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I think I can do much more in this format....We will see how it works.

Happy Birthday:
Paul (where's my racket?) Stougard.....Paul's birthday was last week and rumor is he spent the day playing tennis!! .any others? I found this old photo.....could it be a picture of Stougard and Moorhouse?.....they were pretty cool guys......hmmmmm

Other birthdays in February: James Grant Tracy, Feb. 26........and I think? Fritz Rudi's in February too.....(I do not have very many on my list.....email me yours if you would like)

Let's start with some GOOD NEWS!!

Jim Tracy is home from his quadruple heart bi-pass operation.....and he is doing pretty well....but there are some complications......Ornery as ever, some are saying....He drove uptown once by himself....Ever drive in Orem, Utah?....it takes guts, courage and nerves of steel.....Especially when riding with Jim.....He says he is losing lots of weight, no appetitive, which is concerning....but he sounds great on the phone. Pictured is James, DBT and my last brother, Randy, this past summer.

Now some SAD NEWS.....
Warren Riedesel's brother passed away recently...Cal....who has been fighting tough times for many years.......CLICK HERE FOR CAL'S OBITUARY AND INFORMATION ON SERVICES. Make sure you hit the "read more" button for visitation and service times. Prayers for Cal and the entire Riedesel family......God Bless

"REV", a friend to many 68ers, from Coon Rapids, passed away a couple of weeks ago.

More tough health news.....
Roger Knute is fighting some serious health issues.....I do not have the specifics...but hang in there Roger.....Roger lives in Glidden.........Allan Free's wife is battling serious health problems....prayers for Allan and his family.....

Many of us are fighting hearing, vision, heart problems, cancer etc. not only classmates, but spouses, relatives and friends......be Wildcat Tough....and remember you have friends out here.....

I Remember:

Music......late 1950's-early 60's......First time I ever heard an Elvis record on the radio was "Hound Dog"....first time I ever played a rock and roll record was at the Douglas house in Gary's room (he would have killed us.....) Rick and I played an Elvis record....All Shok Up ..I remember commenting that Elvis would never be a star with a name like that...and what is a pelvis......(wrong again).....

We listened to records in the Moorhouse basement while playing pool....probably Marty's music.....and in Fritz's house, I heard comedy albums and folk music for the first time.......Tryons were too poor, but we did have a Big Bad Wolf Disney-turn the book record and I do remember Oh, Cindy by Eddie Fisher and our big one....Witch Doctor by David Seville......I also remember begging Mom to buy a Jimmy Rogers recording of Honeycomb...which melted in the back window of our car on the way home from Carroll.........funny how those things stick.....

Well, @ the Rudi's, I remember the 5 of us boys trying to sing Kingston Trio songs......I think someone even had a tape recorder. (not me).....result was not the best....people laughed

Eventually the Five Boys grew up......and they still GOT IT......

in order, left to right:
Dickie, Jimmy, Ricky, Steveie and Fritz......
5 Neat Guys (aka The Back Alley Boys)

Hit Play, You May Have To Skip An Ad.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Just The Facts, Jack.....
In 1960.....if you would have put a $1,000 in a piggy bank or under your mattress....today it would be worth?

.......$200........

What?........it's called INFLATION......(a silent tax on everyone)......and don't get too excited about your higher social security check.....(why? Check went up *8%+...same as inflation? right?)......WRONG.....recently the government changed the way they calculate inflation.....they do not include fuel or most food.....What?.....inflation is WAY higher than 8%......check out eggs.....been to the grocery store lately......what a racket.....

What causes inflation?......Well, according to my favorite economists.....Milton Friedman and wife, Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams.....(I read their books).....there is only ONE cause of inflation.....One!!......EXCESSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING.....check our 33 Trillion Dollar debt that is probably way higher when you add social security, illegal, free benefits etc.  And I am NOT being political.....BOTH political parties are responsible....

Remember:
One MILLION seconds = 12 days
One BILLION seconds = 31 years!
One Trillion seconds = 31,688 years !!!!