… a memorable question from our classmate and reunion committee member, Jerry, when he walked into the last reunion!
Well, there’s just no getting around it, we do classify as “old people”. But, that’s one of the nice things about a class reunion … when I look at these classmates (and sometimes their spouses!) I see the people they were when they were teenagers!
The two couples at our table:
Lynn and his wife Barbara. I didn’t know Lynn very well in high school and hadn’t talked to him since we were paired to process together at graduation. He had been at some other reunions, but we just didn’t come face to face. So, I was delighted we got to talk to him and Barb this time.
Ed and his wife Janelle. I’ve seen Ed regularly over the years because we worked at the same company and also go to the same church. But he and Janelle just married a couple years ago, so it was great to get to know her a little better.
So, it was the six of us at a table, and the guys almost immediately found our that they share a love of history and that they had all read Steven Ambrose’ Lewis and Clark, so immediately they had a common interest to talk about, and it was interesting for Janelle, Barb and me too!
During the cocktail hour, I went around the room and took pictures.
I’ve known Terry since grade school. Still a great guy, who has lived for many years in Arizona.
Barb, a committee member, and her husband Tom who still live here. When Hubby was retiring as Sheriff, they thought he should run for mayor. He wasn’t interested, but he appreciated that they were “fans”.
This is Karen. Her husband didn’t make it this time, but they have been faithful attendees at every reunion. They now live in Vermont. Karen was the “it” girl in our class … cheerleader, prom queen and all-around friend to everyone. She was also funny as all get out. And, as you can see, she’s still beautiful.
Barb, Me, Dixie, Cheryl, Kay. We were all on the committee, except for Dixie who lives in Texas.
Babs, Jerry and Robyn. Three truly funny friends yucking it up. Jerry is the only man on the reunion committee — and the voice of reason. When the talk gets sidetracked, he’s the one who smiles and says, let’s move on. Bless him. It’s not a job just any man could do, and still come out alive! He’s also the one who made the “old people” comment. A fun guy.
Sue and her husband Steve are regular attendees. They live in Arizona.
Patty, Adele and Bob. Patty was in our class only as a freshman, then moved to another school, but she and Adele (who lives in Oregon) have always stayed friends, so Patty came as Adele’s “date” since Adele’s husband couldn’t make it this time. And,Bob, who sat at their table, told us later how much fun he had, and I think you can see that on his face.
Candy and her husband John. We don’t have a “chairman” of the reunion committee per se, but I guess Candy would be the one if we did. We meet at her house and she always serves us wonderful appetizers. She may be the single reason we continue to have reunions — her and her appetizers are the “glue” that hold the committee together!
Bons and her husband John. They are realtors in Florida. She is another classmate who adds alot of fun to any get-together!
Walt and his wife Sharon still live near-by. He was one of the quiet guys in our class. But, he did something at one of our reunions that I thought was so very thoughtful. He brought a 1964 (the year we graduated) Kennedy coin in one of those little collector holders for each classmate who was there that year. A really thoughtful gift to his classmates.
Chuck is a professor in Alabama. He was in drama and speech with me in high school, and that is his field as an adult. His dad, right up until he died a few years ago, ran a record store here that had every record you could think of — or, if they didn’t have it, they would find it for you!
The three amigos — Denny from North Carolina, Terry from Arizona and Paul from Florida. Paul is another classmate who didn’t actually graduate with us because he moved to another school district, but these three have remained friends and used the reunion as a little mini-reunion of their own!
Becky and Barb who are committee members. Becky took over doing the little reunion yearbook last reunion. A project that I had done for many years, along with Shirley who was also on the committee until she died. And Becky does in two days what Shirley and I did over months — and cheaper. This is one of those times I really miss Shirley because we would have such a good laugh over how much work we put into those little booklets — and then Becky comes on the committee and practically does it on her lunch hour! I wish I could believe that’s just because technology has improved, but I’m afraid it’s that Becky is much more computer saavy than we were. Humbling. But, good for you, Becky!
Jennifer (yes, that Jennifer), Cheryl and Karen
I had to put up this other photo of Jennifer, because I can just see the little girl giggle in this picture. Still such a nice person and she has had such an interesting life. I didn’t get to talk to her too much, but I do know that she now co-owns an eco-friendly cemetary in upstate New York, and that there was one period in her life when she lived (I’ve been told for six years) in a teepee!
Kathy and her husband Gary. She is a retired school teacher and an artist. They live in Ohio.
Denny and his wife Suzan are still local. He was one of the “cool” guys in our class, and a great fast dancer. So, you can imagine how popular he was, but he was never stuck on himself. Just a great guy.
Keith and his wife Kathy. They go to our church so we see them. Kathy was a cheerleader, but she was a couple years behind us, just a “kid”. BTW, this is the only picture I took that has Hubby in it, although inadvertent. See him in the background on the right? Just wanted you to know he was there too, even if his wife didn’t think to take a picture of him!
Kay and Jerry were both in the class, and many of us were surprised, to say the least, in high school when quiet Kay started dating “bad boy” Jerry.
But, they have had a wonderful marriage … and we’ve found out over the years that Kay can be a “steel magnolia” when she needs to be and Jerry is really just a lovable teddy bear.
To my regular readers, thank you for putting up with a few posts that may not be of great interest to you. But, the reason I did this is that, frankly, even with a couple of knowledgeable “helpers”, I haven’t been able to figure out how to put these pictures on my Facebook page. So, I had to put them here so that my classmates could see them!
One last Reunion post tomorrow: Babs and Bons: The Cheerleading Challenge