The President's Page
August 3, 2011 - As most of us know (or as I like to say for those who
came in late, or those that don't know her), Bashie Crutchfield was
Scoutmaster Paul Crutchfield's wife who was also a teacher down "in
the dungeons" (basement) at Upper School.
English, I believe, was the subject and sometimes she was our
Homeroom teacher. She was just as dedicated to Scouting as her
husband was. In the spring of 1969, the day after I left Boy Scouts,
when we arrived in her Class (as juniors), she looked as if she's been crying.
She gave
the Class a reading assignment and asked me to sit next to her. She opened a
book,
handed it to me and asked me to read a page and a half of underlined sentences
aloud.
Cocky as I was back then, I told her I'll read it in silence. When I finished
the reading,
she asked if I would return to Scouting. Nah, I can't I said. To this day, I
don't remember
the name of the book or what the message was about.
Yes, there's a lot of "What ifs" in life, and I don't dwell on them, but a
good Scouting
friend of mine was told this story years ago and he asked me "What if Mrs.
Crutchfield had asked me "Why?"" I said "Well, I would probably mention the fact
that
here I am 12 school months before graduating with no merit badge and to be an
Eagle I
would need to acquire 21 merit badges". Then this pal'o mine had the gusto to
say
"What if she said she will help you getting those 21 badges in those 12 months?
You
went to football camp! That would have given you extra time for badges right
then
and there!" (Now you see why I don't like to do "What ifs").
I have nothing but fond memories of Mrs. Crutchfield, she was one of many of my
favorite teachers here at NCSD. We parted ways in very good terms, always hugged
each other during Homecomings and other visits to the school.
Her health was on the decline over the years and was put in a very nice rest
home.
Several years ago, several of us Classmates paid her a
visit, an
emotional one at that.
And yes, we could tell that her mind was deteriorating faster than her health.
She and Paul has two children that I know of, Paul, Jr. and Ann Chastain and
unfortunately, both are not in good health.
Mrs. Crutchfield's Spirit is in the Sky, probably with Eagles, but free with
her beloved
Scoutmaster Paul.
Thank you, Mrs. Crutchfield and I'll never say good bye, we all see you later.
Lester and the Classmates of 1970 and NCSD
06/07/10
Classmates and Webby visitors,
Ate solid food for the first time this morning...all went well...and went home
today at noon. Just in time...hospital bed was killing my back...it's a lot
better
now...I'm in my comfy chair and drinking some decent coffee.
Only one incision was made. Am very sore and the doctor said for me to take
short walks to keep the blood circulating. I'm glad the weather has cooled down
so I can follow the doc's orders.
Although, I'm one of the lucky ones whose right intestine was for the removal
of
large polyps and not for cancer or any life threatening diseases, Sandra has
this to
say, 'colonoscopy can save your life'. So, I'm going to say this again,
if you haven't
had a colonoscopy done yet, get one, I don't care how old you are.
Links:
webmd,
bandaidsurgery, Ohio
State Medical,
and not for the weak, a
60 Minute Video in CC of the operation
Lester
06/01/10
Classmates and Webby visitors,
This week, I'll be having a laparoscopic colectomy surgery (right intestine
resection or the removal of 12 inches of my right intestine). Large polyps
were found during colonoscopy, back in April. No cancer cells were found
but the intestine will be removed as a precaution. I'll be staying at the
hospital for a few days, then sent home for about two weeks.
It will take my body 9 months or earlier to adjust or to accommodate for
the missing intestine. However, after two weeks, I can pretty much return
to my normal routine and still be able to eat what I've been eating. Oh, Boy!
Spicy, dicey, baby! Hot, hot, hot!
So, if you haven't had a colonoscopy done yet, get one, I don't care how
old you are. The fluids you have to drink before the colonoscopy is not as
bad as folks would tell you. Yes, lots of wawa (water) has to be taken
....get over it! It's for the best!
And as DC would say, Cheers!
Lester
01/19/10
Classmates,
Please check your e-mail for Reunion information.
If you haven't received the e-mail titled "40th Reunion Update as of Jan
2010"
please let me know.
This week I aim to wear my webmaster hat and return to webby duties on this
website.
Lester
09/09/09
Hello Classmates!
I want to thank the NCSD
Classmates of 1970 for electing me as
your Class President, I am glad
to be of service.
We have come a long ways in providing a central point of providing
information for us '70 Classmates, from our
first newsletter in
the early 1980s,
to the newsletters in the first 3 years of the Y2Ks and to
the website afterwards
to today. Just like the technology of old, from TTYs,
fax, IM chat, and e-mails
and now Blackberrys and VRS.
And yes, for
those who keeps prompting and poking me, I'm actively working on
getting VRS.
Moving forward, Donnie Crump and I are still in the pre-planning stages of
our
40th Reunion in 2010 and we will keep you informed when this program
picks up
speed.
Our next Class meeting is during halftime of the football game. If there are
issues
and business that you would like to see discussed on the table, you
may e-mail
them to me so I can prep it on the agenda or let us know when
old/new business
is called upon.
Next time you folks talk to
Randy, with e-mail,
chat, or VRS, please thank him for
the hard work he has done for the Class
during the last 9 years.
See ya'll at Homecoming!
One for all, all for
one!
Lester
And PS: Let's not forget to thank John and Richard for performing the
election
proceedings.
This page was last updated on
08/03/2011.
