Life's Reminders

I was just reminded by my phone (I've long since given up trying to remember things much more advanced than a few days without committing it to my phone, which never forgets unless I forget to make an entry), that it is time for my foot surgeon's one year follow up exam. It made me think back to that time last year when the agony of de feet caused me to go under the knife, and despite the inconveniences and discomfort of recovery, I must admit that the constant pain is gone. I have had to trade off to a certain extent. I can no longer consider marathons or steeplechases. Good thing since they were never on my bucket list.

What that IPhone reminder also did was remind me that I have neglected this blog greatly in exchange for living a busy life with your classmate Linda. She has, all along, reminded me, much like a living IPhone, of events that ought to be blogged.  That time is here.

First, I remind folks that we have booked the St. Phillips Conservation Club for the 50th reunion of the Reitz High School Class of 1967. The reunion is currently scheduled for October 7, 2017. I will be your IPhone on this matter, as well as informing you that likely Schnitzelbank will be catering. This affair will have a cash bar and as we have done in the past, will have an agenda, a program and lots of great conversation, fun and laughter, and no end of reminiscing. As more details become available, we will pass them along. Cost is yet to be fully determined but as ever, we will try to keep it as reasonable as possible so the most classmates can attend without hardship.

Further, plans very slowly develop for the centennial celebration of FJ Reitz HS. These plans revolve around 2018 and planning currently involves developing branding for the event and collecting class lists to involve the greater Reitz alumni community which pretty much includes the entire westside.

Facebook continues to serve as a wonderful birthday reminder and if Linda and I have missed any, it is not from neglect but from spotty Internet connections in the various campgrounds we have occupied or inexplicable cell phone voids found in the most unexpected locations during our travels. That we all may continue celebrating our birthdays with family and friends is our most fervent wish, even though the numbers on the cake seem to grow disturbingly larger.

And Facebook also serves as a window on life's other events, like grandbabies, new puppies, travel adventures and much more and we're always happy to like and comment on such happy occasions in passing and it is always comforting to know that people you know and like are keeping tabs on you even as we strive to keep up with others' travels and tidings.

Sadly, we have also recently learned of two additional classmates who will no longer celebrate birthdays with us. On October 22, 2015 we lost Bill Wimberly and most recently, on October 24, we lost Janet Cox Frohbeiter. I will be updating the website memorial page and including obituaries that were locally published.

The Good Fight

After the stress and joy of the holidays and, for me, the prospect of walking around again like a real boy after foot surgery, we received disturbing news from Gayle Brown Gurksnis:

When Jan was diagnosed with brain cancer she was only given a few months to live but she has fooled us all by being with us for 2 years.  As you will read, things are progressing very quickly now.    It still does not seem possible to me that we will not have her much longer but I am just so forever grateful for these last few years that she and I have had together and all because of the Reitz67 website.  Thank you too Milton!

 

Gayle

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 Subj: Update on our "Jani Girl"

 

Hi everyone,

Jan and I will celebrate our 23rd anniversary in a few days. We are certainly blessed to have reached that point. But her strength is waning and her mind is largely in a special place only she knows. She fell, or perhaps "dropped" is a better word, to the floor three times in the last few days and had a sustained seizure last Saturday. Fortunately she still has no pain from her cancer. There's no way to know how long she will hold on; professional estimates are a month or two, but this is Jan we're talking about! Until the last few days I felt that was hogwash, but things change without much warning despite her vitals being good.  We stopped all chemo in November as the disease was showing progression and the chemo was too demanding. We began home care about three weeks ago.
Attempts at oral communication, such as phone calls, are quite frustrating at this point. She doesn't answer questions and if she speaks, only "parrots" what others say to her. I read her emails and cards and show her pictures from Facebook, etc. and she does seem to enjoy these. At the insistence of my buddy Terry, I set up Facetime yesterday and it is great. If anyone has this and wants to give it a try sometime, let me know cause she can wave.

Remember "Hey Jude" from the day of her big operation over two years ago? Many of you recall that her surgeon was Dr. Jude! Every time he stopped by the hospital room we irritated him with a hearty ...Hey, Jude. At the time, I asked all I could reach to sing a verse during her surgery and connect our energies. Well, hum a verse once in a while and channel her...stay connected, and drop her a card when you can.  Love ya all, Al

Jan and Al Clark
2196 E. Sahuarita Wash Way
Oro Valley, Az 8575

So if you get a chance, do drop a card or letter to Jan while we still can.