FLASHLIGHT |
WELHISCO
NEWSLETTER |
JUNE 2008 |
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WELHISCO |
Trojan Head
designed by
Kermit Ruyle '47
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The
one
about
the
past
determining
the
future
evidently
got
lost
in
the
shuffle.
Because
each
graduate
is
departing
the
Wellston
high
school
in
2008
with
not
only
a
diploma
but
a
from
a
college
or
university.
Eskridge
graduating
class
— 29
—
[MORE] |
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16 Months
until
Reunion 2009
View Alumni
Member [List] |
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The Mystery
Necklace Continues for
'65 gals
(Not actual
necklace) |
"Lunatic" sends note
to Flashlight for '65
Ladies:
It reads:
To the Ladies of
'65;
About the
necklaces (received
after Reunion 2006), we
hope you liked
them...they were from
all of us to all of you.
Reading you
liked and enjoyed them in the
Flashlight (July '07) was thanks
enough but you COULD thank us
again
when we meet at Reunion
2009.
No, you
haven't guessed who the
"instigating lunatic"
is (Aug '07).
Again, it was a pleasure
and privilege growing up
and
attending school with you
all!!!
Your
friends and classmates
From the editor:
And the mystery
continues..... |
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Jimmy Haislip '54
Al Smith
(left),
former High
Sierra Jazz
Band leader,
congratulates
Jimmy
Haislip,
legendary
trombone
player from
Cornet Chop
Suey, who
took the
stage at
Jazzaffair,
2003.
Jim's
on the right
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The sad beginnings
to be found in
dysfunctional
families often set
the stage for tragic
endings. All
the elements of
tragedy were in
place for Jimmy Haislip
'54, but he was
proven to be one of
those who overcame
the odds. Tragedy
was not to be the
ultimate fate of
this young man.
Born
in 1936, Jim suffered
from child abuse and
epilepsy acquired
from brain damage
incurred when he was
struck by a car at
age 6. As he grew up
he drifted into
alcoholism and
eventually had a
nervous breakdown.
Jimmy
started Wellston
Junior High in '49 when he
was 13,
becoming instant
friends with David Dungan.
Dave played
the tuba in the high
school band. (In
order to have enough
band members the
high school would
recruit from the
Junior High.) Jim
was asked if he'd
like to try the
trombone, to which he
replied 'yes'!.
The
extent of Jim's
formal trombone
lessons consisted of
Mr. Gratius, then
music director,
showing him how to
play a few notes,
how to
take the trombone apart, then
put it back together
again, and letting him take
the trombone home
for the summer so he could practice.
Mr.
Gratius was replaced
by Maurice Schaum as
director that fall.
In the spring of
1950, Mr Schaum, formed
a dance band, known
as the Weltones.
The
purpose of the band
was to train future
musicians, plus
provide music for
school dances as
well as for outside
engagements. Their
first public
appearance was at a
home basketball game
that year.
They
would meet daily at 8
am, filling the halls
of Wellston with
both sweet and hot
music. The
band
became one of the
most active
organizations in
school, playing at
basketball games,
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auditorium sessions,
school dances, and
the Wellston
Community Center.
Six members of the
Weltones,
Frances Stamm, James
Haislip, Bob
Percival, Gene
Moehlenkamp, Jim
Thompson, and Don
Conners formed a
Dixieland Band. From
this group a star
would rise.
Jim
majored in criminal
law and criminal
evidence, graduating
from the St. Louis
Police Academy with
honors where he
spent 13 years
before changing
vocations. He is
considered to be one
of the top 10 jazz
trombonists in the
country, celebrating
a career that
spanned some 55
years.
Haislip sat in with
jazz greats such as
Bobby Hackett, Al Hirt, Pete Fountain,
Bob Crosby and many
more international
artist. He appeared
on the TV and radio
versions of Arthur
Godfrey's talent
scout show, played
on the Tonight Show,
Garry Moore's I've
Got a Secret, Ed
Sullivan Show and
many other
appearances around
the country at
various studios. Over 100 recordings,
with various
artists, credit
"Jimmy Haislip -
Trombone".
Jim's love for
playing the trombone
and his love for
Dixieland music has
taken him all over
the world. He played
with several well
known bands at Gas
Light Square, among
other gigs in St.
Louis, New
York City, and New
Orleans. He never
became rich, money
wise, but he
certainly loved what
he was doing at the
time.
His brother, Tom Haislip, wrote of Jim's life growing up in Wellston and the trials and tribulations Jim experienced on the road to the bottom, before he turned his life around.
Jim found Christ and his conversion to Christianity was nothing short of a miracle. Jim is now a minister and Director of Hope Ministries in St. Louis. Visit his website |
"A boy named George Koby who pitched for the Cardinals"
~ Joe Garagiola 1964 |
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By
Robert Haefner '49
George Koby,
attended Wellston Schools from K
- 12th grade, graduating in
1943. George excelled in sports,
lettering in all, however
baseball was his favorite. He
was tall and he threw the
ball hard. At times he was wild enough to intimidate
most batters.
The classmates of 1943 were
asked to pick special features
from the boys in their class to
create the "perfect boy". George
was chosen for his perfect
"athletic ability".
George played street ball with
Norm Siebern, Don Carter, and
the Haefner brothers. He set the
bar high, showing his friends
how professional sports were
within their grasp. Later in
life he showed determination,
hanging in there, proving the
medical experts wrong. His life
story is interesting and
inspiring, read on - he was a survivor.[MORE] |
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FLASHLIGHT |
Vintage Photos From the Shoe Box! |
We'll post them online.
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How do you store your pictures? Framing, scrap-booking or sticking them in shoeboxes? With the advent of digital photography, there are several options sharing the photos you love, making them last a good, long time: You can either: Email, scan or use US Postage (If photos are to be returned, please include return US Mail postage.)
Send in your shoebox photo's so they can be shared with everyone. |
Pictures from the Shoe Box |
Corbett Monica with Jimmy Haislip and his band at channel 2 approx '57. Chuck Norman was host along with Bruce Heyworth
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Corbett & Gene Krupa guest soloist at channel 2
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Loretta Skeeth '54
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LIFE THEN & NOW |
I
lived
at 1277 Ryan
Terrace till I was in the middle
of 6th grade. Our home was built
in 1905 and owned by my
grandfather. June Douglas '59
lived across the alley from me,
Virginia '53 and Janice '61
Clark lived on Wagner at the
corner of Ryan Terrace. My
sister and I learned to ride
bicycles on the cinder strewn
alley. JoAnn Williams '60
lived at the corner of Wagner
and this alley, two doors from
the Clarks. Larry and Lyman
Winder lived on Ryan Terrace, as
well as Virginia Gossett '60.
These are pictures of our home
then and now. It's STILL
standing - barely - 103 years
later. St. Louis County owns the
home now - only two other homes
are left on our street, one
being lived in. It's fun sharing
pictures. I'd love to see some
input from others especially
from the class of '59.
Barb Hill '59
1277
Ryan Terrace - Front
view |
Barb
Hill - back yard of
Ryan Terrace |
The
home still stands -
barely...
Picture taken in the
backyard of our home
at 6238 Lenox.
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Lindy Hall - second floor
Western Auto main floor along with other shops |
uly special feature
“THE NEW LINDY HALL”
Be part of the story - send us your pictures and/or your memories and stories of those wonderful times at the skating rink.
We’d love to share alumni stories, stirring up memories of yesterday. Special preview of Bob's album, a work in process [More]
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FLASHLIGHT
Page 3 JUNE 2008 |
Alumnae & Alumni News and
Comments: |
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Frank
and Nadine Clark |
Frank
on board ship bound
for Iwo Jima |
Clark Brothers
Oil Painting |
Larry Duffy,
reporter for the
"New Town Courier",
wrote an article in
their May issue
about our Frank
Clark '43, the
plight of Frank's
painting, and the
story of his
brothers. We feel it
is a heart warming
story worthy of
sharing with our
alumni. To read the
story
[MORE] |
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I attended
Wellston from elementary thrrough
high school, living on Lennox Ave.
Neighborhood neighbors include
Russell Hamm, the Dentons,
Bennetts. I knew the Gatlins, Thackers,
Crowders, having great memories of
all. I wonder where everyone is
now and how their lives turned out.
Someone out there
EMAIL me, I'll
respond. Tom Manley '67
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What a delightful
surprise! When I saw the
"Trojan" on the envelope I
thought it was from U.S.C.,
since I did graduate from there
and get communications from them
several times a year. I
had forgotten that Wellston High
School also had a 'Trojan" as a
mascot. Our class of '41 has a
newsletter and also events
planned through the year.
California is too far removed
from Missouri to go for lunch
though. Thanks for its
opportunity to keep in touch.
Sincerely, Vernetta (Eyster)
Semon '41. |
Just a short note
to let you know that we are
still alive, but more or less
confined to our local area in
Lynchburg, Virginia. Gladys has
had a stroke and is partially
paralyzed on her right side. We
are still able to live in our
own home. We will be unable to
attend Reunion 2009, but do
appreciate getting all the info
about WELHISCO activities.
Richard and Glady (Althen '41)
Oldham '39 |
Please REMOVE my
name from your mailing
list. I graduated in the class of
'45 from Wellston, OHIO!
Thank you, Jane Massie |
Stanley
Dodd ’41 called, asking us to
say ‘Hi’ to everyone for him. He
said his health is good and he’s
looking forward to seeing
everyone at Reunion 2009. Stan
plans to attend with his sister,
Donna ‘55, from Arizona. Stan
ordered a BuzzBook so he could
keep in touch with his friends
and classmates. Stan keeps up
with alumni news through his
sister who mails the Flashlight
for him each month. |
Melba and I have
just read your May copy of the
Welhisco Alumni Newsletter and
congratulate you and your team o
n the excellent organization and
newsletter you have established.
We have been involved in reunions for Wellston, class 1941
reunions for over 18 years. Our
next newsletter will be the 68th
edition. September will be our
next annual picnic. We also meet
for lunch the first Thursday of
the month at the Bridgeton Home
Towne Buffet. We know your
efforts are well appreciated by
hundreds of our old friends and
classmates. Geo and Melba (Smith
'41) Smith |
I never enjoyed
anything so much as your
recent newsletter! I always knew
Chuck-A-Burger was at Page and
Ferguson. The picture of Clara
L. Fricke warmed my heart. We
lived next door to her on Page.
Please let her know we think of
her and her Mom and Dad often.
Gene and Estella (Smith '51)
Tiernan '46 |
Friends,
the May edition of the
Flashlight is very
interesting. There is a
hidden section that I just
happened to find. It is at
the end of the section
showing the 1958 picture of
Mr. Course under the listing
Senior Day 1958. If you
check on the "MORE" link you
get a very large section of
pictures of Wellston or what
remains of Wellston. There
are also a number of early
Wellston High pictures.
JoAnn, you should have
highlighted this link.
Dave Esche '62
Dave: Space is very limited in
what can be posted in the
Flashlight, that is the reason why articles
are attached [MORE] |
Thanks
for the
information regarding Miss
Niles. Appreciated the early
photo of her and Jerry Stigall.
Thanks also for the
info regarding the early
history of Wellston
schools. Are there any
pictures of the old Welsmar
School before it was torn
down and became Spencemar
School? Roger Noon '62
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We really enjoy
reading the Flashlight and stories
of Wellston High School. The
memories of the loop, the movie
theaters, drive inn's,
Chuck-A-Burger, and all the other
stories. What a nice way of keeping
up with alumni news. Thanks! Charles and Kathleen (Bonney)
Busalacchi - both 1957 |
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Please be sure to share your
Flashlight with those who do not
have access to the Internet
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Your
Welhisco Alumni Newsletter
should have arrived by US mail. If you did NOT
receive your copy please email
your correct mailing address to
[email protected]
Become a member of the
WELHISCO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Members read monthly Flashlight's
Dues $10.00 yearly (per household) |
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FLASHLIGHT |
WELHISCO aSSOCIATION
NEWS
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Taken
from
1942
sweater
F |
REUNION
2009
UPDATE
The
Embassy
Suites
is now
accepting
reservations
for
Reunion
2009
weekend,
October
2, 3,
and 4,
2009.
When
making
reservations
be
sure to
mention you
are
attending
Wellston
High
Reunion
for a
special
rate of
$124.00
+ tax
per
night.
Phone:
636-946-5544
Friday
and
Saturday
night
festivities
will be
held at
St.
Charles
Convention
Center,
starting
with a
Mixer on
Friday,
Oct 2,
followed
with a
Dinner
and
Dance
Saturday night,
Oct 3rd.
Sunday,
Oct
4th,
Picnic
luncheon
will be
at the
American
Legion
Hall,
Post
312,
2500
Raymond
Drive,
in St.
Charles,
very
close to
the
Convention
Center.
Mark
these
dates on
your
calendar!
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Larry Brown ‘63 wanted to do something nice for his fellow class-mates, something memorable for their 40th in 2003. His class was small; he needed to add more classes, hosting it in an elegant setting, making it very special for all. He decided to invite the classes’ of 1958 – 1965. At the time neither Larry nor his committee realized they were in the process of laying the foundation for our alumni association.
From Larry’s database, a buzz book was created with a few hundred names he had gathered. Today this book contains over 1,300 names and growing. A missing list has been developed and a ClassMatesRemembered List for our dearly departed.
Larry, was instrumental in creating the draft developing the bi-laws for our Alumni Association. He served as director of two Reunions before the association was formed with officers and trustees appointed.
Our association is in full swing with its own EIN (tax number), and is able to piggy-backed onto the school district's tax exempt number. As of this writing we have 215 members dating from 1938 - 1969 with more joining each day. This would never had been possible without Larry's involvement, foresight and dedication. Larry Brown '63 will always be remembered as the "Father" of our Association, a man with an idea - an idea of hosting a reunion.
Members with email addresses will receive a notice when the Flashlight has been posted online with a special link. They will receive notices if something should happen to one of their classmates or class news. All members will receive (2) special editions of the Alumni Newsletter each year, special perks at the reunion, and voting privileges.
If your
newsletter hasn't arrived yet,
let us know at:
[email protected]
.
Please
send us your
correct
mailing
address so
your info can
be updated.
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Joe Hunter '54 - Trustee
Joe Hunter ’54 has been appointed Trustee of our alumni association. Joe is a retired electrician and hog farmer. He has raised 30 sows from birth to market. He loves to trout fish and getting lost on his Harley.
Joe says living on his 28 acre farm keeps him real busy these days. What he use to be able to do all day long now takes him all day to do! |
Pat Miner '62 - Secretary of buzz Book Pat Miner agreed to be the keeper of the buzz book, adding updates as they become available. She is working closely with the Trustee' making sure all changes are added to both the buzz book and Class List when they come in. |
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FLASHLIGHT
Current News and Activities |
JoAnn Williams
'60 |
Sitting L-R:
Carol Beeman '60, Mary Ann
Crecelius '60, Second Row
L-R; Josephine Chiesa '61,
Doris Voepel '60, Marjorie Grady
'48, Betty Ellsworth '60, JoAnn
Williams '60, Cheryl Horne '61,
Third Row: Janet Scott '60,
Jo Harmen '64 |
Marjorie Grady
'48, Cheryl Horne 61, Josephine
Chiesa '61 |
The Red Shirts met at JoAnn
Williams home for their annual
spring tea party. The girls have
been meeting for lunch once a
month since November, 2003, the
third Wednesday of each month.
Six
ladies attended the first
meeting. The group has now grown
to 23. When a member can't
attend every meeting, she knows
she will be missed. The next 'special'
luncheon will be in July when
they celebrate Santa's (Jim
Chapman '60) birthday. (I'd say
a Christmas in July meeting was
really special.) Most of
the girls try to attend, after all nobody wants
to tick off Santa! Santa is the
only man invited and welcome to
attend the meetings. |
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Carolyn
Miner
'60
with
cousin
Ken
Miner
'65
and
Pat
Miner
'62,
Pat's
husband
Jerry Slatton
'57
on
Mother's
day.
Carolyn
lives
in
Illinois,
Pat
and
Jerry
live
in
Arkansas.
They
all
traveled
to
Salem,
MO
where
Ken
and
Pat's
mother
live
to
celebrate
Mother's
Day
with
her.
Charles
Stanley
'50
and
his
wife
Madonna
Celebrated
their
50th
Anniversary
with
their
family
and
friends
before
taking
off
for
God's
country.
They
took
a
leisurely
tour
of
Glacier
National
Park,
then
Yellowstone
Park
before
returning
home.
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Sandy
Gibbons
'57
Photo
by
Bobby
Pitts
for
Amini |
Senior
Moments
with
Senior
Pictures
By
Sandy
Gibbons
'57
Our eyes open and close and what remains is our memory,
subject to argument and fading, but the eye of the
camera opens and closes and what remains is history.
For better or for worse, whether you like them or not,
the photos used in The Flashlight are most likely our
senior portraits. Most of them were made, with we
students swathed in tulle or in a rental tuxedo, at
Rembrandt Studio in Wellston.
In
1956
and
57
I
saw
everyone’s
senior
picture
first.
Those
proofs
that
were
less
than
perfect,
and
yes,
Dear
Reader,
there
were
a
few,
I
disposed
of
out
of
consideration
for
your
young
ego.
You
are
most
welcome.
The
camera
can
catch
some
very
funny
expressions
but,
for
the
most
part,
we
all
looked
young,
beautiful,
hopeful
and
handsome.
Ground
glass
has
a
way
of
making
that
happen.
Read
the
rest
of
Sandy's
Story
and
view
the
pictures:
[MORE] |
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Classmates Remembered
Theresa
O'Connor '63
wrote
a beautiful
poem
dedicated to
and remembering
our departed
alumnus.
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Obit
Memorial
Our Wellston Trojan
Classmates Remembered List
Click here
Rest in Peace |
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John Hawley
'64
Passed
5/20/08
Pneumonia
from heart
complications
Guest Book
|
Larkin Daniel
'42
Passed 5/20/08
Brain
Aneurysm
Guest Book |
Condolences
to:
Thelma
McQuay '48
in the loss
of her
husband,
Joe Gabriel, March
23, 2008.
Obit Notice
Dorma Lee
Koch '44 in
the loss of
her husband
Larkin
Daniel
5/20/08
Ken
Besancenez
in the
loss of
his brother,
John Hawley
Shirley
Blake '64 in
the loss of
her husband,
John Hawley.
Frances
'66 and
Judy '68
Blake in the
loss of
their
brother in
law John
Hawley
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Larkin
Daniel '42: After
retiring from Union Electric
Company, Larkin Daniel,
(better known as Dan) tried his hand
at remodeling. His
first project was
finishing the basement of
their old home. No sooner
then Dan finished his
project, he and his wife,
Dorma Lee Koch '44, moved to
O'Fallon where
he started fixing and
correcting what the builder
forgot or just didn't do.
Dan and Lee loved traveling, seeing the countryside
in their motor home. They met with their
classmates for lunch every
month and have for many
years.
They were very active
in supporting the reunions,
being the first to become
members of our Alumni
Association. Dan will
sadly be missed. |
Where
in
the
World
is
Robert
Goodwin
'59?
Check out the link taking you to
the missing alumni list in your
class. They may not even know
they are missing!! If there’s
someone on the list that you
know the whereabouts of
(dead or alive) please email
us
the information, or have them
contact us. As you see
there are only a few classes with
people
missing. Most classes
have someone who takes the
initiative to keep their class
list current. While this is not an
easy task to undertake, it does
make the job
easier for
the Reunion
Committee. Check all the
classes, because
someone’s brother, sister, aunt,
uncle, parents or even neighbor,
might be
on the "Missing List". The list spans
a period of
over 30
years.
MISSING
ALUMN |
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FLASHLIGHT |
Editors Bill Voos (’48) Sandy
Gibbons(’57) JoAnn Williams
(’60)
Mary
Kay Parker '56 -
President
Jim Shaw '45 -
Sec/Treasurer
WELLSTON HIGH
SCHOOL Welhisco Alumni
P.O. Box 774
O'Fallon, MO
63366
Phone
636-978-9330
E-mail
[email protected]
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Extra Buzz Books
have been
reprinted with
51 pages of new
found and
current phone
numbers. To
order a new
edition send
$10.00 to
Welhisco Alumni
Association
PO Box 774
O'Fallon, MO
63366 |
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FUNNIES
FOUND ON THE INTERNET |
SENIOR CITIZENS
ARE THE NATION'S LEADING
CARRIERS OF AIDS!
HEARING
AIDS
BAND AIDS
ROLL AIDS
WALKING AIDS
MEDICAL AIDS
GOVERNMENT AIDS
MOST OF ALL,
MONETARY AID TO THEIR
KIDS!
Boggie Time
(Be sure
to turn sound up) |
My Dog Mace
A mechanic who
worked out of his
home had a dog named
Mace. Mace had a bad
habit of eating all
the grass on the
mechanic's lawn, so
the mechanic had to
keep Mace inside.
The grass eventually
became overgrown.
One day the mechanic
was working on a car
in the backyard and
dropped his wrench,
losing it in the
tall grass. He
couldn't find it for
the life of him, so
he decided to call
it a day. That
night, Mace escaped
from the house and
ate all the grass in
the backyard.
The
next morning the
mechanic went
outside and saw his
wrench glinting in
the sunlight.
Realizing what had
happened he looked
toward the heavens
and proclaimed, "A
grazing Mace, how
sweet the hound,
that saved a wrench
for me!" |
TAKEN
FROM THE DEAR ABBY
COLUM:
Dear Abby, My mother
is mean and short
tempered. I think
she's going through
mental pause.
Dear
Abby, You told a
whose husband had
lost all interest in
sex to send him to a
doctor. Well, my
husband lost all
interest in sex and
he IS a doctor. Now
what do I do?
Dear Abby, Our son
writes that he is
taking Judo. Why
would a boy who was
raised in a good
Christian home turn
against his own?
Dear Abby, I've
suspected that my
husband has been
fooling around, and
when confronted with
the evidence, he
denied everything
and said it would
never happen again.
Dear Abby, What can
I do about all the
sex, nudity, fowl
language and
violence on my VCR?
Dear Abby, I have a
man I can't trust.
He cheats so much,
I'm not even sure
the baby I'm
carrying is his!
(AND THESE PEOPLE
CAN VOTE) |
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