It's That Time of Year Again

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

I've done several articles on getting rid of "Stuff" from our lives. For the last few years I take advantage of the thought of giving things up for Lent to force myself to get rid of things I no longer need or use. I am continuing that tradition this year and trying to reduce the stuff in my house which I no longer need.

That said, there are a few things I am keeping which I know will end up in some charity shop once I have departed this earthly existence. I cannot tell you everything.

Big things I got rid of reluctantly.

My 1953 Ford Bomb

My 1955 Piper Tri-Pacer Airplane

My 1970 Honda 600 Sedan

My catamaran ski boat

My pontoon boat

My 1979 Toyota Chinook RV

My Honda Trail 70 motorcycle

My Waverunner

My pinball machines and baseball machine

Other things:

My 2,500 45rpm record collection

. My 125 33 1/3 vinyl record collection

My Kenwood stereo and major speakers I bought overseas

More little things than I could ever name

There are still a few things I have that I do not use enough to keep, but I do.

1. My Shopsmith V multitool

2. My golf clubs

3. My roller skates from Carters

4. Several old computers and laptops

5. Way too many t-shirts with logos and event names

6. Over 150 CDs of Oldie Goldie songs

7. More weapons than I can name

8. Boxes of military papers which I have already digitally copied but originals I keep

9. My stamp collection from days gone by

10. Yearbooks from Lee and the University of Memphis

I know I am not alone with these thoughts. Would you care to share with us some things you got rid of reluctantly and some things which you still keep that you know you will probably never use again, but just can't seem to get rid of?

Thanks to all of you who have submitted the names of some songs which you relate to the early boy/girl parties. I am going to leave the form active a little longer for others to reply.

I hope some of you will participate in my "stuff" poll. It would be fun to hear what others think about this topic.

Comments on Last Week's Issue

William Dale Meyer,  LHS ‘66, "I counted up the number of places lived. Remembering addresses was more the challenge. Being an Army and Civil Service brat and being in the Navy myself i figured I had a leg up but the total is 21. Boy have I changed….now dread the prospect of moving."

Photographic Memories - Who Are They?

Each week I plan to share a group of photos from the 1960 "The General" yearbook without disclosing the names of the individuals. You may stop and try to identify them here, and when you are through you may scroll to the bottom of this page to see the identities of your classmates in the photos.

Early Party Songs

Softly, as I Leave You - Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra sang this song on his 1964 album Softly, as I Leave You. This version went to No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Easy Listening chart in 1964). The Sinatra family announced Frank's death on May 14, 1998 by placing an announcement on their website that was accompanied by a recording of the singer's version of the song.

Here are the first responses to this question. Feel free to add your own songs.

Craig Bannecke, LHS '65 ,"It's All in the Game" by Tommy Edwards - One of my very favorite romantic songs starting back in Junior High School at Lee and then on into High School. Have always loved this song even to this day. "It's All in the Game" is a pop song whose most successful version was recorded by Tommy Edwards in 1958. Carl Sigman composed the lyrics in 1951 and the melody was, written in 1901 by Charles G. Dawes, who was later Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge. It is the only No. 1 single in the U.S. to have been co-written by a U.S. Vice President or a Nobel Peace Prize laureate (Dawes was both). The song has become a pop standard, with cover versions by dozens of artists, some of which have been minor hit singles. Edwards' song ranked at No. 47 on the 2018 list of "The Hot 100's All-Time Top 600 Songs"

Other Responses

The first one I recall included "Dream Lover" by Bobby Darin, "Let's Dance" by Chris Montez, "Telstar" by the Tornadoes, and "Palisades Park" by Freddie Cannon. Every time I add one, I think of another.

Can't Help Falling in Love with You 

Bobby Helms My Special Angel

I Can't Stop Loving You

Softly As I Leave You

Roses are Red

Sherry