Janet Hoffman

 I am sure we all have our views on the current situation not only with our government but worldwide, but as has been suggested before   this is probably not the best forum in which to find common ground .   My own approach to all of this is to do whatever I can to make sure people get out and vote and encourage others to do so, whatever side you may be on.   This is our treasured right and should be exercised.    And while I am fully aware of issues relating to voter suppression, I still think that there is enough opportunity in our country to make our voices heard through the ballot box.  I am hoping we can organize another reunion before too long since I firmly believe that person to person,  and especially in person, dialogue is far  superior to forums like this and social media,  to discuss such issues.  And  if there are those among us who wish to engage on these subjects,  that would be a better place.   That’s just my two cents!  Anyway,  as far as my shoulder is concerned I have no illusions about the tough PT work ahead of me, but I was well prepared for this by my physical therapist and I am confident that I will end up at the higher end of recovering  my range of motion and strength.   Thanks for your good wishes!  Peace,   😊

PS to George:   I was told at least four years ago that I was already bone on bone in my right shoulder and that I should talk to the surgeon.  Since then,  I have also been managing with good physical therapy and even took a Cortizone shot  a couple years ago  (which did nothing). When it came to the point where I could not dress and undress without substantial pain that’s when I decided to do the surgery.    I don’t play tennis or golf or engage in contact sports,  but I am very active and want to get to a point where I can,  for example, go snorkeling and be confident that I can pull myself back into the boat,  and do my upper body strength and other daily exercises, all of which I think I can get to do  if I take my rehab seriously.   I am ready to tough it out, so I am reasonably optimistic that I will get there in time.   Good recovery is predicted within 3 to 6 months -  and full recovery can take as long as a year - so I have no illusions about how long it may take me.   I am hopeful that I will be on the short end of that given all the physical therapy I did leading up to the surgery which was critical .

George Trapp

Janet ---- When I previously commented on your shoulder I did not wish to say too much. Seeing your latest post I can do better. I have had 5 major surgeries. By far the toughest recovery was from the repair of a torn rotator cuff. At 4 months I got back on the tennis court but had to serve underhand and simply block any ball over my head. But a few more months saw a complete recovery .  However just a year or so later I was at zero cartilage in my right shoulder. For a guy with a very strong throwing arm, it was humbling to pretty much lose the ability to throw which pretty much ended my softball. Fortunately the overhand service motion is dissimilar enough that I was still able to serve. ---  My shoulder guy discussed a complete shoulder with me but candidly told me that he could not put in anything as good as what God gave me. He followed that with the news that at my activity level I  would tear the new shoulder apart in as little as two years. He has approved my pain killing regimen which is two Aleve about 2-3 hours prior to play, followed by a single Oxy about an hour and a half prior to play. Playing is not painless but it is tolerable. No matter how bad the pain at any other time, the Oxy stays in the drawer where I keep it. ---- I am blessed by God to be able to keep competing and very thankful. ---- I understand exactly why you went to a complete shoulder replacement because to do without would be constant pain and the debilitation that messed with your lifestyle. That is really the bottom line. What does one need to do to maintain the lifestyle they want to enjoy ? That is why I went the direction I have. So I applaud your decision to go the path you chose. Any cutting into the body presents its own set of risks in addition to the possibility that the surgery will not accomplish what the recipient hopes it will. The key to any rehab is ones' motivation to do it correctly ,faithfully, and to push thru to the goal.--- YOU ARE GOING TO DO GREAT BECAUSE YOU ARE AS I JUST DESCRIBED !!! ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE !!! ---- I have two knees , a repaired Achilles and  surgically fused neck necessitated by severely broken and dislocated vertebra at c-6 and c-7. God has blessed me and my sense is that He will similarly bless your recovery efforts.

Gwendolyn Faust (Punchard)

This is my first posted message on this forum but I felt moved to share some thoughts with my Class of 63 classmates.  Last week Nancy Cunningham Moore , Sue Brumfield Ambacher and Bruce Ambacher joined me at my Ocean City, New Jersey summer home.  We have been in touch over the years and each year it becomes more important to spend this time together.  We laugh and talk endlessly about our high school years together and all that has happened since.  We are amazed at how innocent and special those years were. Cheltenham gave us a great foundation and  Sue and I ended up marrying our high school boyfriends.  This summer take some time to remember and drink a toast to Panther Parties, Friday football games, Abington-Cheltenham sports rivalry, the music and arts program and most of all to absent friends.  All my best, Gwen Faust Punchard

Robert Macfarland

Thanks for the post Gwen.  I agree.  It is wonderful getting together with CHS friends.  It sounds like you had a great time with Nancy, Sue and Bruce.  This fall I enjoyed time together in Hilton Head with Neal Kulick and Ted Johnson.  We shared a number of stories from the CHS days and Ted had a lot of pictures dating back to Thomas Williams including one of the football team.  We had leather helmets and looked like we were coming out of the dark ages.  Can't believe it's been over 50 years.  I also see Dennis Cooper who is in my winter tennis group, John Leonard who also goes to Avalon in the summer and Rob Peterman who sometimes hits the golf course with me.  The CHS stories never get old but sometimes get stretched a little.  It is all good.

Ellen Karabell (Rugel)

Long time friends are the best.  We knew each other's parents, houses, neighborhoods.  Bobby Barasch, Bonnie Verbit, Ginger Abrams and I just got together for our annual - if not more - get together.  I cherish it, our memories of CHS, and our lasting friendships.  Wishing each of you good health and good times.

Jerry Chonin

I am just about half way through my chemo. After a few setbacks and having to change the routine, my doctor hit on a regimen that allows me to feel more human. After suffering two mini strokes and all of the typical side affects, I am on the right path. I will never loose my positive attitude or my sense of humor. Fortunately I have not suffered any lasting affects from the mini strokes. I have the best medical team who I trust completely. My support system is amazing. I am a very lucky man. Hopefully I am cleared by my doctor by the end of October. That being the case, thanksgiving will be incredible. 

Sunny Ingber (Drohan)

Hi Jerry,

Sorry you had some set backs. Set backs are just blips for better times to come. 

Your faith and attitude serves you well. We will all be rooting for you. Prayers too🙏🙏🙏🙏. 

Sunny Ingber Drohan

Jay Ginsburg

Dear Jerry:

    So sorry you are having a tough time.  I hope you fully recover.  

    Be well old friend,,

    Jay

Marilyn Ford (Evans)

Hello All My Classmates, I would like to Wish you a Happy Hanukkah Season  a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Wonderful New Year.

Jerry Chonin

To all my friends and classmates, all the best in the new year. I am hoping the same for me. So far so good. My oncologist is cautiously optimistic about my outcome. So far I believe I am part of the 9% survival rate for pancreatic cancer. I finished my chemo and so fat my scans have been clear and my tumor markers are at 14. He wants them under 34. Thank you for the good wishes and prayers. 

Jerry Chonin

Pardon the type-o. It's far not fat. 😝 lol

Carol Ratcliffe (Gairo)

My Husband and I have been Happily married for 56 years and have been Blessed with 3 healthy sons, 10 healthy grandchildren and 1 healthy great grandchild and a second on the way. Jim has been on Hospice for almost 2 years.  As a Hospice volunteer for many years, I understand how fortunate we have been to share this extra time together. The average Hospice patient lasts 28 days. The longest Hospice patient I worked with was 6 months. The outlook for him to still be here for the new year is VERY slim this time.  

My favorite Christmas song this year is All I Want for Christmas is You!

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year!

Love from a Christmas Carol

p.s. Happy Birthday to George Trapp too!

George Trapp

Agree with Ms Evans sentiments.----- Jerry ! God loves you and my prayer is that you are indeed in His plan to be one of the 9%. ----- Spoke with Carol last evening briefly as it was her birthday too. She is upbeat and she agreed that I would pray for Jim to have a smooth transition into the eternal phase of his life. Jan and I are praying that Jim will see this Christmas with Carol.

Eileen Tyrala

Hi Everyone, I wanted to share with you an experience that Amy Shelanski and I had last Saturday night when we attended The Philly Pops Jazz Orchestra Holiday Celebration that featured our world renowed classmate, Randy Brecker! He was amazing! He performed several selections composed by both him and his late brother, Michael. It was an evening to remember. After the concert Randy was in the lobby of the Kimmel Center where he greeted us with his customary grace and humbleness. CHS, class of '63, has certainly left its' mark on the music world. Happy Holidays to All!

Barbara Barasch (Rosin)

So sorry I wasn't able to go with you and Amy on Saturday night to see Randy, Eileen....

What wonderful messages from everyone to read today.

Best of luck to you , Jerry and best wishes to your husband , Carol.

I wish us all Peace and good health in 2020 ...then happiness will find us ! Bobby Barasch Rosin

Daniel Bronson

   Well, it seems that this site has been pretty slow for far too long. I expect that, like me, a lot of you have considerable time on your hands these days. I've spent some of mine finally finishing and publishing a novel about Mark Twain, Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill's Wild West that I have been playing with for 40 years (it hurst just to see that). My next-door neighbor and her daughter are busy sewing masks for anyone and everyone in the area. Another neighbor is walking dogs for those who are afraid to go out or just too frail.So, if you have a few minutes, tell us how you are spending your time. I don't particularly need political lectures from the left or the right, but I would appreciate finding out how others go about their daily lives, what troubles them, and what small pleasures they have found. Best to you all!

Janet Hoffman

Great idea, Danny!  Thank you for starting this.   I have been in Puerto Vallarta Mexico since January 25.  I was planning to return home on March 28 but considered it too risky to travel.  There are no direct flights from here to the New York area and I would have had to go through three airports and take two taxis, to say nothing of risks posed by being in an airplane for anywhere from 6 to 8 hours.  I expect to stay here indefinitely until things in New York improve sufficiently for my comfort.  Our office has been functioning remotely since the end of March in any event so what I could do in New York I can do from here.  My late husband and I bought an apartment here in 2002 and I have been gradually making it more suitable for long-term use.  Who would have thought I would actually use it for that purpose?  As for spending my time, I do have to get out to walk my dog and it is fairly easy to distance yourself from people here.  The weather has been good and I am able to get what I need.  I am learning how to disinfect fruit and vegetables, to conserve water, and to appreciate the therapeutic value of housework and laundry.  No TV, unless I want to seriously bone up on my Spanish.  Like everywhere else cases are on the increase here but, as I said, it is reasonably easy to isolate.  I have been participating in zoom meetings with various groups of friends and stay in touch with people by email and phone.  I also have a couple of big projects I wanted to work on but I'm finding it difficult to concentrate.  I suppose there are others of you who are experiencing the same at least from time to time .That should change as I get more used to my new routine.  One  thing that does help is to minimize my exposure to the news.  Of course I wish to remain informed, but I am choosing my times carefully.  I hope all of us come out of this  well in all respects.  Be safe.  Be careful.  Be calm.  Stay in touch with others.  With air hugs,  Janet 

George Trapp

Dan, (Janet too )...... You are the man !  I was wondering when someone would open up about this craziness..... I needed another cervical discectomy and fusion so I chased down Dr Daniel Gelb who the Lord hooked me up with at Hershey in Dec of 98. I found him at the U of MD Medical Center where he both teaches and does various ortho surgeries. His special interest is the spine and as far as I am concerned there is none better...... Again the timing was perfect, so on March 6 Iwas under the knife. Went great. Of course I left the OR slightly more dead than I entered, this due to having the removed disc replaced by a chunk of cadaver bone. So my X-rays now show 12 screws, 2 rods, 1 plate and two wires twisted together. In all 5 of my 7 cervical vertebra and thoracic # 1 are involved. It's all titanium so no problem with magnetometers. I was back home the following afternoon. ...... Virtually pain free. .... Can't beat the combination of the great God and a fine surgeon at my back. Faith and science at work together.

So on March 23 I was back for my first post op check. I was sweating that a bit as I had exceeded my lifting restrictions x 10. I saw the X-rays before Dr Gelb got to me. I knew  they were perfect which he shortly confirmed. Jan, and our older daughter were not permitted in the building. Between taking my temp on entry, taking BP and pulse, removing some metal staples, being x-rayed and meeting with Dr Gelb, 4 of the 5 persons I eyeballed in the office were within 2 feet of my face. But as I told my family and friends the app't was perfect. 

On March 30 the letter came. The bottom line, you have likely had close contact with a person who tested positive for CV. This Sunday AM my quarantine ended. I, Jan and our daughter have been entirely asymptomatic. We Praise God for that and of course we adopted recommended health practices throughout..... One thing impressed on me is that I refuse to be governed by fear, so except for the period of self quarantine, I have gone about my business, albeit taking recommended precautions. ........

Living out in the country, we have space to operate, have been taking walks, doing yard work, etc. I put two bikes in shape to ride......My eyes are taking a hit from so much time messaging friends and family, and am eating too much. Obviously neither of you has trouble disciplining your eating. From your photos you look easily within 15 lbs of you HS weight as seniors at CHS, maybe closer.

A prayer I have repeated almost daily is that as in the original Passover, the blood of The Perfect Lamb is , figuratively speaking, on the door posts of family, friends, those who worship the only Awesome God,etc so that this misery passes by without causing harm to them and theirs. Obviously, I do not wish CV infection on any person, whether or not I particularly like or agree with them. In this we truly are all together because this virus cares nothing about any of the ways we all differ. Fighting it together is the only possibility to defeat it with as little loss of life as possible......

As you realize, I have followed your posts since 2013, enjoying the fact that you and so many of our classmates are so accomplished. My emphasis has always been people, but I admit to a good degree of selfishness. That has slowly changed since the first neck event in 1998. In this crisis I have been contacting friends and family by the means I use attempting to encourage them with jokes, memes, spiritual insights from various sources, phone calls, etc.......

I wish you both , and all our surviving classmates, health and safety as this crisis runs its course. ----- Blessings, George

Janet Hoffman

Well it's a good thing we had our elective surgeries before all this happened since I don't think they are  going to be doing many of those anytime soon.  My brand new right shoulder joint from last May is serving me very well as I manage my new temporary life here in Puerto Vallarta.  George, I am glad yours was successful as well.  Janet

Harriet Frankel (Withstandley)

Dear Janet and George-  It's wonderful to hear that you are doing well after your respective surgeries, and George, that you were able to have your surgery before most procedures were shut down.  Dan-  what a great idea. Here's my story:  I have been retired for almost 3 years, so I had already adapted to a different routine than during my 45+ years professional life.  I had recently been doing volunteer work for AARP Tax Aide, preparing tax returns at a community center.  This was my second year doing Tax Aide work; it was scheduled to last 10 weeks, but,  after 6 weeks, we were shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since Pennsylvania is still in the midst of the crisis, I have no idea when, or if, we wil resume, although tax filing season has been extended to July 15.  My petty complaints about the restrictions of our current circumstance pale in comparison to the tragedy so many have experienced, and I cannot envision life going back to anything like it was until there is a vaccine or proven treatment.   I wish the best for all of our classmates.  

Sunny Ingber (Drohan)

Hi Dan, Janet, George and Harriet,

I am in awe of all of you for your resilience. George, you sure have been thru Hell and back. Nothing short of miracles. Keep getting well from that nasty virus. 

Congrats Dan on your published book. Is it all one book or separate ones? Is it out for purchase on Amazon?  I know my husband will probably love to read it. He's a history buff ands reads a book a week. Especially since he is not playing any tennis. He has projects in the garage and rides his bike a lot.

I am with out my tennis. This takes a majority of my time, and leaves a void. I wasn't sure how my time would manage. We are all so adaptable and I found it wasn't difficult to reshape my daily routines. I think of those who are ill and have no choice how to see life as they knew it. I pray for them and all the world. I have a strong faith in God. It never quivers. I thank him every day because I know he has our backs. 
We will beat this, it will take time, but beat it we will. Maybe the world will change for the better, maybe not. Having faith keeps me positive. So my day is getting up later than usual, make breakfast and coffee.  Clean and clean some more. I read when I have the  concentration.  Do projects I hadn't had time to do before. Did one yesterday, goal accomplished  For me, small goals each day seems to to help me focus. Also more cooking than I ever did. OY.
So may you all stay strong and keep the laughter. 

From a Longmire book:

Stay calm

Have courage

Watch for sign☀️☀️☀️

Sunny Ingber Drohan☀️🎾

Daniel Bronson

DanFor those interested, the novel is called The Adventure of Peter Gray or Shall We Shoot the Kaiser, It's based on a real incident, when Annie Oakley was challenged by Kaiser Wilhelm II to shoot a cigarette out of his mouth as opposed to her husband's. My story involves a young man from Bucks County, who follows kidnappers of an uncle from London to Berlin. Along the way, he is aided by Mark Twain, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill and his Wild West. There is also a young German soprano, who seemingly can be in two places at once, and also a brief appearance by my eccentric Hungarian grandmother. Essentially, an old man tells a story about the great adventure of his life in the late1800s. It's on Amazon as a paperback or an ebook.

George, like you I have had a few spinal procedures, I suspect that there are a number of us with enough titanium in our bodies to produce a few tennis rackets. No fun, but likely better than what our parents and grandparents had for such problems. Every day that you can get up and take a walk is a blessing.

George Trapp

This cervical fusion was the proverbial walk in the park compared to the other ortho surgeries I had. My experience says that shoulder work is the toughest, so hats off to Janet. It's great to see that you are still so pleased with that new shoulder. I'm guessing that plenty of hard and sometimes painful rehab work has really paid off. 

Sonny, great to hear you speak of your faith. This is a fantastic time of the year in the Hebrew and Christian calendars. The Passover has great significance to Jews and Christians alike. I have been praying consistently that ,figuratively speaking, there is the blood of a perfect sacrifice on the door posts of family, friends, classmates,etc in order that this CV misery is not allowed to attack in those homes. God is alive and well today as he was during the original Passover and when Jesus walked the earth. If interested, tonite there is a national Seder ( sp ?) which is to be televised at 7 PM. I cannot say where or how to find it because Imhave not yet looked for it myself. I do intend to watch. Several years ago I participated in one...... also, I greatly miss tennis but was advised against playing before June 6 due to the surgery. I feel badly for all the guys in the contracts I play in. They had all arranged their schedules to allow me to play all dates before my surgery. Now they cannot play my dates due to circumstances nobody foresaw. I owe many people.

I was exposed but did not actually get CV. I was especially pleased and thankful that Jan and our older daughter, Cindee, who were exposed thru me, did not get ill. I will admit that just the tiny freedoms of being off quarantine is a blessing in itself.

Harriet, it is great to hear from you as well. Thank you for thinking of me.

As stated previously, So many of our classmates have maximized their God given talents to achieve greatly. Music, art, literature and athletics come immediately to mind. Dan , you are just the latest example ........ Be safe and be well,     George

Barton Solow

Hello All,

Reckon you don't remember me, bein' 63' is long ago and far away (details in profile)...wish I still had my CHS jacket to wear around; I could dig that...but, I'm glad I'm back up north and out of that Florida weather...anyway, I'm feeling and doin' fine...I'll be here...

George Trapp

Want to wish each of my Jewish classmates a blessed and happy Passover. Jan and I just joined approx 100,000 persons of faith, Jews and Christians , who viewed and / or participated in a Seder hosted by Rabbi Jonatan Cahn. Very powerful. Be blessed now and always, George T