TLC #52: May 25, 2003
Dear Hearts & Gentle People:
Ah, Spring in Lexington! I know I say that every year, but this one seems to be especially good.
I have explaining to do. Some of you wrote, and your emails were returned as my mailbox overflowed during my absence. Ken and I were on vacation: Nashville and North Carolina mountains. Very beautiful. Very good time. Very homesick. Too long.
We are now preparing for the next Old Homes Tour, to be held June 21 and 22. Yawl come. You can eat at Las Carretas (I have learned the name of the Mexican restaurant) or The Brewery, new ones, plus the Victorian Peddler and Riley's Irish Pub. I know I'm overlooking some, so be assured there are other places to eat as well. These are the biggest and most popular. We also have a new ice cream shop, on Hwy 13. A second one, ice cream and homemade candy, is across 12th Street from the Cannonball 6. Next door to that is a wine shop, and we have yet another wine shop, at 9th and Main (former Limrick Bank, once robbed by Jesse James), plus regular liquor stores. I'm telling you, Lexington is Uptown.
And while we are touching on the subject of history, one of the items I missed came from Jack Gueguen. It is the most interesting reading I've come across in quite a while. It is a journal written by a Union soldier in 1862. Most of the time he was in Macon, Boonville, Lexington and Independence. It is fascinating reading. I am not going to include it, because it is 25 pages long. If you would like to read a copy, I know Jack would be pleased to forward it to you. Or just let me know, and I'll get it to you.
Next, let's take care of some business. I may have included this before, but it won't hurt to repeat.
Susan. I wonder if you could do me a favor? The Class of 1963 is planning to have its 40 year class reunion on August 9, 2003, at the VFW in Lexington. Would you mind putting the announcement in your next newsletter? Contact numbers are as follows:
Garg Warden--Ph. 913-381-0907 email jcwarden@msn.com
Pam Shurmantine Windsor--Ph. 816-455-4931
Gary Miller--Ph. 816-373-9373 email garymiller@sbcglobal.net
Right now we are trying to contact our classmates so we can get the word out about the reunion. I thought that an announcement in your newsletter would be a lot of help. Thanks, Gary Miller
Back to Jack Gueguen:
Regarding thespian memories, Elizabeth Gruber got hold of me as an innocent freshman in the spring of 1948 and gave me the "lead" role in a pantomime production. I don't think it was meant to be funny, but the whole gym was in stitches as I silently cavorted on the stage. That was my debut. Another time I think Angela Mautino was responsible for dressing some of us up in very flimsy elf costumes; I was "mortified" the whole time on stage because I felt almost naked. So you can tell from these early experiences that I was not destined to be among the stellar members of any cast while at LHS (or ever after); the best I could do was take part in "the four roses" quartet (which was modestly successful, thanks to Mike, Kent, and Larry).
In general, the productions I remember in the LHS gym/auditorium (especially the movies) were not very enjoyable. Once the same Elizabeth Gruber tried to show an English version of "Jane Eyre" at an assembly. We endured an hour of shadowy and dark figures moving on the screen and making no sense at all. I don't intend casting any aspersions, as we used to say; I owe a great debt of gratitude to Miss Gruber for teaching me the mechanics of the English language and providing a very solid footing for my subsequent writing. I hope they still diagram sentences; I found that an invaluable exercise.
I'm sure I was in the tiny minority of future academic types in preferring the "structured classroom learning" to the assemblies. (The worst ones for me were probably most enjoyed by the vast majority--e.g., magicians and hypnotists.) I'm still not a fan of "entertainment."
I told him he was academically receptive, which put him in the minority. Most of us loved getting out of class for any sort of assembly.
Don Stephenson:
I remember that I was in a play during my LHS days but I will need to try to dig up the particulars. I only remember that I played the part of somebody in the Service named Bill Sparks, but right now that is all I remember. But I think that somewhere I have a copy of the play's program.
Maybe someone else remembers. And now let us return to the nickname saga.
From "Baby" Kehrees:
SUSAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE RAY MILLER REMEMBERED MY NICKNAME "BABY" KEHREES (CLASS OF '52) AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS LEFT OFF THE ORIGINAL LIST. MY NICKNAME CAME SIMPLY FROM BEING THE BABY OF THE FAMILY AND I DO HAVE A RATHER UNUSUAL AND LONG NAME AND EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS, "WHAT DO THEY CALL YOU?"
CAN YOU BELIEVE I STILL GO BY THAT NAME. IT HAS FOLLOWED ME ALL MY LIFE AND I CONTINUE TO BE "BABY" KEHREES THOMPSON.
ALSO MY BROTHER, GEORGE KEHREES (CLASS OF '49), HAD THE NICKNAME OF "GREEK". THAT WAS OBVIOUS SINCE WE WERE THE GREEK FAMILY IN TOWN.
Don LeJeune:
Hi Susan: I didn't see this one on the list and I can't say where he got it. But I thought everyone will remember when they see it. That one is Roger Wilmot alias [ J.O. Wilmot ]. I know a lot of the Boys that grew up with him will remember. Having a lot of fun reading the nick names.
P.S. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Sherrie LeJeune? I would appreciate someone getting in touch with me about her. Thanks, Frenchie LeJeune
Must be more to this that meets the eye, because Shirley Briggle brings it up also.
Maybe you should ask Roger Wilmot what his nickname was.
I was "Brig."
Arthur Knapheide:
Just remembered another nickname. "Hobie" Hoeflicker and "Little Herbie" Hoeflicker. Thought you might like those.
And so we come to the close of TLC #52. I included this before, but got such terrific response that I'm reminding you again: If you would like to know what's going on in Lex - besides reading TLC! - visit
www.historiclexington.com and tell me what you think!
Your devoted scribe,
Susan
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