2025.12.11 THROW BACK THURSDAY - '56 GIRLS CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON 2025

THROW BACK THURSDAY - '56 GIRLS CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON 2025   

On Floor:  Bucky Polk and Mary Fleming

Sitting:  Betty Chandler, Barbara Edwards, Kenda Treadway, Mary Jo Bryant, Linda Orton, Julie Anne Hamilton, Sharon Douglass

Standing:  Mary Lou Hosack, Charlene Grady, Pat Glass, Midge Brown, Kay Kerby, Gwen Shepherd, ML, Barbara May

Betty Chandler, ML

Linda Orton ('57), Mary Fleming, Bucky Polk, Barbara May

L to R:  Julie Anne Hamilton, Charlene Grady, Kay Kerby, Gwen Shepherd, Pat Glass, 

                                                                                     Sharon Douglass, Barbara Edwards

L to R:  Mary Jo Bryant, Kenda Treadway ('55), Midge Brown

Our host, Mary Lou Hosack Billingsley.  She feeds us and invites us to see her beautiful decorations every year!

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Now here is a very touching story (thanks to Joe Crow) that should be shared with those you
care about:

Essentially, it is about the basics of how to succeed in this dynamic
life we live in.

Work hard, save your money, invest it wisely and don’t foolishly
purchase what you don’t need… and you too can be a successful
millionaire…

Wonderful story about sacrifice and savings.

Every morning, the CEO of a large bank in Manhattan walked to the
corner for a shoeshine.  He sat in an armchair, examined the Wall
Street Journal and the shoe shiner buffed his shoes to a mirror
shine. One morning the shoe shiner asked the CEO, “What do you think
about the situation in the stock market?”

The businessman answered arrogantly, “Why are you so interested in
that topic?” The shoe guy replied, “I have millions in your bank and
I’m considering investing some of the money in the capital market.”

“What’s your name?” asked the executive.

"John H. Smith,” was the reply.

The CEO arrived at the bank and asked the Manager of the Customer
Service Department, “Do we have a client named John H. Smith?

We certainly do,” answered the Manager. “He is a high-net-worth
customer with 12.6 million dollars in his account”

The astonished executive came out, approached the shoe shiner, and
said, “Mr. Smith, I would like to invite you next Monday to be the
guest of honor at our Board meeting and tell us the story of your
life. I’m sure we could learn something from your life’s experience.”

At the board meeting, the CEO introduced him to the Board Members. “We
all know Mr. Smith, from the corner shoeshine stand, but Mr. Smith is
also an esteemed customer. I invited him here to tell us the story of
his life. I am sure we can all learn from him.”

Mr. Smith began his story, “I came to this country 50 years ago as a
young immigrant from Europe with an unpronounceable name. I got off
the ship without a penny.  The first thing I did was change my name to
Smith. I was hungry and exhausted. I started wandering around looking
for a job but to no avail. Fortunately, I found a coin on the
Sidewalk. I bought an apple. I had two options: eat the apple and
quench my hunger or start a business. I sold the apple for 25 cents
and bought two apples with the money  I also sold them and continued
in business.  “When I started accumulating a few dollars, I was able
to buy a set of used brushes and shoe polish and started polishing
shoes. I didn’t spend a penny on entertainment or clothing. I just
bought bread and some cheese to survive. I saved penny by penny and
after a while, I bought a new set of shoe brushes and polishes in
different shades and expanded my clientele. I lived like a monk and
saved penny by penny.  After a while, I was able to buy an armchair so
my clients could sit comfortably while I shined their shoes, and that
brought me more clients. I did not spend a penny on the joys of life.
I kept saving every cent. A few years ago, when the previous shoe
shiner on the corner decided to retire, I had already saved enough
money to buy this shoeshine location at this great place.

“Then, six months ago, my sister, who was a prostitute in Chicago,
passed away and left me 12 million dollars.”

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Personal Note:

I will be flying over Little Rock headed to D.C. next Thursday and won't be back

for the next two Thursdays.  Next Wednesday, 12/17, I will send TBT out early.

The following week I will send TBT out early on Wednesday also, since Thursday

is Christmas Day, but I won't be near a computer until Thursday, 1/8. Just didn't

want anyone to think they had been dropped from the list, which happens sometime.  

 ML   

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