Tom and Mickey Weathers and daughters from East Alton, Ill., send their best to Nebraska City friends. Tom was the parks and recreation director here and has a similar job in East Alton. They write that they enjoy their new home, but miss their Nebraska City friends.
Dr. and Mrs. M. D. McKenney are now living at Dodge City, Kans., where Mac is a principal in the secondary school. Mac was the former NCHS band director and Senior High principal. The family lived in Vermillion, S. D., prior to moving to Dodge City. Mac now has his doctorate.
One of our favorite cards came again this year from Al Holmes, one of the WWI Company B guardsmen. Allen makes his own cards in watercolors. We think they're precious.
He has his own thoughts.
"First let me say my attempt at art leaves much to be desired. After retirement I joined the ranks of the elderly frustrated artists. My works have not caused a national sensation but strange as it may seem several have even spent their money to purchase them. The income is neither awesome nor particularly needed, but the acceptance of my efforts is very rewarding to my ego.
"Any rate, it is better than cutting out paper dolls."
Mr. Holmes said he hopes that Company B guardsmen will hold their reunion again this spring and promises that as soon as a decision is made he will write the News-Press.
His address is:
Allen Holmes.
3808 Sixth Avenue Apt. 7.
Des Moines, Ia., 50313.
One upon a time . . .
Among the many things of which I am an expert, addressing Christmas cards happens to be the easiest.
Oh, I am good. I find it very easy to jot down those little personal words with the grace of an eagle soaring in the sky. In fact, my cursive style of handwriting would even raise the eyebrows of Mrs. Elmer Conkling of the Greggsport school days.
I've tried many things over the years. I've sailed the high seas, taken the controls of airplanes, climbed a mountain (in Disneyland), swam Mill creek in Kansas, chewed Beechnut tobacco, drank four bottles of beer on my 18th birthday, and broke a sorrel stud.
But of all my adventures, I've found penmanship to be my mark in life. (It's also a lot easier on the stomach.)
You understand, of course, that Millie doesn't agree with this, but then the ship was heaving and I was shaking so much that my overseas letter writing control was limited.
This year was the year I was really going to show my old chums how well I could dash over the cards with such neat characters and I was all set to show Millie.
"Not tonight," she said.
"Whattya mean? Give me a stack of cards woman, I'm going to write some notes."
"Go watch television, or something," she snorted.
"Now listen here, girl. Hand me a fountain pen and a stack of cards."
"Ivan," she said, (I can always tell she's getting puffy when she calls me by my first name) "We haven't had a fountain pen in this house for 10 years."
"So?"
"So, that's only one reason. You haven't written to your old Navy buddies in that many years or more."
"So?"
"So, Christmas is only three days away . . . you've got to send Christmas cards a little earlier."
"Oh?"
"Uh huh . . . anything else?" she asked.
"Yeah, is there any cake and milk left?"
Really and truly, I just plain like Christmas.
Santa is always pretty good to me. I get new ties, shirts, socks and underwear. You know, those staple items.
Someone in the family will give me a can of lighter fluid, another a can of pipe tobacco. My mother will send a shirt too large and whatever my mother-in-law will give me I'll tell her that she gave one better to her other son-in-law.
Among my favorites at Christmastime are all the goodies. That means I can eat all the peanut clusters I want. It also means that everyplace we go, someone will have a try of cookies and they will offer me a snack and I shall do the polite thing by eating one or two, or three of four, or more.
I hulled a box of walnuts last week while watching television so Millie has a supply for her cookie trays.
And speaking of families, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Eacret, 1223 South Third Street, will have an empty house soon.
The couple has a married daughter, Mrs. Jim (Linda) Cozette, Omaha, and three children at home, Richard, Rose and Joe, all seniors at Nebraska City Senior High. There's also a granddaughter, Jennifer Cozette.
Guess what? Rose is a mid-term graduate and was married Saturday. Richard and Joe will graduate in May.
A family of four can get away pretty fast, as the Eacrets are experiencing.
Heya dads . . . the kids ever call you a sagging-chest dad?
Well, they don't say that around my house . . . not since a couple of hotshot teen-age athletes forgot their belts and had to borrow mine.
"I hope you guys didn't stretch those belts," I said when they were returned.
"Stretch them!" they exclaimed, "We had to tighten them to the last hole."
That's okay boys when you're my age, I want to see your sons fitted so well. Ha!