TLC - The Lexington Connection

Holiday greetings from the old hometown! Lexington's halls are decked with boughs of holly, wreaths, and a multitude of lights. We kicked off the season Dec. 1 with the second annual Festival of Lights Parade. I'm thrilled to report that the 50s Gang (Coens, Hulvers, Scharnhorsts and Worthingtons) float "Home For the Holidays" won third prize, thereby beating out the floats of small children, church groups, Scouts and other unworthies. Nevertheless, everyone had a wonderful time. Weather was cold but clear and calm.

Thanks also to the computer, I have renewed contact with people that I've known almost all my life, and that keeps me reminded me of the value of 'old friendships'. I treasure the happy childhood that I had, and the values that I hang onto stubbornly because of what I learned there. It is worth even being 'old' to have experienced what I have in life, and I wouldn't trade that for 'youth'. I may change my mind on that as the years wear on, but I doubt it. LOL. I have been lucky indeed, and it is my interaction with people that has made that so.
Thank you.

We will be going to Dallas (for Thanksgiving) at our older son's house, and be talking to the rest of the family via telephone. All together would be best - but, distance and time restraints prevent that this year. Of course, the 'feast' will be enjoyed by all, and I do still know my way around the kitchen, so will be busy today and tomorrow making sure we have plenty of good vittles. :-)

Local attorney/mover&shaker Bob Langdon purchased the Eneberg House at 157 N. 10th. The house, sometimes referred to as the Walton (no, not that one) House was built in 1868. Greek Revival in style, it is thought to be the oldest frame house surviving in town. Bob moved it to its new location (Dr. Wilcoxin, the vet, once had an office in the building which was removed) because it is directly across from the location of our new movie theatre-to-be. He plans to have a retail establishment of some kind, and there has been talk of an ice cream parlor.

Hi Dear Scribe, I was wondering if others had thought of submitting Thanksgiving and/or Christmas memories for the next TLC? (Like THE most
memorable, or the most exciting, or the saddest, etc.) I was thinking WAAAAY
back to maybe the late 40's when I was six or seven, when we had a LIVE
turkey for Thanksgiving, unbeknownst to me, and I opened the door to the
basement, and THERE HE WAS, in all his glory, gobbling at me. Scared me
out of a year's growth. That and watching my Grampa hatchet off his head, and
the poor bird hobbling around the back yard, splattering blood everywhere,
I will never forget.

Maib's Restaurant was a real institution in our town. On Sunday it was our family tradition to walk down the street from the First Baptist Church to eat at Maib's. When we walked in we could smell the wonderful food odors and hear the clanking of the dishes and the mumble of people conversing and see the waitresses hustling about serving delicious food. It was always packed with people who were regular Sunday diners and a few other guests. We stopped by some tables and had brief conversations with our friends and waved and greeted others as we made our way to our table. Maib's back room was available to accommodate showers, rehearsal dinners, family gatherings, meetings etc. It was a focal point for our community. You have lovely restaurants and tea rooms in Lexington, but somehow my heart yearns to return for another meal at Maib's.

It seems most of your subscribers are a few years ahead of me in life and
that could be a result of having more time on one's hands to spend on the
computer. Perhaps most of my classmates of Class of '60 don't have the time
that I seem to have. Lucky me.

Anyway, I enjoy reading the stories of Lexington and LHS from the early
'50's. Jim O'Malley's recent mention of Ernestine Seiter prompts me to
write. That, and the fact that I have begun substitute teaching makes
teaching a pertinent subject for me. I was fortunate to have Ernestine
Seiter for English in seventh, eleventh and twelfth grades. She was also
the drama teacher, and I acted in two plays for her. I have always felt she was
out of place in Lexington, but what lucky students we were that she was
there. Of all my teachers, and that includes my mother who I had for
freshman and sophomore English, she was the most influential on my academic
life. (By the way, Mrs. Seiter and my mother were best of friends until
Ernestine's death.)

My senior year, the Thespians did "The Diary of Anne Frank" and two things happened in that performance I don't remember ever seeing in an LHS play. Now, I could be wrong, because I can't remember every single play over six years. The first was that we, the cast, did not fluff or forget one single line of dialogue. The second was that we received a standing ovation. We practiced and rehearsed for what seems like months. Many of the rehearsals to learn the lines were held at Mrs. Seiter's house, where we were made to feel totally at home. I remember finding a bottle of Mogen David wine in a cupboard and almost being allowed to have a sip. As an English Lit. teacher, Mrs. Seiter had a way to make reading things like Shakespeare appealing to 17-year-old boys. I don't know how she did it, but she did.

I wish I had her knack, because teaching today is totally different from those days. Classroom discipline is virtually non-existent and most substitutes I know enter each classroom with fear. In the older grades, that is fear of physical harm. Nice kids being raised these days!

If only I had Miss Lena as a companion in some of these classes!

To my chagrin, two days after sending (a tongue-in-cheek) email, there was an anthrax scare in Reno that turned out to be false, but did frighten a lot of people. I don't make light of the situation anymore.

As a matter of fact, I believe too many people in this country don't take
seriously enough the threats against us. I do take them seriously and get
angry at people who still seem to have the "it can't happen here" syndrome.
It HAS happened here. And, it will probably happen again.

I lived in England for eleven years and traveled the world by air for more
than 20. Security at international airports around the world are 10 times
more strict than anything presently in place in the US. They've been that
way for years. Once you get used to the system and prepare for it, there's
hardly a second thought about it. Many times I was made to get off a plane
prior to take off and pick out my checked baggage which was set out on the
apron next to the plane. Any bag not claimed was not boarded. Of course, a
suicide bomber would just identify his bomb-loaded case and get back on the
plane. We now know that it can happen. We need to tighten up our airport
security immediately.

Enough of that soap box stuff. It's exciting to hear all that's happening
in Lexington. I sincerely hope the new highway by-pass brings in many new
visitors and doesn't let them whisk on by without stopping.

A large hand-printed padded envelope, heavily taped, lopsided and from Boca Raton, FL,
arrived addressed to me with the return address "Mrs. John Hopkins," a fictitious name if I ever heard one! I had not ordered anything, was not expecting anything, and so I called our local police asking what to do. They sent two HazMat people to the house, who examined the package with special gloves. Then they called Boca Raton to inquire about this Mrs. John Hopkins. Imagine her surprise when Diane Harris Hopkins received a call from the Lexington, Missouri, police department. Turned out she sent me some old clippings and photos for the Historical Museum. My face is still red.

Liz Anne White Kramer:

Great newsletter as always. I feel so sad about Gordon Reed. He gave me my first job (which was above and beyond the call of duty)! When I walked into the store to apply, I immediately knocked over a mannequin and, trying to catch same, demolished an entire table full of sweaters, etc and broke the arm off the poor soul trying to stand her back up. Gordon just stood there and watched. He said "Gee Liz-could I help you with something"? I said no- I had just come in to apply for a job. He said "anyone that can still ask after making such a mess is hired." Loved that place for years and of course spent all my paychecks prior to getting same. Shall miss Dortha Vialle-she and Mom had the Hobby Store next to the old Main St. theatre for many years. Was a great hangout and they had such good times.

Liz Backs Guevel:

Great newsletter - not too long and good variety (just in case you
wanted a critique!! ?) You are doing such a great service for all of
us. It must be in the DNA. Keep up the good work.

Yes, indeedy, I do want critiques, suggestions, ideas, fillers, commentary. Have I left anything out? Hope you are enjoying your holidays. May God bless you all.

Your devoted scribe,

Susan