The One and Only..........Ferlin Smith

As I did a few searches for missing classmates, I discovered that so many shared the same name; however, when I typed in Ferlin Smith his recent address and phone number popped right up. When we spoke, I told him how easy he was to find. He laughed and said, "No one else has the name Ferlin Smith!" I guess I should have figured with a name Rami Stein that a few of our names are unique. Here is a quick note from Ferlin Smith.



Ferlin writes:


Just wanted to drop a few lines and say HI!!!!!! to all of my Classmates back at Northshore High. I am sending a few pics of myself and some old Army guys and some of my current co-workers. I am also sending some pics of my lovely wife, Sarah, my daughter Dana 9, my son Brandon 15 and my oldest son Christopher 20. I hope you enjoy the pics, and I look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.




If my memory serves me correctly, Ferlin is writing us from Texas....near WACO??

I have been forgetting to mention to those of you interested in taking a tour of the school. Mr. Percy is no longer the principal at NHS............he went back to his tiger stripes at SHS. And with so many security changes taking place in the schools, we will be unable to schedule an inside tour of the campus. They would have to pay someone to let us in and pay for security. SORRY!! I will try to get over there within the week and take a few shots of the campus from my car and post them on the blog.

Big THANKS to Monty Hoover for checking in to the tour for us. We appreciate you doing that.

10 more days!!!

Lookin' Good!!

I mentioned in Nancy Orr Kelly's update that she had sent me a photo of her, Brooke Prather Horadam and Shannah Portanova Martin, and that the picture was blurry and did not do them justice at all.

In the meanwhile, Shannah has sent two very clear photos.

And I was correct.......they all are

"Lookin' Good!" The little girl is Brooke's daughter, Sofia............she is as beautiful as her name.
I have to say I love your dress, Nancy!

11 days and counting!!! I know a lot of you are getting excited! It should be fun!

I received an email from one of those old friends I speak about from another school, Chris Bell (SHS 86). He says hello to all of his panther friends (he even married a NHS girl, Jolie) and wishes us the fun he had at his reunion last summer. It was his class' blog that inspired these other Slidell area schools' blogs. I want to tell him THANKS for thinking of us and to keep checking us out for all those fun photos we will be sharing after the reunion.

I will be working on a post with photos for tomorrow..........Ferlin Smith. Don't miss it!

Life has been a BLESSING.......

I hope you are enjoying the influx of updates. I know I am especially enjoying them along with the recent photos of you and your families........even the dogs. I am hoping the recent photos help me recognize most of you. I am finding that most of you look the same. It is so interesting to me to read about the different places you are in your lives. (Alaska, Iraq, no kids, four kids, going to school, sending kids off to college, sending them off to Kindergarten)



Michele McCann Steele is our next update. A lot of us go way back to Boyet with Michele. It was nice to hear from her.
Michele writes:

Hello Everyone,
It has been a long time. It is still hard for me to believe that it has been twenty years already! WOW! Time has really flown. I had to come to the realization that it had been twenty years when my younger brother Joshua, who will be senior at Northshore next year informed me he would be graduating and wanted my help to make his college prep plans...HMM..

Let's see, where should I start. Right after I graduated from Northshore, I attended Southern University at New Orleans for 2 years pursuing a degree Social Work and Urban Studies. Going into my junior year a SUNO in 1989, my father passed away that Christmas leaving behind mother, myself being the oldest and my other 4 siblings (the youngest being my brother Joshua who was not a year old). At that point I dropped out of college for a little while worked, traveled and helped support my mom and siblings. During this time I did a lot of soul searching that led me on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. My experiences helped me to comprehend where I had come from and where I needed to go. I found in my travels and life experiences, that my fulfillment came from one-on-one contact with people. So while trying to heal myself and learning to love me, I found that I had a "GREAT LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE."

Soon after this I returned to college and shortly after met my soon to be husband Michael. I graduated from Nunez Community College with an AA in Early Childhood Education in 1994. After graduating I got married and became Mrs. Michele Steele and then a mom.
My life totally changed! At this point I decided to take some time off to enjoy my son. Then in 2001 my daughter was born. During my child rearing times I was still a part time student. I later continued my education and got my BA in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies in 2004 from UNO. My husband Michael and I have been married now for 14 years and have two wonderfully expensive children. Christopher, 13 and Kaylin who is 6.

My family and I currently reside in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I currently work for Dubuis Health Systems as a Clinical Liason (Patient Advocate) and YES still a student. I am currently enrolled in LAMAR State University, pursuing my MA in Social Work and my husband is the General Manager for several of the Waffle House's in SW Louisiana.

Overall life has been a BLESSING. I look forward to seeing everyone again...Be Blessed...
Bye for now...

You look so good with long hair. As long as I have known you through school, your hair was always short.

Yesterday was a year ago that I started the blog.........what a difference a year makes?? I want to thank all of you who have kept up reading and sending in emails. Over the past year, I have received quite a few emails from friends and acquaintances from other schools and under class men from NHS. I recently received one from a NHS under class man, Jill Johnson Meaux (Class of 89).

LOOK http://nhsclassof89.blogspot.com/ She said that I inspired her. BUT I must say.......it was not "me" that inspired her. It was you. Without all of you wonderful participants, there would not have been a blog. Thanks for sharing you're past twenty years with us. Without you, I would have had no reason to keep up the blog. I would have had no excuse to avoid my house work.

NOW, let's go have a party!!! The count down is on............12 more days.

Mr. Right

The count down has begun!!! Just two more weeks until the reunion. It is never too late to have your update posted. Recent photos of you add a little treat to the updates too. We get both from Nancy Orr Kelly. If I remember correctly a few updates back, I mentioned she was a newlywed, and she shares a peek of her special day with us

Nancy writes:


Hi everyone,

Well I finally got married! I waited 37 years for Mr. Right. We were married on February 25, 2007. It was great to have all of my friends and family together again. It was especially fantastic that Shannah Portanova and Brooke Horadam were able to be there with me! Brooke's beautiful daughter, Sofia, was my flower girl. No children for me, yet. We have 2 great dogs, Clara and Stella. I am the general manager of a restaurant/bar and Josh is a chef and punk rock record producer. We reside in the lovely Pacific Northwest. I can't wait to see everyone at the reunion. Thanks Rami and Kathy, et al for doing such a great job!

Nancy Orr Kelly

p.s. Sean Hansen I hope you win queen of the reunion this time and Sherry Wilkerson if you talk to me about that dog I will kill you! :)

CONGRATULATIONS, Nancy and Josh

She had a picture of Shannah, her, Brooke and Sofia, but you could not make them out.... blurry. I have requested another one Hopefully, she has one and I can post it.

Tonight is the night.....................YOU MUST RSVP BY TONIGHT!!!!!! May 27, 2007 I will be calling the riverboat in the morning with the grand total of those coming. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!!! It will be fun. Come on.........What are you waiting for????

kenelms@bellsouth.net or nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com or sstreets@charter.net

60* ? A HEATWAVE???

I am afraid our next update will be in for more of a shock coming back to Louisiana than she was when she found herself in a 60* heatwave in Alaska. I think you will really enjoy reading about Celeste Selby's past twenty years.

Celeste writes:

Hello Classmates!

Well, it is difficult to know where to start. So much has happened in the last twenty years! After graduation I went to school in Arkansas and studied biology. When I finished, I decided a break was in order. So, I made arrangements to go to Alaska for six months to see how in the world people could live up there.Wow! Was I in for a surprise! I couldn't believe that sixty degrees was a heat wave! What? I need to keep my sleeping bag in the trunk to keep from becoming hypothermic if my car breaks down? What is hypothermic???

Then I met a tall, dark, and very handsome man at church that flew airplanes and worked with salmon. I was hooked! Next thing I knew, I was in ground school, learning how to wet-fly fish for reds (sockeye salmon) and wearing hip-waders (not a fashion statement anywhere else in the world, I am sure!) - having the time of my life! We were married in 1995 and have lived all over the state in pursuit of those salmon!Somewhere in there, we both managed to pursue advanced degrees. I attended University of Washington Medical School and am now a pediatric occupational therapist with a specialty in neurological disorders. Yep, I really was a nerd; it was not your imagination…Currently we live on a little island in the North Pacific. Our town has fourteen miles of main road and the largest harbor system in the state of Alaska! Even larger than the ones you see on Deadliest Catch! We have traded in our wings for a boat: much better for getting to the hot springs and subsistence fishing grounds.Keeping busy is not difficult in a small town! I have a private clinic that tricks those kiddos every time – they think they are coming to play with me. They never suspect I have an ulterior motive. Our church is like a home away from home. We both volunteer with the local fire department. I currently am running with the ambulance and working with our teenage emergency trauma technicians. So fun! I am excited to catch up with everyone at the reunion! Although, I am a little nervous because, sixty degrees is shorts and tank top weather for me now… I guess that will make it easy to spot me, the girl that is acting as if she were in the oven! Just kidding. Looking forward to reconnecting!

Your friend and classmate,

M. Celeste (Selby) Tydingco

I must say it is so interesting to me the different places our classmates now call home. And a little reminder for those of you "Kelly Picklers" out there..........the "l " is silent when pronouncing salmon. So don't slip up and say it wrong.

Only FIVE more days to let us know is you're coming. Not only will I need to let the boat know the exact count on Monday, we will have to pay!

It is not too late to come.........You have until MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2007.

RSVP to Kathi at kenelms@bellsouth.net

Send updates to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

After about a week of trying.......I did it! Monica's pictures are uploaded. Look how precious her son is and you will understand why I have been so persistant about getting them posted.

This cutie has got some eyes!!!! Kind of makes you wonder what he is thinking........like most males!!! Click here to read her update.

Also, the blog is getting some actions these days. The past months have been very lonely. Check daily for new updates, thoughts and info. Scroll through to make sure you have not missed a thing.

Deep Thoughts....... by Susan Streets

Your thoughts are always welcome to post on our blog. When you can't sleep and the anxiety of our upcoming "FUN" weekend getaway has you reminiscing in the late night-early morning hours, share you thoughts with us. Susan Ramke Streets did..................

Susan writes:

I was at my niece’s graduation this past weekend. Twenty years after us, she was graduating - from Northshore. Sitting in my seat at SLU, I was drawn back - back to the gym at NHS. It wasn’t my niece’s class down there, it was us. I could see it as if it were yesterday. There we were, young men and women, ready to take on the world. I could see Mitch making his speech (obviously, I couldn’t hear him, even in my mind - at this age, my detailed memory is a thing of the past). These days I find that my hair is graying, my bones are starting to groan and I’m more nostalgic than ever. Even if it’s just for a weekend, I want to go back to that easier time. I want to pretend that I’m still a kid (knowing what I know now, of course). I want to reacquaint myself with old friends that I’ve lost touch with and become friends with some old acquaintances. I want the opportunity for the people who helped shape me to see who I really was, who I really am. I was a rather quiet student. Very few people got to see the me (I really haven‘t changed that much) that I’m quite comfortable with now. I want to laugh at memories of the senior class play, incredibly late nights and very early mornings (thank goodness for vivarin). I want to reminisce about the senior picnic, senior skip days, sunburns from long hours on the beach and, of course, the Calcutta Beach Republic. I know there are a lot of closet lurkers out there. Come out of the closet, come play with us. I want to know that you remember it too. I want to know where you find yourself today and if you ever expected to be there. I’ve gotten to know Rami and Kathi better than I ever did in high school. I want to the opportunity to get to know all of you. The past shapes us, but we still have the chance to shape the future. You’ve got until May 27th to let us know that you’ll be there. I want you to be there - I miss you.

Susan and I really have known each other since 3rd grade (thirty years). I would say that over the past year, we've gotten to know each other more than we did the 10 years spent together in school, and we even rode the bus together until we drove to school. Now, we have boys in the 3rd grade. We both have sons named Reed. We probably have just as much in common as we probably have not in common. I think now as adults, we appreciate what makes us all who we are. It must be maturity!!! And THANK the LORD for it!

SO, Come................Laissez Le Bon Temps Roule

RSVP......Kathi at kenelms@bellsouth.net

Updates for blog to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

Sweet Home Alabama

I know you will be excited like I was to get another update for the blog. With the reunion just three weeks away, the updates on the blog get us reacquainted. Teri Nicholson Ryder is not sure if she can make it, but was nice to send us her update.

Teri writes:

After I graduated from Northshore, I attended LSU and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History, with a minor in Political Science. I attended law school at Cumberland School of Law, Samford University. I graduated from law school in 1994, and have practiced law in Huntsville, Alabama since I graduated. My former husband and I started a law firm, and practiced law together for 10 years. Unfortunately, that did not work out; however, I have beautiful six (6) year old son - Drew - as a result. I am currently working as a corporate lawyer for DeltaCom, Inc., and still living in Huntsville, Alabama.

We hope to see you there, Teri.

REMEMBER................YOU HAVE UNTIL THIS SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2007 TO RSVP. WE WILL BE UNABLE TO ACCEPT MONEY AT THE DOOR.

ATTIRE: Are you wondering what you will wear? Our thoughts in planning the reunion were to keep it more on the casual side of things. We thought everyone would feel more comfortable.

Dress as you'd like for Friday night.

Saturday night we thought more of a dressy casual.... sundresses, nice capris or cropped pants, nice shorts (men and ladies) Use your own judgement....... You know not to wear cut off shorts or "Daisy Dukes".

Please leave your cocktail attire at home!!! NO ties, NO fancy dress...........NO NEED! It is the summer ........."Down in New Orleans"

ABSOLUTE LAST DAY

THREE WEEKS............that is it!! I can't believe a year has flown by so fast since I began this blog. I guess I should believe it because look how fast the past 20 have gone by.

First, I need to apologize to Monica for not being able to post her photos. Not sure what the problem is. I will keep trying!!!!!

We need to give the boat the exact number of classmates attending by May 28th. I will be calling that morning. Once I make that phone call, that will be it! So, if you are coming and have yet sent Kathi your money or at least not responded with I am coming....my money is in the mail, YOU HAVE UNTIL SUNDAY TO DO SO.

SUNDAY, MAY 27 TH

WILL BE THE ABSOLUTE LAST DAY YOU CAN RSVP.

It should be lots of fun. If you are still on the fence about whether or not you want to come........COME!!! Twenty years has been a long time. If you have any ill feelings towards school, let go of them. We have been out of school longer than it took us to reach our senior year. NO ONE was mature then. Don't let those feelings dictate your fun. Come on! Pat O's, a riverboat cruise, beignets...........what else could you want in one weekend!

Send your RSVP to Kathi at kenelms@bellsouth.net

updates to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

Reunion info....................... click on the link in the right margin

It's Been a Long Time

I have not received emails lately that are updates for the blog. So getting an email with the subject "It's Been a Long Time" had me relieved. This update has been a long time coming. Monica Lloyd Maggio was one of our first finds thanks to the SHS 1986 Blog..........remember Jim, her brother? He married an 86 Tiger. Gail was a big help in leading us to Monica.

Monica writes:


After graduating from High School, I attended Southeastern and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology. I stayed close to home in Louisiana for many years, worked for the state, disaster relief, spent several years working in long term care with the elderly, and was a mental health specialist working with disadvantaged kids. My husband and I met in 1999, we got married in 2000, and lived in Covington , then it was off to Houston … six months later…

We have lived in Houston , TX , six years now. My husband Adam and I have been married for 7 years, we have one child – Nathaniel – 3yrs. old, what a precious, joyful blessing God has given us. My husband is from New Orleans , graduated from UNO, he is an Engineer for Shell. We stay busy keeping up with our son Nathaniel, he loves the outdoors, sports, and playing in the water…We try to make it home to LA & MS whenever we can, due to us getting homesick, and our son begging to see Grammy & Granddaddy, etc...I am currently a stay home mom…a.k.a. multi task specialist…before becoming a mom I was a multi-task specialist (acct./legal work) for a maritime law firm, working in the New Orleans and Houston offices… hopefully one of these days I’ll get to finish those paralegal classes I was taking when my husband and I met…Houston has become home for us now, hopefully we’ll get the chance to move back home closer to our families one day…We are looking forward to the reunion, I have enjoyed reading the blog and catching up with everyone.


We are all thankful for a new update!!!! Something new to read!!

Monica also sent us photos. I am working on getting those uploaded. I am not sure what the problem is????? Check back for those!

In the meantime, if you have not sent your reunion payment to Kathi ( kenelms@bellsouth.net) please do so. Tomorrow is the deadline!!! We need to let the riverboat know how many will be attending. We will be unable to accept payment at the door.

Send updates to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com

Hotel........Motel.......Holiday Inn

ONLY.......1(one) more day to make your reservations at the

HOTEL MONTELEONE

to get the NHS Reunion special room rate.

Don't hesitate! Do it now!!!!!!

Call 1-800-535-9595 to make your reservation. Be sure to mention the reunion!!!!

And only one more week to get your money to Kathi.

Email her at kenelms@bellsouth.net for her mailing address.

Only 70.00 per person!!