Dead_Fish_Grill

Jimmie Nell's Reception and Lunch at the Dead Fish Grill
(Jan's Memories Thereof)

Our October 4th, 2008, events were simply wonderful! A bunch of us attended the Donor Event at the "new" high
school, had a buffet breakfast, and heard our beloved Coach Pirtle give an inspiring talk. We checked out the
bricks on the Alumni Walkway. (In case you want to buy a brick and need a form, here it is.) A big surprise was a
brick with Johnny Rigsby's name. Does anyone know where and how Johnny is? I haven't seen him in at least 48
years, maybe more. Please tell me if you know!

This is a bit different from the photo on the 2008 Brick Campaign page. Our enthusiasm for photo-taking was
waning a bit, but George is smiling for the camera this time.
Left to right: Jenny, Dicksy, Gale, Jane, Lou, Janean, Marie, Judy PS, Coach Pirtle, David B (Class President),
Jimmie Nell, Jan, George, Shirlene, Linda M, and Will.

Jimmie Nell (now known as Jimmie) invited those of us who
have been participating in the website, as well as the
classmates she knew how to contact, to her gorgeous condo
at Morgan's Point to spend the interim between the Donor
Event and our lunch at the Dead Fish Grill (on the site of the
old Frank's Lakeview Inn). We were also invited to return
after the luncheon. It was neat to be able to move about and
chat. Jimmie has found the absolute ideal view of the lake,
and her condo is perfectly charming and comfortable and
beautiful. There sure are a lot of dragonflies around there,
though! (This is a joke: She collects dragonfly things, and has
very tastefully scattered them around her home.)

When Jimmie dropped me off at the door of the Dead
Fish Grill, I entered to find that we had been privileged
with an entire banquet room to ourselves! The first
thing I saw was Polly and her husband Winston and
David and his wife Dorothy (Mensch), who were already
seated across from each other, and it was so neat to
see them. After that, everything was a blur! Remember
how it was at your wedding? Well, that's how it was for
me. I just can't remember who all I greeted, and I
fervently hope I didn't miss anyone in my excitement.

The restaurant was kind enough to allow all 27 of us to
order straight from the menu rather than having a
choice of three (rubber-chicken-type banquet) items,
and they did a remarkable job of getting our food out to
us right away. I had only lobster bisque, as I didn't want
to take time off from talking to chew!!!

Next time you see Polly (left, with Winston), ask her
about "Reno Rose," the bowling ball that has won her
over $7,000 in tournaments. When you see David and
Dorothy (below), ask them about their singing for
nursing homes and the CD they have made. (One of
their songs will soon be on David's page.)

This is one of the views from Jimmie's patio overlooking Lake Belton.

Will is such a fine leader! He welcomed us
and talked about what a fine class we are
and what a fine school BHS is and how
much we all love Coach Pirtle, and how it
was Coach Pirtle whose inspiration and
fund-raising made possible the impressive
monument commemorating our 1958 State
Championship Basketball Game and Team
(I had asked him, and he thought maybe
there were others who wondered how the
monument came about). He also
mentioned that Coach had been delighted
and touched to hear from all of us who
greeted him on his birthday.

Dicksy, Judy ER,
Janean, and Will

Judy PS and Shirlene

He praised Judy PS for her devotion to our class, and for all
the magnificent work she has done over the last 48 years,
keeping up with everyone, calling, writing, e-mailing,
arranging the reunions, sending flowers on sad
occasions---there's no way we can thank her enough!!! Then
he thanked me for creating the website and helping us
reconnect. He asked me to come up, and Marie came forward
and presented me with a precious bouquet of red and white
roses and carnations! Of course, I was so pleased. I told the
group how much I appreciated their sending in their bios and
photos (with a few laggardly exceptions) and their coming to
lunch. I also told them that the website is not at all expensive,
just my little retirement hobby (certainly not as expensive as
playing golf, etc.) and that I've gotten a bargain deal on it, and
I forgot to thank those who have offered to contribute to
financing the maintenance of it. No need to do so YET!!!

Then I sat down and ate some
more of my soup, slow spoonful by
spoonful, and tempted to tip the
bowl up and drink it down. A waiter
came up behind me and wanted to
know where I wanted the cake.
There was a big chorus of "Oh, no!
Don't ask HER!!! It's supposed to
be a surprise!"

Well, of course, it WAS a surprise!
Gary had called Marie and asked
her to procure a cake for our
event so he could show that he
was there in spirit. What a guy! And
it was a GOOD cake, half chocolate
and half yellow, with plenty to go
around, and iced with a perfect
message "Thanks to Jan for the
Site That Binds the 1960 Class of
BHS." (Cake message edited by
Jan. Icers must have been busy.)

After lunch, some said
"Goodbye," and several of us
adjourned to Jimmie's for
further visiting and dragonfly
discovery. She had a huge
plate of goodies, a mean chile
con queso dip, five kinds of
melting-in-mouth cookies, and
anything you could possibly
want to drink. But especially,
she had her warm hospitality.

All of a sudden, the party was
over, and we were left with
many fond memories!

Thanks to Judy ER for the two photos above.

It was SO GOOD to see each and every one who came!
Linda M came all the way from Baytown! Dicksy DID
make it---all the way from Granbury! Jenny---all the way
from Hamilton! People I hadn't seen since graduation,
such as Buddy, came, with Jeannine C. (Class of '62).
(Yes, he still has his dimples, though they're a little
deeper now...) EVEN Calvin and his wife Gayle (Class
of '61) showed up; he assures us that Gayle will help
him do his bio. My death will be on his hands, as I AM
holding my breath!!! (We missed the following who had
planned to come: Bill D---daughter having baby
momentarily and he was holding down the
fort;Charlotte---family reunion; Jeanne---not feeling
well; and Zona---flu. We DO hope they'll make it to our
next get-together.)

Jane (right) makes a point, as
Barbara and sister Beverly listen.

David
and
Sidney B.

Gale (looking shy)

Many, many personal
thanks to Judy PS, for
keeping our flame alive;
Jimmie, whose hospitality
was so gracious (she also
hosted me for 3 days);
Gary, for being with us in
spirit via the scrumptious
cake; Marie for finding
such a cake and pre-
senting the BHS Spirit
bouquet; Will, for his fine
talk; to George, for treat-
ing me to lunch; and to
every single one of you
who took time out on a
lovely fall weekend to
build our Class Spirit
higher and higher! May
you and yours live long in
happiness and good
health, cherish each
other, and return ready to
hug and party in 2010, if
not before!