Donelson High School

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Carolyn Kirby Meeks

What a surprise to see your post my friend but glad to see your still kicking around, miss hearing from you & that sweet Lady of yours. Let's hope 2012 will be a little more kind to us all! Things are about the same in my life just taking one day at a time and being thankful for each. You and Merri take care of each other and lets make time for a get together soon! Hugs & Love to you both.

Miss You , Skriddy

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Michael Hawkins

MY GEEZER RANT

Okay . . . some of you jamokes have been havin' a little fun beating up on us poor "older" classmates . . . that's right . . . I officially graduated today . . . into the geezer generation.  As FDR once said (a mere 10 yrs before we wuz born, folks), "A day which will live in infamy."  Remember when we couldn't wait to become Seniors?  Well, we have arrived (or soon to), and believe me, it gives new meaning to the word.  Who'da ever thunk it?

For a tiny bit of perspective, (which I'm sure most of you don't need), just consider for a moment our world:

draft cards; civil rights; race riots; assassinations; space races; cold wars; rotary phones; party lines (now known as "conference" calls); (snail) mail (hell, there was even a hobby called stamp collecting); mini-skirts (should be revived); socks and shirts to match; bufontes; girdles; leisure suits; petal pushers; monograms; muscle cars;  drive-ins; balanced budgets; civility; morality; manners; courtesy; empathy; generosity; slide rules; disco; coal furnaces; pot; paddling; generation gap; Heckle and Jeckle, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and a host of other real cartoons; Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans; Ding Dong School; fresca; duck and cover; etc; . . . ad infinitum.

Remember those simpler times, in a world without:

computers, calculators, printers, scanners, cell phones, smart phones, video games, color TV, email and a host of other electronic gadgetry; terrorism (was somewhere else); STD's (need I elaborate?); birth control (for most ); battery operated anything except toys; Toyota, Nissan, Kia, Subaru, etc, etc, etc; bottled water; microwaves; instant anything (well, there was coffee, which, of course, no one drinks anymore); soccer; gangsta rap; . . . ad nauseum.

Remember when:

only your grandpa had a tatoo (that he got in the navy during the war); made in Japan meant piece of junk; foreign cars were made in foreign countries, and the Big Four were American; gay was straight; methedrine was made by pharmaceutical firms, not your next door neighbor; you traded knives with your friends at school; school dances were (semi)formal; your class ring (real gold) cost less than the price of a meal at Outback; unwed mothers moved away to live at a "home"; it took 30 years for your parents to pay off a $13,000 home mortgage; kids 18-20 were dying as soldiers but couldn't vote; parking led to . . . hickies; you could by a couple of gallons of gas and a pack of Marlboros for less than a buck (the Lion station on Donelson Pike had it for $0.19 a gallon once); TV had 3 channels (then we got public tv!); 'pong' was all the rage; texts were assigned for homework? . . . well, you get the picture.

Yes, I may be old, but I'm still younger than Tim and Judy and a very few of you other mugs (you can whip me if you can catch me).  But folks, it ain't near as bad as the only alternative.  Whatever our station at this point in our lives, let's just give a little thanks that we have arrived at all.  The gift of life is something that we can really begin to appreciate at this point; let's remember those of our class who have gone on before us, and do what we can in the (little?) time we have left to make our world the place we once dreamed it could be. Remember those days, when we thought we would change the world?  I mean, we were the biggest, baddest, mostest generation that ever was!  Wasn't nothin' gonna stop us . . . we'd solve every problem known to man . . . free love . . free medical . . . free energy . . . free choice . . . free lunch  . . . free . . . DOM!  Well, we better get our asses in gear, ya'll, 'cause we're running out of all of the above.  Okay, okay, enough already with the pontificating.  So what if the more things change, the more they stay the same.  LIFE is GOOD!

Best wishes to all my fellow ancients.  We have reached that place which we thought back then would be a place worse than death . . . but we have discovered otherwise.

Man, am I looking forward to seeing who (and what!) is left of that unstoppable, unbelievable, unfathomable, never-grow-old, never-gonna-be-my parents (much less grandparents), forever young, bunch of fun lovin' folks who, across the years and the distance, remain so close to my heart.

Your classmate, for ever and always; for better or worse, till death us do part.

Mike Hawkins  (aka Wolfman, Hawk, Snargins, Michael, or maybe you know me only as the goofy blond-headed kid who sold you a frog for biology and ran the 16mm projector in Conservation Club meetings)

mjhawk@dtccom.net

PS: May the upcoming event be another in a great succession of memorable reunions.  Oh, yeah, I got a haircut.

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Billy Gray Johnson

Well stop, drop and roll Horkins! 

That about says it all!

See that little "change photo" button? Try it out and put in a new picture with your new haircut.  Will the Krise sisters call you "Bee Bee Head" again?

How about those Krise sisters!!! I think Cindy got married to Bill Bevans and they live in the ole Krise House , 

In between marriages to Alison and Merri I tried to get Shawn's attention for about 6 months but she preferred some guy she knew who was writing a book about Hoboes.  She's still cuter than a scooter.

Melanie?  Ever hear from Melanie?  When she was 6 and I was 7 she got her brand new shoes all muddy walking home from school and I helped her wash the mud off in the spigot sticking out of the back of the Krise House.  Good ole' days, eh?

My younger daughter, Aubree, just finished her Masters at TN Tech in biology.  She did her thesis on Zig Zag salamanders.  I thought of you.  Remember when the Zig Zag Man had a picture of you on his T-Shirt?

Still riding moter sickles AND sailing?   Me? I'm mostly pontooning..

Billy

Jane Hall Greene

Hey Hawk!

Love it.  You have summed things up nicely.  My birthday is later this month, but I don't feel old.  I used to think 60 was ancient, but not anymore.  You just get up each day and keep going.  Some days there are more snap, crackle, and pops in the old joints, but you just keep on going.

Thanks so much for your great perspective on our lives.

I will leave you all with a quote from a refrigerator magnet I have:

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Love you all!

Jane

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Billy Gray Johnson

Hi Jane.

I think the refrigerator magnet is being a smarty pants!

b.

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Billy Gray Johnson

Tim Jones,

You there?  How's Denise doing? Inquiring minds want to know!

b.

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Billy Gray Johnson

Good morning,

How y'all doing?

I'm excited about turning 60 this year. I feel a little envious of those of you whose birthdays are this month. I have to wait till April. Wah! Gary Boles has one 1/10/2012.  Happy birthday, ole guy.

Have you noticed that the older you get the faster time seems to go! Blending psychology and Einsteinian physics I have come up with a new theory:

If one lives long enough, one will eventually break the time barrier.

billy

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Michael Hawkins

How-dee-do, ya'll!

I see me ole chum Billy-Vanilly is still up to his old habit of keeping us entertained and off balance.  Well, Cat-man, yes, I do seem to vaguely remember some times some time ago involving certain Cumberland Circle residents of the female persuasion.  I kept a path worn between there and your back yard for a while back then.  Something about a crackling fire, starry sky, and close companions make for great memories.  Were they really that good (I ain't just talkin' 'bout the times, neither)?  Hell, yeah, they were!  Oh, well, that chapter is written, and it's one for the ages.  You do get me wondering about those Krises-  heard that Cindy, our beguiling enigma wrapped in an impenetrable mystery, had married my old BB teammate.  His ditching the reunion left me unsatisfied; I hope that someone can change that this time.  As for Shawn, ran across her years ago; she had taken a photography class that my sister-in-law was teaching at Nashville Tech.  Then there's you-know-who, MAK, who broke my heart, but I richly deserved it.  Amazing how we can ignore and mistreat those we love the most.  I do hope that life has worked out for her as great as it has for me.  She certainly deserves it.

So Aubrey has taken up herpetology- GREAT!  I can easily picture her poking about in the wild, fascinated by the life teeming therein.  And what of Colleen and Charlene?  I hope they are well, as well.  Say hey to Merri.

Oh, yeah, almost forgot the main reason for this note:  my new improved model 60 look, sans cheveux!  See photo.

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Michael Hawkins

Hey Jane,

My fridge magnet has an image of Genghis Khan on it.  Now that's ancient.  And you've hit the nail on the head- you're as old as you feel.  I'm feeling nothing right now (hmmm, can you guess why?).  Does that mean I'm ageless?

Your homeroom compadre

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Billy Gray Johnson

Hey Jane and Hawk,

I remember y'all goofing around at DHS calling one another "MR. HAWKINS" and "MISS JANE" one day.  I could give more details but it makes Sandy Ledbetter (Black) angry that I can remember things she can't. But it WAS cute. 

Speaking of Hawks, my liddle brother, Alan, has taken up falconeering.  He's got a young female red tail that he's taught to fly around then fly back to him.  Actually I think it probably figured out how to fly around on its own.  It was flying back to him that would never have occurred to it without a little Skinnerian coaxing.

Jane, you're still cuter than a scooter, and Hawk, so are you but in a very different way than Jane.

Sincerely,

billy

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Jim Walton

Great synopsis Mike! I enjoyed it all. I am so looking forward to our reunion again. Glad to see the messages picking up again! I know we are getting older but ya know I have enjoyed every step of life, good and the not so. DHS days were some of the best. Again, as Mr Sain said at our graduation, "You have just come through the best times of your life and dont even know it!" He was right and some of the best friends we will ever have came from then as well. I cant help but remember Billy as one of my longest friends. I dont even remember when we first started getting togheter but I know we were little things. Ok Billy, I always admired you and the way you always handled things!. You are and always were and admirable person! You too Mike, you rate high up my ladder of great folks I get to call friend! I have just known Billy longer. All the best to both you guys! And your picture looks great Mike!

===JIM===

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Billy Gray Johnson

Well bust my buttons Jimbo! 

We go back to age six.  I always thought you were extremely cool.  You had a huge imagination and you always seemed like you were trying very hard to suppress a smile and you couldn't quite do it.   Your Mom was way cool also.  I remember she had beautiful dark eyes.  She was the first person I knew who got contact lenses.  I was very envious because I had to wear coke bottle bottom glasses that kept getting broken on the playground!  I had to wait till I was 17 before my eye doctor would let me try contacts.  Then my troubles really began.  All the girls thought I was so cute without the glasses that I had to fight them off like Papparazi!  If you believe that, I've got some ocean front property in Overton county you might be interested in!!!  Maybe we can get our classmates to get back on line with us.  Surely we aren't the only ones with big imaginations and drop dead good looks!!  Well, Hawkins might qualify......

B.

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Billy Gray Johnson

Hi Jane (Hall) (Greene),

Yeah those rice krispies can be annoying!  You doing good?

b.

Jane Hall Greene

Quite the handsome picture, Mr. Hawkins.  Like a fine wine...mellowing with age.

I am a little envious of some of your stories that go back to the friends you all had in grade school that carried on  through high school. 

I went to Catholic grade school for 8 years, and my friends and classmates  went on to St. Bernard's or Father Ryan. Not only was I sad because I couldn't join them, I was ashamed to tell them that my parents couldn't afford the tuition at the Catholic high schools.  It was pretty scary to change schools under those circumstances, and It took a while to really feel like a legitimate member of DHS.  

Mike Hawkins, you probably don't know this, but you were the first person to make me feel welcome in Miss Susie Irvin's homeroom!  Before long, I was looking forward to going to school, and I thank you for that, Hawk. 

Now I feel closer to my classmates than ever before.  We have all been through many trials and joys, but those 4 years will always be some of the best memories I will ever have (not counting children and grandchildren, of course).  I'm so glad we are staying connected and look forward to seeing so many wonderful people in June.

Still holding at 59 - for a few more days that is. 

Love ya,

Jane

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Billy Gray Johnson

Jane,

We couldn't have afforded to go to private or Catholic schools, either.  Well, maybe Jim Walton!  But most of us were in the same Ramen-Noodle-Every-Night budget as you.  We had walking wounded WWII daddies who drank too much.  We scrimped and saved to buy clothes at Castner Knott.  We did without.  But we all had the most wonderful treasures and didn't even know it.  We had each other.

b.

Jane Hall Greene

Thanks Billy.  I love you for that response.

JHG

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Billy Gray Johnson

Hi Jane,

it is a positive argument for the Internet and for the First Amendment.

b.

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Jim Walton

Jane I never had any idea of your reservations. You always seemed so laid back and cool too! You did well girl. I didnt get into class functions that much due to band and work taking most of my time but I could tell you were very active.

Billy I have always stood  amazed at your mom. Best looking Mom and teacher I ever knew. Seeing her at the reunion she had changed little. I always liked her and thought she was a good teacher even though I caused trouble in her class. Anyway wanted you to know that. I read your note to my mom and she just hee hawwed. She was amazed at your memory too.

all the best,

===JIM===

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Billy Gray Johnson

Jimbo,

Laughter is the best medicine.  Studies support this, too.  If I caused a good Hee Haw, I have succeeded in life.

Thanks for sharing that with me.

fondest regards,

billy

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Jim Walton

uhhhh.........

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Jim Walton

Bawahahaha....  Your a nut my friend!  I was trying to figure out where that was going. Its you! We all have our own idiosyncrasies. I am sitting here early on a Saturday morning in my office upgrading computer equipment. Go figure....

===JIM===

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Jerry Wright

Barry, I knew you had to finish in summer school...just did not know all the details till just now when I read your profile. You go guy!!

Sounds like you have been a very busy guy since DHS!!

Jerry Wright

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Billy Gray Johnson

Hey Jerry,

Good to see you man!  I remember you were a math, chemistry and physics wizard at DHS.  Now you're looking a little like the Wizard of OZ!  Didn't you go into engineering?

b.

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Billy Gray Johnson

Hey Barry! 

Howaya? I've never done Facebook.  This DHS site is the only experience I've ever had with on-line social interactions.  I may have to try the Facebook thing. 

The DHS site has been a good experience in some ways, and I've tried to fan the embers to keep it alive. But I also find it rather lacking in give-and-take interactions.  Experts might say "it has weak social reciprocity."

I'm looking forward to face-to-face interactions at the 60th Birthday Party this June.

c'ya

b.

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Jim Walton

I can ALWAYS get a laugh outta Dr Johnson's posts!  Wizard of oz............  geese Jerry that's a good one but you are a friend so I can say it, He's RIght! Better than the rest of us I guess who don't look like much of anything! BAWHAHAHAHAHa.

Barry you were always a ultra cool guy. Its funny to hear all these insecurities being admitted too now. Geese the only thing I was scared of was girls.....  uh  things change!

Alright Billy....we need you over on Facebook and you WILL ENJOY IT!  That is an order! (grin)  Go for it man, you don't know what you are missing.  Friend me as soon as you get there.

===JIM===