Comments about the
40th Reunion from those who attended . . .
Neil Wiley
Our reunion was
outstanding. They seem to get better as the years go by. I attribute
that to the delightful people into which the members of the
Class of 63 have developed, and to the efforts of Sandi, Sandy,
Sandra and the rest of the committee for organizing the reunion
and keeping us in contact. My impression is that as a group
we are happy, pleasant, healthy people. The ladies looked beautiful
and the men seem to have held up well over forty years. I hope
our classmates who were not in attendance are doing as well
as those who were. I had so much fun talking to classmates that
I seemed to have missed the entire program. Afterwards my wife
had to fill me in on the events of the evening. And there were
many to whom I was barely able to say hello or missed entirely.
Thank you to all who attended for an enjoyable evening. I vote
for a cruise in 2008 so that we actually have time to get reacquainted.
Marilyn Peterson
Williams
In my rambling I
forgot to say how wonderful it was for Fred to win the one-of-a-kind
fishing rod designed and donated by Jim Golyer. Fred and our
grandkids will have great fun with it. Thanks Jim!
Marilyn Peterson
Williams
What a great time!
My trip from Idaho started out a little crazy. After driving
250 miles I realized I had left half the clothes I was going
to bring still hanging in the closet (a sign of old-age forgetfulness)
but I made do with the clothes I did bring (a sign of maturity),
then running out of gas (forgetfulness) and thanking God for
cell phones and roadside service (maturity). I picked up Fred
in Nevada and we arrived at the Desert Inn on Friday evening.
What a joy to see our best friend over the years Gloria Hankins
and her great guy Gordy, Teena Poulos and Art (too bad Helen
couldn't make it), bubbly Peggy Trotter (you will never
change) , Mike Walton (will you ever change?), Charlie Towner
and his gal, also Peggy Wilburn and her great car, everyones's
pal Sandie Safranek and all the other fun people, the reunion
was off to a good start! Sat. mg. we got to know Doralyn and
Richard over breakfast in the coffee shop and then sat around
the pool looking over old yearbooks and drinking forbidden beer
(thanks Jay) with a host of people. It was great to see my old
friends from Joshua school Connie Becket and Kathy Oliver. Saturday
night was fantastic. Fred loved visiting some of the Eastside
"kids" (Geri Derek and Alice Piani), while I talked
with some of my buddies from the Westside ( Bob Losey and Ginger
Barth). There are some great faces that will never change: B.J.
Million, Sandy Nippert, Sandy Webb, I would know them anywhere.
Fred was thrilled to have a picture taken with the AVHS 63 Baseball
team infield ( Fred, Whitey Hale, John Krueger, John Bobich)
and it was great fun to eat dinner with John & Claudia Krueger.
John and I go way back to Del Sur days when we shared a cupcake
at the Captain Jet Television Show celebrating Gary Ogden's
birthday (so sad that Gary is no longer with us to reminisce).
We had a great time at the Sunday brunch visiting with Sandy
and Leroy Coon and saying our last goodbyes. Thank you Sandie
Safranek and everyone who helped put this on, Fred & I loved
every minute of this reunion. Can't wait to go on the cruise
in 2008 - "sea" you then.
Claudia Marsh Craig
Thank you for the
most awesome of reunions. I really enjoyed myself. I am glad
that I stayed at the Desert Inn the full time. It enabled me
to meet and make friends with so many classmates that I wouldnt
have had the opportunity to spend time. I loved the idea of
taking the group pictures too. I found that I missed so many
friends on the Saturday dinner. Hopefully when I log on the
pictures I will see you and maybe find your email. I promise
to make the next reunion. Love you all, Claudia
Betty Jo Million
McGrath
The reunion was
just that, "reuniting and reacquainting" ourselves
with those whom we have not seen or talked to in many years
and really only knew then in a childlike way. Seeing old friends
and making new friends made the reunion more meaningful. This
40th celebration was relaxing with a no-pressure type of setting.
As we visited with each other we were really interested in what
each person has done and how their lives have turned out. It
was a time that I truly enjoyed myself and spent time with people
who have had a part in my life that formed long lasting memories.
I will look forward to attending another reunion in 10 years!
Lord Willing! Thanks friends for your kind words and generous
friendships.
Jim Golyer
Well I hadn't
been to a reunion since the 10 years. I was really shocked and
pleased to see so many of my old friends and accquaintances.
I had such a good time and I really am looking forward to the
next one. I was so pleased to see how successful everyone was
and that they were loving life and enjoying the good things.
You and the committee did a wonderful job and I truly thank
you and everyone who attented.
Dr. Eloise Fernandez
Cantrell
The get together
on Sat evening was great. It was fun to renew faces and lives
of the past. As a group, we are holding up quite well, I thought.
We are still full of fun and enthusiastic about life and most
of us were serving others in some capacity. It was nice to see
that as a class we are inteligent, productive members of the
sandwich generation. Thanks for all the hard work you did for
the event.
Pam Wiesmann Kalmus
Seeing everyone
is always a special treat for me...unfortunately it is always
followed by regrets at not having made enough time to sit and
chat with everyone and catch up. Learn about the kids, the trips,
the successes, the sadness', those who are gone, those that
couldn't make it, and THOSE WHO DID! I am always impressed
at how well we all turned out, wonderful friends, accomplishments,
families, contributions to our communities, and good fun too.
One thing I find particularly interesting is getting a sense
of history of my own life and remembering the people and events
that have been so influential in shaping my own existence. I
usually leave completely drained from laughing so much in fun
with people who have shared the same adolescence as myself....
I am so proud to have had the opportunity to have shared that
time with so many great folks and find that we can still share
these times and use the wisdom gained for the future. The town
has changed, we have changed physically, but our hearts haven't
changed. AVHS shaped my future and my life and I will never
forget it!
Jay Gentry
Impressions Like
most everyone who made it to the reunion I most enjoyed renewing
old friendships and acquaintances. It was wonderful catching
up with so many. There was also some of "the big chill"
remembering those from the class of 63 who we have lost. I especially
missed seeing Gary Ogden. Two observations that I found interesting...
In many ways we have not moved much off center over the last
40 years. As I reconnected with the people who I knew well,
the intervening years had changed our relationships very little
and the interaction became comfortable immediately. With others
who I knew less well back at AVHS, our adolescent differences
had faded and the fact that we had survived the last 40 years
(kids, grand kids, pets, spouses... life) gave us much more
in common. We are a lot more similar at 57 + than we were at
17... and that is how it should be. I am already looking forward
to the 50th. And one more time... thanks to Rottymom!
