Yes, friends …  I’ve got way too much time on my hands but I have been inspired by the ’52-’62 Bushy Park alumni that is putting together a great monthly newsletter, headed up by Gary Schroeder ’55, about their comings and goings.  And since I have some down time today, I thought I would try to dress up the latest update with a graphic that was sent to me by Kathie Faulkner Jones ’66.  I hope future updates will continue to add photos/graphics sent to me, but I’m still not secure with all this new technology.  Let’s give it a shot and please let me know whaddya’ think.

Had an e-mail early in May from our own Jerry Donahue on his way to Australia to tour with his band, the "Hellecasters." Besides some great guitar playing from partners Will Ray and Eric Johnson, you know the Aussies will go bonkers over Jerry’s "string bending" style that has gotten him worldwide acclaim.  He should be returning to one of his three homes – Germany, England and Hollywood – so we’ll expect some down under tales soon.

Friday, May 11, marked the official retirement for Wiki Mims Carter from Chattanooga State College.  I know she has been in touch with several Bobcats about her retirement, so I won’t go into the details - you can write her at her new

e-mail address and get the latest on the doings at the Carter homestead:

DA’ GODFATHER GOES FOR THE GRAPPA!

Frank Badami and wife, Katie, are leaving Los Angeles this week for some R&R in Italy and England. Ever the businessman, Frank says he will be hooking up with an associate from Detroit in Rome to discuss a new venture in gospel music and television specials.  The IRS never knew how much a cocktail could really cost in Rome!

Frank will visit family in Corleone … yes, Virginia, there is a Godfather …  and will be on the lookout for Al Pacino.  He’ll also be swinging through England to visit with Derek Messecar, playing partner from the "Saints" days, and Bruce Spilker, ace photographer of the band.  All I can say is look out London!

And big congratulations to Frank’s wife who was recently named Supervising Producer for the television show, "Soul Train."

Our thespian of old, Paul Tanner, recently sent me a couple of e-mails updating things going on with him. His son is now at Furman University, on a soccer scholarship no doubt, and Paul says it’s tough not having him at home – "after 18 years, my wife and I have to get used to each other all over again."

Ever the comedian, Paul wrote in another e-mail about his move/transfer to Amarillo, Texas.  "It’s strange living here.  Over the years, I must have passed through Amarillo a hundred times on my way to different locations and always wondered why anybody would live there.  I’ve been here nearly a year and still don’t have an answer."

For your records, here’s his new address/phone and e-mail at home:

13 Cypress Point

Amarillo, TX 79124

(806) 463-2482

… and by the way, Paul wrote they bought a great home, "with a great view of the horizon in all directions."

I wrote in the last update our "Shepherd" Ed McIntosh had gone back to school to get his teaching certificate.  You won’t believe it, but he passed the certification test with flying colors scoring 90 on the Government test and another high score on the Journalism test.  Can’t you just see him showing up in the classroom without socks, AGAIN!

Now Ed writes his toughest decision will be to pursue teaching or another job offer from a huge, European-based conglomerate with worldwide plants and facilities.  He would head up Purchasing for all of North America.  There’s another offer on the front burner as Ed says, but you can write him to ask about it. Let’s just says his every move will be very closely watched!

Bet that got your attention! No our class historian & comedienne isn’t pregnant, simply sharing Karen Lerner Berman’s third daughter for a couple of days in June.  This will be a first time Jenna is visiting even though Karen has shared "birthdays, school photos, graduations, doomed romances and the general rhythms of everyday life" with Dianne for years.

I know there is a lot more information I could be sharing with all of you if you would only write.  The ’52-’62 alumni group is sharing bios, birthdays and bull about everything going on in their group.  The stories are extremely interesting, and I don’t know half of these people!  We can do the same thing and share info with each other and make my updates so much more interesting.  I can even share photos that are e-mailed to me.  Photos like these which were pulled down from Jay Mercer’s ’66 website showing alumni in front of Bushey Hall and the new school at High Wycombe during the London 2000 reunion.  See if you can put names with the faces.

Let’s make this page a monthly something to see and read, O.K?  yes, j