Happy Birthday Janet!

Happy birthday to an almost-Christmas baby, Janet Seely!

Sorry the picture's a little fuzzy.

Merry Christmas

I'm really lousy at sending Christmas cards, so I'll use this blog to wish all UMHS 63 classmates a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It was so great reconnecting at the reunion in October.  Hope to see you at our mini-reunion in May.  Keep watching the blog for updates!

Happy Birthday Anne!

Anne being silly

Anne being so pretty

Happy Birthday Anne Stephens!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to the fantastic Class of 63!

Happy Birthday Tina!

Beautiful then,

Beautiful now.

A very special happy birthday to one of my dearest friends, a best friend forever, Tina Hollingsworth.

Tina and I go way back.  Spending so much time together.  Shopping, movies, football games, dances, just hanging around.  So many Friday and Saturday nights spent at her house, walking back from the Grove movies then sitting around, reliving the days and nights, writing in our diaries.

Time passed and we drifted apart.  Physically but the emotional bonds were still there.  We finally got together again about 13 years ago after not seeing each other for a gazillion years.  And it was as if we had been apart only days.  That's how it is with real friends...the ties never break.

So I wish you, my dearest friend, the best of birthdays and the best for all your days.  Love you!

Where Were You?

November 22, 1963. Where were you?

I was at Reading Terminal with Millicent DeHaven, waiting for a train back to Willow Grove. We had just finished a day at school and were anxious to get home. We started hearing bits and pieces of news spread around the Terminal. On the train, our conductor would get off at each station to find out what was happening in Dallas. He would then get back on the train and update the passengers.

It was so unheard of – so outrageous – that it was hard to believe. Surely someone wouldn't kill the President. But when we got off at Willow Grove and got into Millicent's car, the truth hit us. Instead of WIBG on the radio, all we heard was somber music.

I immediately turned on the TV when I got in the house. No soap operas, no Bandstand. Just news about the shooting. I went to a 21^st birthday party for a friend that night. No one wanted to even attempt to have fun – it was a very depressing night. In fact, the birthday boy left his own party that evening to drive to Washington, DC to stand in line for hours to view President Kennedy's body.

I, like most everyone else, stayed glued to the TV for the rest of the weekend. Sunday morning, we all saw, live, Jack Ruby shoot and kill Lee Harvey Oswald. Another image that has been burned into my memory.  Innocence lost.

Where were you? What do you remember?

Happy Birthday Dave!

A big birthday shout-out to Dave Solly, all the way down in the great state of Texas!

Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Jim!

Happy birthday to Jim Pearson!  Looking very distinguished with that beard!

Thanks Guys!

Today is Veteran's Day.  An extra special thanks to the guys from our class who served in the armed forces.

Happy Birthday Ruth!

Happy birthday today to Ruth Mohr!

I borrowed Ruth's FB picture - hope she doesn't mind

Happy Birthday Egil!

Happy birthday Egil Nilsson!

Egil couldn't make it to our reunion - he got married that day!

This picture is from an old friends get-together on October 19.  Egil, Jim Lemon (left UM in 10th grade and graduated from Bishop McDevitt) and Bev Rowland

Happy Birthday Cynthia and all the November Babies!

Who has birthdays this month?  I know today is Cynthia Scharmann's birthday - have a fantastic day!

If your birthday is this month, let me know so I can give a special shout-out to you.

And for everyone celebrating this month - hope your day is extra special!

The Reunion May Be Over, But the Blog Will Go On

Why not leave this blog open?  It's a way to keep in touch, find out what's new in our lives, plan for the next get-together.

Here's a picture that Charlie Guenzel brought to the reunion to give to Judy VonGerichten.  Charlie's 13th birthday party.

On the left, Donna Gross, 2 girls not from UM, Cynthia Scharmann, June Fritsch, Sally Smith, Shirley Bolmarcich, Carol Loutey.  On the right, Judy VonGerichten, Bob Purring, Jim Johnston, Edgar Mitchell, Charlie Guenzel, ?, ?, Jim Myers, ?

Can anyone identify the 3 boys?

And So The Party Ended

Sunday morning found us going our separate ways.

Actually, I think these pictures of McCavity were taken on Saturday night.

Donna making friends

Judy got a special handpat from McCavity on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning at the Hampton Inn

 Judy, Carole and Tina saying goodbye

Still saying goodbye!

Tina

Judy

Tom with a twinkle in his eye

Our California girls headed back a few days later, taking Sandy as hostage.  I wonder why there's no one else around them on the plane?

And so it ended.  After months and months of planning, trying to find our classmates, more planning, sending letters and invitations, preparing for the fantastic weekend...it came and went too quickly.  Not enough time to see everyone.  Not enough time to catch up on 50 years of life's experiences.

What to do?  Why, plan for another reunion!  But not waiting 5 years this time.  Starting to work on a mini-reunion for next spring - a full-day picnic.  Letters are in the mail to see who might be interested.

Let's make this happen!

What the Heck, Here Are More Pictures!

Possibly some repeats, sorry.

Gary O'Hara, Howard Johnson, Tom Goodnow

The North Carolina Girls

Sally (soon to be), Judy, Carole, Janet

They're still singing - Tom, Charlie and Carole

Me

Sam Paone

Sue, Donna, Linda

 Wolfgang crashed the party late just to have his picture taken with Tina

Are You Tired of Looking at Reunion Pictures?

I hope not - I still have more to post!

Again, some of these might be duplicates - it's hard keeping up with all of them.

Our beautiful cheerleaders - Sally, Robin, Judy and Sue

Sue Horton and her handsome husband Robert Rabe

Tina and Joel

Tom Hassler and Jane and Carole Lehman and Chip

Shirley Bolmarcich and Gary O'Hara - Mr. and Mrs.

Sue, tell Ron to wake up!

Sally looks shocked, Carole's laughing and Janet is oblivious!

Robin Wright

Me, Tina and Karen

Philip Diener and Joan McNickle

Two lovely wives - Catherine Paone and Pam Lear

Ray, Peggy and Charlie

Catherine, Ron and Sam

Sally, Judy and Nancy

Sam, Catherine and Dave Lear

Hats Off to the Reunion Committee!

Some shots of our committee hard at work months and days before the reunion.