Time marches on—straight into March, but as my fingers hit keys it’s still early Jan, early enough to be crossing out 97s and writing in 98s while mentally kicking one’s self for thinking inefficiently. Did you resolve this year? I did. I’m going to try to move the 10K time closer to my age than my older brother’s. Unfortunately, this will involve lifting weights, memories of which I recall unfondly. What I do recall are quaking muscles demanding that I cease delivering them into pain and let them return to their natural, flaccid state there to wallow in permanent, contented idleness in a place midway between flexion and extension. Once, I’d have been happy to oblige them, but lately my post-shower reflection in the mirror prompts a different course of action looking, as I do, more like a Hershey’s kiss than the sculpted Adonis of days long past. What’s that you say, dear? Something about smoking Crayolas? Time marches on and now I’ll march off in a different direction.
News the past month or so was plentiful so let’s step off smartly on the left foot with a quick email change from Bob Kennington. Bob says it’s now RKenning81@aol.com vice BobK81@aol.com and, you know what’s really cool? As I finished typing each of those email addresses, Word 97 recognized that they were email addresses and turned them blue so my cursor turns into a little hand with an index finger when I hover nearby and I could point and click and send email straight from the document. Now that’s technology and thank you, Mr. Gates.
Gene Sedy writes of yet another 81er being placed in the position of ultimate authority. The Naval Message reads "AT 1400Z I RELIEVED CDR THOMAS W. HILLS AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF STRIKE FIGHTER SQUADRON THREE FOUR" and it’s released by our very own Chip Miller. Congrats, Chip, and may your Sea State be zero for all your traps.
John Parkinson has new contact info which I’m not sure if I previously listed and, since I’m too lazy to check, I’ll simply list it again. John and Laurie are at 621 Cobh Road, Rivervale, NJ 07675, (H) 201-476-9258, email: Jparkinson@oru.com. Parky’s now with Orange & Rockland and, no, the road’s not misspelled.
Now, let’s column right (Get it? Column? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha . . . Stop it, Ciccarelli, you’re killing us . . . O.K., I’m better now). Off to where lobsters once played "The World Turned Upside Down" and Steve Hampton and family. Steve’s 5th Co. and others update:
"The Hamptons are wife, Terrie, who still works part-time for American Airlines out of DC National, plus our two daughters, Cassandra, 8, and Carlie, 7. They’re in grade school at Yorktown Elementary and have big $ contracts on York County Little League and soccer teams and neighborhood swim teams. As Terrie and the kids rake in big bucks (not), my naval career continues. I’m at CINLANTFLT in the N8 Directorate (email: N819@clf.navy.mil), having recently transferred from CDS-26 following a rewarding tour as Chief of Staff. I’ll be here for about another year before going to the command pipeline in early 1999. I only got to call Frank Caldwell at the PACFLT N8 staff once before he left for the PCO (subs) pipeline, but I will struggle on in "N8 Land" without Frank’s advice.
The best parts of the job is that we get to remain in our house in Yorktown, VA for several more years and I get to see a lot of classmates as the 81 Norfolk lunch bunch is very active. Here is the latest from my 5th Co. mail & gossip list.
Tilghman Payne, my roommate and soul mate and last of the 5th Co. singles, will bite the dust on January 10th and marry the lovely (read on, she’s talented, too) Suzanne Thibualt (UVA grad and State Dept type). By the time anyone reads this, the beer and G&Ts will be gone, Betsy and I will have surfed on Joe Reynolds’ back, the Mack the Knife singers will have sung the final note of the flip side (Beyond the Sea), and Tilghman will no longer be in the dating pool (Would you like some fresh ground pepper with your dirt, sir?). When not doing the wedding thing, Tilghman works at CNO N869 in DC.
Pat Roane, another roommate and soul mate, is now settled in Springfield, VA and works at CNO as N865G (AEGIS Destroyer guy). He and Elizabeth are raising two daughters, Virginia and Merideth. They also keep a horse, a dog, some hamsters, and other wildlife. Pat and Tilghman cycle frequently and are in continuous preparation for the next big century ride. They let me ride with them sometimes just so I can be as cool, but only if I wear one of Tilghman’s cycle jerseys.
Mike Matthes now lives in Norfolk with Mara and four lovely daughters. Mike has always surrounded himself with women. He completed PCO, won the PCO golf scramble, and takes command of the mighty (and well-named) USS HAMPTON on January 9th. It’s a boat destined to be great.
Kim Hauer, fellow cheesehead, lives in SC with wife, Kathy, and two athletic kids, Christine, 10, and Patrick, 6. Kim reports that he is still working at the Savannah River Site (nuke stuff) and that Kathy is running road races and working as a technical editor at Tetratek. The kids are immersed in scouts and sports.
Joe Reynolds, a Harvard Law grad, is working for Raytheon. Joe and wife, Betsy (a cheesehead HS classmate of mine) are raising four kids in Lexington, MA where they purchased a home this past year. They have been caught up in many remodeling projects and transporting children to sporting events. Betsy reports that Joe is doing great and they even have time for the occasional golf game.
Mike McGuire is married to the lovely Susan and was seen at VADM Katz’s retirement last June. Mike and Susan were introduced by Mrs. Katz. Mike is still with GE Marine Systems working the international gas turbine market out of Cincinnati (And you thought Cincy only had farmers’ markets).
Sharon and Tim Disher also live here in Yorktown with their three children. The Disher’s are icons of leadership in York County sports with Tim coaching little league baseball and Sharon coaching soccer this past year. Tim and Sharon are also heavily involved with the York County school system and serve in leadership positions with the PTA. Tim is XO of SUBTRAFAC in Norfolk and also spearheads the 81 Lunch Bunch while ensuring the occasional golf outing. Amazing.
Larry Olson and Tim Sexton both work at CINCLANTFLT on the staff. Larry works training issues.
Kathy and Mike Hawley live in VA Beach with kids. Mike was an aide (J5?) at USACOM then attended the Armed Forces Staff College and, amazingly, is now back on USACOM staff as an action officer.
I’ll update the rest of 5th Co. some time. We love visitors. Bring a bike and cycle the battlefields or call us for visits to Busch Gardens. Contact info: 1021 Marlbank Drive, Yorktown, VA 23692, (H) 757-833-6437. P.S., Kimbo, how the hell are ya?? Go Packers!"
Now, like General Sherman, we’ll march to Atlanta where we find Dave Kroupa, he of red hair, head and chest. I’ll paraphrase Dave as well:
"I am in the middle of a move to Atlanta. I was promoted to SE Branch Manager for PHICO Group, a medical professional liability carrier back on 1 Jul. I was building a house in FL which now must be sold so I can build a new one in Atlanta. The family, wife, Donna, 20-year old step daughter, Sharon, and fiance, Kenny, will move up some time in May after Spring semester. Yes, all three including Donna are in college. My David, 15, is in 10th grade playing for the golf team and has a 6 handicap. My Jenna, the straight A student, will be 13 in January and is in 7th grade. I plan on taking David to Homecoming and, hopefully, put the bug in his ear. He plans on getting a golf scholarship somewhere. Donna and Sharon are training for the Disney Marathon in January."
Meanwhile, Kroup looks forward to wrecking havoc on Atlanta-area masters 5K runners after July. Kroupa email: dlkroupa@phico.com.
Quick time to the west coast where we find and old roomie of mine, Joe Bridge. All’s well in SOCAL where Joe and Mary, wife of 13 years, maintain daughter Kate, 7 ½, and new son Danny, 6/9/97. "Moose Boy" was 28" and 19lbs at six months. Pro scouts are already camped in the front yard. Joe gets an annual trip to Chinhae, RK with the reserves and got selected for CDR last board (along with John Severino). Email: jbridge@flash.net.
Bill Higgins forwarded an electronic holiday card (Progress!) from Christy and Leo Goff who live in Alexandria, VA. Leo made CDR last year while Christy kept pace by picking up O-4. Leo’s looking at PCO School (sub) in July and wants a Groton fast attack (they own a house there). Christy is at BUPERS and will reach 20 years in March (Egad, that’s right about now). She’ll retire by year’s end and wants Leo’s boat to have plenty good port calls so she can be the woman in every one of them. Both Goffs are now running with Leo logging 700+ miles in 97 and looking to top 1,000 in 98. Christy’s a few miles short of that, but probably’s still better looking. Leo’s kids, Ryan and Callie, are 13 and 11, doing well and behaving like typical teenagers. They’re other "kids" include Andrew and Fergie, feline and canine, one each. Email: LeoChristy@aol.com.
And now, a word from our McGuinness, Co. rep for 28 and "doing a poor job of it." Bill writes:
"I was up in Boston at MIT’s Lincoln Lab and had dinner with my old roommate (this month’s trend?) Chuck Coughlin. Chuck, Sabrina, Ryan, 13, Courtney, 11, Shane, 8, and Blair, 2 ½, (Don’t you just love how folks of Italian descent go for those time-tested Pisano names?) are finishing up a Navy good deal. Chuck’s been attending Harvard Business School (full-time with pay) for a year and a half. In May, he’ll parlay it into a prime Pentagon job and relo to Annapolis. Email: ccoughlin@mba1998.hbs.edu. Obviously Harvard has grown on him since he hadn’t shoveled his sidewalk from the 1st snow. He offered to pay me to do it, but I told him I already have an MBA and am smarter than that.
Spoke to Bobby Seidel last week who’s had a very successful run with Raychem Corp. where he’s currently National Sales Manager in Chicago for their Pipeline Products Division. Bob and Leslie have decided to relo back to Wash/Balt so their three kids can spend more time with grandparents. Email: rseidel@raychem.com.
A brown, unmarked package showed up at my door the other day. Confident that the real Unibomber is in custody, I opened it. Out falls a quality cigar with a note from Mike Green. He and Debbie are proud parents of a healthy baby girl. Alexis Marshall Green joined the company of her brothers James, 4, and Austin, 2, on October 22, 1997. The Greens relo’d from Charleston to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (just outside Jax) about a year ago. Mike is in commercial banking."
Mac’s in Linthicum, MD with wife Barbie and munchkins Connor, 4, and Caitlyn, 2. He asked me to ask all 28ers to help him do his job better by updating contact info pronto. Bill has the most convoluted email address in the world. Don’t believe me? Just look: mcguinness.w.d@postal.essd.northgrum.com. Told ya so. As if it’s not bad enough, Lockheed Martin is buying Northrup Grumman so it may get longer.
One final note from John Severino who wrote from San Diego where he’s National Director of Property Tax Operations for Fair Value, Inc., a property tax consulting firm. Every fourth weekend finds John as CO of Naval Reserve 3rd ANGLICO (not the USMC one, the reserve one). John’s phone (Redondo Beach) is 310-540-3342. Email: hbdp31a@prodigy.com. BTW, John works in Camarillo which, coincidentally, is Bud Womer’s hometown (a Plebe summer rate!). See, Bud, there’s even a classmate working in your hometown. You can’t hide forever. We’re closing in.
Route step. Class, Halt! Alas, dear assembled eyes, I’ve hit bedrock in the basket named "In," but it was fun digging, wasn’t it? Now go lose those boots, soak your feet, and wash that stuff out from between your toes. Before I forget, thanks to all who were so moved by my December poetry that they felt compelled to write. Yes, rhyming zip codes gets a bit dicey, ‘specially in the wee hours, but I managed to pull it off. Next year who knows? More Dickens? Keats? More like Dr. Seuss. After all, if it don’t rhyme, it’s ain’t poetry, capisch?
Now lean forward in that saddle, flare your nostrils and inhale a good piece of that high plains air. Give your horse a nudge in the flanks and ride off toward that big orange ball dippin’ down into the soft glow west of the Interstate. Wait, that’s no sunset. It’s a Union 76 station with an all-night Stop ‘N Snack. Hooaaahh! I sure hope they have Ho Ho’s. What’s that, dear? Resolution? Dang! Final thought. If all else fails, remember "Worry is interest paid on trouble before it’s due." Don’t worry. Be happy. Live large. Pay cash.
Later, .