A HALF A CENTURY - YIKES !!

High School friend Judy writes...

The Hamlins - Gee we go back a l-o-o-n-n-g way. Actually Jack and Mary Lou go back at least to 6th grade and the band. I met Mary Lou our freshman year in H.S. having gone to grade school at St. Mary’s. So we have many, many memories. We spent lots of time together with parties, babysitting, boyfriends, and school activities. And Lou was a lover - Neal (Jack’s brother), Myron, Mike, and Terry - before the love of her life arrived at T.H.S. in the fall of ’57. We double dated in high school, got married and had our babies pretty close together. Spent those early years working , (Jack and Bill together at the mill), washing diapers, partying, camping . And speaking of camping, one of our trips was probably one of those occasions you are looking to reminisce about at their 50th. The Rundles, the Hamlins and the Leggetts decided to attempt this wonderful adventure at Franklin Lake campground near Eagle River in July of ’66. The Rundles and Leggetts - being of lesser means - chose to pitch a borrowed Boy Scout 8-man tent. Of course they both had 3 month old boys who needed their bottles boiled and their cloth diapers changed - a monumental challenge in the “wilderness”. The Hamlins, being a tad more affluent, rented a popup camper for their family. Having jumped most of the hurdles imposed by such an endeavor, evening came and it was time to relax. The drinks came pretty fast and so did the bugs. But Bill was not to be daunted by that - it was party time and if that meant drinking his drinks bugs and all, so be it! Unfortunately the bugs weren’t the only obstacle that came our way that night - about an hour into the partying the thunder, lightning and rain came, too. What a rush - trying to get dripping lanterns, camp stoves, coolers and picnic baskets along with 2 babies in port-a-cribs, 4 adults and 4 kids into the tent - while, of course, Buggy Bill and his family were high and dry, smugly comfortable in their popup. But we are survivors and the rest of the trip was fun.

Then there were the many times we went out clubbing or to wedding receptions, etc. with Bill and Lou. And darn it all - Jack and Bill were always the best couple on the dance floor!

We were saddened when Hamlins moved to Kansas but have managed to visit them there 3 or 4 times. The last time, since it had been several years between visits, we drove aimlessly around Eudora for a long time looking for their house and finally hailed a policeman who offered to escort us. Unfortunately he drove around aimlessly, as well, for a few minutes before he finally found the Hamlin’s “hidden” house! Now we hope they never have an emergency.

We’ve worked on some 10 class reunions together (and hopefully there will be more) which have all been special as we are the only 2 couples from the class of ‘58 that married. The internet has made it possible to communicate regularly and keep track of kids, grandkids and now great-grandkids! Bill and Jack get together in the Newwood when Bill’s “up north” to enjoy the stump burning, ATVing and outdoors. We’ve both been to “The Antiques Road Show” and enjoy our “old” artifacts. Speaking of which, there’s that Midget Mason Jar………