Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

 I like dancing too!  Hey Steve, I was wondering when you said earlier you were doing all that scraping and painting if you were going to hurt........ummmmmm.  I'm anxiously awaiting all the holiday smiley's you will sending my way, pleeeeeeeaaaaaase!

I have some exciting news...last night I went to a party given by the Ventura's, jewelers, in the Heights. I used to tutor their boys....now honor students at the University of St. Thomas.  Anyway, I met so many of my past students and ONE is the marine biologist at the Aquarium in downtown Houston. If you've ever eaten there, you may have seen her.  She's hoping to get her PhD. and is awaiting hearing from a school in Florida.  I tutored her from 5th grade through graduation.   I learned a lot from her!  The others were equally successful, but not in the swimming way.  I'm floating today with their successes.  To those other teachers out there, I'm sure you can relate.  

Christmas smiley's on the way.....just saying, Stephen!

Jennie

Bernard Brady

James N (Tam) Siedow

Jennie - You are so correct about the intangibles that come from teaching in the form of seeing your student's success stories downstream.  They come in many packages.  I once got a letter from a student who had moved onto a successful career in business but just wanted to write me a letter to tell me that the Plant Physiology class she had taken from me was the best class she had taken at Duke and to let me know how much she personally had gotten out of it.  I didn't turn her into a scientist but I clearly had some sort of effect on her (dispite my notoriously lame jokes in class) and at the time I wasn't even aware that she was especially interested in the class.

A second one had to do when I went to see the doctor once and one of theresidents came in and promptly announced that he had taken Introductory Biology from me to which I immediately responded "What grade did you get?"

These are the things you look back on and treasure. 

James N (Tam) Siedow

Robbie - We are all grateful for that.

Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

Yes, Robbie we are all thankful for that!  And yes, Tam, those little things make a person feel so good.  I wonder what his grade was!  This morning I had a client bring her little autistic 9 year old girl to me for art and then math tutoring.  When I opened the door, the mother said the little girl was Tinkerbell all weekend reciting the movie verbatim and  still wants to be Tinkerbell today.  Sooooooo, guess what we played for 2 hours and guess who got to be Peter Pan?  I'm not as good at flying, as I once was....creeping up on my 64th tomorrow, but I still can do some mighty jumps.

SPEAKING of birthdays....ONE more year until MEDICARE!!!!!!! YIPPPPEEEEEEEE!

Enjoy the day everyone!

Jennie

Robert Derrick

Thanks BJ. Wish we would have had a forum about 4 years ago for you to post that good info on. And God Bless all you teachers. I know there are students who thank you but never have the chance to say it. You make such a great impression on so many lives.

Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

 Thanks for the birthday messages!  I'm "rockin" today and plan to go to Fudd's tonight.  Hope to see some new faces and, of course, always enjoy seeing the "old" faces and I don't mean "OLD!

Jennie

Nathan Wayne Hollis

Hello everybody, been around the country just working. Hope to see everybody soon. Will try to be at Fudds on the 14th.      lol

Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

 Oops, I think I'll go to Fudd's next week!

James Ira Brown

I wanted to tell you it was the 14th but I am new here and looking forward to meeting

more friends from the past.

Nathan Wayne Hollis

I was wondering why you were going on the 7th. Thought maybe you just missed it. I still hope to be there.   Lol

Stephen Ray Puckett

About teaching:  Yes, I was happy when I could see that my students could apply successfully those things with which I had helped them.  I also had little surprises that made it delightful.

About 10 years ago or so I got an e-mail msg from someone that I had tutored in science when I was a senior at Waltrip - he had been foundering.  He had looked me up on the WWW and wanted to thank me for helping him out all those years ago, helping him to finally 'get it' about science, etc.  He since went on to be an engineer or science researcher (as I recall) and had been wanting to thank me for the help getting on that path.  Although I dimly remembered it I was very, very surprised.  You never know.

I had a number of surprises like that and I still hear from folks I had trained/taught in the past.  I usually respected teachers when I was in school or being trained but 'being on the other side' makes it seem even more important.

Kudos to all you teachers and trainers out there!

Stephen Ray Puckett

Our house here in Albany, all ready for Christmas

Richard Meek

Just wanted to let everyone know that there will be an impromptu meeting of the Waltrip Burger Evaluation Committee next Wednesday, at 11:30; Dec. 22nd. at Five Guys Burgers and Fries @ N. Shepherd and Loop 610. There is no agenda, just good food, fellowship and solving world problems. All are invited and welcome!

Talley Hudson

Sorry I didn't respond sooner, Jan.  Haven't been on the website for awhile.  Would you like pictures of flooding??  No snow--just lots of rain here!

Kay Watters (Greene)

Steve you have one heck of a beautiful house.....I am having a front porch built as we speak very similar to the look of your hip roof......I emailed it to my Pastor who is doing it, and I have it on my desktop as well....thank you.

And to Tally, no rain here since Sept.  Do you think you could send some....our ponds and pastures are soooo in need.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Tom Britton

Bernard is so right about staying active, playing games and getting rid of the clutter. Here's wishing all of our great classmates a wonderful, uncluttered Christmas and a great 2011.

James Ira Brown

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

Jean (Phillips) Franikie and I (Dianna Dudley Westmoreland) went to New York a week ago to spend some time with Betty (Carrick) Pastuer.  Had a fabulous time and spent a week of reviewing high school years.  I truly believe that I must have gone to a different school than they did as I do not remember half as much as they do!

Ingrid Sears (Spiteri)

Not snowing in my part of the world, but it is up on the mountain above me... very rainy and wet down here.  Just want to wish a Merry Christmas from my house to yours...all of you... old friends from years ago and the new ones I made at the reunion.  May each and every one of  you and your families have a blessed Christmas and a New Year of good fortune and good health.

God Bless

Richard Meek

Just a reminder that the Waltrip Burger Evaluation and World Problem Solving Committee will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 22nd. at 11:30. Location is Five Guys Burgers & Fries, N. shepherd & Loop 610. All are invited. If you can fog a mirror you're on the committee. Come on out for good food, good fellowship and world problem solving. SEE YOU WEDNESDAY!!!

Richard Meek

Jan it was cloudy here in Houston also. I guess we'll have to wait another 400+ yrs. for the next one.

Ingrid I saw in the paper this morning that you folks in CA are still soggy. I spent several new years in Carmel and it seemed like the weather was always pretty yucky. Hope you get a break for Christmas.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope you all stay warm or dry or whatever weather you need but mainly stay safe!!!

Keep on dancing,

Rich

James N (Tam) Siedow

Ingrid - The Momas and  the Papas might have to change the lyrics.  Apparently it can rain in Southern California and rain a lot.  Stay dry.

We too set the alarm on Monday evening for 2:30 (EST) on a clear evening and awoke to a completely overcast sky.  :-(  

I would also note that we were in NYC on the same weekend that Dianna, Jean and Betty got togther.  Waltrip invades the Big Apple.  A fun time.  There really is no place quite like New York.

Happy holidays to everyone and best wishes for a good new year.

Tam

Stephen Ray Puckett