A really big fan.  Always have been, always will be.   She was the greatest actress of her age, and one of the most beautiful women of all time.

Well, there’s a new book out.

Furious Love, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger.

The title comes from a quote by Richard Burton:  “Our love is so furious that we burn each other out.”

He wasn’t kidding.

I got a Border’s Gift Card from “the boy” for Father’s Day, and the book was in plain sight when I walked in; no need to browse.

It’s a page turner, and can’t putterdowner, and filled with information a LizanDickophile like me has never heard before.  And believe me, I’ve read plenty…and lived through it on TV when I was a kid.

Yeah, some of it was old news, Debbie, Eddie, Liz, Cleopatra, and on and on.

But these two non-fiction writers, a married couple themselves, write like fiction and had access to Richard Burton’s letters to Elizabeth Taylor.  And though the book is not entirely “blessed” by Dame Elizabeth, their access to the letters is an unprecendented event.

The love story alone is compelling, the life style they lived – yachts, jewelry, furs, travel, entourage, etc…well, we little people just don’t live that way.

Reading like a novel, it’s full of details on what they bought, wore, ate, where they lived, cruised, fought, and made UP!

And did they every drink, fight, and make UP?  Oh My Cow, these two personify the very term “celebrity marriage” and their lives, loves, and lifestyle gave full employment to hundreds, if not thousands of paparazzi.  They were condemned by the Pope and one Georgia Congresswoman, Iris Faircloth Blitch (seriously, that’s her last name…I did NOT make it UP!)  wanted the two stars, then traveling outside the country, to be denied re-entry into the U.S. “on the grounds of undesirability.” 

 It isn’t for the kiddies; Elizabeth was a potty mouth, and Richard a total womanizer…we don’t want the younguns’ a growin’ UP too fast now, do we?  It’s an awesome read, and even though Summer’s over(ish), if you’re going to the beach, take it with you.

Just remember to turn over each time you turn a page, who wants an uneven tan?

Especially Brookwood Football, and especially the Brookwood - Collins Hill games. 

For some reason, even though they aren’t “the” official rivals of BHS, Collins Hill puts on a good show at home or away.  It’s always a good game.

Friday night was no different.  In the first region game of the season, Brookwood came out victorious, but it didn’t start that way.

CHS was UP 6 in the first quarter, Brookwood blocked the kick for the PAT, and then scored on a 74 yard run. 

It was RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-some!

Brookwood was leading handily at the half, but things were looking like they were going Collins Hill’s way when they tied the score at 31-31 with only two minutes to go.

DOUBLE OVERTIME settled the score and BHS came out on top - 45-38!

It was better than the Thrilla in Manilla!

Throw in the added perks of getting to eat a hot dog, seeing friends from school, and watching the band (yes, my kids were band nerds!), it was a great way to spend a Friday Night!

Support your local teams!  It’s fun, inexpensive, and great entertainment.

It’s interesting who reads my blog once in a while.  I have the faithful two few, some who drop in once in a while, some old friends, family, and even a few ’stars’.

But one guy, the editor of Lion Magazine got google alert wind of my simple Saturday post on April 17, 2010 about the Lion’s Club buying my first pair of glasses.

I didn’t say much, just support your local Lions since they were so good to me.

Well, imagine my surprise when I got an email from someone I did not know, Maria Blackburn.  Maria is a free lance writer who was doing a story about kids who got their glasses from the Lions and “‘where they are now”.

I was thrilled to be asked, and happy to participate.

The Germantown Lions Club did buy my first pair of glasses when I was in the third grade.

I was cute!

The glasses were in then, and back in now!  I’ve always been a fashion maven…just get over it.

Well, the article is out, and you can read it by clicking here.  The story starts on page 15, and I’m on page 16.  But, it’s not all about me…I know that’s hard to believe, and hard for me to take, but there are others who were just as fortunate as I.  Read about them too.

What’s not in the story is how my folks heard about the Lions program of free glasses for those who need them.  Mother ran an in-home day care and kept tons of kids over the years.  One of them was a kid named Andy Schaeffer.  Andy’s dad was a Lion.  Mother simply said to his mom, Louise, “Paul David is getting glasses.”  And Louise took it from there.  Phil, her husband set it all UP.  Andy’s brother, Chris was a childhood friend and classmate.  We caught UP at the reunion last weekend.

I was also caused to smile when another lady whom I did not know, walked into the 40th class reunion and said, “You’re the man I read about in a magazine today on the way UP.”  Her husband, Dr. Dwight McElfresh, another life-long friend, is a college professor at Ashland College, and a Lion as well.

The Lions have a huge and far reaching impact…and that’s a good thing.

So, read the article, allow me my 15 minutes of fame, and support your local Lions Club.  There are kids out there who need to see!

Thanks again,  to the Germantown Lions Club.  You made a difference for me.

And, she’s my lovely niece.

UP

Karen Shock was a girl I spent 12 years of school with and probably spoke to 10 times. 

I regret that.  And, as a class mate told me Saturday night, we were shallow.  It was about clothes, the mod look, dances, music, fun, football, basketball, and our close circle of friends.  There were 130 or so kids in my graduating class, and I have to admit, I didn’t know them all. 

But I should have.

At least I should have know Karen better.

Mrs. Almeda Shaw was a teacher at Valley View High School, and Karen was her student.  A few of the young men whom Mrs. Shaw taught were shipped off to Viet Nam.  She promised to write to them, but with a busy life, a family, a profession, she rarely kept UP with the demand.  She came UP with an idea.  She asked Karen to write to Charlie Martin, because Mrs. Shaw simply, didn’t have time.

Lucky Charlie.

When it came Karen’s turn to tell about her life Saturday night, she stood UP and said, “I’m Karen Shock Martin and this is my husband Charlie.  We’ve been married 40 years.”  Charlie was the lucky guy to whom Karen wrote while he was in Viet Nam.  They kept UP a two year correspondence, and when he came home from Nam, he took her out on a date. 

The rest is history.

They got engaged, married, had a family – one son, worked all their lives, and stayed in Germantown.

Nothing unusual about that.

But as Karen went through her little UPdate, I was more and more impressed, and more and more humbled.  She told us that she’s retired, and they volunteer at a homeless shelter, an animal shelter, a women’s shelter, and the 5 Rivers Park or Reserve.  That much volunteering is a full time job.  While she was telling her story, the smile never stopped.  She seemed filled with joy.

Who knew the quiet girl with the sweet smile would have an impact like that?

Karen, volunteering is a great look for you…keep it UP.

(Note from UP – Fashion Friday is a little different today, you were all expecting a “trash-a-thon” of my high school graduating class, but alas – I’m not that cruel, plus, we looked fabulous!   This is probably the most heart-warming story to come out of the reunion…I hope it touched you in print as much as it touched me at the event.  I’ll be catty again next week!)

Things I heard.

“I was pregnant at graduation!”

“You know, he’s a drinker.”

“I was pregnant in high school.”

“Oh, he’s not here because, well, he’s crazy now.”

“Jr. will be 40 next month, I got to walk because I wasn’t showing much.”

“Lord, can you believe how much weight she’s gained?”

“I got married right after high school because I was pregnant.”

“I think she’s had some “work” done!”

“We got married right after high school because I got her pregnant.”

“Oh, he’s better now that he’s quit drinking.”

“Yes, I was pregnant in high school.”

“Prison sucked.”

“I had the baby right after we graduated.”

Which leads me to ask, “Was I the only one not getting ‘any’ in high school?”

I got SOOOOOOOOO much material…sadly, some I’ll never be able to use.

But, this one, I got permission…

I met Konnie in the first grade.  We really didn’t become friends until high school where we had a many classes together, were in a few clubs together, she was in band, I was the band announcer…it was just too much trouble to carry that piano across the football field…and she hung out at, while Dan(ny) and I worked at The Booster.

We always had fun, she was always UPbeat, and she added something to the occasion each time.

She did the same Saturday night.

Bernie, her cousin (seems I’m the only person in Germantown without a cousin there!), and the Class President got everyone’s attention by banging on a pan with a spoon…very classy, but afterall, He was voted most likely to succeed, and “called us all to disorder”.

He then had each of us stand UP and tell a little about our selves.

A little – yeah, right, like that’s gonna happen with me.

When it got around to me, I talked about myself, my family, myself, what I was doing, myself, pimped the blog, and talked about myself.

And Konnie followed me.

She said, “I have always loved growing UP in Germantown, was happy to go to school here and raise my kids here too.  I feel so blessed that I live here, have all these friends, and am so happy that we are all able to see each other from time to time.”  She added, “I have a great life, and really feel lucky.”

I was speechless.  It’s all true,  but she left so much out.

She never mentioned that she’s been battling cancer for five years, suffered chemo for the same, and really doesn’t know what her future may bring.

But, she knows she’s blessed, she knows she’s happy, and she know’s she lucky!

What she doesn’t know, is that she’s an inspiration!

Thanks Konnie – for setting us straight!

1. I have nothing to wear.  No, you have nothing that fits!
2. No one will remember me.  No, you’re afraid they WILL remember you.  Shouldn’t  have been so “naughty” in high school!
3. It’s at a crummy place.  Actually, it was very nice, but the cops did show UP!  More on that later.
4. My old girlfriend/boyfriend will be there, and she/he isn’t over me yet.  Trust me, they’re over you, I think YOU’RE not over them!
5. I’ll be in China doing missionary work and teaching English to the masses.   Ok, that’s just lame!
6. I couldn’t get an affordable flight.  No, but you can fly to every U of M Football Game for the last 30 years!  Now, we know where we stand!
7. I was banned from the Eagles Lodge.  Hasn’t everyone been at one time or another?
8. I have to take care of my grandchildren so my daughter can work.  I’m sure there’s another stripper off tonight, and she can watch them!
9. If I miss anymore work, I’ll get fired.  Well, we wouldn’t want that to happen…AGAIN!
10. No one treated me very well in HS, and I don’t care if I ever see them again.  Listen you loser, I was stuffed in a locker everyday of my life for 12 years, dragged into the girls restroom, and got beat UP by a GIRL my Senior year…but after 40 years and $100,000 worth of therapy, I went!  You should have Manned UP and dragged your sorry ass self over there!
11. It’s not my work release weekend yet.  I can’t believe a guy as smart as you hasn’t figured out a way around that ankle bracelet!

But, we missed you anyway, and we talked about you too!

Well, I went.

And I looked Fabulous!

Seriously, I did…

And so did everyone else! 

Spending an evening with people you may not have seen at all, or very little in 40 years can be a little overwhelming.  I’m sure I didn’t get to talk to everyone for as long as I’d have liked, but catching UP with folks, finding out what they’re doing, how they are living “their” dreams, and seeing them, just made for a happy evening.

Now, I’m sure you’re all gonna’  be a little let down, but I didn’t see gray hair, double chins, beer guts, and wrinkles.  I saw in each one of their faces, the smiles I remember, the fun we had, the chances we took, and the successes we enjoyed. 

Many of us spent 12 years together, some 13, (except Randy since he  got kicked out of was a Kindergarten drop-out), and some only the last two or three years together when Germantown High School and Farmersville High School consolidated in the middle of a corn field and became Valley View. 

We missed a few who couldn’t make it, and we missed a few who aren’t with us anymore.  It was great to see and hear the stories of people who are a part of the twisted precious fabric that makes UP my life.  Some were satin, some silk, some cotton, corduroy, velvet and even some burlap.  But the quilt that was and is the Class of 1970, is one that I sleep under very well everynight.

Thanks for being a part of my life.