The other day, Linda found what seemed to be confirmation that Charlotte Scott had passed. Not in the state of Washington, as all other evidence indicated, but somewhere in Tampa FL. Now I have to go and change our memorial page for someone about whom we know so little. Another thing that this whole experience has taught me (among so many others) is that I don't want to be part of the named but unknown members of my class, obituary read, memory scanned with no results, and then with a shrug, back to the daily grind. I want to reach out to people I went to school with and talk with them and find out what I missed out knowing about them when they were in school. It's not too late. Use the directory, use the website to randomly contact someone you went to school with, or look up that person you used to be friends with. Maybe that friendship is still there waiting to be rekindled. Maybe not but at least you can be sure.
In my classmate search, I have done so as part of the quest for classmates. I've talked and talked about things common to memory with people I only passed in the hallway 44 years ago. But we're talking and high school memories did happen and no, you aren't just making it up in your own imagination because someone else remembers it, and sometimes, just sometimes, they remember you too, and you see yourself from their eyes and compare it to how you remember yourself back then and you learn something about yourself.
Guess what folks, its a different part of the country, it's a different world in Wayne, NJ, but people there are wondering the same thing as you. What ever happened to, you know, what's their name. He used to play ball......or she used to be a twirler........Now we can actually look it up. I've invited my classmates to put together biographical sketches to include on my Wayne Valley blog. I'd like to extend the same invitation to you. Just a few sentences to let people know how you chose to go. It would be interesting for all to read.
And, as a shameless plug, maybe you could read about it on a wireless laptop from a beach in front of that Orange Beach AL condo that you are staying in because you won the condo drawing for only $10 mailed in to Linda Yuan! Chances are still available from Linda, Patty Qualls, Nancy Layson Burke, Bob Willis and Tommy Waterman. We're hoping to raise as much as possible with this one so we can keep the reservation price for the 45th as low as possible while keeping it something special. The drawing's in August. You know how the summer goes. Blink and it's gone, so like the guy on TV says, "Doittoday!"
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Stories of Best Friends Lost and Found
During the course of searching out everyone this past year, Linda encountered so many stories, so many details pushed back into the recesses of our fading memories. She also ran smack dab into old friendships that like memories, had slowly faded into the background. The motives, the feelings that caused those friendships to begin never changed. They just remained in limbo, waiting for the opportunity to pop back up to the surface like bottles containing messages drifting up on the seashore. And that happened for Linda, with friends from both Centennial and West Terrace as well as her Reitz days. And she's been making sure that her busy schedule has time included in it for those friends once again. Who ever thought that retirement would be so busy. I'm trying to convince her that the word is "full" and not "busy". How much better is that than "empty" or "boring".
So why did those friendships get pushed into the background? That is the right way to describe it. Sometimes the events that are directly in front of you get blown out of proportion and take on a false importance. There is only so much time, and those things, like the drive for material wealth and status or overwhelming ambition, start pushing others out of the way. Like friendship, family, faith, memories of the past and your origins all take a seat along the wall like the shy at the high school dance.
Sometimes it takes an event, like the 2011 Preunion, what people are now calling the 44th, to pop that bubble, to pull you back from the brink to where you really wanted to be but had forgotten. And for those of you who have managed to maintain those friendships across the years, perhaps it has helped you look at those relationships with a new understanding of their importance in your lives and with a new appreciation.
As I embark on a similar journey with my high school class, I begin to think about these same things. I've got stories too, and old friends too long forgotten. This has been my awakening too. I'll be relating these at a different venue with the Wayne Valley High School crowd.
So why did those friendships get pushed into the background? That is the right way to describe it. Sometimes the events that are directly in front of you get blown out of proportion and take on a false importance. There is only so much time, and those things, like the drive for material wealth and status or overwhelming ambition, start pushing others out of the way. Like friendship, family, faith, memories of the past and your origins all take a seat along the wall like the shy at the high school dance.
Sometimes it takes an event, like the 2011 Preunion, what people are now calling the 44th, to pop that bubble, to pull you back from the brink to where you really wanted to be but had forgotten. And for those of you who have managed to maintain those friendships across the years, perhaps it has helped you look at those relationships with a new understanding of their importance in your lives and with a new appreciation.
As I embark on a similar journey with my high school class, I begin to think about these same things. I've got stories too, and old friends too long forgotten. This has been my awakening too. I'll be relating these at a different venue with the Wayne Valley High School crowd.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Ron Carlisle
Got in touch with Ron's wife because Ron's fighting the good fight against cancer. He's holding his own and we've got a picture of him, Captain Ron, doing what he loves to do best, sail.
We wish him well and hope that he wins.
I've been continuing the class search for my classmates. In the past week, I've talked to about 15 of my classmates who were "lost". It has been and continues to be a great experience. I've reconnected two pairs of best friends so far and gotten several commitments to attend my 45th Reunion May 27th of 2012. That trip will still leave us enough time to continue the planning for the September 8 Reitz 45th. We're in the process of setting up the communications to the class process. Linda doesn't want to hear that people didn't get contacted personally by someone. We want to make sure that all our work continues on. Keep in touch. Be nosy (be a true West Sider!). If you hear of any changes with any of our classmates, let us know!
And don't forget about that condo vacation. Chances are still for sale from the Reunion Committee, so if you run into Linda, Nancy, Patty or Bob Willis or Tom Waterman, make sure to ask them about 'em if you haven't got yours already. You've got a couple of months to act yet, but we all know about procrastination.
We wish him well and hope that he wins.
I've been continuing the class search for my classmates. In the past week, I've talked to about 15 of my classmates who were "lost". It has been and continues to be a great experience. I've reconnected two pairs of best friends so far and gotten several commitments to attend my 45th Reunion May 27th of 2012. That trip will still leave us enough time to continue the planning for the September 8 Reitz 45th. We're in the process of setting up the communications to the class process. Linda doesn't want to hear that people didn't get contacted personally by someone. We want to make sure that all our work continues on. Keep in touch. Be nosy (be a true West Sider!). If you hear of any changes with any of our classmates, let us know!
And don't forget about that condo vacation. Chances are still for sale from the Reunion Committee, so if you run into Linda, Nancy, Patty or Bob Willis or Tom Waterman, make sure to ask them about 'em if you haven't got yours already. You've got a couple of months to act yet, but we all know about procrastination.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Icing on the Cake
Linda talked to Gary Malin. Here's a message he later sent:
Linda, you might add in your blog that since I have been conducting private tours at the NAS Pensacola Naval Museum on the history of Naval Avation and all the corresponding aircraft that the Navy has flown, I will give the winner a private tour of the museum and a tour of the restoration private area(very hard to get this tour) on the Navy base.
Hope sales are going well, see you when you are in the area,
Gary
I thought just the condo itself was great. Now, that is icing on the cake.
I am having the same kind of fun contacting my classmates as Linda did contacting hers. Now understand that my class was over 600 people. So there were a lot of people I never had any contact with at all for the whole time I was in school. But that being so, I have been talking and carrying on in phone conversation like we were the best of friends, sort of appreciating the fact that we've both come to some good and are still alive and kicking. Unfortunately, here area few more dead ones and there are some not in the greatest of health but still chugging along in spite of it all. I'm hooked on the mission now. 8 down, 142 to go. Then all my class will be located too!
Linda, you might add in your blog that since I have been conducting private tours at the NAS Pensacola Naval Museum on the history of Naval Avation and all the corresponding aircraft that the Navy has flown, I will give the winner a private tour of the museum and a tour of the restoration private area(very hard to get this tour) on the Navy base.
Hope sales are going well, see you when you are in the area,
Gary
I thought just the condo itself was great. Now, that is icing on the cake.
I am having the same kind of fun contacting my classmates as Linda did contacting hers. Now understand that my class was over 600 people. So there were a lot of people I never had any contact with at all for the whole time I was in school. But that being so, I have been talking and carrying on in phone conversation like we were the best of friends, sort of appreciating the fact that we've both come to some good and are still alive and kicking. Unfortunately, here area few more dead ones and there are some not in the greatest of health but still chugging along in spite of it all. I'm hooked on the mission now. 8 down, 142 to go. Then all my class will be located too!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Into each life a little rain must fall
I'm sorry to report that Linda's research has found that Ben Corn passed away in 2004. Linda also located Ron Carlisle in Michigan. Ron is having some medical issues and would probably really be buoyed by some friendly email. His email is on the website.
I've started my own personal campaign to locate 200 "lost" classmates. Called about a dozen, found 3, one of whom actually remembered me (we had classes together). And of course, Linda, semi professional search specialist was on hand with friendly advice.
Like the Reitz class, my classmates are a far flung group, larger to start with, and with a larger group of "lost" students, but I suspect that just as high a percentage are hidden in plain sight. If I'm successful in the next few months, may we'll have to get a bigger place in New Jersey to hold the event too! Wouldn't that be a shame.
Unlike Evansville, Wayne is really a bedroom for people that work in New York for many. As a result, there is often not much connection with the town. I think a greater percentage of the class moved away than stayed.
Ironically, one of the people I contacted lived in Tempe AZ, so we were able to talk about Arizona where we were just a couple weeks ago.
I've started my own personal campaign to locate 200 "lost" classmates. Called about a dozen, found 3, one of whom actually remembered me (we had classes together). And of course, Linda, semi professional search specialist was on hand with friendly advice.
Like the Reitz class, my classmates are a far flung group, larger to start with, and with a larger group of "lost" students, but I suspect that just as high a percentage are hidden in plain sight. If I'm successful in the next few months, may we'll have to get a bigger place in New Jersey to hold the event too! Wouldn't that be a shame.
Unlike Evansville, Wayne is really a bedroom for people that work in New York for many. As a result, there is often not much connection with the town. I think a greater percentage of the class moved away than stayed.
Ironically, one of the people I contacted lived in Tempe AZ, so we were able to talk about Arizona where we were just a couple weeks ago.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Reasons Why
In all the excitement, it was easy to forget that there were over 20 classmates that paid for reservations for what everyone has started calling the 44th (it's shorter and just as good a name as any other) but for whatever reason couldn't make it. We followed up (I should say Linda followed up, it's just her nature). For the most part, it was an interesting and sometimes amusing story.Two folks just fogged up and forgot. One waited at Howell Shelter and never went to look at the signs that Willis posted on the door. We met one a few days after who said,"See you on Saturday". We were sorry to have to explain that they missed it. The stories go on and on.
There was one story that wasn't all fun and games though. We found out a few days later when Lionel Phelps' wife was listed in the Obits in the paper. We then knew why Lionel didn't make it. Although we haven't said it before, our deepest sympathies go out to him. The same thing happened to Sandy Isaacs Simms, who lost her mother just a couple days before.
I'm a little disappointed in my own classmates lukewarm response to my offer to help find lost classmates, something that we have a little experience with. They seem to be in the Glory Days phase of things, you know, like the Springsteen song. They just keep track of people who show for the events and assume that anyone else isn't interested. Which means that if you miss one, you fall off the radar. No one ever gets a second chance. Is that right? I don't think so. Think of how many wouldn't have come to the 44 if we had taken that attitude? How many good times missed? How many friendships renewed? How many stories not shared? But if they don't really want the help despite protestations to the contrary.......So we sent the the first batch of classmates to them with contact info. We'll see what they have to say. You know, two of the people actually were Facebook friends with one of the committee who didn't realize that the people were listed as lost. Like a lot of our "lost", a few out of the top of the list were hidden in plain sight in our home town.
Linda tells me that we still have a lot to do to get ready for the Reitz 45. Maybe I should let others do it for the Wayne Valley 45th. Speaking of which, a reminder that tickets for the condo drawing in August are still on sale for a $10 donation and are available from any of the Reunion committee. Support the effort. Get a few tickets. You might just get a great free vacation out of the deal too!
There was one story that wasn't all fun and games though. We found out a few days later when Lionel Phelps' wife was listed in the Obits in the paper. We then knew why Lionel didn't make it. Although we haven't said it before, our deepest sympathies go out to him. The same thing happened to Sandy Isaacs Simms, who lost her mother just a couple days before.
I'm a little disappointed in my own classmates lukewarm response to my offer to help find lost classmates, something that we have a little experience with. They seem to be in the Glory Days phase of things, you know, like the Springsteen song. They just keep track of people who show for the events and assume that anyone else isn't interested. Which means that if you miss one, you fall off the radar. No one ever gets a second chance. Is that right? I don't think so. Think of how many wouldn't have come to the 44 if we had taken that attitude? How many good times missed? How many friendships renewed? How many stories not shared? But if they don't really want the help despite protestations to the contrary.......So we sent the the first batch of classmates to them with contact info. We'll see what they have to say. You know, two of the people actually were Facebook friends with one of the committee who didn't realize that the people were listed as lost. Like a lot of our "lost", a few out of the top of the list were hidden in plain sight in our home town.
Linda tells me that we still have a lot to do to get ready for the Reitz 45. Maybe I should let others do it for the Wayne Valley 45th. Speaking of which, a reminder that tickets for the condo drawing in August are still on sale for a $10 donation and are available from any of the Reunion committee. Support the effort. Get a few tickets. You might just get a great free vacation out of the deal too!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Out of touch for a day
Blogger is back up so here I am after 24 hours of downtime.
Linda managed to get confirmation that Jerry Powell is gone but not forgotten, and the website reflects that now. There is a Social Security Death Record database and Linda found him there. There's a back story to this but not for publication.
In the meanwhile, I am trying to determine if the folks from Wayne Valley charged with doing so really have the time to engage in a real search for the "missing" folks in my class. Once I determine that, I will decide if I am going to go all out (with Linda's expert help, of course). Similarly, I need to determine that someone is going to do something with all this information.
Like just about everything, it got me thinking about how varied and unexpected life has turned out for the people I went to school with. I found myself thinking about the ones I knew that are gone and how I felt when I found out that they were, and the fear that some of the people I've lost touch with, but at one time was real close with, might actually be gone too. When I was doing the Reitz site and listing people that were gone, they were just names. Now they are real people with whom I have a history and memories, mostly good ones. It makes me wish that all who remain are at my reunion, and it makes me want to find the ones who are "lost" so they can be there too. I now have a better appreciation for what drives Linda to do what she does and it renews my own energies.
How can you NOT want to go to the 45th Reunion? Life is short, and gettng shorter every day. I can't wait for May of 2012 and I hope that you can't wait for September of 2012 in the same way.
Linda managed to get confirmation that Jerry Powell is gone but not forgotten, and the website reflects that now. There is a Social Security Death Record database and Linda found him there. There's a back story to this but not for publication.
In the meanwhile, I am trying to determine if the folks from Wayne Valley charged with doing so really have the time to engage in a real search for the "missing" folks in my class. Once I determine that, I will decide if I am going to go all out (with Linda's expert help, of course). Similarly, I need to determine that someone is going to do something with all this information.
Like just about everything, it got me thinking about how varied and unexpected life has turned out for the people I went to school with. I found myself thinking about the ones I knew that are gone and how I felt when I found out that they were, and the fear that some of the people I've lost touch with, but at one time was real close with, might actually be gone too. When I was doing the Reitz site and listing people that were gone, they were just names. Now they are real people with whom I have a history and memories, mostly good ones. It makes me wish that all who remain are at my reunion, and it makes me want to find the ones who are "lost" so they can be there too. I now have a better appreciation for what drives Linda to do what she does and it renews my own energies.
How can you NOT want to go to the 45th Reunion? Life is short, and gettng shorter every day. I can't wait for May of 2012 and I hope that you can't wait for September of 2012 in the same way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)