The Colonel thought to share some emails that were sent out to the Classes of 1970-72 database about the upcoming "Gathering of Friends." In this venue, you can view what is being posted even if you are not in that email link.
Sent on Thursday, March 15..... A Gathering of Friends
Well, in two weeks, I'll be packing my bag and my gumbo ingredients so that I can head out on Friday. I'm really looking forward to this "gathering of friends"- not really a reunion. I am so excited about the weekend.
Last year, I thought our 3-class reunion was such fun! I saw people that I hadn't seen in years. There were some I recognized right away, while others gave me more problems. Hard for me to believe that Mike Huoni had to take off his cap and sunglasses before I could identify him. (We're almost kin and have known each other our whole life! I just hadn't seen him in the past 15 years.) I looked out of the window at Lee's house and saw Tom Griffin drive by. I hadn't seen him in 40 years, but I recognized him right off.
I was overwhelmed when, although we had said it was a tailgate party with everyone just bringing food for himself/herself, people started bringing food to a community table to share their bounty. Denise Heigle Mann made the most awesome pimento cheese sandwiches. We are going with the same tailgate idea this year, and we'll see how it turns out.
Gary Hays and his wife helped greet people in the front hall. (I can still remember the fringed leather coat he wore in elementary school.) Bill Vandevender and Ann helped with the food arrangement in the dining room. Bill also wanted to make sure the website would continue to be posted for the next couple of years so he made a donation, as did Martha Carter Abney. (I will certainly honor that request from Bill. We will miss him terribly.)
It was such fun to see different people walk up the sidewalk. Sometimes I could almost imagine their younger-self as I watched. Marshall Lynch, you look just the same; so does Gail Heigle Clark. I hadn't seen Greg Bennett since we taught together at Solomon Jr. High in Greenville- what fun. Who knew he would turn out to be a daredevil? Skydiving? Really????
Leading up to the reunion, I talked to so many people on the phone. Jon Shirley and I would chat on Facebook early in the morning (it was even earlier for him in Dallas). He called me the week before the reunion, and we had the best conversation. He was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to attend, but would try to be at the next one. I miss him terribly. Kenneth Burns couldn't make it, but he promised he'd be there for the next one and I understand he has his airline ticket in hand. Perhaps he'll win the prize for traveling the greatest distance. I also talked to Bob Davis. Don't know how he got to be so young, but he has two sons, both still in high school! Last year they had baseball games on April 8. This year, however, he said their schedule is clear, and he plans to be there.
I missed seeing a lot of people. I just knew Mary Beth Blanchard Luke would be there, but she couldn't come. Bill Marshall was another who had to back out at the last minute. I had hoped to see Eddie Wilson, but he couldn't come in. I will be so disappointed if I don't get to see all three of them this year. I know Lynette Denton West is trying to attend.
Debbie Lambert and Arthur Slatten went separate ways after high school and then found each other again- a little later in life. They are such a cute couple. It was so nice to see them. They got to reconnect with others they haven't seen in a while like Debra Hammons Wright. Carol Hawkins Trotter was with us last year, but teaching workshops will keep her busy this year so she won't be able to attend. Not only was Carol a wonderful class photographer in fifth grade, but she is an awesome writer. I'm hoping she will share more stories with us that can be posted on The Colonels Commentary.
The conversations that I overheard were priceless. I listened to Buzzy Carter point to the Cary Methodist Church and reminisce about the night he and several others had stopped at the church and he got married. He couldn't really remember, but he thinks he married Jane Gay Tucker! He thought Debra Hammons was with them, but she swore she didn't remember the event!
Later in the afternoon last year, I looked up to see Willy Bearden, Thad Virden, Jean Cortright, Marily Pippin, and Nancy Barnard Virden walk in. I had told Willy about the event. He and the others came down to Cary after the Blues Festival was over. That was so much fun. It was then that several of us started thinking that it would be nice for others to attend. We all went to school together. Some came before us, some came after.... but we all went to RFHS. I am so happy that there are people who are planning to come this year that were 8 or so years older than us and others that are up to 5 or 6 years younger. Deborah Lamensdorf Jacobs is planning to fly in from Atlanta. She'd like to just see people that she hadn't seen in a while.
Those of us who ever attended Fielding L. Wright Attendance Center or Rolling Fork High School are connected. We had wonderful experiences that aren't often replicated in other communities. I hope you will be there to share the day with your former classmates. As I said earlier, this is no longer a true reunion, but instead a Gathering of Friends. Since last year, we have lost Bill Vandevender, Becky Pickle Boykin, Jon Shirley, and Kathy Kerr. I want to make sure I can make new memories with old friends while I can. I hope to see as many of you there as possible. Please share the event with anyone who ever attended RFHS. Let them know that they are welcomed- this isn't a closed event- quite the contrary.
Rickey Moore's poolhouse. About 1.5 miles south of Cary- just off Highway 61. Saturday, March 31 beginning at 2:00 p.m. (You may come a little earlier, if you'd like.) My cell phone is 985 778-9832 if you have questions or need directions.
I'll see you there and I am so excited!
Maryanne
Sent on Friday, March 16 ... This Past Year
Last year there were so many people helping to plan for the reunion, that now it is so simple to keep in contact. Jim McNeely is amazing!All of the reunion pictures and albums were thanks to him and his wife Pam- an honorary classmate. If I am ever looking for a long-lost friend, I'm calling Jim. He was able to help find so many of our former classmates. We only had to provide tiny bits of information and Jim was right on it. Of course, I will never divulge which ones of you he uncovered! LOL (no one is safe) We had chains going all over, as well. I'd ask one person who would call someone else who would email yet another person. I never knew who would call in with the winning find. More often than not, it would be the spouse of a former classmate. BJ Nichols (Roy's wife) would notice email addresses that I had used that were wrong and send me an email with the correction. Other classmates are now connected through spouses Facebook pages- like Glen Jennings' wife.
Cheryl Berry Welch helped with just about everything! Martha Carter Abney did, too. They both copied, cut, and glued old pictures for remembrances late into the night the night before the reunion. Jane Spivey Lawler was there bright and early on Saturday helping to set up, decorate, and get organized.. Albert Mahalitc didn't get to the reunion itself until late, but he had come early Saturday and again on Sunday delivering and picking up garbage cans for us. David Mann was the "go-to guy" in Rolling Fork. (Thanks, Denise!) Randy Hengst delivered, set up, and later removed tables. His wife, Tyann baked chocolate chip cookies for me that I didn't have time to do.
Those that couldn't attend have sent in emails giving us updates before the reunion and some all through the year, like Nonie Freeney, Rickey Flowers, Carl (David) Freeney, Scott Neeper, and Bob Davis.I received an email from Nonie just today. She told me that Carl (aka David) will be there this year with his wife, Sharon. Nonie says she is so sorry that she won't be able to attend, but she sends her regards. She lives near her sister Ebbie.
After the Reunion was a closed chapter Kenneth Burns came in to carry the torch. He has been the main person to encourage reaching out to all of our former classmates- anyone (older or younger) who went to RFHS. Because of that, we will get to see Deborah Lamensdorf Jacobs, Carl Freeney, Hot Shot and Judy Strong, and many from the Rolling Fork area. We've even had people like Ricky Lee ask to get the email updates so he knows when to go to the webpage or The Colonels Commentary to see a story.
Jack Middleton (our miracle!) want be able to attend this year, but hopefully again another year. Jack is very involved in his church, so won't be able to attend because of an event. I've heard (from his mother) that Merritt Aden will stay much longer to party this year. Either his wife Debbie (she wasn't able to attend last year because she had recently had surgery) will be his DD or he will bring his camper! LOL We hope to see Billy again this year, as well.
Tomorrow, we'll have another update. My mother told me that she had heard I wasn't sending out as much information this year as last, so I've got to get busy for the next week and a half! If you wonder where she heard this...... from some of your parents!
