J. Burns-El:
CLASS OF 1965
East Technical High SchoolClass of 1965
Cleveland, OH
John Hay High SchoolClass of 1965
Cleveland, OH
Rawling Junior High SchoolClass of 1962
Cleveland, OH
Charles W. Chestnut Elementary SchoolClass of 1959
Cleveland, OH
Kinsman Elementary SchoolClass of 1955
Cleveland, OH
J.'s Story
Life 5/6/2016
To be 70 and be excited that I'm married to someone who is definitely someone that only Allah had have chosen for me is truly a blessing.
4/17/2015. I'm really excited about my approaching 70 years of age next year. I'm presently married to someone who I met on a singles newspaper site in May of 1998. I asked Allah to be gracious to give me an opportunity to meet with someone who had the qualities that I wanted in a wife and friend, in 1992 while working for AT&T and still living in Martinsburg,West Virginia. APDTA (All Praises Due To Allah), I was directed to Shreveport, Louisiana, which is where I met her. I was unable to get to know her until 2000, and shortly after that I was not able to get to see her again because of her recommitting herself to the Nation of Islam. I stayed in touch with her off and on and didn't see her again until the day before we got married, after I flew to Dallas, Texas. Yes I have been blessed by Allah to have lived a very interesting life up to now.
A year ago today 10/31/2011 I was being transferred from a hospital to a rehab facility because I was and still am recovering from GAS, a deadly form of Strep. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks and in rehab another 6 before leaving rehab I had to show that I could function on my own. I had temporarily lost all kidney function and it was feared by those working on me in emergency that I would probably be on a dialysis machine(no I'm not), because I rejected the prognosis immediately and have pretty much taken good care of myself (with the exception of putting on some much unneeded pounds), and was able to recover my kidney function. So yes I am truly blessed.
Since coming out of HS. I've been married divorced and have 2 sons(Ronnie 39, and on the 18th of Dec. 07 my youngest Paris will be 34) & a grandson that will be 10 March 3,08. I went to Viet Nam in 68. I saw Ronald Dykes who was a Jr.high classmate at Ft.Lewis Washington on my way over. I saw his name on the Vie Nam Wall n"97".
Before going into the military I was blessed to become reacquainted with Jackie Culp (we still stay in touch to this day)we dated and were together when Dr. King was assassinated while I was on leave getting ready to go to Viet Nam. She (Jackie Culp) is one of the highlights of an interesting life to date.
I left the religion of Christianity(at least what most call Christianity while still in the military in "69". I noticed that after informing the chaplain who in turn notified my CO(Commanding Officer) I was given more freedom as well as more respect. My complaint about the chow was my reason for notifying the chaplain of my eating requirements(I never ate pork to begin with but was tired of paying for my meals when pork was served in the mess hall). I had no idea of the benefits that came with my accepting Islam.
I started working for Ohio Bell Telephone in Nov of 70, which ...Expand for more
is where I met a few brothers who were instrumental in me not only changing my name, but also were instrumental in my beginning an in depth study of black history and astrology, metaphysics, numerology and the introduction to yoga. I later went to school and took up the formal study of graphology(handwriting analysis), which is very instrumental in my understanding of human behavior.
I married the girl I was in love with before going into the military(who dumped me while I was in basic training), while on leave from Viet Nam(reluctantly) because I empregnated her while on one of my leaves with my oldest son(Ronnie). He was born while in Nam. I appreciate being able to have a hand in raising my son and his brother by the same woman. I have been divorced over 30 years & presently still single.
Now I am retired. After quite a few moves(5) but I still have my health which is pretty good at present and at peace with myself with a good sense of humor that has developed with humility. As you can see I changed my name in"71", I also gave up eating red meat in 73 or 74. I eat poultry and fish. I am presently living in Charlotte N. Carolina and retired.
I took up the study of the science of astrology in "71" and graphology about 2 or 3 years later I also taught myself calligraphy. After years of study I have come to realize that those who practice true Islam and Christianity in their lifestyle are indeed one and the same. I also have found it very disheartening to know that so few have taken the time to truly learn the origin of Christianity. I look forward to hearing from my all of classmates,& friends I've made while relocating on my way to retirement. I look forward to hearing from U.
School
I don't know how I goofed to the extent that I did but I goofed. I graduated from Rawlings in January of "62" and not "59".
Workplace
Although I'm currently retired, I was in the military for three years and left the military in Jan. of "70" while in the army I did a tour in Viet Nam (68-69). I've moved from Cleveland,Ohio to Niles, Mich with AT&T after I chose AT&T over Ohio Bell. Due to continued downsizing I continued moving with the company and moved again from Mich to Martinsburg,W.Va. and from Martinsburg to Charlotte,North Carolina where I currently live and have since retirement. AT&T split off and I became a Lucent Technologies employee in "96". I moved from here (Charlotte)to Mesquite,Texas again to be with the job. I was in Mesquite for a year before moving to Shreveport, Louisiana in "98" this is the only time that I moved that wasn't the result of downsizing. I remained in Shreveport until I retired in "01" because of downsizing again only this time I was an Avaya employee and was a victim of downsizing again. I'm fortunate because this time I had my 30 years and took a retirement instead and returned to Charlotte where I had purchased a home in "94".
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