Thanks for visiting with me this Sunday in the Park. With Christmas two days away, as we sit here together, I can't help but be appreciative that my mom and dad made certain that as a family our religious beliefs and our church were stable parts of our life together.
You know, for Christians, Christmastime is primarily one-half of a story of thanksgiving, with the other half coming about four months later at Easter.
And I've found that with each year that passes, this thanksgiving becomes more and more profound to me.
My thanksgivings - as I think about them one by one - always find their way to a certain group of friends. These are friends I have had for my entire life. And we remain a close-knit support group.
First and foremost, there's Butch (Walter A., III) Kelso. Fate made us both neighbors and first friends, and we've been close friends and buddies ever since. Make that sixty-three years. That's Butch on the left and me on the right.
And then there's this group of buddies. While each of us developed different professional and social interests as time passed, let one of us experience one of life's milestones, whether good or bad, and the others rally to the occasion. It's been that way for more than fifty years.
I often wonder if even our parents, much less our teachers and neighbors, had a clue that we would turn out as well as we did.
In this picture, the first fellow is E. Douglas McLeod. He's been a teacher, on the school board, the city council and a member of the state legislature. He was even a real estate broker for a few years.
After all of that, he went to law school and got his law degree as well as a master's in law.
He's one of the honchos at the billion dollar asset based Moody Foundation.
Next is Dr. Ward McReynolds, a well-known Houston psychiatrist.
Next is me, Bill Cherry, real estate broker, broadcaster, writer and musician.
That's Jasper (J.E.) Tramonte on my left. With a master's degree in business, he went all over the country in his younger years, resolving and installing computer programs for major insurance companies and hospitals. And then he decided to become a commercial real estate broker in Houston, a profession he's excelled in for at least twenty-five years. (I claim I taught him everything he knows about real estate. He claims I have a lose screw if I believe that.)
Next is Victor J. Damiani. He has always been the father figure of our group. A year or so older than the rest of us, Victor always had the good sense to steer us in the right direction. He's to us what Fonzie is to the "Happy Days" show. Victor spent many years as a life insurance company policy underwriter for American National Insurance Co. He's now retired. I wrote about Victor's influence in my book, Bill Cherry's Galveston Memories.
So my prayer today as we sit here in the park together, is that each of you has the blessings of a life-long support group like ours. They are a precious gift.
Merry Christmas to all, and I look forward to seeing you again next Sunday in the Park.
GOD Blesses!
Pen and Ink Drawing of Bill in the Park by Galveston artist Carlotta Barker
Dallas Homes Highland Park Homes Lake Highlands Homes Park Cities Homes, Galveston
Oh, Miss Jan --
I've written a lot of stuff since I signed up here about a year ago. But I'm not one of those who brings many hits. Interestingly, though, 6,000 people have viewed my profile. I can't make any sense out of that when I try to reconcile the two numbers.
Thanks for liking my post. You're going to love ActiveRain, epecially if you wander around through the many sub-groups and see what people have to say about this and that.
Billycherry
Bill, I wish it was so, but you have to know just how lucky you are for those guys.
Merry Christmas.
Bill Roberts
Andrew, thanks for your wise comment. You're a bright guy!
And Bill Roberts these friendships are ones we treasure and work hard to maintain and keep current. Let me tell you something funny. My friend Butch Kelso up there must have bought ten of the same birthday card, and he sent me one of them every year. I never mentioned it, and he never brought it up.
And Doug up there's daddy bought him a stick-shift Ford Coupe...in fact I've got a photo of it around here somewhere. Doug heard from his brother that if he had the mechanic move the gear shift lever from the right side to the left side, he'd be able to keep his arm around his girlfriend while driving. I don't think Doug mastered steering and changing gears using only one hand.
Jasper decided in his adult life to go by his given name. Up to then, he was J.E. He and I performed as the Twin Foondinis -- Prestidigitators.
Ward must have been the best looking. He always had the most girlfriends.
Finally, Miss Carole isn't it wonderful when we finally start getting the full meaning of some of the annual celebrations. I'm glad Thanksgiving moved up a few notches for you.
Merry Christmas to you all!
Bill...I too have been fortunate enough to have retained friendships from 4th grade through High School!
We get together from all corners ....at least once a year. And the conversations just pick up again from where they ended!
Miss Joanie
I well remember that you told me before that you have that big group of friends....in fact, we saw a photo of one of your reunions. That kind of stuff brings me great pleasure. Merry Christmas, dear friend.
Billycherry
Miss Kay,
I don't want to leave the impression that keeping friendships alive is easy. It does require the desire of all and a bit of work. But I keep up with people all over the US that I've come to know, and it brings me great pleasure.
And as a sidebar, that dedication surely does help those of us in the real estate business.
Thanks so much for your thoughts.
Billycherry
An interesting post, Bill. The human interest stories are fascinating!
Nathan
Thanks for your note. I'm glad you like human interest stories. I do, too.
By the way, it looks like things are holding up pretty well there in College Station.
Billycherry
Bill, It's absolutely wonderful that you have this circle of old friends surrounding you.....you're that kind of guy.
You're one of those who realizes and values the connections that are made between people throughout time. This is something that I'm striving to incorporate into my own being every day, thanks to you.
Adorable picture of Butch and you....I hope you have that picture framed and sitting on a mantel somewhere in your home...
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Jo