Beta Pi:
IS BETA PI BLOG without any redeeming social or artistic merit?
YEA . . . . or
NAY!Beta Pi Blog’s purpose: to bring ATO, Beta Pi Chapter Brothers and ATO Gal-Pals together. The blog is not to be taken seriously - it is meant for fun.
The Beta Pi Blog is non-political. It
includes
pictures, links, Archives of previous issues, and other timewasters.
To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com
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POETRY CORNER:
I do not usually lead with Poetry, but I lead with it today. Lately I have had a difficult time writing this Blog, but it is not "writer's block". Difficult because of our recent loss of Claude, but also because we are getting older. I told Buck that I like to have some “gag” to write about, but lately all of the gags I dream up sound to me like bullshit.
These next few Reunions might well be the last for some of
us. Time, as they say, slips away, and
we want life to mean something. We are
in our late 60’s. I just turned 69. And
thinking back over the last several years, I have noticed that we have some Brothers
who commit and reliably come to Reunions, and we also have Brothers who express
interest, but don’t commit, don’t come. So
we keep trying.
I have always tried to write this blog in a fun, uplifting way. This blog will maybe be a little less fun, but with some poetry, still uplifting.
I searched for a poem to match my feelings on the theme “time slips away” – something “real.” Pablo Neruda is a favorite poet, and a wise poet. I am giving you this Pablo Neruda poem, and I hope it speaks to you - "turns a yawn into a smile" - as it does to me.
Die Slowly
By Pablo Neruda
He who becomes the slave of habit,
who follows the same routes every day,
who never changes pace,
who does not risk and change the color of his clothes,
who does not speak and does not experience,
dies slowly.
He or she who shuns passion,
who prefers black on white,
dotting ones "i’s" rather than a bundle of emotions,
the kind that make your eyes
glimmer,
that turn a yawn into a smile,
that make the heart pound in the face of mistakes and feelings,
dies slowly.
He or she who does not turn things
topsy-turvy,
who is unhappy at work,
who does not risk certainty for uncertainty,
to thus follow a dream,
those who do not forego sound advice at least once in their lives,
dies slowly.
He who does not travel, who does
not read,
who does not listen to music,
who does not find grace in himself,
she who does not find grace in herself,
dies slowly.
He who slowly destroys his own
self-esteem,
who does not allow himself to be helped,
who spends days on end complaining about his own bad luck,
about the rain that never stops,
dies slowly.
He or she who abandon a project
before starting it,
who fail to ask questions on
subjects he doesn't know,
he or she who don't reply when they
are asked something they do know,
die slowly.
Let's try and avoid death in small doses,
reminding oneself that being alive requires an effort far greater than the
simple fact of breathing.
Only a burning patience will lead
to the attainment of a splendid happiness."
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THE THREE POINT MEN OF THE ZEPPO-CALYPSE
You might ask, what is a Point Man? A Point Man does three things: commits to attend, commits to send 1 email to Brothers, and commits to making a follow up phone call. The Point Man is the persuader. Here is a story, of three such VALLIANT POINT MEN. . .
Once upon a time … The Pointman of
1975, TISON KEEL stood alone as we planned for Reunion in 2020, which was
cancelled due to Pandemic.
Once upon another time … The Pointman of 1976, FRANK COLLINS, stood together with TISON KEEL for a Joint Reunion planned for 2021, which was again cancelled due to Pandemic.
TOGETHER… these THREE POINT MEN OF THE ZEPPO-CALYPSE will be lobbying and rounding up their respective ATO Classes, to converge upon . . .
wait for it …
REUNION 2022, which will be held October 6-9, 2022.
As is our tradition, the ATO events are being planned as follows:
Friday afternoon, October 7th 1:30 p.m. – meet at the House, we will caravan to visit Alex & Laura’s Graves.
Friday evening – Class Parties
followed by Big Tent All Clash Bash.
Saturday, Homecoming Game.
Saturday evening following the Game
– ATO Cocktail Party & Dinner at Cabana.
IF YOU HAVE any complaints, beefs, petitions, crabs, regrets, gaffes, quacks, squeeks, bitches...or other feed back, please address them to your respective Point Man.
FRANK BILLER has been saying that –
because these three mighty ATO Classes are gathering together - this Reunion of
2022, our 45th, may well be the MOST SPECTACULAR EVENT in the
Annals, and Buck is quoted as saying “this event is NOT to be missed!”
ADDED ATTRACTION: The Three Stooges will be present, and will present a
TAG-TEAM-WRESTLING MATCH… wait for it …
THREE POINT MEN OF THE ZEPPO-CALYPSE!
Buck told me, “This must be a no-holds-barred grudge match!! Larry, ever since you pounded me, I have dreamed of pounding someone, it might as well be GEORGE FORD!" Beta-Pi-Blog will keep you posted as this drama unfolds!
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FROM GEORGE JOE
"If you guys are watching the game currently, I was able to locate the famous Vandy Whistler. Hope we will be able to hear his renowned sounds for another SEC tournament game!"
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FROM JOHN STEIN
"Larry,
On this Memorial Day I was moved to think a lot about three great
Americans. Alex and Laura, and our great friend Claude Cody. As you
know Claude love to visit the Wilson’s here….."
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KEEPING TABS:
Here is a reminder of the brothers and sisters we have lost.
CLAUDE CARR
CODY, IV, died February 8, 2022.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol. 2022, No. 01
Obituary:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/claude-cody-obituary?id=32988710
DAVID W. HAINES,
JR., died January 17, 2021.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2021, No.01
ROBERT LOUIS
CROSSLEY, JR., died October 24, 2019.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2021,
No.03.
Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/knoxnews/name/robert-crossley-obituary?pid=194272149
ANTHONY GUY
MIRANDA, died June 18, 2019
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2019, No.04. Archive: ___ 2019
Obituary: http://www.brinsfieldfuneral.com/obituary/anthony-guy-miranda
MARK McGANN,
died December 10, 2018.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2018, No.07. Archive: Dec. 2018
BECKY
BRUNING MANYAK, died October 19, 2017.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2017, No.07. Archive: Sept. 2017
Obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=rebecca-manyak&pid=187110606
ROB
BLANKENHORN, died December 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, (See Comment by Dick Stoner). Archive: Sept. 2017
EDWARD G.
“TED” STEPHANY, died January 20, 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.01, Archive: Jan. 2016
J. NEAL
CRENSHAW, died November 12, 2014.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.08, Archive: Nov. 2014
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.10, Archive: Dec. 2014
MILES WALSH,
died in July 2013.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2013, No.05, Comments Section (over 50 comments), Archive: Aug.2013
DAVID HOWE,
died November 30, 2006.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2006, No.68, Archive: Dec. 2006.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2007, No.30, Archive: May. 2007
KURT WAGNER,
died in July 2002.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.02, Archive: Jan. 2016
ALEXANDER WILSON, died April 9, 1977.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2006, No.25, Lowenstein Essay Contest. Archive: Aug. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.33, Honoring Alex and Laura. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.45, Tale-o-Pig-Roast. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.50, Winner Essay Contest. Archive: Oct. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, Alexander Wilson. Archive: Sept. 2017
Alex and Laura are buried at the Nashville National Cemetery. The cemetery is at 1420 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, TN 37115. Alex and Laura are at Section KK, Site 794.
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THE ARCHIVES
To explore the “Archives” in this Blog – go to the top of the latest “blog issue,” on the right. You access it by clicking on the Month and Year, and it will drop down with choices. For example, if you click on December 2006, a list will drop down listing all issues that were published that month. Click on an issue, and you can then post a comment to that issue. It’s never too late to post a comment, right?
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HOW TO POST OR READ COMMENTS: Just click the button - Comments –
below my signature block.
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BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of June 27, 2022, there are 132 ATO’s on the blog email list, including 13 Brothers whose e-mail address is unknown, plus 19 ATO Gal-Pals.
VTL,
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72
