We're of an age. . .

Yes, friends and classmates, it's time.

If you turned 70.5 in 2009 or earlier you'll need to withdraw your minimum distribution from your tax-deferred retirement accounts by December 31, 2010.

If you turned 70.5 in 2010, you'll need to withdraw your minimum distribution by April 1, 2011.

I don't give tax advice, so for the details, you'll need to find another blog.

Lynne completes 700 mile walk during summer 2010

Possibly she didn't get those last few miles in--but last I heard, with 3 days of summer left, she'd walked 670 miles. Walking 5 miles a day is nothing for her. Now think about how small Mt. Morris is! She must know every tree, bird and bus driver by name!

Imagine what our track team could have done in the old days if the teams were co-ed!

Train photos by Wesley Fane and Steve Smeadly.

Update from Mike on his hip surgery

Well, here I am two weeks to the day after my surgery (September 21 from an entry at his blog). I have a nurse come to see me once a week to check my vital signs and to check my blood to see how the various drugs are affecting me. They ask me to evaluate my pain on a scale of 0-10. I'm pleased to say that it is a 0 most of the time, with and occasional 2-3. Most of that pain is not from my hip, but from my other muscles which are taking over the task of supporting my weight that I cannot put on my hip.

There are 3 things that I must keep in mind, according to the doctor. 1) Only 50% weight on my left leg, no more; 2) the angle of my body bending at the waist cannot exceed 90 degrees; and 3) my foot and leg cannot cross a line equidistant between my feet. So crossing my legs is a no-no. Also I must walk like a duck with my left foot pointed to the outside of my body. It must not be forced to turn to the inside. These things are getting hard to remember as it is difficult, with no pain, to resist just getting out and running or jumping or climbing trees, as I feel that I can readily do all that.

I sleep at night very well, but it must be on my back. I have adjusted to that as I am a side sleeper. Judy said that I snore mightily on my back. So to insure a sound night for her, I must sleep where all my growling bear noises cannot be heard by anyone. (She suggested the car in the garage, but I nixed that.) I am still a little uncomfortable sitting and typing on the computer as it is close to the 90 degree rule. As time allows, and time does march on here, I will keep anyone interested apprised of my progress in future blogs. Thanks for reading. Mike

For the complete story of Mike's hip problems, which actually began about three years ago, please go to his Owensville blog where he explains how it began, worsened after a fall, and then the procedure and  prognosis.

Update on Mike's progress as of October 13.

Correction leads to interesting biography

Someone anonymously corrected information at this blog about the Milwaukee Brewers/Braves and when I checked it out I came across a very detailed biography of Nelson Potter, Sr. with a number of quotes and anecdotes from our classmate Nelson "Tom" Potter. You'll enjoy reading this. If you grew up in MM, you remember all the Potters.

Reviewing the 1956 football season at MMHS

About three and a half years ago I posted this slide show and story by Lynne about the 1956 losing football season. It's kind of nostalgic, so maybe you'd enjoy reading it again.

September Song - 1938

Salley is back at it with the Senior Women's Amateur Championship

Story in the Rockford paper.

"URBANA — Salley Wessels of Mount Morris is one shot off the pace Tuesday after the first round of the 41st Illinois Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club.

Wessels, an eight-time winner and defending champion, shot a 77, tying her with Colleen Dold of Decatur for fifth place. They trail the foursome of Carol Stack of Champaign, Laura Carson of Lake Bluff, Mo Sheehan of Grayslake and Roberta Sentel of Marion."

HT Murray

Mid-September in Illinois

If our high school building were still a high school, and if we were still attending classes there on a hot September day and longing to escape . . . this is what we would see. . . Isn't it beautiful?

September 11, 1960

Fifty years go by awfully fast, so here are some before and after photos of our wedding on September 11, 1960, and our party on September 12, 2010. We had it at our daughter's home, and although we were still working on the deck on Saturday evening, the weather and neighbors cooperated and we had about 120 guests who stopped by for an open house.

What a surprise! My sister had the wedding dress sent (a big hush, hush secret) which our mother made for her in 1955, and which I wore in 1960.



Another huge surprise--my brother came from Illinois! The new deck worked out great, and we had a large tent in the back yard.

Mike is getting good care after surgery

Class president Mike recently was released from the hospital after a scheduled hip replacement. Judy writes that the surgery and recovery, so far, have gone well and he is starting a long period of rehab at home with visits from the nurses and physical therapists. He has a lot of restrictions, but Judy is a nurse and taking good care of him. She says, "He has a lot of upper body strength so has gotten very good at getting himself up from the chair by himself and walking around the house with his walker," and has even managed the stairs a few times. We wish you a speedy recovery, Mike!

The photo is a recent Balluff reunion at the White Pines, Judy on the far left and Mike in the blue shirt sitting between his two daughters.  Some of you may remember Ruth Balluff of Mt. Morris, who is in the middle next to Mike's daughter.

Fall Get Together Being Planned for Class

The class of 57 is planning to get together for lunch on Friday, October 8, 2010 at the Pinecricker Restaurant in Polo, Illinois at 11:30. Spouses or special friend are welcome, too. If you're in the area, join the group at 124 E Mason, the main drag. In case it's been a long time since you've been to Polo, here's our own GPS system (Lynne): "You can get to Polo via 9 curves road AKA Pines blacktop or by going east west out of Mt. Morris on Hwy 64 to the 8 mile and turning left on Hwy 26 into Polo." Or, as everyone says, "You can't miss it!"

A note from Norma to visitors here: Pine Creek which meanders through the hilly area between Polo and Oregon, Illinois, and through the White Pines State Park, was created from small, natural springs. There is a Pine Creek Township in Ogle County and people who live in that area are called Pine Creekers. My grandparents raised their large family there in the 1920s and 1930s. For some midwesterners of that region who were transplants from Tennessee, a Creek is a Crick, as in "Lord willing and the crick don't rise."

Another note, this one from Bob C.: "You drive west out of Mt. Morris, Norma, not east." I've always been directionally challenged and have to look at my wedding ring to figure out left from right, so I didn't even notice the problem!