Circular No 1025

 

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 15 of July 2021 No.1025 July B

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Dear Friends,

The third issue for July.

Recent conversation between Bruce Locke, Norman Smith, and Don Mitchell

Remember to send in your collaboration, be it: Essays, emails, News, good news, and funds hahaha.

Sad to notify the deaths of Glen Schaefer and Salvador Coscarart.

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nsmith@filmsmith.net

Mon, 12 Apr

Sorry for the delay in responding.

I had the idea that we should write short stories, anecdotes, memories that Ladislao can post on the blog.

These "Memories of Mount" could help us all recall things we would like to share.

I need to attend to some urgent business, so I'll save some of my stories for later and just for now, answer Bruce

There was so much that Mount gave me but what my musical genes received was awesome.  

I learned to play the bugle, Jeremy DuBarry taught me the chords on the guitar and to this day, if I strum a calypso on the guitar, I do it just like him.

I played my cornet with "The Interpreters" I was a groupie and was allowed to chime in when they played "There is a Rose in Spanish Harlem".  

Then the Echeverria brothers Rafael "Cheche" and Gustavo Echeverria showed up and we formed a great sounding band that covered the Beatles to the T.

Upon graduation I returned to Medellin with an electric guitar to find out that my childhood friend was part of a pop vocal trio that became a band when I joined Tosing and play the bass and we picked up a super drummer. Being a part of Los Yetis was a super hoot. Too bad I don't get a dime from royalties.

English surnames show up all over South America.  

I know a Henry Edwards from Argentina, Kevin O'Brian from Peru, Kenneth Hunter another Colombian.  

As far as my surname is concerned; my father was the son of a young Englishman (Alfred Smith) who worked for the telegraph company setting up the infrastructure throughout the country and a Colombian lass (Elena Velez) from a small town on the slopes of Colombia's Andes...

My mother's father was a German-Mexican that was the big honcho for Westinghouse in Colombia and an Irish-American gal from New York.  

So I was raised bi-lingual in Medellin.  

I was quite confused when I arrived in Trinidad to see cars with no drivers zipping around on the wrong side of the road and not understanding the "English" the people were speaking.

We have in common that I also wound up working in the creation of Audo-Visual communication.

Lots to share.

Warm regards

Norman.

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From: idmitch@anguillanet.com

Sent: Monday, March 29, 2021

Bruce,

What an amazing memory you have!  I doubt any of us could top your reminiscences for detail.

All I remember of those days is daydreaming, wasting time, and getting lix from Bobo and later Fr Eugene. 

I remember in the late 1950s, MJ de Verteuil sitting next to me in Prep in the big classroom on the first floor each evening before bedtime writing essays and answering questions that always got him a first in class. 

Meanwhile I played a boardgame I invented until it was time to go to bed. 

I never got into the top half of class in my reports.

I remember also in the late 1950s running wild in the bush and roasting bread fruit we picked on the slopes of the stream that ran down the valley behind the school.  I remember standing on the hill above the cricket field at weekends shooting reed arrows onto the fielders below, resulting in more lix from Bobo on Mondays.

I remember being madly in love aged 14 with the cutest girl from a neighbouring village who made me so tongue-tied from sitting next to her in the cinema that I froze up each time she touched me by accident. I was never able to tell her how much she meant to me, and lost her eventually to a ruffian I hope later died a long and painful death. It was only when I was in my 50s that I learned that I had such an obsessive personality that when the adrenalin struck, I became totally paralyzed in the presence of the female sex.  I then understood why it was not possible for me total sensibly to any woman who captured my heart.

Fortunately, being a bit of a sociopath as well was to prove a great boost to my later legal career. There is advantage to being quite advanced on the Asperger syndrome as I am. When I practiced law, it was no problem to tell a client that he faced 20 years imprisonment if convicted on the charge I was defending him on. Now, in retirement, I can quite coolly contemplate drowning trespassing chickens that dare to eat my peafowl food or shooting goats that wandering to my yard to nibble at the fruit trees.  I get up in the middle of the night and grab my Afghan scimitar from where it is leaning on the bedside table to practice arming myself when the pandemic-inspired home invasion begins .

Onward ever!

Best,

Don

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From: nsmith@filmsmith.net

Sent: Wednesday, 10 March 2021 14:47

I have been very excited about making contact with you and giving us the opportunity to remember, retrace and enjoy the memories of our lives lived ever since we had the chance to be "room mates" in the prep dorm up on the Mount.

I have not yet been able to adapt to and enjoy the wonders of the digital age when it comes to staying in touch with people... a glitch in my brain I developed when I learned to live far from my family and childhood friends all those years spent up at the Abbey School. Sorry for the time that it took me to make contact.

I remember many moments there, including the 3 times I got 4 lashes from Fr. Eugene, and would love to remember more of the wonderful moments and my experience there which I cherish and will always be a very important part of the person I have become.

I remember when I first arrived there with my mother and we stayed at the Guest House. We arrived on a Wednesday, the only day of the week that BOAC would fly from Bogotá (Colombia) to POS, before the start of school. The Prep Dorm was empty and (probably Fr. Bernard) had taken us there to show us my bed and where I could unpack my stuff: The uniforms with my laundry number (76) carefully sewed on by hand by my mother and my paternal Colombian grandmother, as well as my sheets and towels... every time I smell a new towel, I’m transported to that moment in time.

To think that only a few days later, after taking in the emptiness of the grounds and having said my goodbyes to my mom, there was the invasion of my future schoolmates... including you, setting up your spot right next to mine.

Of the many friends I made, there are very few I have been with since I left in 66. Jeremy DeBarry, who I give credit for teaching me and inspiring me to play the guitar, came to visit me at my home in Medellín where I had returned to family and a wonderful post "high School" life as member of a popular rock group (Los Yetis... available on Spotify but I’m not making a dime). I also went to MSB when there was an event to celebrate Fr. Cuthbert and had the chance to spent time with Don Mitchell (we stayed at the same Hotel) and had a chance to check out other old pals (with their old look).

Rafael "CheChe" Echeverria, who with his brother and another Venezuelan chap and I, had formed a great band and covered the Beatles incredibly, lives close in South Florida and I look forward to making music with him sometime after Covid19 fades in to the past.

Ladislao Kertesz came to my home in Miami to share a meal and memories.

So now it’s turn for us to figure out how we can get together and jumpstart the memories we can share.

We did have a great spot in the Dorm... close to the entrance and right across from the lavatories.

I’m forwarding this to Don Mitchell and I hope the others that are aware you are herewith us again can also get the courage to say Hi.

Warm regards and looking forward to hearing from you.

Norman 

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B L <brucelocke@live.ca>

Tue, 30 Mar

By the way, Norman, I meant to mention in my last email: Los Yetis ey? I checked them out on YouTube. Real Beatles stuff man. I have a friend here from high school days who had a band back in the sixties or early seventies called Reigning host. With the advent of the internet their albums became popular again and the vinyl can still be found. Incidentally, I still have all my early Beatles 45s on the Capitol label.

Ever since I met you I wondered about a Colombian boy having a name like Smith. I remember telling my Dad about you and he refused to believe you could have been from Colombia. No offense intended (I mean, the Lockes lived in India until the 1920s and Bernardo O’Higgins founded Chile) but I’d love to know how your family came to be in South America.

Don, that’s some blade there! I hope you’re not the Minister of Tourism for Anguilla lol. I think lawyers have to be cold. I ran group homes for juvenile delinquents in the 70s and 80s and spent a lot of time in court with those boys (16 meant adult court – 18 now) and I hobnobbed with a few lawyers. I met some as you described. I guess you can’t carry it home to your dinner table. I would get too emotionally involved.

Best to you both. Happy Easter.

Bruce

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From: idmitch@anguillanet.com

Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Thanks, Norman, for copying me.

Don’t forget to copy Ladislao in on everything. He is always looking for material to circulate to assist the Old Boys in getting back together (even if only for distance reminiscing!).

Best,

Don

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idmitch@anguillanet.com

Wed, 28 Apr

Hi, Bruce,

Glad you liked my reminiscences about MSB.  There were two blog postings, and both can be accessed here, in case you missed one: 

https://donmitchellcbeqc.blogspot.com/search/label/Abbey%20School

And, sure, feel free to use the photos of Mount in any way you would like.  If you do go back, it is as well to go with some of the Old Boys who reside in Trinidad.  All the tracks have changed.

I have just come in from four hours of pickaxing, shovelling, sifting, and wheelbarrowing soil.  Normally, I can manage only between two and three hours in the blazing sun.  But, Maggie has forced me to wear the kepi she got for me, and it does help!

Best,

Don

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From: B L <brucelocke@live.ca>

Sent: Wednesday, 28 April 2021 10:23

Hi Don,

Just a short note. I came across your blog about your return to Mt. St. Benedict and I loved the photos you posted. They’ve helped me place myself a little better, particularly the ones of Mt. Tabor.  I knew I remembered a “fireplace” which your picture tells me was actually the kitchen.

I also, for some reason, liked the shot of the roof of the boys’ dormitory. I never realized there was a courtyard between the dormitory and the chapel. It was all a bit of a rabbit warren below the dorm it seemed to me. I was looking at George’s photo albums as well. The photo of the shower room brought back memories of 3 minute cold water showers controlled from a main valve by one of the brothers, Eugene if I remember correctly. I suppose timing and temperature was for a reason lol.

May I share some of your pics of the buildings on my Facebook?

One day I would like to go back and see the place. The last time I was there was in 1988 to visit the grandparents at the seniors’ home.

Well, that’s all for now. I have a busy day ahead napping on the couch.

All the best,

Bruce

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B L

Fri, 12 Mar

Hello Norman,

I’ve only just picked this up. Thanks so much for your reply! I’m running around today but I’ll get back to you over the weekend.

Again. Lovely to hear from you.

Even though I was only there for a very short time I remember you quite well.

Talk soon.

Bruce

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From: nsmith@filmsmith.net

Sent: Wednesday, 10 March 2021 18:05

I totally agree!

I wanted to copy Ladislao of course, but Like Fr. Bernard told me he told my mother: "If Norman were to apply himself, he would do much better"...

When I went to CC, your address appeared like magic but Ladislao's and others seemed too hard to find to attach the news of Bruce Locke's joining the band of brothers and share my selfie with Cutty...

I didn't apply myself to the fullest but I was smart enough to know that you were the perfect go-between.

Warm regards

Gran saludo a todos.

Norman.

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to subscribe for a whole year and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photos:

68NS0012NSM, Norman Smith

62NS0003FPA, Fr. Paul

68NS0006THEYETIS, The Yetis

21BL0001BLO, Bruce Locke

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No 1024

 

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 8 of July 2021 No.1024 July A

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Dear Friends,

Here is the second issue this month, and there will be more as news demands it.

Missing Classmates, Roger Henderson and Michael Herrera.  Can you help me in contacting them??

I thank those that have asked and have sent in funds anonymously.

At the end of this issue, you will find the instructions to send funds, I know your limitations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWMRzu5cwBI.

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idmitch@anguillanet.com

Tue, 1 Jun,

Dear Nigel,

Hoping all is well with you.

Below is a self-explanatory exchange between Ladislao and me.

George started a Wikipedia page for us a couple of years ago, and someone unknown has gone into it and done some editing.

It is not satisfactory at all. 

Would you have the inclination or time to have a look at it, perhaps in collaboration with George who was making himself an expert in Wikipedia and see if you can flesh out the page to make it more informative.

I am thinking of perhaps incorporating your pictorial history in it. 

That and some links to the 20-odd Blogs of Ladislao’s Circulars would be a major improvement.

Best,

Don

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Ladislao Kertesz <kertesz11@gmail.com>

Tue, 1 Jun,

Dear Don

Some years back, I believe that George Mickiewicz did something like that.

But I am not sure, at that time he mentioned that he wanted us to be in Wikipedia, like reserving space for our school.

But looking at the date of the last edition 5th of March 2021, maybe it is another guy.

It would be nice to know the author. 

Just checked.  It was created by George on 1 Oct 2016

Edited by john pack lambert who never left the USA. No idea what he did in the editing.

I can recommend an author for the job, Nigel Boos.

Ladislao

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Abbey School web pages

idmitch@anguillanet.com

31 May 2021

Hi, Ladislao,

Doing a search just for fun, I came across a very inadequate Wikipedia page for our school:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_School,_Trinidad_and_Tobago

If there is any among us who is an adept at Wikipedia,

I hope he can add some relevant detail and substance to the page.  

Wikipedia is a forum that will, probably, outlast all of us, and it behoves us to be diligent in adding appropriate detail.

Best,

Don

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From: "George Mickiewicz"

Subject: THE WAY WE WERE

Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:14:11 -0500

TO: ALL MSB BOYS

FROM: George (Yury) Mickiewicz better known as SHISH due to my polish accent/ pronunciation of the English language when as a 10-year old began to learn it at MSB.

So here we go……………..

The above titled 1973 movie THE WAY WE WERE, has a song that captures the emotions that I felt when I recently and accidentally connected to the MSB Blog page:

Mem'ries,

Light the corners of my mind

Misty water-coloured memories

Of the way we were

Scattered pictures,

Of the smiles we left behind

Smiles we gave to one another

For the way we were

Can it be that it was all so simple then?

Or has time re-written every line?

If we had the chance to do it all again

Tell me, would we? Could we?

Mem'ries, may be beautiful and yet

What's too painful to remember?

We simply choose to forget

So it's the laughter

We will remember

Whenever we remember...

The way we were...

The way we were...

I attended the Mount from 1956 through Form V graduation in 1962.

I was one of the “pagnols” and lived in Maracay, Venezuela.

My family immigrated to the USA in 1963 and I currently live in Collierville, a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee.

I worked with Du Pont at many different locations for 37 years and retired this past April.

Below is a list of some folks who came to mind as I reflected on the different individuals and personalities that shaped and impacted my early formative years.

1962 FORM V GRADUATES, DECEMBER 1962, CAST OF CHARACTERS:

STUDENTS:

David Bratt,      Peter De Morvay,      Jeffrey Henderson,      Eden Hutton,      David Da Costa,      Norman Tang ,      Jacques de Verteuil,      Paul de Verteuil,      Gerhard Most,      Jeffrey Gransaull,      Peter Laughlin,      ? O’Connor,      a seminarian???,      me and ……

My apologies to anyone whom I named incorrectly or forgot to mention.

OTHER BOYS WHO WOULD HAVE GRADUATED WITH THE CLASS OF ’63 BUT LEFT US AT DIFFERENT POINTS AND TIME DURING OUR 7 YEAR JOURNEY AT MSB:

George Iwaszkiewicz,      Alan Ho ,      Gerard Gioanetti,      Luis Izquierdo,      Monsieur TonTon?????,      Paul Zeven,      Joel Blandin,      Juan Nunez,      Edward Lloyd, plus some others that I do not recall. (need the email address for those that are underlined, ed.)

MSB STAFF THAT WE INTERACTED WITH BETWEEN 1956 AND 1962:

Fathers Bernard,      Eugene,      Jerome,      Augustine,      Peter,      Gregory,      Cuthbert,      Anselm,      Paul,      Benedict,      Christopher,      Ildefons,      Francis,      Ignatius,      Chrysostom, and ……….

Brothers

Vincent,      Bruno,      Crispin,      Anthony, and …..

Miss Kitty,      Hugh Henderson (he taught us in Form IV),      Mr. Rai,      Mr Yip Chuck,      Mr Thomas (he was groundskeeper for the playing fields, pool, tennis courts, etc.), Coaches ?????, the driver who took us to the “dentist” on Wednesdays in POS, and ……

God willing, I hope to contribute to future editions with the Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Beautiful of my MSB memories plus my current life.

May God bless y’all and your families,

George

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From: "Don Mitchell, QC" <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Subject: THE WAY WE WERE

Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006

Thank you, George,

I am sure that Ladislao will be happy to hear from another long-lost survivor.

It is really good to hear from you.

Keep well.

Don

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From: aj.mickiewicz

Subject: SENDING INFORMATION

Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:03:12 -0500 (CDT)

Que tal Las:

Terrific job, my brother, in creating the circulars and, most importantly, the benefits derived from them for the mount boys. 

In reading the different circulars it seems to me that you would like to have different information (pictures, attachments, message, etc.) sent to different "addresses". 

Please send me the latest specific instructions so I can send you the right information to the right place.

Have you received 2 notes that I sent you in the past 7 days?

Dios te bendiga,

Jorge

(You can use the kertesz11@yahoo.com, which is reserved for those that send in 50 words a year, ed.)

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From: "George Mickiewicz"

Hello Ladislao:

I was very happy to accidentally come across your web page.

Lots of good memories came back from 45 years plus ago as I read the articles and viewed the corresponding photographs.

I attended the Abbey School from 1956 through graduation in 1962.

Like you, my family lived in Venezuela .

We immigrated to the US in 1963 and have lived here since.

I married my wife Fara, a Cuban refugee, in1970 and we have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

I recently retired after 37 years with Du Pont but continue to consult for Du Pont on a part time basis.

We live in Collierville which is a suburb of Memphis , Tennessee .

May God bless you and all the Old (“NEW”) Boys and your/their families,

George “Shish” Mickiewicz

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Dear George,

Good to hear from you.

Sorry for the late reading but I have been a bit busy and the Circulars have slowed down a bit.

Your Circular would be No. 255 soon to be published.

I am glad for your photo, any xmas photos??

Also please send a short run down on your classmates, where are they??

Any contact with them?

God Bless

Ladislao

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From: "George Mickiewicz"

Subject: 1956-1962 MEMORIES - THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT

Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006

I am not referring to the proverbial apple, July mangoes, oranges nor grapefruits but rather that enigma commonly referred to as the opposite sex, women, fillies, girls, broads, chicks, babes, and have forgotten the Trinidadian idioms that we used……….

Greetings from Wilmington , Delaware , where I am attending a team meeting prior to a consultation trip to Baroda , India , next week.

I took time during the flights to reflect on my 7 years at MSB.

I decided to capture a few reminiscences on a topic that always has lots of interest to the male species and, in this process, provoke readers to share their memories and boast (lie) of their accomplishments in their early years.

My apologies to the ladies who read these circulars if you misinterpret my intents.

Please remember that I am going back 45-50 years to when we were very young kids.

My intent is not to demean but to honour you and all that you represented to us.

You were indeed a very important part of our lives.

I also invite you to share your recollections around this topic if you visited the mount.

MSB staff applied constant energy to prevent any contact between the sexes at the Mount in the period between 1956 and 1961.

The first breakthrough came in 1962 when, through some miraculous intervention, the Form IV and V boys were allowed to attend a dance at the catholic girl’s school in POS whose name escapes me.

Below are glimpses of my memory as they relate to this general topic.

* Boys with sisters were very valued friends as it gave one at least a chance to talk to a girl when the family visited the mount on a Saturday or Sunday. Being told that a sister liked you was one of the greatest things that a boy would experience.

* Boys strutting like peacocks in front of the young ladies to attract their attention when they visited resulting in a to and from dance of eye and body movements.

* A very good classmate friend being almost expelled for actually going all the way with the attractive young lady who lived near the sports field. Then being granted “superhero” status due to this achievement for the rest of his tenure at the Mount.

* The French invading Farfan territory…. By the way I met Priscilla in 1962 at the Howard Ho homestead and must confess that I developed a crush on her at the time. She, on the other hand, wanted absolutely nothing to do with me.

* Sports Day, Family Day, Anniversary Celebration were anticipated with great excitement because these events opened the door for lots of fantasies and potential opportunities but very, very few ever materialized as the mothers, fathers and monks were always on the lookout.

* Going to dentists with attractive female assistants; especially the orthodontist in POS with the blond bombshell. Then walking the streets before the bus left to pick up a girl. My personal record in this event was zero in 83 attempts.

* Non-Trinidadians not allowed to play Carnival to “avoid the potential to sin”; here having good Trinidadian friends was an asset because you could potentially be invited to their home and then be able to enjoy the festivities.

* The non-Trinidadians going to Mayaro Beach or The Islands during Easter vacations which was usually too short and, therefore, not cost effective to fly back home. In the presence of an attractive young lady you would always see a pack of hungry wolves frothing at the mouth with lust in their eyes. Boys would boast of conquest but no one ever believed them.

* The infamous “FEEL UP”, or similar term, denoting male-female skin contact with the inherent understanding that greater recognition was given by the boys for certain segments/parts of the female anatomy than others. This was the first topic of conversation when the boys returned to the mount after their vacations. The “conquerors” would share their experiences. The young boys would listen with great awe and respect to the old boys sharing their successes. These poor young innocents never knew that in most cases these stories represented lies, dreams and wishful thinking versus actual accomplishments.

* Let me now share with you one of my “feel ups”. I was invited by Howard Ho’s family to spend a day at their beach house located after you passed Maracas Bay . We had to go by boat as a road did not exist then. On the way there I got an opportunity to sit next to one of their cousins whose name I cannot recall. The young lady was probably 5 years or older than me. As the boat travelled and the waves rocked it, my leg came into contact with hers on numerous occasions. A little bulge developed in my swim suit and the SHIS brain went on overload with sinful carnal emotions, thoughts and desires. Eventually the little bulge deflated and moisture developed in my bathing suit………. due to the wave spray coming into the boat. Of course this contact meant absolutely nothing to the young lady. I do not remember today but I can just imagine the boasting and exaggerated untruthful stories that I told my friends upon returning to the mount.

* On another occasion I was “pelting” (recall this as the term that we used for throwing) for mangoes at the bottom of the small field. A young cute East Indian girl who lived in one of the homes in that area approached me with an indecent proposal. I got real scared, panicked, and ran away. I shared this event with 2 other friends who immediately rushed to the mango tree but the girl was no longer there.

In closing, T women were/are indeed attractive, beautiful, sexy, silky, mysterious, challenging, statuesque, interesting, and intelligent. Their black, brown, yellow, red, white and mixed countenances were/are indeed a sight to behold. If interested call 901-854-3950 for a ……

Hopefully some happy, good memories were rekindled in your mind and, perhaps, a few smiles shined on your face as you read these words.

Be blessed, be good and be safe y’all,

George (Shish, Yury)

PS – in my next note I will reflect on a different topic also starting with the letter S.

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to subscribe for a whole year and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photos:

06GM0002GMI, George Mickiewicz

06GM0003GMIIND, George Mickiewicz

15LK7776FBHME, Henri Mendoza

19LK0010KMA, Kumar Mahabir