Ted Wilson
Charlie,
Here is a photo of my son Scott's family.
Scott, Joanne, Sydney, and Asher.
Ted.
There's a couple notes here.
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is
knowing which ones to keep."
- Scott Adams, 'The
Dilbert Principle'
Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following Multiple Choice test. (The events are actual cuts from past history. They actually happened! Do you remember?)
1. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were
kidnapped and massacredby:
a. Olga Corbitt
b. Sitting Bull
c. Arnold
Schwartzeneger
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between
the ages of 17 and 40
2. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and
40.
3. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in
Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and
40.
4. In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up
by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b.
Pee Wee Herman
c. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
5. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70
year old
American passenger was murdered and thrown
overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davy Jones
c. The Little
Mermaid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the
ages of 17 and 40
6. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S.
Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kid
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim male
extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
7. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy
c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
8. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time
by:
a. Richard Simmons
b.
Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
9. In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were
bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b.
Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill' s women problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d.
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
10. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as
missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining
two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted to a crash by
the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
a.
Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr.
Bean
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40
11. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan
against:
a. Enron
b. The
Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d.
Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
12. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered
by:
a. Bonny and Clyde
b.
Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40
Nope, .........I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you?
So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people. They must conduct random searches of 90-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, Secret Service agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winning former Governors.
As the writer of the award winning story Forest Gump so aptly put it, "Stupid is as stupid does!"
Our dear ally (in 1778)...
Have you heard about the French kamikaze pilot?
He's on his 23rd Mission!
"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure"
---Jacques Chirac, President of France
"As far as France is concerned, you're right."
---Rush Limbaugh, Doctor of Democracy
There was a Frenchman, an Englishman and Claudia Schiffer sitting together in a carriage in a train going through Provence. Suddenly the train went through a tunnel and as it was an old style train, there were no lights in the carriages and it went completely dark. Then there was a kissing noise and the sound of a really loud slap. When the train came out of the tunnel, Claudia Schiffer and the Englishman were sitting as if nothing had happened and the Frenchman had his hand against his face as if he had been slapped there.
The Frenchman was thinking: 'The English fella must have kissed Claudia Schiffer and she missed him and slapped me instead.'
Claudia Schiffer was thinking: 'The French fella must have tried to kiss me and actually kissed the Englishman and got slapped for it.'
And the Englishman was thinking: 'This is great. The next time
the train goes through a tunnel I'll make another kissing noise and slap that
French bastard again.'
House Speaker Dennis Hastert is so angry at France for opposing
White House policy on Iraq that he's proposed requiring orange warning labels on
every bottle of imported French wine. Let's guess. The warning label will read,
Just Two Glasses Could Make Dictators with Mustaches Appear Less
Threatening Than They Really Are.
Q: How many Frenchmen does it take to defend Paris?
A: Nobody knows. They've never really tried.
Q: What did the mayor of Paris say to the German Army as they entered the city in WWII?
A: "Table for 100,000 m'sieur?"
Charlie,
I completely agree with your logic and it sounds like a plan to me. With my machine making copies is a breeze, put the tapes in push one button and walk away. I should be able to crank them out pretty rapidly.
Ted.
Hi Ted,
I plan to do the web site CDs in parallel and include them with the tapes. I think the standard USPS priority mail boxes (free) are large enough to hold a tape and a CD, but I will check it out next week.
My experience is that it is better (if not fair, etc.) to just do it rather than collect money for it. This eliminates a lot of hassle, misunderstandings, and decision making (Is this stuff worth the price?). It will also result in a lot more people getting a copy of the tape and CD, which I think overall will help the class sustain its enthusiasm for future reunions. While the CD is really not necessary, it will likely be a unique and permanent record that at least some classmates and their families will appreciate more as time goes on. CDs are easy enough to make, and time will tell, I suppose.
The greatest expense is really the time and labor for the tapes, and the rest (paying for materials and postage) I am willing to donate. Materials for a reunion tape, a CD with the web site files, and the box/postage are only about five or six dollars, total. Assuming about 80 to a hundred people maximum (I am not even sure we have that many bona fide addresses), the total cost will be less than $600. The time and labor are worth several times that, I suspect. If people want to contribute monetarily, that is fine but not necessary or expected.
For coordination, I will probably make a list of addresses/labels, do a couple of tapes and CDs to decide the max postage, buy a few dozen tapes, and then send you a bunch of blank tapes and completed CDs, including a sample tape and CD (for you to keep) and the needed stamps. I suspect that we can just use the free post office priority delivery boxes, which make the mailing a financial wash versus buying boxes and using regular mail. This is what I did for the first dozen tapes, and the post office actually recommended it.
Will let you know more about all this as I get into it. I can see you and I each initially making about a dozen tape copies and labeling them, filling out the mailing labels, and getting them and the CDs in the mail. At that point we can see where we are and finish up the list, one way or another. Perhaps by then one or two other folks may want to help make copies, but it will eventually get done in any case. You are the only one who has so far admitted to being able to make copies of tapes, but I don't want to overwhelm you with this effort, either.
Of course, if you have any ideas or insights, feel free to let me know!
Thanks again!
Charlie
Charlie,
Are you sending blank tapes,
do I need to buy some? Will the class mates pay for the tape and/or mailing,
which I think is fair, or were you planning to foot the bill, which I don't
think is fair.
I'll do what I can,
Ted.
Ted,
Thanks! I will probably send something to you next week.
Charlie
Charlie,
I have a dual deck VCR so I
can help with copies. I have limited editing capabilities, but if you send me an
edited MASTER and a mailing list I can certainly crank out copies.
Take care,
Ted.
Charlie,
Would you, please, remove the Fujitsu Email from the list?
I will be working from home from now on so I have work and home computers next to me. The company decided to save money by reducing office space so many of us will now be working in home offices. It will be an interesting transition.
Ted Wilson.
ps: Nancy is using most of our re-union for a basis for her's
in 2004. You all did a great job.
Among my friends are some former Marines. I often get Marine related items, but we should not forget that these items are really applicable to all branches of the service and, yes, to all Americans.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2002 3:00 PM
Subject: RE: Our sons and daughters
Chuck, this is awesome. I am on both ends of this... I was in, and was called stupid, second class, etc. When describing Clinton's anti-war stance, one of his aide's informed us that "we did not send our best to Vietnam". Now I have a son in, who has docked a destroyer in Yemen, boarded ships in the Persian Gulf with rifles unslung, and hung out with a battalion of Marines for 6 months at sea waiting to airlift them to Afghanistan or who knows where. It is refreshing to see someone from the liberal left acknowledge not just the existence of the other half, but the intangible power that the individual members of the military amass simply by their unique ability to look beyond the individual and work together as a single and insoluble team.
Semper Fi,
Jim
Washington Post
November 26,
2002
Pg.
29
My Heart On
The Line
By
Frank Schaeffer
Before my son became a Marine, I never thought much about who was defending me. Now when I read of the war on terrorism or the coming conflict in Iraq, it cuts to my heart. When I see a picture of a member of our military who has been killed, I read his or her name very carefully. Sometimes I cry.
In 1999, when the barrel-chested Marine recruiter showed up in dress blues and bedazzled my son John, I did not stand in the way. John was headstrong, and he seemed to understand these stern, clean men with straight backs and flawless uniforms. I did not. I live on the Volvo-driving, higher education-worshiping North Shore of Boston. I write novels for a living. I have never served in the military.
It had been hard enough sending my two older children off to Georgetown and New York University. John's enlisting was unexpected, so deeply unsettling. I did not relish the prospect of answering the question "So where is John going to college?" from the parents who were itching to tell me all about how their son or daughter was going to Harvard. At the private high school John attended, no other students were going into the military.
"But aren't the Marines terribly Southern?" asked one perplexed mother while standing next to me at the brunch following graduation. "What a waste, he was such a good student," said another parent. One parent (a professor at a nearby and rather famous university) spoke up at a school meeting and suggested that the school should "carefully evaluate what went wrong."
When John graduated from three months of boot camp on Parris Island, 3,000 parents and friends were on the parade deck stands. We parents and our Marines not only were of many races but also were representative of many economic classes. Many were poor. Some arrived crammed in the backs of pickups, others by bus. John told me that a lot of parents could not afford the trip.
We in the audience were white and Native American. We were Hispanic, Arab and African American and Asian. We were former Marines wearing the scars of battle, or at least baseball caps emblazoned with battles' names. We were Southern whites from Nashville and skinheads from New Jersey, black kids from Cleveland wearing ghetto rags and white ex-cons with ham-hock forearms defaced by jailhouse tattoos. We would not have been mistaken for the educated and well-heeled parents gathered on the lawns of John's private school a half-year before.
After graduation one new Marine told John, "Before I was a Marine, if I had ever seen you on my block I would've probably killed you just because you were standing there." This was a serious statement from one of John's good friends, an African American ex-gang member from Detroit who, as John said, "would die for me now, just like I'd die for him."
My son has connected me to my country in
a way that I was too selfish and insular to experience before. I feel closer to
the waitress at our local diner than to some of my oldest friends. She has two
sons in the Corps. They are facing the same dangers as my boy. When the guy who
fixes my car asks me how John is doing, I know he means it. His younger brother
is in the Navy.
Why were I and the other parents at my son's private school so
surprised by his choice? During World War II, the sons and daughters of the most
powerful and educated families did their bit. If the immorality of the Vietnam
War was the only reason those lucky enough to go to college dodged the draft,
why did we not encourage our children to volunteer for military service once
that war was done?
Have we wealthy and educated Americans all become pacifists? Is the world a safe place? Or have we just gotten used to having somebody else defend us? What is the future of our democracy when the sons and daughters of the janitors at our elite universities are far more likely to be put in harm's way than are any of the students whose dorms their parents clean?
I feel shame because it took my son's joining the Marine Corps to make me take notice of who is defending me. I feel hope because perhaps my son is part of a future "greatest generation." As the storm clouds of war gather, at least I know that I can look the men and women in uniform in the eye. My son is one of them. He is the best I have to offer. He is my heart.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer. His latest book,
co-written with his son, Marine Cpl. John Schaeffer, is "Keeping Faith: A
Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps."
Charlie,
While at the reunion I mentioned that I had 4th and 5th grade pictures from Wetmore. I was told that I should have brought them so since I didn't maybe you could put these on the web page.
The students I remember from this group are, John Leiber, John Uomoto, Nanci Geleta, Frank Gonzales,the twins Tom and Jerry Howell, Armando Moreno, etc.
I am sure our classmates could help identify most of the 2 classes.
Ted
Nancy and I made it home safe on Monday.
We want to let you know how much we enjoyed the reunion and how much we appreciate the work you put into it.
If I missed someone that was instrumental in the success please forward this to them.
Thanks again,
Ted and Nancy Wilson
Charlie,
I did this [see pictures below] as a word doc. If you need it in another format let me know.
Let me know if there is any thing I can do from Kansas City. Also Nancy and I will be arriving in Tucson on the Wednesday before the reunion to spend some time with my Mom. Since she is in a care facility we will be free from around 4:00 PM on so if there is any last minute things we can help with, in the evenings, we will be available.
Ted Wilson
Then and Now
This is our first family portrait taken in December 1995. The baby is our first born, Wendy.
I had planned to include a current photo of the clan, but it does not look like I will manage to get one in time. We were all together last weekend, tailgating at Arrow Head stadium before a KC Wizards Soccer game. The women would not allow a picture because they were sweating, go figure.
Instead here are photos of the most important ones. These were taken a few weeks ago when all three grandchildren spent a day with Grandma.
First is Melissa. She is Wendy’s daughter, and she just turned 11 years old last week. She has her sultry look going. She takes after me and rarely smiles for pictures. With her is the newest member of our family, Squirt. He was dumped in the Park behind Wendy’s apartment about a month ago. We were catless, so now our household is complete again.
This next picture is of our son Scott’s kids. Sydney is 6 years and Asher is 6 months.
So there you have where we started and where we are now.
Charlie,
It's a slow
day so here is the other set of questions/answers.
1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE? I'll stay here. The children and especially the grand children are close. As a bonus this home will be paid for next year.
2. What's THE MOST MEMORABLE THING YOU HAVE READ?
3. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING
4. FAVORITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF THE SAME & OPPOSITE
SEX?
Female: Eyes
Male: Eyes
5. WHAT'S THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT?
Jane Monheit " Come Dream
With Me"
6. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
Home
7. WHERE'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?
8. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGED?
Neck and
shoulders
9. WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, STRONG IN MIND OR STRONG IN
BODY?
Mind
10. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE IN THE MORNING?
0630
11. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?
West Wing Even if I don't always
agree with their political views, it is an extremely well done show and true to
itself.
12. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
I do my best to stay a
long way from all but the refrigerator.
13. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
...HIGHSCHOOL MEMORY?
14. WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
15. WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY?
BIGOTRY
16. IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT
BE?
Piano
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT/CAFE/EATERY?
Too many
to list. For great down home eating Stroud's in Kansas City is hard to
beat.
18. SCARIEST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE?
If it had not been for the training and expertise of
the entire crew an engine room fire on a Submarine I was on would be right up
there. We were off the California coast and about 70 feet off the bottom. An
Electric Generator blew its leads and we lost all power. No one was hurt and
there was minimal damage.
19. IF THERE WAS A MOVIE MADE ABOUT YOU, WHAT HOLLYWOOD STAR
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY YOU?
Tom Hanks or Nicolas Cage they can do
anything.
20. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE?
My own concept of it.
21. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK?
The Tarzan series by Edgar Rice
Bouroughs
22. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Spring
23. WHAT'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE HOUSEHOLD CHORE? All indoor chors.
24. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT
BE?
Mind
control
25. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
A Fouled
Anchor. And yes If I went back in time I would get this tattoo over
again.
26. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
Not even close
!!!
27. THE SONG YOU WISHED YOU HAD WRITTEN?
28. THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO
BACK AND TALK TO?
29. DO YOU PREFER CATS OR DOGS?
Cats
30. WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR?
I drive a pick-up
31. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
All of them
32. FAVORITE SONG TO SING?
33. WHAT'S ONE WORD WOULD DESCRIBE YOU BEST?
Honest
34. SAY ONE NICE THING ABOUT A PERSON IN THE CLASS OF 1962.
37. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHERO?
2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW.
Windy City Blues by Sara
Paretsky
3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Tony Meola- The Goal keeper
for the Kansas City Wizards and the U.S. National team. My wife's
choice.
4. FAVORITE Magazines?
National Geographic, and
Auto Week
5. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Fresh bread right out of the
oven.
6. LEAST FAVORITE SMELLS?
An automobile or truck with
engine problems that is poluting the air.
7. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
Gooooooooaaaaaaalllllll. My Grand Kids
8. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Thankfully I have not felt it
yet. But I would guess that losing a child would be right up
there.
9. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN
THE MORNING?
Come on body get moving.
10. FAVORITE COLOR?
Varies on what the color is
on.
11. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE.
Depends
on how long it takes to get to it.
12. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?
Miracle.
13. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE, AT THIS TIME?
Family
14. FAVORITE FOOD?
Food !
15. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Vanilla.
Actually Chocolate Chip
16. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST?
mmmmmm Lets
just say I do not waste time getting where I am going.
17. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
No I
sleep with Nancy. Our new Kitten hasn't wanted to sleep with us as yet.
Come winter he may change his mind.
18. STORMS-COOL OR SCARY?
Cool !!! We
love to sit on the front porch or the rear screen proch and watch the Summer
storms here. We get some great ones living in Tornado Alley.
19. WHAT TYPE WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
A well used 57
Chrysler Windsor.
20. WHAT PERSON WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET DEAD OR
ALIVE?
My father.
21. WHAT IS YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?
I am on the
cusp between Gemini and Cancer.
22. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI?
Yech !!!!!
23. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED WHAT WOULD IT
BE?
At this point maybe Mayor or State
Representative. I doubt that I'll persue a political office
though.
24. HAIR, ANY COLOR, WHAT COLOR?
Grey and
white
25. IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL.
Anyway
you look at it, it is 50%.
26. FAVORITE MOVIE?
Flower Drum
Song
27. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT
KEYS?
If the word was spelled correctly my finger(s) were on the right
keys.
28. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?
Stored stuff.
You would have to ask my wife, I don't look.
29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER?
$1,000,000.00 Oh that's probably not what you had in
mind.
Hi all,
I have found out that the $95
rate for our reunion is the same as AAA, corporate and others. I also found out
that the AARP rate is $89. If you are a member of AARP and wish to save a few
bucks make sure you ask about the AARP rate.
See you there,
Ted Wilson
From: Ted Wilson [mailto:rwilson3@kc.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2002 4:55 PM
To: Charles R. Jones
Subject: What a Memorial Day
Last night Nancy and I attended a Celebrity Soccer game for the Childrens Miracle Network. The Color Guard was 4 Marines from our local base. The half time show consisted of a choir made up of kids age 10-13, mostly girls.
The kids, of course were given commemorative T-shirts. They made the announcement that all of the celebrities would be available to sign autographs.
The 4 Marines had taken seats in front of us. Near the end of the game kids, mostly girls, started coming up to the Marines for autographs. What a thrill for me to see these Marines signing their T-shirts and programs. The Marines, of course, handled it all with great cool.
It almost brought me to tears.
Ted Wilson DSC(ss) - USN Ret.
Charlie,
Please delete rtw30@amdahl.com and replace it with ted_wilson@ftsi.fujitsu.com
I have not changed companies but this is, hopefully, the last of the changes related to the buyout. The Amdahl nome is gone now. Those of us 'old timers' with the company will miss the name but life goes on. I have been with them for 18 years. Looking forward to the reunion, it should be good time of the year for outside activities.
Take care,
Ted
Subject: Old classmates
Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 17:14:03
-0500
From: "tnwilson"
<tnwilson@gateway.net>
To:
<charlie@Technidigm.org>
Charlie,
In case you do not see the posting in classmates.com, I thought I would drop you a line. I am happy to here a reunion is being planned.
Take care,
Ted
Ted,
Thanks for getting in touch. I hope that you will check out our class web page at http://Technidigm.org/amphi62.htm for more information and contacts.
Looks like we both did the Navy thing. We now live in Germantown, Maryland, which is near Washington, DC. Have mostly been employed as a nuclear power plant safety inspector.
I will put your info on the other web page. Perhaps you have a more generic email address that we can use? It is a lot easier to send email directly.
Charlie
May 2, 2000 6:05 pm
From: TED
WILSON
To: CHARLES JONES
Charlie,
I will be interested in the reunion. Since retiring from the Navy right after the 20th I have been with Amdahl Corp.as a Senior Systems field engineer. We are currently living in the Kansas City area. Both kids live here with their families and each have a lovely daughter. Grand-parenting is fun. We try to get to Tucson twice a year as my mother is in a nursing home now. She has been there over 5 years and is doing much better than expected.
Where are you living now?
Ted