Subject: This & That
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 17:28:54 -0700
From: Frank Simpson
To: "ALL"

For a brief moment I thought that I would be able to make it back to Peoria but alas it was not "in the cards." So a few more thoughts and memories that I would have shared in person (possibly) if I had been there with you all.

1. PE/Sports--Love the stories. They brought back a memory of an incident in PE where we were supposed to climb a rope attached to the ceiling. I was the PUTZ who slipped at the top and--gravity being what it is--hit the floor. No harm done except my hands were a nice pair of crispy critters from the rope burn. I remember wearing "mummy" bandages for a week afterwards. I think Corky was the instructor and if he was there (Friday or Saturday night) I was going to tell him that I finally learned how to do it in the Army:-)!

2. NYC/9/11--I suspect that it will come up from time to time in conversations. Dave Byrkit's recent post parallels the thoughts and feelings that I have heard from friends in NYC. As for me I still can't get my mind around it.

For those who had never experienced it, the WTC was immense beyond words. As suggested in Dave's post it was more than just the Twin Towers.

On my computer table here in California there is a photo of me standing next to that big bull in the Wall Street area. Next to it is a news photo taken 10 months later--now the bull is covered in ash. Four national guard soldiers are walking down the street....

But the WTC is not NYC. If anyone has put off plans to visit because of 9/11, please reconsider. It is one heck of a town. I see that Linda Reeves and her husband were there recently. Follow her lead:-)!!

3. Gary Duffy's Remembering--Gary, who wrote it is of no matter. The fact is YOU "brought it to the party." The rest of you owe him a drink...and I don't mean Cherry Coke. (Did we really drink that stuff?!?!?):-)!

4. "American Graffiti"Class of 62--Forty years ago would we have believed we be where we are today? It has been a real "trip" reading the various stories. I only hope that more are posted. In planning ahead for the 50th may I pass on a caution borrowed from the actor Lee Strasberg: "If I knew I was going to live this long I would have flossed."

I'll leave you with two trivia questions about another "coming of age" film--"Stand By Me."

--What is the last name of the author of the novella upon which the movie was based?

--What is the last name of songwriter/singer who wrote the pop song "Stand By Me?"

Take Care,
Frank Simpson