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Wednesday, March 11, 2015 – A New First Lady

This was the top news story last night. I am thinking that since she is from Ohio that she will bring a National Championship to Aggieland.

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M University’s mascot-in-waiting has been selected—a female collie, in keeping with the university’s decades-old tradition—and is scheduled to assume her role May 9 as Reveille IX.

In the meantime, she will have the opportunity to get accustomed to the campus and get acquainted with Rev VIII, who is completing her seventh year at endearing herself to thousands of Aggies and others. Rev VIII is set to retire to the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center operated by Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where she will continue to receive special care.

The soon-to-be Rev IX has been donated by Overland Collies, a highly respected kennel in the collie-breeding world, headquartered in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb.

The establishment’s owners, Marcy and Mike Fine, are well-known in the collie community and are typically well-represented among finalists at the annual Collie Nationals.

Selection of the 16-month-old medium-sized collie was recommended by a 12-member committee of students, faculty and staff to Interim President Mark A. Hussey, who concurred. Hussey’s decision concluded a seven-month national search in which more than 15 applications from across the nation, including collie breeders and collie rescue shelters, were considered. The pool was eventually narrowed to four finalists.

Tom Reber, interim vice president for student affairs, chaired the search committee.

“I could not be more pleased that owners Mike and Marcy Fine provided Texas A&M University with their beloved dog Twix to serve as Reveille IX,” said Reber. “They were very helpful in providing us information throughout the search process and were confident that Twix would be an excellent Aggie.”

Marcy Fine describes the future Aggie mascot as “very outgoing and has a positive attitude in every new situation,” adding that she “enjoys crowds” and has been taken to dog shows—“and even won.”

“When my husband Mike and I first became aware of the national search for a new Texas A&M mascot, we both agreed that our beloved ‘Twix’ was the perfect collie for such a highly public role,” said Marcy Fine. “She is beautiful, lovable and has the natural personality that we believe makes her best suited to serve as Reveille IX and we were happy to donate her to Texas A&M.”

Texas A&M’s mascot-to-be will be formally named Reveille IX at the Corps of Cadets “Final Review,” the May 9 ceremony held in conjunction with the university’s spring commencement ceremonies.

Company E-2 in the Corps of Cadets is responsible for caring for Reveille on a 24/7 basis. Wearing five silver diamonds, she will be the highest-ranking member of the Corps. Additionally, she is referred to as “the First Lady of Aggieland.”

Tuesday, March 10, 2015 – The Blue Bird Courts in Conroe, Texas

Before we leave the Way Back Machine, let’s go to 1975. The other day, somebody on FB mentioned “a small town, where on Saturday night, you drive up and down the main drag.” Then somebody else commented about “The Miracle Mile” in Conroe that ran from the H-Y Drive-In Picture Show to The Blue Bird Courts. Then I mentioned the Drive-In with car hops next door to The Blue Bird Courts was The Oasis.

So many memories of Conroe in the late 1960’s and 1970’s.  Here is one from my memory collection about The Blue Bird Courts. In 1966 my parents moved to Conroe.  About 1972 or 1973 they purchased a house on Oak Hollow. This was on the opposite of Frazier Street, but one had to pass The Blue Bird Courts to turn left to get to Oak Hollow Subdivision. It became a standing joke between me, my sister and our mother – Let’s go see what the lobby of The Blue Bird Court looks likes.  Do you really think it is a whorehouse (my mother, can you believe?) or Let’ see if we recognize any cars at The Blue Bird Courts.

As some may recall, my dear Mother passed away in 1975.  My dear Aunt Claudie and Aunt Dargie cared for her in her last days.  On the day she passed away, Aunt Claudie said that she and Dargie and their husbands, Uncle Ralph and Uncle Horn, respectively were going to go to a motel to rest as our house would become busy.  Aunt Claudie said “We’re just going to over here and rent a couple of rooms at The Blue Bird Courts.  I started, “OH Aunt Claudie that place is …” My sister put her hand or my arm and shhhed me.  She then said, “Well, if that place is not suitable, there is a brand-new Holiday Inn on South Frazier.” And out the door the aunts and uncles went.

I looked at my sister and realized what she had done.  (I know, I am blaming this all on you, D!”) “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? So we could hear about The Blue Bird Courts?”

About 10 minutes later, the aunts and uncles were back at our house.  Aunt Claudie and Aunt Dargie were all flustered and saying things like “Oh no!” “Oh, it did not look clean.” “It did not look safe” and my all-time favorite “The lobby was lavender!”  My Uncle Horn, who was quite the rounder, even said, “Yep, even I was scared.” So off to the Holiday Inn they went.

My sister and I laughed and said “Well, we know the color of the lobby.” I am sure we could hear Mother laughing too.