones were considered the personification of the Goddess Aphrodite (Venus to the Romans) and her consort Hermes, who created for Aphrodite the Emerald Tablet on which the words of creation were said to have been written. One biblical scribe envisioned the throne of God as being surrounded by a rainbow which looked like refractions of light from an emerald. In some Jewish lore, the emerald was one of the four sacred stones given to Solomon, although there is some dissension in Rabbinical thought as to whether the stone referenced was actually an emerald or another form of green beryl. One Medieval legend insisted that the mythic Holy Grail was actually carved from a single huge emerald dislodged from Satan's crown during his descent from Heaven to the underworld.
The earliest known emeralds were found in Egypt, near the Red Sea, although it is acknowledged today that the finest stones come from Colombia, South America. Good quality emeralds may also be found in other countries, such as Brazil, Zambia, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia. Some emeralds have been found in South Carolina, and in 1998 they were discovered in Yukon, Canada.
Emeralds have mystic significance to many religions, including Christianity, and the stone has often been believed and employed to focus the mind on spiritual matters. Indian mystics have long thought that the gift of an emerald to a deity would guarantee knowledge of the soul and eternal life.
Like some diamonds, certain emeralds have been held to be malevolent in nature. A emerald ring set with diamonds owned by King Phillip II of Spain at the time of the Spanish Armada's defeat by England was deemed to be so dangerous that it was buried by Church authorities in a fortified iron coffin which has never been found. In Russia, a particular emerald given to the Empress Elizabeth was passed down through Romanov family, with dire results for many of those who wore it, including Czar Nicholas II, who was massacred with all his family at Ekaterinburg in August 1918. That emerald has also disappeared and is thought to have been secreted away by spiritual leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Similar to rubies, an old folk belief holds that an emerald will change color in the presence of treachery and deceit. For many years, lovers exchanged emeralds, believing that the stones would lose their color or actually fracture in case of infidelity. Dreaming of an emerald signifies good luck and wealth, and great happiness to come. It is said that emeralds open the portal to new beginnings, new life. In some societies, emeralds have been prized as healing stones, and are said to strengthen the eye, heart, immune and nervous systems. Throughout history, they have been rumored to protect from the evil eye, enchantment, poisonous snakes and demonic possession.
Unlike rubies, which may represent unbridled passion and ambition, it is believed that emeralds are preferred by those whose fires burn deeper, cooler and therefore longer, tended scrupulously and guarded from view by outsiders and others, except those who are favored by the owner and permitted a closer glimpse of the intensity and splendor inside.
Emeralds have been highly regarded by rulers and are displayed among all the Crown Jewels of countries throughout the world. Yahn and I looked in awe at the myriad gorgeous emeralds displayed at the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, including but not limited to a six-sided emerald pendant which belonged to Sultan Ahmet I and an exquisite 17th Century dagger with an emerald hilt, worked with gold and diamonds. (The 1964 caper film Topkapi, starring Melina Mercouri and Maximilian Schell, spun the tale of an effort by international jewel thieves to steal the dagger.) The French Crown Jewels contain among other marvels an emerald necklace given by Napoleon to the Empress Marie Louise. Among the legendary "Easter Eggs" designed by Carl Faberge for the Russian Royal Family was the 1896 Rock Crystal Egg, topped by a 26-carat Siberian cabochon emerald. Since emeralds are softer stones than diamonds, rubies or sapphires, care must taken in displaying and wearing them so that they are not subject to rubbing against harder stones which may damage or diminish their value.
Like rubies, all natural emeralds have imperfections, or inclusions, which affect their quality and brilliance. Thus emeralds may also be likened to imperfect human beings, dependent for their ultimate worth on the number of cracks and flaws contained within their cores, and the ability of each of us to cut, polish and enhance our souls in such a way as to bring out the best of our inner fire and essential being. A raw emerald skillfully shaped by the hands of a master crafstman, and carefully tended and conserved by its owner, increases exponentially in value over time. And so, I give you emeralds....
Unfinished emeralds
Sandra Dement: Student council secretary and music scholarship winner. Sandra is married to Tony DeVeau and lives in Dallas. We had hoped to see her at the recent April 9 dinner with Phil and Winnie, Yahn and I, Nicki and Jim, Linda Kay and Wayne and Coach Joe Warren, but she was unable to attend. We missed her and look forward to seeing her in Las Vegas in October. For more information on Sandi, see her "Show and Tell" update posted March 4, 2008.
Max McClendon: Golf team, Speech Club member. Max is currently the pastor of the Church of Christ in Shamrock, Texas, after having served at churches in Mobile, Louisiana and Seattle. He and his wife have two grown sons.
Beth McKee: Johnny's football jacket, short. Beth lives in Lubbock, Texas.
Doug Greer: Wittiest, for his broken bones. Doug is retired and lives in Graham, Texas. Last seen by me at the time of Paula's funeral (where he was a pallbearer) in May 2002. The night before the funeral, Doug, Ronnie Kindle and Joe Don came by Lynn's house and visited with us for a while, sharing memories from high school and of Paula.
June Smith: Voice, first period librarian. June is living in Childress with her husband, Raymond Rhodes, and they are both retired.
Jack Privitt: Band, tall. Jack is currently living in Little Rock, Arkansas. He works with computers, networks and other computer-related matters.
Rebecca Cheatham: Choir member and office assistant. Rebecca is married to Doug Self, living in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Doug is pastor of the Church at Carbondale and they have three grown children. We believe Rebecca may be a realtor.
Charles Crouch: Mechanical ____. (The rest of the line was apparently cut off at the time of printing.) Charles and his wife, the former Arvazene Whitten, have three children and live in Childress, where Charles works as a guard the prison.
Joy Hackler: Senior class secretary, voice. Joy Hackler Cunningham lives in Midland, Texas.
Bruce Patterson: John Phillip Sousa Award, long hair. We believe Bruce is retired from the railroad and living in Amarillo.
Pam Hughes: Office assistant, almond eyes. We understand that Pam lives in Fort Worth, but have no further information.
Don Seal: Jokes, Carrolle. Don lives in the Dallas area and owns a wig shop, catering primarily to those who have lost their hair because of chemotherapy, alopecia, or other medical reasons. He also carries prostheses for those who have undergone mastectomy. Don told me when we talked in November that he and his wife, who live in Highland Village, were then expecting another grandchild.
Carol Mahan: Gold Star Girl in 4-H, DE. Carol lives outside Childress with her husband, and Raenell believes she works as a private duty nurse. I last saw Carol and spoke with her briefly at the All-School Reunion in Childress in 2002.
Ronnie Lawrence: National Honor Society President, basketball. Ron retired from the energy industry and now teaches high school and lives with his wife Deborah in Centennial, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.
Jimmy Lassen: DE student, 1962 Corral staff. I talked with Jim, who lives in Longview, in November. Jim indicated to me then that he would check out the blog and possibly leave an update for us, though I haven't heard from him since. The last time I saw Jim was in the early '70s, at a little hole-in-the-wall pub in Dallas, The Quiet Man, where the clientele ranged from SMU professors to darts and rugby players to "hippies" (not necessarily mutually exclusive categories). Yahn and I were on the outdoor patio when Jim exited the interior. I saw his eyes and knew immediately who it was....
We are hopeful those profiled here (and others who may have more information) will add to these brief updates in comments to this post, or will forward us more comprehensive information for publication in the "Show and Tell" linked blog. Those of you who may have only recently begun reading the blog are directed to earlier "Bobcat Treasure" posts (i.e., Pearls ... of Wisdom [from Darryl Morris] ... and Giants and Windmills, published September 15, 2007; Diamonds ... BFFs ... and Who Was that Elvis Impersonator?, published September 21, 2007; Gold ... King Tut ... and the Lost Buddha..., published October 20, 2007; Jade ... Candles ... and Auld Lang Syne..., published December 31, 2007; and Rubies ... Mystic Powers ... and Valentines..., published February 4, 2008.)
We wish all of you a renewal of life and spirit in this lovely (if somewhat stormy) Spring, which we hope will meld seamlessly into a not-too-hot Summer of luminous green fire and growth and light ....
)O(
Monday, February 4, 2008
Bobcat Treasure: Rubies ... Mystic Powers ... and Valentines ....
Uncut natural ruby crystals
Rubies ... mysterious, mystical, exotic ... the "queen" of gems ... believed by some to represent a journey from past into future.... Through the ages, the ruby has been admired in its many shades, running from pink to red, with the deepest red (called "Pigeon's Blood") considered the most beautiful, valuable and powerful. Because of their fiery nature, rubies are thought by many cultures to be earth-tied symbols of the sun, and the sun's incandescent light and warmth.
They are cherished as dynamic stones, engendering passion and strengthening the soul. They are sometimes carried or worn as reminders to live our lives to the fullest, to eagerly embrace the joys of our transient existences, and to restore soul "essentials" which may be missing in our lives. Rubies are representative of strong, powerful emotions, and are said to be imbued with powers to restore vital life forces, increase energy and vigor, and preserve mental and physical health. The ancient Burmese (the Khmer) believed that a ruby inserted under the skin fostered courage and generated a magical force to protect from accidents and attacks. In the Middle Ages, rubies were commonly considered to be stones of prophecy; it was said the stones became darker when danger or death were near, and that the stones sometimes permitted their owners to glimpse the future.
Rubies have historically symbolized love, passion, power and a zest for life. In Eastern lore it is believed the stones may have an effect on energy and balance within the soul, bringing negative emotions to the surface where they may be changed or cast off, and drawing poisons and disease from the body.
Natural rubies contain imperfections of color, and have slight inclusions which distinguish them from substitutions and synthetics. Thus it seems that "imperfect" rubies may be truly representative of imperfect human beings, in all our infinite varieties, with our dual and sometimes fractured (and fractious) natures. Bahya Ben Asher, known as the Rabbeinu Behaya, a Jewish scholar and rabbi who introduced Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah) into the study of Torah, has connected the stone to the ancient tribe of Reuben, and his analogy has carried over into modern Hebrew, symbolically linking the stone by blood to Adam.
Jewelry set with a ruby symbolizes such power and love between two people that it makes the ruby a perfect choice for an engagement or for a Valentine's Day gift. It is the gemstone recommended as most propitious for giving on both the 15th and 40th anniversaries. The ruby kindles the fire of passion and stimulates love while advancing the journey of the soul. It is said to figuratively destroy the walls some build around themselves to keep others outside and their own love imprisoned.
Therefore, in this cold February, just before the day some consider the most romantic of the calendar, it seems that rubies perfectly represent the fires of love and deep friendship. In honor of that day, I have examined our "Bobcat Treasure", the 1963 Senior edition of The Corral to mine and polish certain of the gems therein ("1963 Seniors Will be Remembered by...."). And so I give you rubies....
Raenell Wynn: Fourth period librarian, DE president. Raenell is married to her high school sweetheart, Jim Smith, and lives in Childress. (See Raenell's bio on the "The Class of 1963: Show and Tell" blog.) She is planning a trip to Paris and London in March with BFFs JoAnn, Linda Kay and Jennifer, and is looking forward to the Las Vegas Class Reunion. (See "The Class of 1963: Face to Face" blog.)
Bobby Huff: Fighting Heart Award, bookkeeping award. Our information on Bob is that he married his high school sweetheart, Jettie, and that they live in the Houston area. Any update(s) from or about Bob would be most appreciated.
Dian Veal: Athletic ability, secretary of National Honor Society. Dian lives with her husband and our classmate, Jerry Newberry, in Spokane, Washington. When we last spoke with Dian, she and Jerry were about to leave to spend a month in Hawaii with several members of their family. We are hoping when they return they will both visit us here on the blog and leave an update.
Jerry Newberry: Science ability, one of the top 10 in the Senior class. Living in Spokane with Dian, and probably really tan from their sojourn in Hawaii. He and Dian have one daughter and grandchildren. Likewise on the update, Jerry....
Pat Harmon: Head cheerleader, 1963 Bobcat staff. Pat married her school sweetheart (also CHS Class of 1963), Charles. She retired after 36 years of teaching In May 2003. They live in New Braunfels. We hear that like many of us, Pat marvels that she ever had time to get personal matters accomplished while she was working. We believe Pat and Charles have two daughters and four grandchildren, but hope they will correct us if we are wrong, or will leave a more comprehensive account of their lives on the blog.
Charles Mitchell: Ran 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds, nicknamed "Chicken", All-State football. Charles retired from Valero Energy Company last June and is enjoying retirement and grandchildren with Pat in New Braunfels. We would also appreciate hearing from Charles, if he is so inclined.
Linda Sally: "Wa-wa", tall. Linda operates Segovia Truck Stop in Junction, Texas. She has four children and also has grandchildren. We hope to receive a more thorough update from Linda soon.
Ronnie Kindle: Football player, Stanley's big brother. Ron works for Western Industrial in Amarillo, has two daughters, and grandchildren. Ron was last seen by me the night before Paula's funeral, in Childress, when he and Doug Greer and Joe Don came by Lynn's to visit. Again, we would appreciate any updates for Ron.
Carolyn Loter: Senior class favorite, second period librarian. Carolyn has been married to Jerry Barlow for 43 years. They live near Wetumka, Oklahoma and have one son and three grandchildren. (See Carolyn's "yearbook" update on the "Show and Tell" linked blog, posted January 7, 2008.)
Preston Stevens: Nickname "Buddy", National Honor Society. Preston retired after a career as a prosecuting attorney in the Odessa area and lives with his wife in Mayhill, N.M., near Cloudcroft.
Jennifer Johnston: Editor of '63 Corral, "As You Like It." Jennifer is married to Yahn, living in Las Vegas (see their individual posts on the "Show and Tell" blog, and various posts and comments throughout the main blog). She is happily planning the October Class Reunion for the Class of 1963, a/k/a "The Best Reunion Ever" (see "The Class of 1963: Face to Face" linked blog). She reminds Yahn to read the beginning of this post ... specifically the part about about rubies and 40th anniversaries....
Clifton Clements: Football player his Senior year, green Ford. Cliff Clements lives in Baytown, Texas (outside Houston) with his wife Jane, having returned there after six years in Alabama. Cliff is the Editor and Publisher of The Baytown Sun newspaper. Cliff, we'd love that update you promised....
Monday, December 31, 2007
Bobcat Treasure: Jade ... Candles ... and Auld Lang Syne ....
Jade ("yu" in Chinese) refers to a fine, lustrous stone, produced over eons by the natural force of rivers running through and over mountains. It exists in a variety of warm, rich colors, and is usually skillfully carved by masters to enhance its luster and increase its beauty and value. For more than 6000 years it has been considered among the most valuable of all precious stones, and is revered as sacred throughout Chinese society. It is also prized by other diverse cultures, including but not limited to Mesoamerican (Maya, Inca, Aztec), Korean, Burmese (Khmer), Brazilian, Canadian, Japanese, Indian and Scandinavian. It is extraordinarily tough and generally impervious to breakage, disintegration or decay.
The ancient Chinese believed jade embodied the qualities of nobility, perfection, constancy and immortality, and represented a symbolic link between man and the spiritual world ... the essence of heaven and earth, and a tangible manifestation of the Chinese belief in eternal life after death.
Thus it seems that jade is a perfect symbol of our enduring link with former classmates and others no longer of this world who touched us or affected our lives in our youth ... an appropriate touchstone as we remember and honor their lives here on the blog. And so I give you jade ....
Julia Ann Stamps Cole - Engaged, Senior play. Julia married Wayne Cole. She was a homemaker and had two children. She was 42 when she died of a heart attack. (Information obtained from Julia's mother, Katherine Stamps.)
Give light and the darkness will disappear of itself. - Erasmus
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Bobcat Treasure....Amarillo Style
Today couldn't have been a more beautiful day! The weather was absolutely perfect--the kind that if you live in the Texas Panhandle you learn to treasure. After days of wind of the worst sort, it was calm with only a slight chill in the air. Truthfully, it was a day that normally would have sent Jim speeding to the golf course. But this was not to be a normal day. We had been invited to the home of our CHS classmate, Pat Davenport Shapiro, for brunch with Jennifer before she made the trek to Albuquerque on her way home to Las Vegas after visiting her Clarendon daughter and with Raenell in Childress. We had not really seen either Pat or Jennifer in more years than Jim or I can remember. As you all know we have recently established a great relationship with Jennifer on this blogspot, and it feels as if we have been seeing her quite often. However, we had totally lost contact with Pat, so it was a big surprise to learn through Jennifer that Pat lives in Amarillo and most surprisingly her home is located less than a mile from our house. Actually, her house shares an alley with my older brother. Once again the world feels much smaller!
I was a bit nervous before we arrived, thinking what if we didn't have any thing to talk about! However, from the moment we stepped in the door, I was totally at ease and conversation flowed freely for two hours. Of course, we had many things to talk about and if any of you had burning ears today, you know why!! We reminisced about the old days, caught up on lost classmates, and even explored possible locations for a 45th or 50th year reunion for the class of 1963. (viva Las Vegas) Most of all we relished the opportunity to spend time with Pat and Jennifer, to see them face to face. Pat had prepared a great meal for us and we loved getting to tour her wonderful home. Pat and her husband, Alan, have 3 grown children between the two 
of them. Pat shared pictures of her two handsome sons along with their wives and the three grandchildren which are a source of pride and joy to Pat. However, I have to say that I absolutely fell in love with the 2 little fur balls, Pixie and Scruffy, that allow Pat and Alan to live with them. Cute does not begin to describe them and they are extremely well behaved and love to have company. They were quite happy to pose for a picture with my Jim and Pat.
The visit came to an end when Jennifer could no longer delay her trip on to Albuquerque. We hated to see her go knowing that she had such a long drive ahead of her before she would finally get home to Las Vegas and Yahn who was unable to make the trip. We were really sorry that we didn't get to meet him, but hopefully we will have that pleasure another time.
Jim left to get to the golf course, not even complaining that he was late getting there. We both had a great time thanks to the hospitality of Pat, Pixie, and Scruffy, and Jennifer's quick wit and wonderful stories. Jennifer has already called to let us know that she arrived safely in Albuquerque so we
will look forward to seeing her back on the blog soon.
Today really was a treasure, and it is my pleasure to share it with each of you.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Bobcat Treasure: Gold ... King "Tut" and the "Lost Buddha" ....
Gold ... lustrous, valuable, gorgeous gold! The inspiration for numerous quests and fables, the dream of Coronado in his epic search for the mythic Seven Cities of Gold. The adornment and currency of choice for millions from prehistoric times to the Sumerians of lower Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), to the Egyptians and beyond to our own time, always highly prized and frequently hoarded, used for sustenance, for shelter, for good and for evil. In India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, it is desirable not only for its decorative value, but as a hedge against inflation and hard times. Women in many of these countries wear multiple golden bangles, rings and necklaces, representing not only their dowry, but their ultimate financial security. As James Blakely said at the time of the California Gold Rush: "Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out. Small wonder that gold has been prized over all else, in all ages, as a store of value that will survive the travails of life and the ravages of time."Not only is gold the most desired of metals, it is also malleable, amenable to being combined with other elements to change its intrinsic makeup, and resistant to corrosion. It is soft and shiny and dense, but can be beaten into sheets so thin they are translucent, as it may have been on the putative Golden Calf which Moses allegedly found on his return to his people from Mt. Sinai. Indeed, gold is a marvelous symbol for the vicissitudes of long-lasting friendship, which must mutate, and adapt and grow, even as we must grow in our lives in order to have lives worth living. I cannot think of anything worse than a life of stasis, "in which all forces are equal and opposing, therefore they cancel out each other."
In 1987, on our first trip to Egypt, we rounded a corner in the old Cairo Museum and came literally face to face with the gold funerary mask of Tutankhamun, inlaid with lapis lazuli and colored glass, and the sight was absolutely breathtaking. I know Yahn and I stood there for several minutes, taking in the beauty of the mask ... probably with our mouths hanging open like the hicks from the sticks we immediately imagined ourselves, confronted with thousands of years of Egyptian civilization and artistry.
In Thailand, we marveled at the Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit, and at the story behind it. It was cast during the Sukkothai period (1440s to 1550s). However, during one of their intermittent wars with the Khmer of Burma (now Myanmar, and much in the news), the Thai people became afraid that the Buddha would be stolen by their enemies, and so encased it completely in concrete to hide it ... and then somehow, lost it. How anyone can just "lose" or forget about a five and half ton, solid gold Buddha strains the imagination, but perhaps it is related to what is termed "the fog of war". Nevertheless, it was several centuries before the Buddha was accidentally rediscovered, when it was dropped while being moved, and the concrete cracked open to reveal the gold inside, none the worse for its sequestration.
1963 Seniors Will Be Remembered By ...
Shirley Neel: Girl's Volleyball, dancing ability. Our Shirl lives in Quanah (we won't hold that against her!) with her husband, George, and could probably swap golf stories with Jim W. as she took to the game with a vengeance after she left Childress. Yahn and I were delighted to see her, and Raenell and Jimmy, and Linda Kay and JoAnn, in April at our granddaughter Heather's wedding.
Harold Simmons: Football player, black flattop. Harold is living in Dumas with his wife Donna. They have two sons, and three grandsons. We are told that Harold reads and enjoys the blog, but has not yet commented, not unlike others (we know who some of you are). We are hopeful that Harold will leave a comment to say "Hi" and to update all of us with additional information.
Linda Kay Bridges: Bobcat twirler. Friend from childhood and definitely BFF. Happily married to Wayne, retired, living in the Dallas area, one son and three gorgeous granddaughters she is seriously endeavoring to spoil (grandparents' prerogative). Off to Paris in March with moi, JoAnn and Raenell. We are likewise awaiting LK's first written foray into blogland ... we know you're there!!!!
Jimmy Wilcoxson: Golf team (duh!), All-State basketball player, State golf medalist. Married to blogmeister Nicki, former coach, living in Amarillo, recently inducted into the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. Hey, Jim: Maybe you and Shirl and Reed and Mike (or maybe Coach Joe Warren if one of them demurs) can get a foursome going. I see Sheila has extended an invitation to a course in Wimberley ....
Bettye Shahan: Best dressed, laugh. Last personally spotted at the All-School Reunion in Childress in 2002, lookin' great, and believed to be living in the Abilene area. I know we would all appreciate a more thorough update, Bettye ... or Clara ... or Nicki ....
J.R. Bell: Won second high individual in grass contest, tall. Living in Amarillo and recently sighted by Jim and Nicki. Nicki, we would appreciate your additional information on J.R., unless he can be persuaded to join us himself.
Kay Eatherly: Valedictorian and sophomore class President. Married to Gayle Whitten, believed to be living in Lubbock, teaching or retired from same. Just received from Kay and Gayle
Gayle and I have an intense desire to serve our Lord Jesus in any way He leads. We have been on a couple of misson trips to the Czech Republic, and we may begin a ministry of "mom and dad" to missionaries. We are not sure right now. We have been blessed to travel a lot, and we love people, so we are waiting.
(photo from tsta.org) Superintendent of Lubbock Independent School District. We hope that Wayne is reading, and that he will see fit to publish a comment.
Linda Key: Engaged, speech club. Linda married her Walter, and they traveled many places while he was in the Army. Last known to be living in Childress again, and we'd love to hear her stories.
Quentin Henderson: Lone Star degree in FFA, Salutatorian. Also President of our Senior Class. Quentin is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with his own veterinary clinic, living with his wife Cheri in Blountstown, Florida. Perhaps Quentin may soon join us on the blog? Update from Joe Don Hopkins on Quentin, via e-mail: Really enjoyed my talk [on Friday, October 26] with Dr. Henderson. He has been teaching in high school since 1988 and has had his Vet practice 31 years. He has 4 daughters with dates of birth ranging from 1971 to 1985, along with 5 or 6 grandkids. We talked over an hour. I need someone to confirm that he was at one of our first 2 reunions (1973 or 1978) since I do not remember him being there. Plus I have told many people that I have been trying to find him since 1963! Now, can someone confirm which reunion Quentin attended?
Nicki and I have some pretty extensive grapevines; nevertheless, there are many of our former classmates of whom we know nothing since we were in school together. We would definitely appreciate your contacting us (or either of us) if you have information to share, or if you are one of those "among the missing".
Now, off tomorrow on my delayed trip to Texas ... leaving the adult (Nicki) in charge, and looking forward to having brunch with Pat and Nicki and Jim on Wednesday. There may even be pictures ....
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