Life Was All Soo Simple Then

You know I have described receiving your emails to feeling like a child at Christmas. So........you can imagine how tickled I felt to receive this beautiful update from Charles "Chuck" Murray.

He writes:

Where do I start, in 87' after graduation my family moved to Southern California. I stayed in Louisiana and graduated from LSU. Then I worked in suburbs of Tokyo, Japan for almost 4 years. Returned to U.S., went to law school and now I practice mostly business and real estate law. I am counsel for several small to medium sized businesses. My office is in downtown Los Angeles.

I really enjoy California. The climate is great, really does seem like the Golden State. We live in a community north of downtown Los Angeles (about 5 minutes from the Rose Bowl). Housing is outrageously expensive and life is sometimes too fast. I miss the Louisiana cooking and hospitality.

As for interests, traveling, drinking wine, golf, tennis, etc. (Though I really do not have much time for these).

As for personal, been married to my wife for 7 years, we have a daughter that is 4. My life has been blessed, I am very grateful for it.

I have spoken with Chip (La), Matt Miller (Va), Doug Soons(Mass), and Cyrus(Ga) periodically. All seem to be doing well.

I can't believe it has been almost 20 years. Shocking! Like all people before us looking back at their 20th, just seems like life was soo simple back then.

This is Chuck and Beth Pichon our Freshman year. Our school buses were two of the first to arrive. We'd sit in the "Common's Area" and goof off for at least 30 minutes. (Please excuse the horrible scan job. Since we've gotten the old one to work, we haven't put much thought in to a new one.)

I look forward to receiving more updates

from you like Chuck's. My hopes in creating the blog were for us to share fond memories and laughs as well as updates of our past 20 years. I hope that when we reunite at our reunion we are so comfortable with each other (after getting to know each other again via the blog) that we feel as though we just stepped off of the bus and laughed together in the "Common's Area" before the morning bell rang.

Send your information and updates to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

Who's Who?

About once a month (well prior to the hurricane and the birth of my baby) a group of us try to get together for a wild & crazy game of Pokeno. Here is a photo of just a few faces that just might look familiar to you. You may notice a few SHS Tigers and a Spartan.

I also had another "feeling like a child at Christmas" moment over the weekend when I received an email from Jean Ingram Hoover. Thank you, Jean, for the smile. I love getting the emails and knowing that you're out there reading the blog.

The map is also a great indicator that there are readers. However, it does not tell us who or your exact location. We need your name and physical address. Send it to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com . Send your photos too! (recent and/or from school) I would love to hear from the faithful reader up in the Northwest portion of the US. Who are you??? And where are you?

"Never Say Goodbye"

This is very ironic.......... I am usually occupied doing other things during the Oprah hour, but today my baby's bottle feeding fell during the time of Oprah. What a treat........Jon Bon Jovi was her guest. In case you have forgotten, Bon Jovi's song "Never Say Goodbye" was our class song.

I sat down just in time for Oprah to ask Bon Jovi how he felt about being a "hot" rockstar. He said that if he was just a pretty face that no one would remember him. He went on to explain that it is his music that he puts so much time in to and that is what is important to him.....for it is the music that helps people remember special events in their life. Isn't that ironic???

Has it helped you remember a special moment from our Senior year? If so, share it with us. Send your memory to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com It obviously meant something to us then......it was our class song.

It also brought me back to the night of Thursday, Feb. 12, 1987 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.....Bon Jovi in Concert. The addmission was $14.50. Can you believe.......$14.50? Wow! I saved the ticket in my Memories Book. What did you save?

Anyway, I don't think anyone says this as well as Bon Jovi sings it on his latest album......"Have a Nice Day"

Finding Friends

I finally, after an about an eight year search, found Shawnna Ryder. Lisa M. and I must have called every Shawnna Ryder in the states. We've left indepth /detailed messages only to get calls back informing us that we've reached the wrong Shawnna. We also found many S. Ryder, but were then too afraid to humiliate ourselves with that disappointing call informing us that it was the wrong Shawnna.

So with several search engines and people searches, I was able to locate her sister, Dawnna. She led me right to Shawnna. And the amazing thing of it all...........Shawnna is an hour away. Who knew??? That is also too close to be so far away from your friend.

I know we all have that friend we would love to be back in touch with after high school or after loosing touch after our 10 year reunion. Don't give up! They are out there and probably thinking of you too. Make the attempt to find them and when you do, hook them up to the blog. Encourage them to send their updated info to it and don't forget to send your own information: nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

We missed you Shawnna and are glad to be back in touch!

My Weekly Reminder/Plea

Okay, I can understand that you are a little apprehensive about sending your information and having it posted on the blog. Maybe your a little unsure about how to leave comments, and that is okay too.

HOWEVER......................

We (me & the others trying to plan the reunion) need your updated information. The must have information includes: name (include maiden for females), address so we can mail you reunion information, phone number, and email address. Fun information would be occupation, hobbies, children, if you've become a country singer, etc.... It would also be nice to know if you still have family in Slidell. If you want it posted on the blog, specify info for blog. All pictures are welcome....from high school or your most recent.

Please email it to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com Kathi is working hard on the database. She would like to know if the information she has on you is current.

You may have noticed the map to the right. It is providing us with the location of the hits to the blog. I thought that would be neat to watch. I hope you enjoy it with me.

To Forgive and "Try Hard " to Forget

Ahhhhhhhhh..........Prom Night! Oh, what a night!

NHS and SHS shared the same prom night this year. We went to the same places too! And do you know I believe the two schools still share the same prom night. Wouldn't it be fun to share at least one night of our reunion together???

We started the night off together at the Eiffel Tower... in New Orleans not Paris, and a lot of us ended it on the coast at the La Casa del Mar condos.
This John and Jeanne (SHS). They were not each other's date. John, I remember who you went with, but I forgot who you went with, Jeanne.




This was a photo taken in the condo that was for those who's dates either stood them up, dumped them for who they really wanted to go with, or for those who got into a fight with their date. (All are forgiven!)

Chad is not cracking up in this picture.


The best part of it all is that a great friendship developed from it all........Thanks Kim (SHS on the left in the photo above) for being a best friend for the past 20 years!

Back by Popular Demand..for your viewing pleasure

This is just a few more photos of the camping trip.

Panthers and Tigers Unite

The "Dance"

Look for these two on the next season of Dancing with the Stars!

Senior Trip! Panthers, Tigers even a Jaguar. Ooops, I almost forgot..... and a "Tiffany??"

Yes, we thought we were "above the law." I must say this was as close as we got to the law! Hooray for us!

Hey, all Clearwood Jr. Highers....click SHS Class of 87 link to check out "They Come from Near & Far"

And here is a thought to ponder after reading it.....wouldn't it be nice to have something on our NHS Blog for her to read about her fellow classmates?? HINT! HINT!

Putting Le' Dales on the Map

Correct me if I am wrong (and I am hardly ever wrong..just ask my husband) I think it was the FUN Class of 87 that put Le'Dales on St. Charles Avenue on the map. This New Orleans' dump was still the hot spot to watch Mardi Gras parades long after we graduated. Who knows........may be the high school kids still hang out in front of it today for the parades. Our entire class must have "Willed" it to those who followed.

I am not sure about your children, but I don't think mine are going to Mardi Gras! (Nor will they go camping, cruising Gause, or senior trip and I am surely not leaving them at home when I go out of town .) I hope they still think that the Slidell parades are Mardi Gras.

Speaking of "Wills", does anyone have a copy of the Class Wills and Class Prophecies? Those were so fun to read. I'd love to read them again.

Do you remember this CAT?

Do you remember this cat? This "TOM" cat? (on the right in white)

Tom Taylor and I have been keeping in touch via emails over the past few years. It has been fun laughing at the good ole days and sharing updates on our chidren.

This is what he shares with you:
Married: Kay Killen Taylor
Children: Elizabeth (9) Thomas (8) Tinsley (7)
Profession: Architecture
Hobbies: Duck Hunting and Fishing with my kids

I have not had the honor to meet Kay and can not wait to do so. She has to be one remarkable woman......check out the ages of the children! WOW!

And yes, he does include his great little children on his wildlife adventures. I've seen the photos.

Also in the picture is John and Rob............it is coming back to me how John acquired so many nicknames. This was one of the camping trips taken our senior year.

Giving me Hope & Faith

Just when I was getting ready to go on a blog strike, I received a comment from Brooke P. I felt like a child at Christmas. It was a wonderful surprise. My thoughts have been validated......you are reading and are possibly ready to respond. I have faith!

Thank you Brooke! I am not sure how you found the blog, but I am so glad you did. John L. asked about you, Emily D., Mary J and Brenda Z. Now, he can see that you're in touch. I guess it is possible that he turned you on to the blog??????

Please send updated mailing info for Kathi's database if you have not done so already:

nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

The Spirit of the Class of 87

Do you remember the fun we use to have? We had a lot of "SPIRIT"! I even see a sign saying Spirit of 87. "Oh, to be young again." That must be what you are thinking. Have you lost that spirit.........not sending me anything? Am I the only one still young at heart? I hope these photos remind you of all the spirit we had as a class.

Dig through those old photos and it will all come back to you. Then you will be anxious to send me some. Get out that "Memories" book.....why it is call that, I do not know. I have forgotten why I wrote some of that stuff in it. What good is having a memory book if you can't remember? However, my picture make it seem like yesterday.

This may not be the clearest photos. We have managed to hook up our old scanner (???), and the resolution is not the best nor where the quality of these photos. If you look close, you just may see yourself. John Savage, I know your reading, and I think that is you next to Ashley in the above photo. Tom, the buttons must have fallen off of your shirt you had so much spirit.

Lisa, I know that is you with that pom-pom and your mouth wide open next to our long lost friend, Shawnna. If anyone should know the where abouts of Shawnna, please tell her she is missed and to contact me. Kelly Cartwright you are missed too! You are all missed......contact me! Tell me where you are. Share your memories with all.

I bet we even won the spirit stick at this pep rally. We all had on "Tiger Buster" shirts. We were playing Slidell, and it was the first game the football team was going to play in the new stadium. I am almost sure we lost, (I am sure a reading Tiger will varify) but that did not break our spirit. We were the "Panthers".... the mighty, mighty Panthers.

I know the stadium has come a long way since our first game played in it. Hopefully, we will get the opportunity this fall to go back to a Homecoming game and show them we haven't lost the spirit. If you are out of town and can't make it, you can still show your spirit via the blog.

Send all info to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

Sending Your Information To the Blog

I hope to have captured your interest in the blog, but need your HELP to keep it going. I can only be so entertaining as you can see that for yourself.

Not only is this a place to laugh as you remember the 80's, it is a place to update our ENTIRE class of 87 of the "you" in the 21st century. When I say ENTIRE class of 87, I just don't mean my circle of friends. I know there was about 200 of us and I know you're out there. I want to hear from all of the 1987 Panthers. Panthers, spread the word! You must have kept in touch with someone!

Simply email your post to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com I will cut and paste it onto the blog. We love looking at pictures from our highschool years and would love for you to share updated photos as well. Please keep in mind that our blog is a link from NHS Alumni page so inappropriate pictures will not be posted. If requested by you, I can try to clean up a picture that is too irrestistible not to post. A good rule of thumb: If you would not show your children, don't send it for the blog.

Please include your contact info in your email. It WILL NOT be posted on the blog unless you request otherwise. Kathi is compiling this info into a mailing/database.

Comments on the BLOG/Posting:
All of the posts have titles. At the bottom of each post there is a COMMENT link. Click on this and you have the option to post a comment to that particular POST. You may need to sign in first as a member, other, or anonymous. Please know that I will not post any comments from anonymous. The comment from anonymous concerning Charlie's where abouts is false information. That anonymous could be from someone just browsing and reading different blogs. If you have comments to share with our class, please choose other, and I am trusting you will leave your name. Remember this is why I've set up the blog. All comments get sent via email so you may not see your comment immediately. Once it has been approved, it will be posted. Again, we are linked from NHS's website. Use the rule of thumb here too: If you would not tell your children, don't send it because you won't see it on the blog...........You understand what I am trying to say!

I appreciate your efforts and support in helping make this blog and a search for the class of 87 a success. Now, send me something ~ nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

"What NOT to Wear"

Where is Stacy and Clinton from TLC's "What Not to Wear"?

This is from the Senior Tea to honor the Homecoming Court. I hope we did not embarrass the court too much with our snazzy attire. The Homecoming Court was: Kathi Easter (crowned queen), Lauren Schreiffer, Pam Daley, Lisa Salles, Stefanie Duley, Stephanie Stone, and Camilla Caron. If you have a picture of the court, please send.

Here are their lucky escorts: Charlie, Steve, Alan, Brian, Matt, Chris, and Scott

Thanks to one of our "Tiger" friends, Heidi, for scanning pictures for me. Check out yesterday's post about the "Cats". The photos are now posted!!

Happy Times

I hope when we reunite with Chad, he still loves to laugh like he was laughing in these photos. Everyone looks so happy!!

"Sha', it must have been dat getting down dey did in Lafayette before dey moved to Slidell."

(If I remember correclty...getting down meant-get in the car and let's go.)

Where are you, Charlie??? I heard from Legrande a few weeks back. My first day of summer, I thought I'd sleep late. Well, no! Who calls?.....Legrande and wakes me up at 7:07. Haven't heard from him in five years. He woke me up and has never called back. Thanks, Legrande!!!

And thanks again, Kathi, for the photos..

She would like to know........

"Who's birthday were y'all celebrating at Ship Island?"

Do These Cats Really Get Along in the Wild?

I found a great treasure of photos today. Some of us had some really fun times with our Slidell High friends. You may notice that I have linked their blog to ours. So those of you panthers who played with tigers can get their updates with a click of your mouse. We are also just a click away on their reunion blog. We hope you enjoy the blogs. Who knows you may find yourself in one of their photos.

To read previous blogs, click on the titles to the right of the post. Also, the months are archived for you to read all previous post. The home page can only hold so many post before they are archived.

Kathi E. has had great success locating Pam Daley. We can add her to our list of those who have been contacted. Also, Lisa Madden has responded. Remember to contact those who you keep in touch with. Tell them to contact us! We want to add them to the list. Notice that the NHS alumni page is a link. Submit your updated information there too.

What are you laughing at???

I wonder what was so funny that Chad is cracking up in both pictures? Look at how we dressed to go to school. I know why they went to uniforms. I remember some days waking up and putting on a pair of sweats, pulling them up to my knees and leaving the house. Well, I'd put my make-up on of course and make sure my hair was set in hot rollers. I remember sweat pants up to Chad's knees on his first day of NHS. Maybe that is why he was laughing... thinking of his first day at Northshore. He claimed that all his other clothes were still packed on the moving van. I thought he looked very stylish. So stylish, I copied his look some days.

Seeing John with his popsicle reminds me of "Pickle" and our dear friend Beth Shipley. She named the lady that sold ice-cream out of that closet Pickle. I've recently been in touch with our old classmate, Beth. She'll be reading the blog along with us. She asked about many of you! I filled her in on what I knew. Maybe if you send me a post, we'll all be filled in on you!

I also climbed in my hot dirty attic today. (It is unbelievable the mess gettng a new roof makes in an attic.) I found my memory book and was surprised at all of the nicknames John had......Hector? Spic? Hitler? I remember why Hitler (LOL), but Hector and Spic? Spic........probably not a good name to have in a town after it has been hit a hurricane or really not good any where at any time....Spic or Hitler. Those sounds like a fighten words!

Danger Zone

I remember this day like yesterday. All day outside in the hot sun in what I think now are tennis courts or a baseball field. Senior picnic! I wonder if they still have this as a traditon? I doubt it!!! And I bet girls now do not match their socks to their shirts like Kelly and I did.

I have photos of a group of guys that make the guys playing volleyball in the movie Top Gun look like wimps. I'll be posting it once I get that scanner I keep threatening you with. Be sure to look back at this post soon to check them out. You'll know why this post is called "Danger Zone"!

Thanks Kathi for the photos!

Wanting More??

As I may have mentioned in a previous post, our scanner is out dated for our laptops. I have had my step dad scan some photos for me, I have taken a picture of a picture, and thanks to Kathi, Jason, and Carolyn emailing me theirs, I have been able to post some photos.

I don't know about you, but taking a short trip down "Memory Lane" makes me want more. Are you wanting more?

I will be purchasing a scanner before the week is out, but can we wait that long? I know you're out there.....laughing with me. SEND ME something. You may also get bored of my story telling and photo shop!! This blog is for all of us. I am just the upkeeper of the blog.

Check out shsclassof1987.blogspot.com Heidi Burch and Kim Patterson (both whom I am still in touch with from SHS 1987) have started one along with me and people are catching on. We can do this...I have faith and I have spirit! Yes, I do! I have spirit! How 'bout you? .......And I wasn't even a Hollaback Girl!

I am not going to post email addresses. I am not going to sell your photos to HBO. You tell me what to post and you submit the photos.

Now, I am sounding like a "Desperate Housewife"!

Is that you Brad Pitt? & "Boys Gone Wild"

I know Brad Pitt sometimes sports a Mohawk and at quick glance, I thought I saw him in this photo, but now I see it is Trey, Clay, Jason, Dennis (NHS 1988) and another guy from the class of 1988.

I am in shock! I was there on Senior trip, and I must have missed this...........this is a trip!!! I guess it is "Boys Gone Wild!"

Remembering Mike

I was so happy to see that I was not the only one with fond memories of Mike Paulson. His best friend, Jason Scarabin, probably has the most and the most meaningful ones of all. The photos are of the two celebrating life together just the day before Mike's accident. The guy in the middle is Paul Chamberlin, NHS class of 1988. They were at Universal Studios in CA, 1996. Jason still lives in CA today with his wife and son. I appreciate you sharing your photos with us. Y'all looked great and like y'all were having a blast.

Jason is on the left with the guitar case and that is Mike with the real guitar. In the above photo, Mike is on the left, Paul in the middle, and Jason on the right with the long locks!

Rock on..............

"Don't You Forget About Me"

I struggled for what to write for this post. The picture is so funny to me.....it makes me think that it could be the DVD jacket cover for our own version of the movie "The Breakfast Club".

On the other hand, as I notice one of the faces, it makes me sad that we have lost one of our classmates, Mike Paulson. Then, when I took a minute to remember his kind soul, the picture made me smile again. I am sure we all have our fond memories of him. I know I do having gone to school with him since the third grade....the third grade was so long ago. Let's not forget about him. I hope we can celebrate and remember his spirit through out the next year as we celebrate and remember our class of 1987.

If you have forgotten any of the faces: Back row: Robert Sciacca, Mike Paulson, Rob Posegay, Gloria Foster, Middle: Chrissy Moore, Shawnna Ryder, Kelly Cartwright, Front row: Camilla Caron, Shelly Meadows, Beth Pichon, and last but not least...."Don't You Forget About ME".

"Ain't to Proud to Beg..."

I thought, well with John Lee's help...........remember him??? (He was soooo smart and still is a very well rounded person.) So really he suggested that I list all those who I know we've contacted so far as of today. The ones with a star are the ones who have responded. So I "ain't to proud to beg" for your information, photos, efforts to email or call all of those in which you have contact with. The reunion may still be months..a year away, but we have a lot of catching up to do. Post the blog's address on every reunion/classmate website you are a member of. Even if you went to school with us for a short time and can not get us out of your mind, contact us. Let's show that we have not lost that school spirit!!

Chris Abney*
John Alberstadt
Kathi Easter*
Michelle Fields*(who has contacted Matt Miller)
John Lee*
John Savage*
Lisa Madden*
Kelli Stewart
Gloria Foster and Andy Thurman*
Tom Taylor*
Lauren Schreiffer* (contacting Sara Trattler)
Jason Scarabin*
Teri Nicholson
Carolyn Mauffray*moved freshman year
Mike Trompeter

Pam Daley

Stefanie Duley

Beth Shipley*..moved freshman year

Shawnna Ryder*

Jean Ingram*

Chuck Murray*

John Lee would like to share this with you:
John H. Lee
Sr. Systems Administrator
Larimer County
200 West Oak Street - PO Box 1190
Fort Collins, CO 80522
PH: 970-498-5071
Cell: 970-567-4463
FAX: 970-498-7985

Remember to "View my profile" for the email address.

TGIF...See you on the Bvld.

OH! How I could not wait until Friday and Saturday nights to go cruising Gause Bvld!

I always wondered....When did the teenagers stop cruising Gause? Then it dawned on me when I came across this picture of the gas prices our senior year. (Only I would have taken a picture of the gas prices.) I am not sure you can see the price of regular unleaded....click to enlarge. It was .85 a gallon. We could have cruised Friday and Saturday night for about $2.00. Kids can not afford to cruise at $2.65 a gallon.

We did not even care what we cruised in or at least I did not care. One night Beth Pichon and I wanted to go cruising so bad, we had her neighbor take us in this funky car. The girl wanted to go through the car wash prior to making our first round on Gause. Beth and I could not wait, but what were we to do..right? Well, the girl did not have her door closed all the way and the water from the drive thru car wash came squirting in all over us! We could not go home and change because we were suppose to be at the movies. That was our freshman year...we did not have our license yet. However, once we got the DL, we did not care what we drove. Remember Shawnna Ryder's mother's black and yellow Duster?

The bottom picture is at McDonalds of Matt Miller, Cyrus, Rob McDowell ( his back) and Sean Burkes (guy next to Cyrus). The girl standing was Dianne (married last name Dickie... forgot maiden) from Slidell High. If I remember correctly, Northshore and Slidell use to hang out together then. I'm not sure it happens like that anymore?????

Excuse the fuzzy pictures...I'll edit them soon.

"The Last of the Mohicans"

Recognize anyone???!!! I came across this in my Memories book. Our class was recognized in several newspaper and yearbook articles as a leader in school spirit! We brought our school to a level of spirit that they had not seen before. It must have started with the MOHAWKS! Way to go Class of '87. Can't wait to see everyone at the reunion.

Kathi Easter Nelms

This photo was also recognized about 18 years later by the Raising Cane Restaurant in Slidell. It hung on the wall in Raising Canes with other legendary photos from around Slidell. That is until it was stolen! Who would steal it??? It made me happy to see it and to show my boys. It made me proud to say they were my fellow schoolmates. I remember being at Legrande's house when the "scalpings" took place.

And are you wondering who has more hair than this twenty years later? Come to the reunion and we shall see!!!