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Anne Ferrell Smith (Lanier)

I am just reading that The Diamond stadium is closing.  That makes me so sad.  I remember vividly going to games with my Daddy, who bought me a corn dog on a stick every time.  . . .  The Richmond in my mind has changed even more  . . . . 

Mike Floyd

Shabbat Shalom. As we come to the last Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, may it be a chance to slow down, rest, and gather strength for the new year ahead. May this Shabbat bring peace to our homes, warmth to our hearts, and hope for sweet beginnings. Wishing you a Shana Tova filled with health, joy, and blessing. ✨🕯️🍎🍯

Richard Laster

Mike

I think that you have been drinking. Or maybe you can see beyond the present situation.

I see TJ at least the blog as  an oasis of calm, while the world on the outside seems to 

abide by blood sweat and tears. So all I can say is that I accept your prayers and hope the others join in

Cheers!

Anne Ferrell Smith (Lanier)

I am joining in with my prayers dear man.  I hope you are staying safe!   What a time we are living in . . .   I send my love to a dear friend.   Anne Ferrell 

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

A Rosh Hashanah Poem for my Jewish Classmates:

Trying to find Email-able Cards with No Ads or Demands for Money,                                                                But All I Can Come Up With Is Apples & Honey!                                                                                                  I hope the New Year Brings Sunshine Again,                                                                                                      And only a Minimum Amount of Rain!                                                                                                                  Our Farmers Would Like Some for Lettuce and Spinach,                                                                                    But my Roof Would Be Happier if No Leaks Were Within-it!!                                                                                Have the Happiest of Days, at Least for This Week!                                                                                            And maybe the Fighting and Wars Will Cease!

 L'Chayyim!

 L'Shana Tova!

 From "The Ruben Family" with A Few Different Last Names - 

    -Marilyn, Rachael, Sammy, Amy & Martin

PS - I am mending slowly, and the Doctor says I should be "Back to Normal" by December (I hope!).   So Thanks to Cokey, Russell, Mike, Melvin, Anne Marie, etc.  I'm doing stuff with my Right Hand & Arm, & I'm visiting my 5th Physical Therapy Rehab Location with 2x/week Exercise Classes for my Left Shoulder & Arm, along with my Daughter, Rachael, who has a Bad Hip & Back.  (I can't believe she will be a Senior Citizen in 3 years!)  

The reference to my Roof is because, for the second time in recent years, "Something is WRONG up there," & after the Holiday, somebody will come to patch up the "hole," plus a space about 12" long in the Ceiling in the corner of my Living Room has  "buckled" and needs to be repaired. We had 2 HUGE Rain Storms in one week, and A LOT OF ROOVES (ROOFS?) on Stucco Houses like mine, all over town, were hit.  There are no "Gutters" here, so the Rain Water that doesn't float to the Spout on the side of the building just sits on top of the roof, which eventually creates pressure on the ceilings below!  It's just another day of "Living in the Desert!"

Thanks for the Jewish Holiday Greetings, Mike & Anne Ferrell!

Mike Floyd

Richard, "Dicky", it is so good to hear from you and to know that you are safe.  I can only imagine the daily horror and anxiety you must feel.  Please know that you are in our prayers and the prayers of many.  My heart aches for what is happening in the world, but I turn it all over to the God who created the universe daily.  May God bless you and keep you; may God be gracious unto you and grant you peace.

Peggy Smith (Robins)

Regarding the Celebration of Life for Charlie Kirk 9-21-25, this was like an old time Christian revival. Prayers are with his widow and family.  Such a sad time for our country.

Russell Flammia

        Hi folks, here's a link to the Jeffersonians on line. the site might ask you to confirm that you are a human! Jeffersonian 24 May 1962 — Virginia Chronicle: Digital Newspaper Archive

Russell Flammia

 Hi folks, today, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day.  So let veterans & their families know that you appreciate their service. I mention families because their families experienced loss of family time during holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and other life events.  Additional emotional stress was and is experienced during deployments and special assignments. 

                                                                                 Veterans Day, Because  Freedom isn't Free.
 

 

 

To show their appreciation many businesses are offering free or discounted prices.  I googled Veterans Day Discounts for Richmond and this is what popped up. Additionally Flag Stop Car Wash is offering a free car wash to veterans and active duty military. 

 

Veterans Day Free Meals & Discounts for 2025

Bob Bayliss

Add to the previous announcement about Santa Claus:

5- Santa looks better than you!

Russell Flammia

     December 7, 1941 'A day that will live in infamy' was how president Frankliin Roosevelt described the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was the beginning of World War II which brought about the most signifiant changes in the world during the 20th century. Many of our parents were participants in WW II by serving in the military or in support rolls. Thank God that they did what they did.

        At least 1,254 TJ alum or students were in the military during the war and are honored by a 'service flag' in the front hall at TJ across from the main office. Of that number, 73 paid the ultimate sacrifice and are honored and named on a bronze plaque on the second floor just around the corner from the service flag.

                                'America home of the free because of the brave.'

William Anderson

Thanks Russell for your message of today, December 7. We should also remember the Mothers of some of our classmates who lost their husbands. They were strong ladies who raised the kids and managed to keep the family together.

Mary Draney (Murray)

After Dec. 7, I know many people chose to enlist, including my father. My parents were married in Oregon while he was training. He later was captain of a company in Italy and there were many stories.

Russell Flammia

On Sunday I saw the obituary for Dr. Charles Sydnor, retired President of Emory & Henry. There was a part that caught my attention & I thought I'd share it with everyone.   

    'At Emory & Henry's spring convocation in 1990 Dr. Sydnor spoke of the youth of the 1960's as a culture eager for peace, freedom, and animated by service and self-sacrifice. 

 REMEMBER THIS IS WHAT HE SAID IN 1990.   "What have we become? he asked. "Have we traded the idealism of self-sacrifice for the cult of self-indulgence? Are we unable to distinguish between shallow celebrity and substantive leadership?"

      Something to ponder. 

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Hello, Classmates!  Sorry I have been SO "Out-of-Touch!  I can finally raise my left arm (although NOT as high as "The Right One!") Our Daughter Rachael & I are STILL going to Physical Therapy after 6 months, & now I am working on "Balance," while she is receiving help for her back & hip! . . .The highlight of this Fall was this past weekend's visit to Coronado Island near San Diego, California, to see Rebecca Wolf, the Daughter of our Cousins Frankie & Gini Wolf, promoted from Commander of the USS Momsen to the Position of Assistant to an Admiral of the U.S. Navy!  We are ALL SO PROUD!  Rachael and I attended the Ceremony, along with Sammy & her New Boyfriend, plus Rebecca's Parents & two Brothers, Joseph and Matthew, and their Uncle & Cousin from New Jersey. It was Quite a Family Reunion! . . . Rachael has been working as a Teacher-Aide in a "Home School" & Volunteering with an "Aid-Society" which provides New School Clothes for Needy Kids. . .Amy has become Financial Director for the Tucson Food Bank, which provides Food for Needy People ALL OVER Southern Arizona!  Her Husband, Martin, holds a similar position at the First Jewish Synagogue in Arizona & Holocaust Museum, located in Tucson. . . Sammy has a New Job at a Public Relations Firm in Las Vegas & likes it very much. Her New Boyfriend works as a Advertising Promoter for Sports Figures, focusing on Ice Hockey Players, and they visit back & forth from Las Vegas to California to Yuma & are also planning a trip to Europe!  Last weekend, we watched them Ice Skating during the Winter Festivities next to the Coronado Hotel! They are A VERY CUTE COUPLE! . . .  I hope everybody had a GREAT Thanksgiving & that the coming Holidays of Chanukah & Christmas will be Healthy & Joyful !

Russell Flammia

Hi Marilyn, I'm glad your arm is imrovinig as well as your balance. You certainly have a lot of good news to share. Enjoy being proud, that a good thing.

Melvin Katz

I agree with Russell: So glad that you are improving

Melvin Katz

Dear Classmates: I see that today was the start of The Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. Some years ago, I was in Europe with my family and we went to the battlefield. There is the Monument to the Men and Women who fought the German's on that Battlefield. It is two stories high. As my family and I walked the steps to the second open floor, one could look out at the wide open spaces on which the battle took place. What I will always remember is the reverence that my family and I had for that quietness, None of us spoke. I had two uncles of my father who were captured on that battlefield.

Russell Flammia

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Thanks, Russell & Melvin for your good wishes!  I am getting stronger!  The exciting news from this location was the visit Rachael & I made last weekend to see "Smokey Robinson in Concert" a few hours away from here!  He is 85 years old & looks like he's around 40-50! The entire Audience was up on our feet, chanting his songs, movin' & groovin'!  What fun!  The years just rolled away!    Then we came home to finish the last night of Chanukah & get ready for the arrival of Christmas! I hope those were Happy Days for everybody!

Russell Flammia

Glad you had a good time listening to Smokie Robinson. He made real music, not the noise that is made today. Say hi to Rachael for me.

Bob Bayliss

Sydney, I am so sorry to learn that your mother psssed recently. Please pass on my regrets to Andy, as well. I remember fondly how she brought drinks out to us as we played basketball on your court(with a chain net) on Lake Ave.

Melvin Katz

Sidney:

As you certainly know, growing up, I worked for your Mother and Father at Best Products. In fact after school, I worked at the warehouse collating catalogs. Years later I worked as a salesman in the showroom. I remember so well our being close, you and me. Well the years have passed and leaning of your mothers passing has certainly been a shock. My condolences to you and your family.

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Hello, Classmates!  Wow, the last year went by really fast, and now we are 1/4 through the New Year!   We survived all the various Holiday Festivities from November through February & now it is Spring in Arizona! The Flowers here bloom through the Winter, but don't like the Summer, so we only have a short while to enjoy them!  Joel planted my Bouganvilla in 2015, when I moved to this Condo, & it's blooming so well, it broke its terracotta pot, & we have to move it to a new giant one!  The sun is out here every day & the temperature varies from 80-90 degrees by day, & can go down about 30-40-50 degrees at night!  This is "The Season of Layering" - we have to take along a sweater or jacket when we go out, because we never know how the weather will change on our way home!

I have been "back on my feet" & going to twice-weekly Physical Therapy here, in order to get back my sense of "Balance" after my second "Fall" last Summer - to my shoulder.  We FINALLY made our long-awaited trip to see my friends in Puerto Vallarta, after a 3-year wait, & we had a wonderful time!  Whenever we travel "South-of-the-Border," we receive incredible "Customer Service," we eat wonderful food in HUGE QUANTITIES, & we view scenes like nowhere else in the world!  I am STILL organizing my Photos & will upload them sometime soon!  There are SO MANY!

Now I am "Back to the Basics" at home again, & working on the exciting project of "Housecleaning."  I don't see anything ahead beyond the norm for me, but in a few weeks, Rachael is taking off for a trip to Australia,  with Joel's Cousin! (That girl NEVER stays still !)

Sammy has a new Job in Las Vegas in the field of Public Relations, & she LOVES IT!  She has a SMALL number of clients & her job allows her to work some days from home, some days in the Office.  She earns a GREAT salary, too!  (Some people have ALL THE LUCK!)  She is very happy, & we just saw her again this past weekend, when she came here for a visit!  She also has a new Boyfriend in California!  We have met his parents in Arizona & are invited to their home for the Passover Seder, coming up soon!

Amy & Martin are busy raising money for the Southern Arizona Food Bank & the First Jewish Museum in Arizona/plus the Holocaust Museum, both located in Tucson.  They are a Happy Couple, & Amy comes to visit me once per month to help out around here with various errands, plus we go out to dinner &/or a movie.

I finally found a way into this Website tonight on my computer, but some kind of "bug" got into my phone, & everytime I try to access TJHS1962 on my phone, a message pops up that says: "Somebody is trying to steal your personal information!"  (NOW, WHO ON EARTH WOULD DO THAT?  I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE IT!)

I hope the snow in Richmond has melted & things are looking better there now!  Keep in touch!

Mar-

PS - Will there be another Reunion in 2027?  I was just wondering!

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

PPS - My 2 Sisters & I were also sad to hear about Mrs. Lewis's passing.  We sent a note to Sidney, Andy, and Susan c/o the Branch House.  I hope they received it.  She was "The Bright Light of Richmond!"

Post-Post-Post-Script: Russell, Sorry I missed your Birthday!  I hope it was A  Happy One! You Earned It!