Sunday, October 21, 2007

The Cavalier spirit never dies


Hey, y'all.

Yeah, you. Some of you I saw last night -- and was very happy to see -- and some of you didn't make it to the Hyatt Regency, to Arlington or even to the East Coast. Some of you are no longer with us, but let's be reasonable. You're not the ones I'm trying to reach.

This is a blog, not a seance.

Inspired by the lovely and vivacious Dale Morgan and the efforts she has put into all our reunions, I've decided to make the Class of '67 the gift of a Website. My motive isn't entirely unselfish; I'm hoping that some of you will discover and become frequent visitors to my other two blogs.

As you'll see, on the verge of decrepitude and retirement (not that there's anything wrong with that), I'm trying to change the world.

What I'm doing here is putting together a place where folks can meet and comment regularly about their lives, their kids (legitimate and otherwise) and most of all their memories.

Many of you know me. Some don't. Some of you doubtless wish you didn't.

I'm 57 years old -- 58 in December -- and living in Southern California. I write for a living and I have an amazing wife and two spectacular children. Of course I'll post pictures from time to time and you'll humor me.

What I'll do once a week or more is post something to give all of you a chance to respond. Any time any of you would like to post an essay, a topic or just let off some steam, e-mail it to me and I will post it for you.

So let's get going.

Why don't we start with y'all posting your thoughts on the reunion.

Discuss among yourselves: Eggplant, egg or plant?

Editor's note: Mike, you're not half as funny as you think you are.

Sure, but they don't know that.

Editor's note: They will.

11 comments:

Katie Dyer said...

Mike, thanks for setting up this Blog. Thanks also to Dale for doing such a good job rounding us all up and to Barbara for the wonderful tour of Woodson.

I hope we can all keep in touch occasionally.

Cynthia said...

Dear Mike:

First of all, thank you for your time & energy in creating this great website for us and Yes, Yes, Yes! YOU are very funny, Mike!

Dale Morgan, you are an amazing person! By the way, when are we going to Greece or Toscany together? =)

I was under a deadline at work on Saturday and called Dale to say that I was not able to make our reunion after all. Knowing Dale, as we all do, she said in so many words that that was not an option and I am so happy that I did make time to attend. It really was great fun & memorable!

You all look so great & it was really a wonderful time catching up with everyone!

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All the Very Best to Everyone.

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Dale Morgan said...

Mike - This is so great! I wanted to do something like this but I am not brilliant like you. I thought about asking someone, but did not know who so Thanks so much.

My comments on the reunion: I was so worn out just prior to the reunion, I told some friends that if a) I was not the coordinator; and b) I did not have my dear friends, Judy Hart and Stacy Delano, staying with me for the weekend, I thought about not going myself as it was sort of anti-climactic at this point. Well,I had a blast! And I, plus those I spoke with, think this reunion was the best ever because EVERYONE made an effort to talk with everyone else. We've had more classmates attend before, but never this much camaraderie. That in itself was enough thanks for me.

I also want to thank Bobbie Lanzer for her wonderful and informative tour of Woodson on Saturday morning. Those of us who attended loved it and even remembered where our lockers were.

Cindy Tallia - you are always the "pep" in our reunion. How in the world do you manage to get everyone dancing?? And how do you stay so young???

Helen Roberts - what a fantastic idea you had with those "WTW 67" pins at the Friday night football game. That was the most fun I ever had sitting out in drizzle. I haven't changed a bit; I talked through the entire game.

Emory Peters & Ronnie Millner - I was spread too thin to play in the fun WTW classmates golf game even though I had hoped to be your comedy relief. What about just doing that more often?

One classmate, Corky Holmes, called me last night to tell me that he had so much fun that he was going down the list of names in the Memory Book and calling those he knew who did NOT attend and telling them the fun they missed. He had just spoken to Larry Gordon, Ron Barlow, and Charlie Malarz. With this Blog, perhaps we can get some interest going for next time. Or, for those classmates whose circumstances will not allow them to travel, they can "reunion" with us online.

For all of you who had to travel long distances, I know this was very costly and we appreciate you doing this for old times sake.

The state of Washington WTW 1967 group does a mini-reunion every year or so, right? Marna Podonsky, Helen Roberts, Mike McCudden, etc. I hope they use this Blog to advertise that one. I have, unfortunately, not been able to attend one yet, but I hope to one of these days. I have heard they are a blast, too, and contain several days of activities for those who still have energy and those who want to relax.

One comment to those who sign on this Blog, please leave your first AND last name at the end of your comments so we know who you are.

Stay in touch with us please and pass the word along. You are a great bunch of people.

Dale Morgan

Dale Morgan said...

Mike - This is such a wonderful idea! Thank you so much! I wanted to do something like this but I am not a genious like you so I have only been "thinking" about it & wondering how in the world could I do this or who could I ask...?

My comments on the reunion: I was so worn out by the time it arrived, I told those close to me that 1) if I was not the coordinator, and 2) if I did not have my dear friends, Judy Hart & Stacy Delano staying with me, I would not attend. But I had a blast!!!! I got about 6 hours of sleep all weekend but I feel like it was the best reunion we ever had. I even had one classmate, Corky Holmes, call me last night saying he had so much fun, he was going down the list and calling everyone he knew who did not come and telling them what a good time they missed. He had just spoken with Ron Barlow, Larry Gordon and Charlie Malarz.

Thanks to Bobbie Lanzer for that tour of Woodson. That REALLLY brought back the memories. Some of us think we found our lockers!

Maybe with a blog like this we can actually get some interest from other classmates. Or, if their circumstances do not allow them to travel, they can "reunion" with all of via this website.

Anyhow, being with all you wonderful friends really brought back a lot of good memories and any of the bad memories are long forgotten.

What a great group of people you are!

One last comment: for those of you who sign on this Blog, please leave your first and last name so we know who you are.

Stay in touch, guys!
Dale Morgan

Gail Schultz MacLeod said...

Hello all,

Had a great time. What a wonderful class we have.

I feel like I've been hit by a truck -- result of staying up until 2:00 am each night.

Can we post pictures here? I have some reunion pics I upload.

Thank you Dale. What would we do without you.

Gail Schultz MacLeod

Mike Rappaport said...

Gail --

E-mail me your photos and I'll make sure they get posted.

I'm at m_rappaport@earthlink.net

Mike

Laura said...

Mike, Very fun, and funny--thanks for putting this together.

And let me add my thanks to Dale, Bobbie and all the others who worked behind the scenes to put this weekend together.

Reunion thoughts? Hmm. More than special to reconnect and reminisce with partners in crime from the days of yore; and heartening to hear of sightings of classmates that I thought were lost in space. And (and I always forget this) it is so enjoyable to chat with people you didn't really know way back when, but now wish you had.

I have a few pictures to send along too--

Laura Noble

rande said...

I wish I had been in a better place and could have over come my fears and doubts about myself. Do I feel like I am the only one with a problem or the only one to face a life change. No I do not, nor do I feel a "pity party" is called for, I am well past that. I am over 10 years into my disease. Parkinson's Disease is so strange, it not only plays a game with your body , but has a dreadful way of playing with your emotions making a simple encounter with old friends seem too painful to deal with at the time. Such was my ordeal this past weekend, a weekend that Joanie and I had looked forward to. My emotions made me a coward, not the strong person I usually am. I am sorry I could not have done a better job...I am just glad I was the only one that notice or I hope I was. Dale and all helpers... The hard work was noticed and appreciated. randy barker

Steve Loomis said...

Fellow Cavaliers - I hate that I missed the reunion but trust me, I was there in spirit. It sounds like a good time was had by all. I promise I will be at the next one. Dale, thank you so much for keeping me informed and Mike for creating this site. And Corky, give me a call wild man (770 883-6222). GO CAVALIERS!

Bain & Christine White said...

Bain and I met at WTW in Spanish Class - Senior Year.
We've been married 39 years now.
We live in Hayden, CO.
Bain has been called into ordained ministry and (after 7 years of discernment and study) will be ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church on Nov. 17th, 2007 at St. John's Cathedral in Denver. The journey continues!
haydenin1@mindspring.com

Marna said...

Mike:

Thanks for doing this. What a great idea. It was so great to catch up with friends of old and also with classmates who shared common memories of teachers, events, etc. I do not believe that "you can never go back", we all proved it over the week-end.

A HUGH thank you to Dale for keeping us all together, to Bobbie for the tour of Woodson, to Helen for the "67" pins and to everyone who attended. Come on out to the PNW. We will let everyone know when .

Enjoy the fall!

Marna(Podonsky) Hanneman