New High School

This is all Ted’s fault. After reading his letter today I decided that I liked to write too so might as well communicate. I did try to send a message at Christmas but it came back (computers are not one of my strong points).

I’m sure most of you know that I married Roger Whitham as soon as we got out of high school. We were married for 19 years.

I then married Gary Hall and we have been married for 25 years. He has been in law enforcement most of his life, with farming as a sideline. He is retired now but still helps farm, planting in the spring and harvesting in the fall.

We had six kids between us. We lived in an old farmhouse on Nineveh Rd., about 6 miles south of Franklin. His 84–year-old mother lived with us also. We had one bathroom so that was a real lesson in time management when trying to get ready for work and school. We survived but we were tested by fire!

You know that part in the Bible where it said something like go forth and multiply? Well, we did our part. We have 22 grandkids (a 23rd is on the way-due in September). We also have 5 great-grandkids and maybe a 6th on the way. It makes for large and lively get togethers.

After the kids left the nest, we divided up our 5 acres and built a new house south of the old one. We really love it over here on the hill. Our backyard is about 50 feet deep and then drops about 30 feet to a creek. We have every kind of wildlife imaginable. I feed the birds, the coons, possums, anything that looks hungry.

Right outside my kitchen door, we built a 17’ x7’ fish pond which I enjoy year round but especially in the summer when the local frogs entertain. I have big goldfish; one is more than eight years old. The pond is biologically balanced with plants, snails and fish so I don’t have to have a filter which makes it more enjoyable to me. It requires some care but I love it. Photo by Ruth Hall.

I love to garden and have a small greenhouse so have been busy starting plants for spring planting. Also have many flower beds.

We have 11 dogs, 3 cats and a mule, Becky. Can you tell we like animals?? Actually, eight of the dogs are beagles. Gary rabbit hunts and runs his dogs year-round. Photos by Ruth Hall.

In October of 2005 I had a “life changing” experience. Scar tissue grew around my large colon and by the time they figured out what was going on, I had to have emergency surgery and they removed 2/3rd’s of a gangrene colon. I almost died and so I feel especially blessed to still be here enjoying this life.

We are retired now and really enjoy not having to be somewhere every day of the week. We have taken two cruises, one to the western Caribbean and one to the eastern Caribbean. I really LOVE cruises. It is so nice to be pampered and waited on and FED all the time. I think it must be something like Heaven.

Most of my life, I have never felt like I really fit in anywhere but the nice thing about getting older is that now it doesn’t really matter. I spend a lot of time attending to the spiritual, focusing on love and light and I live a really simple, peaceful, and fulfilling life. If I want to write, I write. If I want to paint, I paint. If I want to sit outside and talk to the frogs, that’s what I do. What more could one ask?

That sounds really good. Actually, I spend a lot of time taking care of my 90-year-old mother who is in assisted living but still requires a lot of care. She has a 15-yr-old dog that requires medication so daily I try to make sure the pills go down the dog and not my Mom. She suffers from dementia so when she comes back to the phone and says, “You’ll never guess what I did,” I know the dog won’t be getting her pills that day.

And of course, with 22 grandkids, there is never a dull moment This is really getting long. Remember, its Ted’s fault. Also you can click me off at any time. I guess I’m about done anyway.

I never seem to see any classmates, or at least not often. I probably run into Linda Hicks the most. I used to see Della at Kroger’s and miss seeing her there. (But really glad she’s retired and hope she’s enjoying it as much as I am.) I may see some of you and not know you. I am really not good at identifying people—eyes aren’t that good.

I normally don’t come to the class reunions because I’m not much of a party animal, usually go to bed at 9. I’m also a vegetarian which sometimes makes eating out not very satisfactory. I think I might be called a little eccentric but like I said, when you get older who really cares?

Franklin High School, Franklin, Indiana

A Letter from Billie Ruth Hall