I so
enjoyed the email from Harry Dunford, and really did enjoy the website on
Lafayette Co. Keep up the good work. Apparently it is done by his
cousin. Brings back lots of memories.
And what
would a TLC be without Jack
Gueguen:
Just for the record: Esther
Bowers hired me to help out at the original (Odessa) shop next to the Mattingly
offices when I was a wee lad of eleven-going-on-twelve (in May of 1945); our
family had recently returned to Lexington from K.C., where papa was working at
the main office of the Corps of Engineers downtown during the final years of the
War. My wages were 15 cents an hour, but employees also got to take home a
pint of ice cream every night. This was the first milestone among my many
"career changes" because it required me to get my social security card
(which I still carry in my wallet). My last chore of the day was to take
all the empty ice cream containers out back and burn them (this was way before
anybody was concerned about spoiling the air). The only co-worker I
remember (she was a couple of years older) was Zelma Wilmot, whom I used to
tease (as I did my little sisters) when Mrs. Bowers was on break at her home
down the street. Once in a while Zelma and I would take hikes along the
bluffs and the river bank taking pictures with my tiny Brownie. (I could
have become a photo journalist.)
If Shirley Briggle Miller is looking for reasons
why our family won out
over hers when Esther retired, it might be because I
had "seniority." My earliest "resume," dated 11/22/57
says that my "title" was "soda fountain attendant" and that
the cause of my termination was "outgrew the job." I'm not sure
that is quite accurate, because I was still helping out as a Wentworth cadet
when my mom finished her stint as manager in Sept.
'52.
And I think I still remember how to make the
Odessa specialties even now. By the way, Odessa Ice Cream was still being sold
in the county as recently as the early '90s when I would come home to visit
mom. And it still tasted the same. (Surely there will be some at the
Labor Day reunion!?)
My sister Mary Pat and I visited Esther and Jimmy
Bowers in their
retirement home on Baltimore in K.C. a couple of years before
they died within 7 months of each other (he in Sept., '98; she in July
'99). She was well into her '90s and as cheerful and sharp as ever.
Her devoted husband, Leroy (who drove commuters like me back and forth to
downtown K.C. on the Greyhound in the '40s and '50s) had died in 1958. I
was still exchanging birthday greetings with Esther every year until the year
before she died (she still called me Jackie). A grand old lady of the sort
that built Lexington and helped to give us our
start.
The hardest
part of my job in the first summer was satisfying a persistent customer (a man
highly placed in the community--maybe a banker--whose name I don't remember) who
came in for a "hand-packed" quart--always during "a
rush."
The funniest customer I remember (a few summers later) was a
big lady from Rhode Island, passing through town with her husband, who asked me
how much further they would need to travel west until they "came to the
Indians." I doubt if I gave her a very well-informed reply, never
having studied the subject. But if it happened now, I could think of some
amusing answers.
And even more Gueguens:
Hello
All from Joyce Gueguen Ramsey
I almost fell off my
chair reading Lucia Cope's treatise on Bruna McGuire - can't tell you the times
I used to cut her article out & share it with classmates/friends/interested
observers/etc., who would laugh with me until the tears came. Gosh, if I
had only known that I could have gotten an autographed picture or some
correspondence with her, I would have been set for life. What a character
& we all loved her. I bet somewhere in this house I still have
some copies of her greatest. Loved hearing from Mary Jo Smith - she &
Sharon were great friends & we have been to Buffalo, either en route to son,
Chris' house in Pittsford (Rochester) or, with he & family, to Niagara
Falls. Surely would have tried to find her & will the next time.
The other sons, Casey, Michael, & Marc, with Joe & I, were just up there
in Feb. for Chris' 40th surprise party. (Yes, 40th)
Duncan
Lee, Loretta is alive & well in Russellville, MO, email address is brokem@socket.net - check with her there,
I'll let her tell you her own story.
Enjoy
hearing Shirley Briggle's interesting stories, even Jerry Jones' house (even tho
I have never or ever will be a Dallas fan - was always loyal to the HOUSTON
Oilers). Too bad our paths have never crossed - wish I had a nickel for
all the times we have been in the Dallas vicinity, either going thru to visit
relatives north, to see son, Michael & family in McKinney, close by in Fort
Worth when Michael was at TCU, & Marc with wife lives in Lakeside.
Several TX Assoc. of Vocational Nurse Educators conventions have been held
there, too.
Heard,
sort of, from Mikle Fenner, but nothing related to memories we shared.
Also, Susan, wondering about Gordon & Jeanene Wright - we saw them last June
in KC - tell them hello. Looks like, from the pictures someone sent me in
the Lex paper, Connie Beretta & I were the only ones, practically, who
missed the class reunion. Would love to hear from any & all of
you. Melba Redden hasn't changed a bit!!!!
Enjoy the
TLC, Susan, & thanks. Looking forward to the next
time.
And yet another Gueguen! From Mary Pat Miller
>WHO IN THE WORLD IS
BRUNA MCGUIRE???????????????????
And from Jim '49 O'Malley
Hi Susan: What's all
this stuff about Bruna McGuire? I guess all this happened after I'd left
Lexington. I wonder if someone could check the newspaper files at the
Lexington News office or the public library and find an old column or two to
share with us. Bruna must have had a rare talent to be remembered by so
many after such a long time. Maybe our good friend Harry Dunford could dig some
up. Susan, here's an idea for the readership. This TLC thing is
developing into quite an exciting group. Why not have a
TLC
reunion (or festival?) in Lexington sometime soon? What a grand
time we could have just visiting and getting reacquainted with old friends and
new!
Ellie and I are doing
fine. Tell Ken and everyone hi for us.
Here's an old one from Mike McDonald
Keep the news of Lexington coming. I have not been back for about
15 months (Editor: Now it's been 18 months or more) and the changes that you
mention are impressive. If you don't mind me getting personal, I have a
few memories of your Dad that I want to share with you. I was in the 8th
grade and had been working at the newspaper several years when your Dad bought
it and you guys moved to Lexington. I threw newspapers for the first year
or so and then was lucky to get the mailers job. In this job I was
responsible for counting every newspaper for every guy delivering a route and
also addressing and mailing every newspaper for out-of-town delivery.
Near the end of August, before I started at LHS, your Dad invited all the
adults to a party at the country club, a picnic on a Friday evening. I was
invited and everyone was told to bring the wife or girl friend. None of
the newspaper boys were invited so I really felt mature and privileged. I
did not have either a wife or a girl friend but decided it was high time to get
started. I decided to invite a classmate from the Catholic grade
school. She lived in the country just outside of town and I rode my
bicycle over there and nearly had a heart attack when I finally approached the
house. I've never been more nervous in my entire life. Her family
was nice, and so was she, and after some small talk she agreed to go and even
seemed pleased at the same time. You may wonder why I've bothered to tell
you all this. I just wanted you to know that your Dad was really the cause
and responsible for my first date. I always liked your Dad's personality
and especially liked all his editorials and columns in the newspaper.
From Duane
Schlueter
Susan-------I still remember when Mom
received recognition for having the "Yard of the Month." She was
absolutely thrilled and so happy. She loved her flowers, especially her
roses, and the big tree.
I was surprised to hear your father was John
Shea. I worked for the Lexington Advertiser for a number of years even
back when Harry Booth managed the paper. In the mid-40s I had a paper
route, Main Street plus Wentworth, 23rd and 24th streets. Later I
was the "Clean Up Boy", a better name would probably be custodian and
from there I moved up to the mailer position.
That position involved counting out papers
to the carriers, addressing outgoing papers and taking them to the bus
station and the post office. I was in the chips making 40 cents as
hour. A fellow by the name of Mackey ran the
press. I also worked some week-ends putting out
publications for Wentworth.
Short summary of my life: After
college I received a teaching position here in Jeff. City and taught for 13
years. Then I accepted an elementary principal's position which I had from
67 to 96. Today I enjoy yard work, spending time at our place on the lake,
traveling, playing some golf, and enjoying the
grandchildren.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * *
Editor: Isn't it amazing the similarities
in life growing up in Lexington? So many have mentioned feeling "safe"
and also, as children, leaving the house in the morning and not coming home
until dinner time. And no one wondered. Personally I always felt all grown-ups
were surrogate parents, teachers were gods who lived at the school (i.e. no life
away from the school), and they were all completely without fault or
frailty.
Now...Bruna McGuire. I had to explain
individually several times, so here goes again. Bruna wrote the Hardin news for
the Lexington paper. She had a, well, homey style of writing. A sort
of stream-of-consciousness type that include miniscule detail on occasion.
"The cake had tiny rosebuds on the icing." She may have, however,
written in complete sentences, unlike the one I delivered mid-way through this
paragraph.
We'll work on rounding up some samples of her
columns for the underprivileged who never had a chance to enjoy
them.
Do write soon. Others are waiting to hear from
you.
Your faithful scribe,
Susan
TLC #15: June 7, 2001