Source: Aerograph February 2012
The O'Briens had an eventful autumn. In September, Pat had his dermatologist clean up some pre-cancerous nodes on and around the face, but he had a basal cell on his nose that would require surgery or radiation treatments. Because the surgery would require three weeks of down time (no strenuous activity including golf) he opted for the twenty radiations treatments with no down time. He had to go four times a week for treatment which lasted a little over a minute. In October, Pat celebrated his 69th birthday. The following week he and Libby attended the Nimitz Association Reunion held here in Pensacola. Pat says, "It was a great reunion." It ended with cocktails and dinner at the Naval Aviation Museum. Following the reunion, Jim and Joan Futtner spent an additional week at the O'Briens home in Cantonment. In November, Pat and Libby spent the week of Thanksgiving at their timeshare in Orange Beach, Alabama enjoying the beach, fishing, and golf. Libby had some additional cataract work done by her ophthalmologist, and all went well. Pat had his annual heart check-up, and his doctor discovered a tic in Pat's left carotid artery and recommended he have it checked. To make a long story short, the artery was 80 pct blocked, and Pat had the artery roto rootered in December. Because of this surgery, plans to visit Libby's youngest daughter and family in Evansville for Christmas had to be shelved, and he and Libby spent a quiet holiday at home. Pat thanks all those who wished him well following his surgery.
Submitted by Steve Deola
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Source: Aerograph November 2011
On 28AUG11, at 1530, the Pensacola Chapter met at Ski Beach. The following members were present: Pat and Libby O'Brien, Steve and Betsy Deola, Dave and Jerrie Dunlap, Howard and Shirley Graham, Bernie Bauer, Al and Helen Atwell, and Richard Tokryman.
Bernie Bauer mentioned that one LCDR Cecil Johnson USN (Ret) owns a restaurant named Five Sisters Blues Café and members were encouraged to 'check it out'. So my wife and I did. It has indoor/outdoor seating, live jazz and blues on the weekends and some very good food. My wife being the budgeter she is, found a 'groupon' for the joint. We paid $10 to get $20 in food credit. When we go back I would pay It doesn't look like the place is going out of business...ever!
Apparently, Bob Selinka was spotted digging out of a bunker at the Scenic Hills Golf Course. One of the observers apparently put blowing sand in the ob.
In related news, Howard and Shirley Graham are leaving Pensacola for the easier life in Monck's Corner, South Carolina as soon as the house sells. They may be staying a while longer.
Don Cruse hasn't slowed down even during the transition to a plush, fancy retirement community.
In July, the O'Briens traveled south to Miami to board the Oasis of the Seas for a seven day Caribbean Cruise with Pat's daughter and family. The weather was ideal, the ship was most impressive, and the get together with family - priceless. In August, Pat's youngest son, Sean and his family drove down to P'cola to spend a week. They had a great visit. The grandchildren really enjoyed the few days they spent at the Blue Angel Recreation Area. After the children left, Pat & Libby settled down and spent almost two months at home. In late September, they celebrated Libby's 70th by attending the last two days of the Fedex Cup golf tournament in Atlanta. Military, active & retired, received free tickets, and there was an armed forces hospitality tent opposite the 16th green where food and drink were provided free of charge. You might want to remember Coca Cola, Budweiser, Chick Filet, and Hooters the next time you're out and about. These companies were the primary sponsors. Libby was also treated to dinner at the revolving Sundial Restaurant atop the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta. The nighttime view of the city was awesome, the service excellent, and the food pricey not priceless. The next stop was supposed to be the mountains of Georgia or North Carolina for a couple of days, but the weather wouldn't cooperate. Therefore, they opted to go west and stayed in Huntsville, AL. at the Army's Redstone Arsenal. They managed to get twenty-seven holes of golf on the Patriot Course while there. Then it was onto Evansville, IN, to visit Libby's youngest daughter and family. While there, Libby got to celebrate her birthday one more time. This time with cake and ice cream. In early Oct, they returned to P'cola, and as of this writing, they’ve been on a diet for six days. Pat said, "Too much of a good time requires sacrifices in order to fit in one's clothes."
That's all we have this time.
Submitted by AG1 Steve Deola USN RET
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Source: Aerogaph August 2011
Due to technical difficulties with the MS Word version of the chapter news, please refer to the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version in the:
August 2011 Aerograph
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Source: Aerograph May 2011 President: Pat O'Brien
Secretary/Treasurer: Steve Deola
The O'Briens have had a very interesting beginning to 2011. They've been home! According to Pat this is not good because their social calendar stays full with trips to their general practitioner, Pat's urologist, Libby's eye doctor, out patient procedures, hospital stays, and visits. Libby did find time to take a cruise with her oldest daughter back in January, and they both came back with the flu. Two days later she had to take Pat to his urologist for a prostate exam. Afterward, they went to lunch, and Pat passed out in the restroom (twice). An Emergency Medical Team transported him to a local hospital, and he spent the rest of the day in the emergency room. The two valium he took that morning evidently caught up with him. Ouch! The next day he came down with the flu from guess who? The next week was full of down time. Then they got the call from Pat's urologists with the results of his exam. He failed. It appears as if there was one cell labeled cancerous and another labeled pre-cancerous. Ouch again! Pat is not overly worried about the findings. He's taking a watchful waiting approach with his doctor. His doctor's philosophy is to keep Pat alive long enough for something else to kill him other than the prostate cancer. Pat's general practice doctor ordered him a colonoscopy. I guess he wanted to rule out death from colon cancer. This the time the results were negative. Whoop Dee Doo! A few weeks later chest pains put Pat back in the hospital. After five hours in the emergency room, Pat was admitted for tests. Thanks God they came back negative. Pat's cardiologist ruled out the heart as a cause of the pain, and now Pat is scheduled for an endoscope. As the poking and probing continues, Pat remains in good spirits. He tells everyone that he was a healthy young man when he met Ms. Libby, and she sure has taken a toll on him. The O'Briens plan on traveling north to Virginia Beach for Reunion #37 and going to North Carolina and Connecticut afterwards. In June they are scheduled to cruise on the Oasis of the Seas out of Fort Lauderdale. They'll be accompanied by Pat's daughter and family.
Rose and Arthur have a new family member. Her name is Cassie and she is 17. She is living with the Frazier’s in order to continue to attend the local High School and graduate with her friends. Along with Rose's Mom, and their son, Timothy, they went to Orlando for Spring break to visit with friends and family. Timothy is the 7th grade and a percussionist, and Cassie is a junior and a singer. This summer, the three Fraziers are taking Rose's Mom, Irma, to Hawaii to fulfill her longtime dream. There they will meet up with their old neighbor, a classmate of Rose's from High School. They plan an overnight stop in Los Angeles to visit with family, and then 5 days in Oahu and 3 in Maui, before returning home. They also plan to visit their family in Texas and grandsons in Oklahoma sometime this summer. As usual, they are very busy with church and school activities, along with taking care of their home and family.
Submitted by AG1 Steve Deola USN RET
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