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Saturday, December 25, 1993

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My vacation has been a good one, and I’ve been getting lots done around the house. Last month Ed & Sandy came down to see dad & visited up here, for the first time, for half a day. It’s the longest time I’ve gotten to spend with them ever & we had a great time. A year ago I went to the doctor to find why my arm was sore & discovered after three doctors & several weeks, that I had a frozen left shoulder. It’s probably caused by excess typing. I had a dozen sessions of physical therapy & continue to do exercises every day. The situation is much better but I’m still working at it. Have limited the amount of typing I do, but some is required.

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I'm teaching a new computer curriculum this year, with no textbook, a videodisk player, and a Macintosh to help out. Unfortunately, this year’s 7^th graders have an excessive number of problem kids (2 kids, now at alternative schools, were caught stealing cars). Been a real battle. Hope that next semester will have a smaller share, but time will tell.

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I bought a new Macintosh last spring, with a big color monitor. love it. I discovered I can send electronic mail messages to Ed, free, and that was a great way to quickly keep up to date on his travel plans when he came down. I noticed a great printer was on sale and bought it.

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Dad is having prostrate trouble & was scheduled for tests. Thelma said his movements suggest he may have Parkinson’s. All things considered, he looks reasonably well. I just bought him a ‘94 diary since he couldn’t find the one he’s been using for decades.

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If you watch Austin City Limits, you may see me; I’ve now been to 118 tapings in Studio 6A (90 of Austin City Limits) & made every taping the past two seasons. Joan Baez & Leonard Cohen were highlights of this season & the finale was a songwriters’ special with Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett & Rodney Crowell which was wonderful. I sat directly behind Lyle, so will surely be on camera.

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March through August I spend time each week helping with the fourth & fifth edits of the relationships video documentary I worked on three years ago with a good friend. maybe it’ll be finished next year finally.

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Our principal is now head of curriculum for the district & we’ll get a new one in a few weeks. It’s a loss for our school, since she was a great principal. Next month also marks ten consecutive years of perfect attendance. I got to

teach the first child of one of my former students this year. The mother was one of my students in San Antonio in the seventies.

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It’s sad that Larry died so young, but at least his suffering has ended. He had some wonderful experiences in his final months. I’m glad Ed could help out at the end & take care of the details Larry was concerned with.

(this is the first of MY Christmas letters)

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Saturday January 2, 1993

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Greetings. saw dad on Monday. He looked well & showed off his latest toy: a 27" tv with Picture in Picture.? He said you'd shipped oranges & I assume I'll get some soon. Thanks in advance. Discovered Monday also that I have tendonitis in left arm. I'm taking medication.

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If you watch Austin City Limits you may see me. This season I have made it to every single taping. If they repeat the Veteran's Day special (In Country, songs by Viet vets) you can see me clearly plus hear great music. In several tapings I'm front row center, making it easier to see at least the back of my head. I also saw all of the Texas Connection tapings last spring (carried on the Nashville network if you get it). Last may at the Fabulous Thunderbirds taping, I sat a table with a woman who turned out to by the mother (Mabel) of a girl (Sandy) who works at KLRU & has supplied with me tickets for all the ACL tapings. Mabel happens to live 2 blocks away. Nice folks.

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Last May I finally got a modem, a fax modem (meaning I can send & receive fax, but they are sent/received as computer files. I can’t take paper & feed it through. Today I bought a scanner (for $500, a real bargain) from Julio, meaning I now can scan paper & convert it to a fax file. Pretty cool.

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I have done more reading this year than ever (248 & counting). One of the best ever was "Wild Swans by Jung Chang (essentially a personal history of 20^th century china). Check it out; it’s wonderful. I got to get Orson Scott Card to sign his sequel to Ender’s Game when he was in town. (you must read both (actually there’s 2nd sequel out, not up to the level of the first two, but still very good)). Douglas Adams also visited (first time since 1982) & gave a hilarious speech. his "Last Chance to See" is a wonderful book on endangered species. I also discovered some of David McCullough’s great books ("Truman" is on the best-seller list). I read his great books on the young Teddy Roosevelt & on the Brooklyn Bridge & am reading his book on the Panama Canal. Next year I will read the one on the Johnstown Flood as well as Truman.

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My eldest brother, Larry, has cancer & is given less than a year. He has been in more frequent contact (he’s in Missouri).

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This semester we’re back to teaching five classes, thank god. One class has been filled with little shits & I will be glad to get rid of them in 2 weeks.

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Some of the autographs (better known ones) this year: Bob Hope, Tom Kite, Kris Kristofferson (again!! this time, at the Viet vet taping rehearsal. When I showed Lindsey my Willie Nelson & Kristofferson autographs she wanted to keep them; I gave her one of willie on April 1 & she thought it was an April Fool, so Kris signed “April fool, Lindsey”. Alex haley(!!!), Chet Atkins, Garrison Keillor, Albert Brooks (with photo), Jimmy Buffett, Lady Bird Johnson, David Fanshawe (of African Sanctus, which was performed here: someone paid Fanshawe's airfare), Rosa Parks, Claudette Colbert, Jimmy Stewart, Isaac Stern, Myrna Loy & Gerald Ford.

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Got to meet Joe Ely & see his house (built in 1840’s) this summer.

1988 Christmas letter

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A MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!!!! We didn't expect to put out a newsletter this year, but something happened to change our minds! For years, Les had done his typing on an old, old manual typewriter. Nothing fancy, but it did a job as long as he hit the right keys. But it got knocked off its stand onto the floor. ruined beyond repair. So, he had to buy one of the new electronic models...and the results looked so pretty that a newsletter was decided upon!

Now that the Thanksgiving turkey has been gobbled down, Christmas is coming! And we've looked back over 1988 to see what's happened. We like company, and we had some nice visits this year. Doris Eggleston came down from Buffalo, as also did "Sis" Wiegley, while Bob & Melba Truly came in from Dallas. Dana Barry and her family in Beaumont were with us several times, and shared Thanksgiving with us here.

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1988 was unusual though, in that Ann Flynn's nephews came over from Ireland for a 3 week stay. So everybody got in lots and lots of sightseeing, including SEA WORLD and all the military bases here.

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Early in the year, we had plans to join John & Dana Barry in a trip to Spain, (business for John), thence to Germany via EURORAIL to see Chrystal and kids for a few days, plus sightseeing through France. Other things interfered, so we had to give up the idea. And instead of tourism, we got the house repainted, inside and out. Also, lots of the drapes were replaced. So it was a busy busy year after all!

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Senior Citizenship pretty much implies bodily repair work. Les and Thelma had a normal amount of medical and dental repair work done in 1988. As we write, the process continues, but is pretty well under control. Thelma started the year with some neurological disorders....most of these were finally diagnosed as a thyroid deficiency, so things are improving now. And, like many women, she developed "carpal tunnel syndrome"..a bunching of nerves in the wrist that hurts your hands and arms. The prognosis is fairly good here too.

Les had gastrointestinal upsets...an esophogeal constriction. That's under control now too. We aren't as young and energetic as we once were, but we're still in pretty good shape!

Thelma always has been a gardener. 1988 was no exception. We had lots of fresh vegetables to enjoy, and even now, in December, while everything else in the garden has been pulled out or cut down, WE ARE STILL HARVESTING TOMATOS !!! If need be, we could use some as Xmas tree ornaments! Well, here's the bottom of the page. Our love to all of you from Bulverde for this year, and, we hope for still many more to come.

HC 53 Box 3191 Bulverde, TX 78163

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THE NEWSLETTER 1985

Away back in 1938, Les went to work for Exxon, used offset printing a lot, and came out with his first Xmas card/newsletter. From 1942-46, the war years made it impossible, but from 1947 on, the series has continued unbroken. Now, at 47 years, we are hoping we can make it to a Golden Xmas card. Right now, the chances look pretty good. Fifty years! Well, why not?

1985 was a weather noteworthy year for us. It started with a record breaking 13.5" snowstorm that isolated us for several days. Here in the Sun Belt, throwing snowballs is a rare experience, and so are blocked roads with schools and businesses shut down by Old Man Winter. Springtime came along in due time, and the rains came too...lots of them. 1984 was a drought, but 85 was a soaker...50% over normal. Everything in the garden flourished, including the weeds, and Thelma was busy, busy, busy. But she sure managed to fill the pantry shelves with canned fruits and vegetables!

Les kept busy too with a chain saw. We took out several of our big willow trees, then lots of big logs turned up in San Antonio near "230", so the woodpile just kept on getting bigger all the time. Now, when a cold snap comes along, we can really enjoy our fireplace. With well over two cords stacked up, there should be enough to last us for several
?ears... or more.

That hauling from town started out with the old '77 Chevy station wagon. It did the job until August when a radiator hose broke suddenly while at expressway speed. The engine was ruined beyond repair, so now we have a '82 Chevy El Camino pickup with camper top. And it sure has been kept busy.

Many families have two homes...town and country. Since our marriage, we've gradually shifted from San Antonio to Bulverde. Les used "230" for some time as a business office, and it's been handy several times during our hospital stays. But it wasn't used enough to make it worthwhile, so we decided to clear it out, renovate as needed, and sell. What to do with all the contents? Well, we needed space, so we got a local contractor to erect an 18 x 25 stone and stucco shell at the end of our driveway. Before we knew it, the project had grown into a beautiful combination shop-office-spare garage, and with enough furniture so it could be a spare bedroom if necessary,

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In town we managed to sort out what we wanted to keep, move it here, trash lots of accumulated junk, and donate many useful items to various non-profit groups. It was a lot easier than sweating out yard sales! It went on the market in September, a buyer came along in October, so unless the financing falls through, we can relax with just one house. Anybody who has ever moved from one house to another, knows the headaches and heartaches of reestablishing the home, but until you have to consolidate two homes into one, you haven't yet learned how many problems can turn up and what difficult decisions must be.

We had lots of welcome visits this year. Sis Wiegley came down from Buffalo for a week in March, and Doris Eggleston made it in April, just about the time our new shop was under construction. Bob and Melba Truly were here briefly during the summer, as were Gerry Tagle, John and Dana Barry. The prize visitor though, was Danny Barry who came over from Beaumont for 2-1/2 weeks. Teaming up with Les in all the many jobs here and in town that had to be done, he was a tower of strength, and the extra muscle power in time of need was a real godsend. Best of all, though, were the short periods our three little granddaughters, Reagen, Jinny, and Jessica spent with us at various times. Grandparenting is one of the prime joys of maturity.

This was one year we did no traveling ourselves, but it was in the family just the same. Lynn Bledsoe received orders to Neu Ulm, Germany, and reported for duty there in mid April. Chrystal and Reagen moved in with Lanie temporarily, then joined him in mid June, when quarters became available. So now, a trip to Germany is on the 1986 agenda. We are both looking forward to it! Ann makes regular trips back to Ireland to see her family there, and after school was over in May, she hopped aboard a plane enroute to Eire, to stay until shortly before school reopened in August.

Folks in their middle age know all about the menopause. We seem to be learning about the geriatric equivalent...the geriopause. Sometimes we feel energetic and full of pep, other times it's hard to get anything accomplished. From a medical standpoint, though, Les got a lot of ?dental restoration work done, and while we both have our share of aches and pains, they are something we learn to live with, just like all of us who are earning our senior citizen diplomas.

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Let's hope we have lots more years ahead of us to enjoy a pleasant way of life and watch the
grandchildren grow up.

ADDRESSES
Route 3 Box 3191 OR P.O. Box 33
Bulverde, TX 78163
(512) 438-2912

THE EGGLESTONS

1984 CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER

After a year like 1983 with that glorious trip to the Holy Land it wouldn't be easy to come up in 1984 with a newsletter packing the same inspiration and excitement. What to do? Well, we thought of just throwing up our hands, using commercial Xmas cards, and letting it go at that. Then we realized that life has quiet years too...accepted the fact that this has been pretty much like that...and decided to carry on with our own Christmas card tradition. And just to add a bit of nostalgia, we dug up a camelback picture from last year. It's guaranteed genuine. There just aren't many camels available in Texas! This one was on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Looking back, it was just another day at a time, adding up to weeks and months of our normally relaxed life out here in Bulverde, doing the chores, the gardening, and enjoying the visits from our friends and family. It was pretty much the way everybody lives these days. Not that there weren't complications.

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In February, Thelma had an attack of diverticulitis that got to involve hospital time, surgery, and this pretty much messed up her spring garden schedule. But then the garden didn't have much chance this year, anyhow. It was so dry and hot that water became a precious item. We used what we had to on our vegetables, but our beautiful lawns were just ruined. The situation got a little better in the fall, but for home gardening, this was a year to forget. But how do you forget not having to mow the grass all summer? It was just weirdo weather, starting with a record freeze last winter. In May, a hailstorm hit our house in town "230" and thoroughly ruined the roof.

We look forward to our summer visitors, and the first to come was Sister Angelica, from Corpus Christi. Later on, most of Thelma's family from the Dallas area were with us awhile...Bob & Melba Truly, Carol Truly, and her three energetic boys. John and Dana Barry came over from Beaumont too to see us. Then, almost completely unexpectedly, Ed, Dan, and Larry Eggleston, converged on Bulverde from Austin, Maryland and Missouri for a reunion with their father after 14 years. That sure had been a long, long time.

Shortly afterward, Les got into the hospital act too...a modified tonsillectomy to remove the uvula...it had been responsible for a had snoring problem for many years, and probably should have been done long ago, maybe even in childhood. The results sure are gratifying and well worth the short inconvenience period when eating was difficult.

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All through the year we were in close touch with Thelma's two daughters living in San Antonio, Chrystal and Lanie, each with two grandchildren for us to pamper, babysit, and spoil. Just like being a parent all over again, watching kids grow up, but without the cares and responsibilities. Grandparenthood seems to be highly regarded everywhere, and we sure enjoyed every bit of it as it came along.

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Thanksgiving and Christmas are traditional family get-together days, and this year we gathered at Chrystal's house for a special reason. She and Lynn had been alerted to duty in Germany starting in mid 1985. It sounds exciting! Maybe we'll get to Germany to visit them during their tour there. John and Dana made it over from Beaumont for the turkey fest and it was a glorious party for all. Then, on Christmas, we plan a double observance. First, in Bulverde, then we'll drive over to Beaumont to join John and Dana. Chrystal and Lynn will be there too. Just like having a Thankschristmas this year!

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We had an extra reason for being thankful this year. Seven is a lucky number, and we were married in Seventy Seven - on the Twenty Seventh. So this was our Seventh Anniversary!

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As usual, we are listing our various addresses and those of the family for convenience in writing.

THE EGGLESTONS
230 Montpelier
San Antonio, TX 78228
(512) 734-0698

P.O. Box 33 or Rte. 3 Box 3191
Bulverde, TX 78163
(512) 438-2912

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Time keeps on marching along, and so does the pattern of our lives. In many ways, 1980 was pretty much the same as 1979, but this is now our 3rd Wedding Anniversary, and our 4th Xmas together. We stayed at home a lot, mostly in Bulverde, but we also managed a bit of travel.

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In March, our local theater got Les to play the bartender in an old west Melodrama. For a teetotaler, that was quite an accomplishment, but it sure was lots of fun. Then in July, he had a call from a former associate that led to consulting work in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, North Dakota and California. It was enjoyable and not too strenuous, so Thelma joined him on the California portion, plus on a short trip to Houston and Beaumont. We drove up to Dallas several times in the fall visiting her brothers there. Going places is fun, but there's no place like home.

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An extra hot summer baked much of Thelma's two gardens. Some vegetables withered, others yielded incredible harvests. Les didn't get far in returning to ham radio, but, with Thelma's help, made lots of ceramic pieces to decorate our dual domiciles and fill the continual need for presents to give. In August, Thelma got a new sewing machine. Once she became used to its fantastic potential, the needles started to buzz, her old time skills came back and now she's having real fun as a seamstress par excellence.

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Life now consists of doing the necessary domestic chores, going shopping, enjoying dinner theaters and plays as they come along, feeding our 3 dogs and 4 cats, and reaping the benefits of retirement. As best we can keep in touch with our children in a relaxed sort of way. Just for the remainder, a directory as we did last year.

Both of us join together in wishing a happy and prosperous year for 1981.

THE EGGLESTONS

Dana Barry (Mrs. John)
5715 Viking
Beaumont, Texas 77706
(713) 898-4573

Lawrence Eggleston
1801 W. Worley
Columbia, MO. 65201

Daniel Eggleston
4210 Avenue A
Austin, Texas 78751
(512) 458-8383

Gerald Tagle
9821 Katy Fwy. Suite 4
Houston, Texas
(713) 932-6118

Elaine Wagoner (Mrs. Donald)
12718 El Marro
San Antonio, Texas 78233
(512) 655-8709

Chrystal Harwell (Mrs. Bruce)
150 Meadow Glen
San Antonio, Texas 78227
(512) 675-1875

Edward Eggleston
4725 Boiling Brook Pky.
Rockville, MO. 20852
(301) 770-7515

Ann Flynn
Route 3 Box 3023B
Bulverde, Texas 78163

OUR OWN ADDRESSES

Route 3 Box 3023B
Bulverde, Texas 78163
or
P.O. Box 33
Bulverde, Texas 78163
(512) 438-2912
or
230 Montpelier Dr.
San Antonio, Texas 78228
(512) 734-0698

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1979 Xmas? NEWSLETTER

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Well, it was a pretty good year, with our second wedding anniversary, the first year of rotating the holiday celebrations among the children, and our third Xmas together. We didn't do much travelling, but more or less stayed at home, enjoying visits from the children, plus our brothers and sisters. And we finally managed to get our picture taken.

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Les had several well-paid consulting jobs during the year, spent considerably less time at Southwest Research, and so our Bulverde home was used much, much more. It made a difference, too' A lot was accomplished in landscaping, outdoor flood lighting, garden improvements and trying to teach a puppy dog not to chew up the newspaper.

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Thelma's gardening skills kept the table well supplied so we ate like royalty. Les continued to make ceramic ware for us and it came in handy for wedding presents as well. A start was made on getting back into ham radio activities. And Les grew more hair on his bald spot. Honest.

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Much of what we did was closely tied to family life with our children. Reporting it could take many pages, so we aren't even going to try. Instead, we enclose an up-to-date family directory, so information on each person can come "direct from the horse's stable" as you need it.

Maybe this is the easy way out, but it sure saves lots and lots of writing.

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What's our life like now? Well, beyond doing what's necessary to maintain our two homes, we try to take things easy, enjoy concerts and dinner theaters, go shopping and dream ahead about some exciting travel, hopefully next year. Not wildly exciting, perhaps, but it can be a

comfortable thing after our lifetimes of hard work. We both worked hard for long years, so now its time to relax and really be retired.

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THE EGGLESTONS

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THE FAMILY DIRECTORY

(As of December 1979)

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Dana Barry (Mrs. John)

5715 Viking

Beaumont, Tx. 77706

(713) 898-4573

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Lawrence Eggleston

1723 W. Worley-Apt.6

Columbia, MO. 65201

(314) 445-4662

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Daniel Eggleston

4210 Avenue A

Austin, Tx. 78751

(512) 458-8383

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Elaine Wagoner (Mrs. Donald)

9122 Summer Wind

San Antonio, Tx. 78216

(512) 655-8709

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Chrystal Harwell (Mrs.Bruce)

150 Meadow Glen

San Antonio, Tx. 78227

(512) 675-1875

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Edward Eggleston

4725 Boiling Brook Pky.

Rockville, MD. 20852

(301) 770-7515

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Gerald Tagle (and Gaynelle)

766 Bateswood-Apt-3

Houston, Tx. 77079

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Ann Flynn

Route 3 Box 3023B

Bulverde- Tx. 78136

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OUR OWN ADDRESSES

Mr. & Mrs. Lester A. Eggleston

230 Montpelier Dr.

San Antonio, Tx. 78228

(512) 734-0698

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AND/OR

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P.O. Box 33

Bulverde, Tx. 78163

(512) 438-2912

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Route 3 Box 3023B

Bulverde, Tx. 78163

THE NEWSLETTER 1978

Now that the last of the Thanksgiving turkey has been eaten up, (almost) we can start thinking about Christmas, and all that's been going on in our first year. After we got out the 1977 newsletter, we wanted to get a picture of the two of us, but somehow or other in our gadding about, we never seemed to wind up with a joint photograph. When recently we realized this and headed for a studio, it was too late to get something back in time to go to press. So we used a picture of our house out in Bulverde, abbreviated BVD later in the letter.

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We had planned our honeymoon as a trip to South America, and early in March we took off for a 9-day packaged tour to Peru and Ecuador. First to Lima, then Cuzco, the ancient Inca capitol. Machu Picchu, the legendary lost city was our destination, but a railroad strike messed it up. We did, though, get a bus trip to Ollentaytambo, another old ruin, almost as fascinating. After more sightseeing in Lima, we moved on to Quito, Ecuador. That was exhilarating in lots of ways! The 9000 ft plus altitude left you light headed much of the time. Cuzco was over 10,000 ft, but the thin air didn't have time to catch up with us as it did in Quito. Quito is a beautiful old colonial city. Imagine a church entirely covered inside with gold. It takes your breath away to see it. The Equator is just a few miles outside the city, so we made the trip, becoming citizens of the middle of the earth. So much was happening in such a short time that, when our 9 days came to an end, returning us to San Antonio, it felt awfully good to be home again. Travel is apt to be that way.

After the South American tour, we had plans for a lengthy motor trip up to Dallas, eastward to the Atlanta, Georgia area, then north along the seaboard to the New York metropolitan area. We were to swing up to Buffalo, follow the lakes toward Chicago, drop down to St. Louis, move
west to Kansas City, and finally head for home via Dallas. We had lots of visiting and sightseeing in mind. It was easy to talk about but the more we thought about the over 4000 miles of driving, and perhaps 3 or 4 weeks of continual travel more, we began to have misgivings. Finally we let common sense win over, elected to shrink the journey to Buffalo and Washington, going by air. That's the way it worked out starting in early August. The highlight, it least a thorough tour of Niagara Falls, plus all the places where Les grew up around Buffalo. We didn't see much of the USA from way up in the clouds, but it sure was a lot easier on us. Even then, we were awfully weary when the plane set down back in San Antonio. Approaching old age, perhaps?

Back in 1977, when we got married, we had two houses about twenty-five miles apart. Where to live? Each house had its own special advantages, so we decided to split time between them. During the week, when Les had to be close to work, we would stay in town and cut down the nuisance of a long commuting run. Weekends, we planned to enjoy the Bulverde countryside. Mostly, it proved to be a pretty good plan but, it didn't take us long to discover that almost everything you wanted to use, wear, eat, or otherwise have at hand was usually at the other house. Up to a certain point, we could duplicate our things and have what we wanted at the right place. Beyond that, we've learned to adopt a relaxed attitude about the logistics of living in our split location homes. With two houses too, we found new challenges in changing his & her houses to our houses. Thelma took over making "230" a real home with all sorts of plants, macrame, wall hangings, etc. Her prize project was a painstaking repainting of the kitchen from stem to stern in gleaming white gloss enamel on the wood, contrasted with cream, yellow and blue tints for the walls. What a change it made! Out in Bulverde, Les installed some much needed outdoor floodlighting, tool racks. Storage shelving, and water line improvements. Then by accident, he found some local laborers who were unusually good at rock work. Week after week he had them picking up rock around the area, carting it to the house in our little two wheel trailer, then shaping into retaining walls to improve our front lawn contours. The total length is rapidly approaching 350 ft, and the house is becoming quite a showplace. Les has always considered himself primarily an engineer, but there's been a noticeable tendency toward the country squire identity.

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For those of us who admit to "39 and holding", health be a topic of conversation. After all, everybody has it to other, and it seems to control what we do or don't do. Last some degree or other, and it seems to control what we do or don't do. Last Xmas the 2 weeks that Les spent in the hospital gave us quite a scare, and for months we were extra cautious. Now, it seems that Thelma's good cooking, sensible diet, and the rock work at Bulverde have worked wonders. Les is in better health than ever, better dressed, better groomed, and he's even growing hair on his big bald spot!

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Thelma hasn't been as lucky ... her arthritis has been a problem, and some dental troubles from years back have surfaced again. But we keep plugging along, accept the fact that we aren't 21 any more, and try to adjust our pace to how we feel at any given time.

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Just for the record, Taffy, our Manx cat, guards "230" when we are out at BVD, where Thelma has 3 cats plus 2 dogs. One, incidentally, we named Quito, after our trip.

Repeating what we said last year, either address will reach us. The home fires will burn in both our homes, particularly in BVD, where there's a big stone fireplace. Les is continuing his consulting activities so makes a good weekday base of operations, but it sure is nice out in the country.

the Egglestons

230 Montpelier Dr

San Antonio TX 78228

734-0698
2167 John Charles

Bulverde TX 78163

1-438-2912
(area code 512)

Coming events cast their shadows before

(proverb)

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That phrase, word for word, exactly as you heard it, without one syllable altered or twisted, that phrase was the scathing retort I made, at the age of seventeen, to Trent Nugent, who was the artistic director, juvenile lead, and theater blessee of the Willstone Thespians.

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Now I must explain that I had joined the Willstone Thespians for only one reason. Because, at the age of seventeen I had extremely sticking-out ears. I mean extremely. With my flat cap on, the silhouette of my head resembled nothing so much as a Austin Seven with the two side doors open. Which of course made me extremely diffident with girls.?

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And that is actually is what made me join the Willstone Thespians. Because among young men of that day there was a very widely held theory that the best possble way to get girls flocking to you was to be the star in an amateur dramatic society. And of all our local amateur dramatic societies the thespians attracted by far the largest female following.

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This wasn't so much because of the quality of their plays or the standard of their acting.? It was due practically completely that the bloke who printed their posters was a little on the short-sighted side.

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This was demonstrated by the enormous crowds that rushed to see their production of Patrick Hamilton's play Rope and it was a similar error which brought the house-full notices out for Ivor Novello's Careless Rapture.

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But as I say, when I joined them for their winter season my purpose was quite cold-blooded: to work my way up through the company 'till I could take the starring role in The Desert Song.

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I went along at the beginning of the season and presented myself to Trent Nugent. Now there was an insufferable character.? Trent was actually, in the society, more or less all-powerful. ?And accordingly it was to him that I explained that I wanted to end the season as the Red Shadow but until then I was perfectly willing to work my way up to it.

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"All right, very well," he said, ?"In our first production, we'll just give you a walk-on part."?

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Now that expression a walk-on part I took to be the customary theatrical jargon 'till I saw what the first production was: The Bridge of San Luis Rey. And I was to be the bridge.?

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There was apparently some altercation with the scenary builders which meant that I spent the major part of Thornton Wilder's great work stretched out between two paper-mache rocks with hand-rails attached either side of me being walked on.

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Nevertheless I did feel that I'd served the necessary apprenticeship, so when we finally came to the first read-through of The Desert Song I thrust myself in front of the company and without prompting I recited the whole of the Red Shadow part, chucked in a snatch of One Alone to Call My Own, to say nothing of two choruses of the Rift Song.

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When the rest of the cast broke into spontaneous applause I could tell that Trent Nugent was really impressed. He said, "That was very good.? Very good. I think" And he handed me a script. ?"I think you've earned this."

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And when I looked down at the part circled for me my gorge leapt. I was Third Sand Dune.

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I said, "Wait a minute.? What about the Red Shadow?"

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He said, "I'm terribly sorry. but that's quite out of the question.? You see I was cast for that before the season even opened."

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That was where I made that aforementioned retort.

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"In that case," I said, "This amateur dramatic society shouldn't call themselves the Willstone Thespians.? They should call themselves The Coming Events."

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He said, "Why?"

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I said, "Because," without altering or twisting a syllable, "It's Coming Events cast their shadows before."

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Dennis Norden 573a