Friday, August 15, 2008

Last Kiss J Frank Wilson



While we're on the subject of the 60's, I found this listing from txdude52 on eBay of 3 issues of The Fang! That's the High School Yearbook for Lufkin High School in Lufkin Texas. The issues are 1958, 1959 and 1960. What makes these issues special you ask? Well these issues have J Frank Wilson who sang Last Kiss. "Last Kiss" was a number two hit for J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers in 1964, and was one of the final gasps of the teen tragedy craze that blossomed in the early '60s



To hear the song and learn a bit more about the general genre of Teen Tragedy Songs click on Artist Direct

Mad About Mad Men

I am so delighted to see a program that celebrates this often over looked era because I LOVE the early 60's Fashions. That's probably because I became really fashion conscious in 1960 when I entered Junior High School.

This beauty is something I would have worn to a 8th grade dance in 1961. As a matter of fact I wore something almost identical. It has a taffeta under dress and floral organdy overdress with those really special puffy sleeves and of course we still worn BIG petticoats that year. Pink kitten heel shoes helped me dance the night away with that Special boy I met that night.


While I was strutting my stuff in the floral beauty above, my lovely Hazel eyed Mom would be wearing this gorgeous cocktail dress of steely blue taffeta, (just the color of my Daddy's eyes) covered with lace and a crepe wiggle skirt below. Matching Peau de Soie spike heels pumps would have set it off perfectly.

Since my Mom was a bit more conservative than her best friend, Brownie, this gorgeous Gold and yellow confection would have been Brownie's choice for the party. With her lovely brunette hair and tawny brown eyes she would have been the hit of the party. But then she usually was the hit of the party, no matter what she wore.


And then there was the Subtle but Sexy Billie. Billie always knew how to dress just right. Sheer organdy over a full taffeta slip. Wide neck but not too daring. No fat petticoats for the understated Blonde. She would have every head turning to watch her pass in this Gay Gibson.




For some real Eye Candy...Flip through the Mad Men Scrapbook

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Unsung Heros! Funeral Directors and Staff!

We sing the praises of our First Responders in the time of crisis. Rightfully so, they deserve it!

But something came to my attention this week, that I had never thought about. Our town experienced a different type of tragedy. A bus carrying 55 Vietnamese Church members from Houston to a retreat in Missouri, had a major fatality accident. See Story Here

As sirens screamed, blue lights flashed and Air Ambulances blew the trees around, Emergency Medical Teams triage the surviving, Police directed and diverted traffic and the Red Cross and Salvation Army offered sustenance to the volunteers and staff.

But who is attending to the 12 deceased?

Funeral Directors and their staff. They are the ones who transport the bodies and offer counsel to the victims families, prepare the bodies for viewing and make arrangements for transport to the home communities. The overwhelming work load was compounded by the fact that the families were 300 miles from home and had a language barrier.

I would like to offer a tribute to these Unsung Heroes, and call attention to the fabulous job they do and the smooth and calm manner in which they do it. Within 24 hours of the accident which occurred at 12:35 AM all of the bodies had been processed and on their way to their families and final resting places.

Thank you each and every one. Dannel Funeral Home, Waldo Funeral Home, Angelica Funeral Home.