Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/11/05
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11 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Dave Brusie ('51), Dick Epler ('52)
Burt Pierard ('59), Mary Ray ('61)
Roy Ballard ('63), Carol Converse ('64)
Linda Reining ('64), Rick Maddy ('67)
Clif Edwards ('68), Lynn-Marie Hatcher ('68)
Zorba Manolopoulos ('91)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Yesterday (5/10): Dwayne Bussman ('98)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill McCue ('51)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dave Doran ('72)
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Dave Brusie ('51)
To: Kirk Vitulli (Art Dawald's grandson)
Re: Your Grandparents
I sent you the message to tell your mother hello for me. I hope
you told her. From what I gathered you mentioned Dick Harris to your
mother about the prawns. It was I that mentioned the prawns. The point
is I hope you said hello to your mother for me. I didn't realize that
your Uncle Richard was probably overseas. Years ago he was a mailman
in either Spokane or Walla Walla. Thanks my friend.
To: Dick Harris ('49)
Re: Saddle Shoes & Cords!!
The saddle shoes with the red soles... what a classic. You can
hardly find them any more?? My mother took my cords and split them
and dyed one side green and the other side gold and then sewed them
back to the original form. Great combination.
Best to you my friend!!
-Dave Brusie ('51)
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>>From: Dick Epler ('52)
Re: Bombers RVing
http://richlandbombers.com/Xtra05/050511-Epler/00.html
To: Fellow motorhomer and classmate Marilyn "Em" Devine ('52) from the
Eplers (Dick ('52), and Madelyn Hinson ('52)) and the Holemans (Keith
('49), and Sharon Telfer ('54)):
Em, we enjoyed reading about your motorhoming adventures last week, in
part because we've been down many of the same roads in previous years
often with the Holemans who first introduced us to motorhoming in '99.
As it turns out, we're on just such an adventure now as I'm writing
this from the Majestic Oaks RV Park here at the Lake of the Ozarks in
Missouri. As RV Parks go, this is one of the best.
For the rest of you: If you have a bit of pioneer spirit, and like
adventure, you'll love motorhoming and I highly recommend it. As Em
implied, motorhomes occasionally break, roads occasionally get bumpy,
and weather is always a factor... but we love it. As Robert De Nero
said in "Meet the Fockers" (paraphrasing) "it's nice to have your own
Posturepedic bed, your own kitchen, and your own entertainment center
when you travel." And you don't feel like you're imposing so much when
you visit relatives and friends.
In a few days, we'll be visiting son #3, Rob and Jamie, in Ozark, MO
and our four youngest grandchildren. Later, we'll be taking son #1
(Funny Car Driver Jim Epler) and his daughter Megan back to San Diego.
We expect to have more adventures on the way.
Separately I've sent a few photos. I need to point out that the
McGee's B&B, mentioned in one of the photos, is the new home of
Sondra Telfer McGee ('60) and Jack McGee ('60).
-Dick Epler ('52)
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>>From: Burt Pierard ('59)
To: Grace DeVincentis Spice ('50WB)
Re: Italian POWs
Thanks for the interesting stories about the Italian POWs AT PASCO.
People should recognize that these tales, although thoroughly
enlightening, have nothing to do with the original debate which
was whether there were ANY Italian POWs AT COLUMBIA CAMP.
Since I only learned of the Pasco POW Camp & Italian Service Units
(ISUs) a few weeks ago, I welcome and encourage anybody else to
contribute to our common knowledge base. This is what makes the
Sandstorm great.
I did notice that everyone who tried checking out additional sources
concerning Columbia Camp have all contributed more documentation to
support my original thesis, namely, NO POWs (Italian or German) at
that location.
Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland
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>>From: Mary Ray ('61)
To: Maren and those who write to me
Scratch the new email address that I posted in yesterday's
Sandstorm. I decided the one looked too much like an "l" and might
be confusing so I changed it to: mah6@earthlink.net
Have a great day!
-Mary Ray ('61)
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>>From: Roy Ballard (Gold Medal Class of '63)
To: Bill Scott ('64)
Re: living in Richland
Well, I've lived here in Richland for app. 58 + years now, and
have been around the world and in many cities and countries. I thought
that there were 2 places that I thought that were better than where I
grew up, one being Alaska and the other Malaya. But after going back
to both I found that there was no place like home. Looking at the
hills around the dead sea in Israel, to me is very beautiful, but then
my taste may be different than yours. If you want to be in an ugly
place try Karachi, Pakistan, now that is a dirty, ugly place. I would
never go back to that place, whereas Thailand, I believe is very
pretty. Vietnam in its own way is also pretty, but I don't know if I'd
ever go back. So everyone has there own place that they like to call
home and that is just great, but the beauty is in the eye of the
beholder and that is also very wonderful. Don't get me wrong,
California is great and has lots of good points, but so does Richland.
I don't like what's going on in our state government, but then
that is another story, But then just my opinion.
Have a nice day, Bill, and to everyone wherever you are.
-Roy Ballard (Gold Medal Class of '63) ~ Richland
P.S. Try the Scandinavian countries, they are also great (in
my opinion).
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>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: Bill Scott ('64)
I'll have to agree with you, Bill, about moving back to Richland.
Whenever we go back for a reunion, I find that it's lost it's charm.
Way too large a city for me now. I love being on the coast of
California for now, but I need more sun and a bit more heat, so don't
know if I can say that I want to be here the rest of my life, but
move back to Richland - naw.
-Carol Converse Maurer ('64) ~ Eureka, C a - where the rain has gone
and the sun is here for the rest of the week - I hope!
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
To: Bill Scott ('64)
Re: Moving back to Richland
I moved away from Richland when I got married (1967) and have
lived in the Seattle area, on Vashon Island (which is absolutely
beautiful), Astoria, Oregon, before moving to Southern California,
living there for over 20 years, and then settling in Bakersfield, CA
for almost 20 years... this is now home, as long as this is where my
kids and grandkids live... Bakersfield has a lot in common with
Richland... the heat, the cold, with NO snow, it is desert, and I
guess you could say it is ugly, but I don't see the ugliness, just
like I don't see the ugliness in Richland... I have a warm place in my
heart for my hometown and I still miss it! IF I could convince my kids
to move there, I would come home in a "New York minute"! as for the
ugliness... I don't see that, never did! Richland will always be HOME
and I still miss not living there!
-Linda Reining ('64) ~ Bakersfield, CA ~ supposed to be high 80s, low
90s by the weekend... the heat is fast arriving and will
be here too blasted long!
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>>From: Rick Maddy ('67)
To: Bill Scott ('64)
To: Doug Ufkes'('68)
Re: desire to move back to Richland
I seem to agree with both of you. Not as a cop-out, but just an
opinion after living all over Washington state and traveling around
the United States. I was questioned one time by this guy saying, "How
can you have an opinion on living anyplace after visiting for three
days!?" I had mentioned that I was in Biloxi, MS on this man-made
beach, it was 103°, 90% humidity, no cooling breeze because it was
simply hot wet air in my face, water temp was bathwater and one person
on a beach towel about 1000 yards away, but may have been a mirage
coming off the heated sand. I didn't need day two to make up my
mind that I would NOT be living there in this lifetime. Not enough
stimulation, or maybe it was too much. Nevertheless, for those that
do not know better and have never been out of that county, it was an
offensive statement.
I lived on Maui for two and a half years. Being retired, how many
times does a person need to go to Lahaina and eat at Cheeseburgers in
Paradise? I put only 7000 miles on my truck while living in one of the
most beautiful places on earth and covered it more than a few times. I
didn't get "island fever." I got bored. There are those impromptu
moments I need to get into my truck and drive a few hundred miles or
more. On Maui if I drove thirty miles I was on Molokai.
After visiting Juarez, El Paso and San Antonio, TX, I told this
guy the United States could give it all back to the Mexicans south of
the Columbia River and east of Butte, MT. I had to change my moniker
and password after that one.
Now I live in Huntington Beach, CA. I detest the freeway, the
crowds everywhere you go. Cannot get away from people
I could go on
and on. No habla Espanol. But, I'm not bored here. I love HB. Not
sure when the divorce will be.
I have come to the conclusion that no matter where I go, no matter
where I live, it will not take long before I start wondering how it is
anyone could possibly live there. And then I will move... again.
-Rick Maddy ('67)
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>>From: Clif Edwards ('68)
To: Doug Ufkes ('68)
Re: Returning to the Pacific Northwest
Doug, I couldn't agree with you more. I left Richland the fall of
'68 and basically never returned. I am not a world traveler, but I
traveled for many years for 30 to 40 weeks a year throughout the
United States and Canada. We now live in Vancouver, WA, and I am
NEVER at a lose to look forward to coming home. We lived for two
years in Grand Rapids, MI; I loved the people but hated the weather.
I had opportunities to move to Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, California,
and several other states. I call the Northwest the "Nation's best kept
secret" because when people visit and it is rainy or hot or whatever,
they go home and tell people it always rains in Seattle and Portland.
It rains quite a bit here on occasion but it is the prettiest place on
earth pretty consistently. I still love the Tri-Cities and it will
always be home - both my parents are laid to rest there - and I travel
there for business. As a whole the Northwest is the best ever.
Here are a couple little known things about the NW. Washington is the
only state in the union that has all the geographical areas, desert,
rain forest, mountains, and plains. Portland is the only city in the
US with an active volcano inside the city limits; Mt Tabor. The three
largest metropolitan areas are Seattle, Portland, Boise. Spokane
follows as fourth. Here's one for all you weary travelers; Portland
has the highest per capita rate of strip bars. This one is something
of lore because I wouldn't know for sure. :-)?
My sister, Vernita ('65) lives outside Atlanta and is looking forward
to traveling after retiring and coming "back home" to the Northwest.
I love the Northwest!
That's all for now.
-Clif Edwards ('68) ~ Vancouver, WA - 60°, light rain, and beautiful.
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>>From: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68)
To: Bill Scott ('64) & Doug Ufkes ('68)
Re: Desire to move back to Richland
These two posts were so timely for me, as Richland was one of the
spots we were considering as I engaged in negotiations for my first
psychiatric nurse practitioner position. Today (5/10) I am signing a
contract that takes us to the Lewiston/Clarkston area plans now are
to live east of Lewiston. If we like it there after 6 12 months of
leasing, we will buy our 30 acres or so. But that's not my point.
Graduating in '68, I lived in Richland until '69, then moved back
and forth from there to several points throughout the northwest and
Colorado over the years. I always ended up "back home" in the end,
though.
When I moved to Spokane to go to grad school, I swore I would
never go back to Richland to live. During our discussions of possible
locales, Thomas (who had never moved back since about 1970) expressed
the pull that 'going home' was having on him. We seriously looked at
several properties in Prosser, Grandview, etc., in keeping with the
possibility of ending up back in the area because, having been
through it many times myself, I knew what that powerful pull felt
like. But in the end I realized that I really could not 'go home
again'.
Richland was an incredible place to grow up. And for those of us
(1) blessed to be married to someone who grew up there, too, and/or
(2) subscribed to the Sandstorm, that Richland remains alive and well
- albeit in hearts and memory only now.
For me, as Bill Scott said, although Richland is certainly
preferable to a great many other areas, it is no longer what it once
was. The cohesiveness, the uniqueness, the heart and soul of the town
have all been diminished and diluted over the years. Now Richland is
just like many, many other towns of its size across the nation
again, better in many ways, but no longer truly unique except in the
hearts of us who remember it that way.
For those Bombers who happily live in Richland today, I am glad
that you have found it to be the right place for you. I wish you
continued contentment and life-joy there. And Doug (Ufkes '68), I
hope you find those things there should you ever be able to move back.
But for me, even visiting Richland has become a sad affair. In my
experience, too much is gone not so much in terms of the physical
structures, but, again, in terms of the heart and soul.
Bill Scott talked about the weather, etc. That's not what will
keep me away. In fact it seems that the weather in Richland is far
more temperate now than in the '50s and even the '60s. What will keep
me away is that every time I go back, I re-experience to a greater
degree the loss of what once was.
So we will put down roots elsewhere now. Our grandchildren (now
and future) will hear endless stories of "back home when we were
growing up in a special place out of time called Richland". But for
them, we pray that their "home place" will be Grandma Lynnie and Opa's
farm.
Blessings to all, regardless of where your life path calls you
-Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68)
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>>From: Zorba Manolopoulos ('91)
Re: RHS Tournament - Call for Jerseys
I will be ordering jerseys/shorts on May 14th. This way they will
be ready for the basketball tournament on June 17th.
I will be ordering some extras, but the extras may not cover all
who sign up after May 13th. So if you are planning on playing this
year and just haven't registered yet, now is the time. If you didn't
receive an application in the mail (then I don't have your address :)
you can go to http://www.rhssf.org/tournament/ and download an
application there.
If you register before May 13th, then there will be a jersey
reserved for you. After May 13th, it will be in order of registration
until the extras run out. Also, numbers on your jersey and shorts will
not be available after May 13th.
Since May 13th is this week, I want to make sure I get your jersey
order. So do one of three things:
1. Register Online - I get the information instantly and will add it
to the order.
2. Hand carry your application to 1407 Sunset in Richland. I will be
going through all the applications on the 13th to get jersey orders.
3. If you have to mail your application, send me an email and tell me
it is "in the mail". Email me the jersey size you put down.
I look forward to seeing you all at the tournament.
-Zorba Manolopoulos ('91) ~ 503-830-6961
http://www.rhssf.org/tournament/
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Funeral Notice scanned from the TCHerald
by Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
>>Patsy Verellen Thibodeau ('50) ~ 9/7/33 - 5/5/05
http://RichlandBombers.com/FuneralNotices.html
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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