Hi All: Ohmygosh

Hi All: Ohmygosh!!!!!!!!! After I got home Sunday night, I sat down and wrote several pages about the class reunion. Last night, I received an email from Gary McCauley asking about the reunion???? I checked my files and found my report in my outbox???? Never had that happen before... Then, of course, I inadvertently deleted it (my reputation as master emailer has been tarnished!!!!)... So for all of you who didn't attend the reunion, this is my report. All of you who attended the reunion, I expect a report from you... Just fun or poignant experiences at the reunion!!!!

The reunion went great!!!! It was wonderful going back in time and getting reacquainted with old friends!!! It truly was a great escape and I thank every one of you for my very memorable experience!!!

I will begin on Friday morning. Bob and I arrived in El Centro in time for me to meet Diane at the nail shop. Diane and I visited thru my manicure and pedicure. While we were visiting, a 'lady' showed up in the next booth with a broken nail and a reference from Lynn McAllister. After some time it finally dawned on me it was Rose Luker!!!! Rose, Diane and I had a really fun pre-reunion visit!!!!

When Bob came to pick me up, we went directly to Diane’s to drop off the decorated pumpkins. (You should have seen my van... Bob built a special shelf in the back to enable us to transport the pumpkins safely and to enable us not to have to make two trips!!!) Guess where we went next?????? To eat lunch at La Hacienda, of course!! (For those of you who don't know, our old La Hacienda is no longer. Rauol and his wife bought the El Sombrero across the street from the courthouse). While the three of us were eating, Diane asked if I was looking at everyone's faces to see if we might recognize a classmate???? I sure was!!! Two handsome men came into the restaurant with an elderly lady... We recognized Robert Zinn right away!!! - Okay, we had to contemplate a bit!!! Robert was with his brother and mom!!!! We also got to visit with Jennifer Johnson and Don Brock while they ate their lunches!!!

Our evening at Brunner’s began at 6 p.m. I can only tell you what fun we had -recognizing classmates, trying to recognize classmates, hugging classmates, giggling with classmates, reminiscing with classmates!!!!! I, of course, was at a total advantage because of being on line, so I did most of the greeting. Most classmates I recognized but I will be honest, I cheated a little!!!! If I didn't recognize someone I would stand back to allow him or her to write their names on their nametags!!!!! Everyone got big hugs!!!!!!

Diane counted 91 classmates on Friday night. We had so many first timers!!!! Glen Rose from northern California, Jim Cullum from Missouri, Jimmy Sipes from Washington, Lynn Ellen Tondro and Ralph de la Cruz from the Los Angeles area, Cheryl turner from Pennsylvania, Sarah Alice Lincoln from northern California. I'm sure there were more but you understand about senior moments!!!! ... And some lapses last a little longer!!!!!

Saturday morning we were to decorate the room at Barbara Worth Country Club before we could eat lunch at Camacho’s - we all need little incentives in life!!! Diane and I hadn't really asked a lot of people to help decorate because we didn't think we would need much help!!! What a wonderful surprise!!!!! Bob and I were a little late arriving at Diane’s where Marcia Pelletier was waiting for us to help load pumpkins - so the three of us were a little late getting back at the country club. We were so pleased to find the room filled with helpers!!!!!! Not only classmates but also wives and husbands of classmates!!!! This is not a full list... Bobby and Colleen Barrett, Joe and Chris Coleman, Joanne and Richard Keesee, Bill and Dolores Lewis, Corky and Eva Magness, Frances and Allen Gentry and, of course, my wonderful husband, Robert... plus Lynn Nice, Lyla Wagner, Mary Ann Dold, Ron Burson, Linda Hilderman, Jacque Mena - everyone together made short work of the decorating... plus we had a very good time!!!!!! There was much cajoling going on between classmates... we have two sons, I have learned to love cajoling!!!!!

Lunch at Camacho’s... wow!!! There had to have been at least 60!!!! We took up the large room and overflowed into the main room!!!!! There was a din, maybe better described as a low roar!!!!! Bob and I sat with Ron and Gwen Burson... poor Gwen had a cold and couldn't talk much louder than a whisper... I could only see her lips move... couldn't hear a word!!! I felt so bad asking her to repeat herself.....I knew it must of hurt so I started selling raffle tickets. We have very generous classmates!!!!!

Saturday night... we had about 144 in attendance!!!! The whole evening went great!!!! Diane planned the program and Ron Burson, as M.C., brought it all together. Mary Ann Dold entertained us with her presentation... Mary Ann writes magazine and newspaper articles, etc. She always hits the mark with her wit and humor... this time about growing old and special quesadillas!!!!! (Mary Ann came to Hemet last year to make a presentation at the organization I belong to... she made a big hit!!!!) ... to be continued!!!!!! BIG HUGS!!!!!! Jan

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Hi all: I hope this will be the last in my series but I tend to be long winded... Bob says so anyway!!!!!

Diane had a table set aside as a memorial for our classmates no longer with us. She had a long piece of standing poster board with pictures of each classmate, she also had candles sitting on the table, it was very moving, especially moving seeing classmates slowly walking around the table!!!!!!

Have you all checked out our website???? Ron has already posted some pictures from the reunion!!!! Click on http://cuhs61.org/ and then click on the Jan’s Info page button. There is a lot of information in my info page, be sure to visit!!! Also, scroll to the bottom of my page... Ron is such a card. I had a mustache all fixed up to wear while giving my presentation on Saturday night but in my nervous state, I totally forgot!!!! Shucks!!!!

Some interesting information: #1, Sid Blackman paid for all our food Friday night… after all the phone calls Diane made on his phone, trying to find wayward classmates, I somehow thought Sid had done enough contributing to our class reunion... nope, he gave again!!!!!!! Thank you, Sid!! #2, Sally Wong visited the Imperial Valley museum on Saturday before lunch, interesting???? Sally came to lunch full of enthusiasm!!!!!!! She found out that all CUHS classes up to 1957 had their classes included in the museum, the rub, there was a $300 service fee to have our class included. Saturday night, Sally asked for everyone to donate $3 each for the cause. Polly Bertussi's husband donated the whole $300 in Polly’s name, thank you, Hank!!!! If you are ever in the valley, be sure to visit the museum. The museum is across the street/road from Imperial Valley College.

I would truly like everyone who attended the reunion to share (can you tell I have grandkids???) with the rest of us any fun or poignant happenings at the reunion!!!! I will forward them on to Ron who will post them on the website!!!!!!!

Here is my poignant story!!!! Friday night, while I was doing my greeting duties at the door, I had the good fortune to greet Glen Rose and his lovely wife. Corky and Glen were good friends in high school so I grabbed Glen's hand and led him to Corky. I let Glen stand in front of Corky - didn't introduce them but just stood back to watch Corky's face. Corky looked at Glen with a blank stare... I cannot begin to tell you how heart warming it was to see Corky’s blank stare slowly evolve to recognition to total affection. That one moment made all the hard work worth it, seeing friends unite after 40 years!!! Thank you, Corky and Glen for that wonderful moment!!!!

I had a moment of pure disbelief!!!!!! Ron Burson, Jacque Mena, Bill Lewis and I were standing outside gabbing... Jacque and Bill were reminiscing about the senior play ('a midsummer night's dream') and some funny things that had happened during rehearsals, etc. Would you believe Bill Lewis began reciting his part in the play!!!!??? I was so impressed but Bill went one step further, he knew and recited everyone's part!!!!!

Bob and I had lunch at Celia’s with Sid and Diane before leaving El Centro on Sunday. (if you've kept track, we ate at the three most popular Mexican restaurants in El Centro!!! I keep track of these things!!!!) We ran into Gloria Vanoni and her husband... we were all getting our last Mexican food fix before leaving the Valley!!! Diane told us we made over $600 on the raffle. Sid told us, Diane was acting as if we'd won the lottery when she counted the money from the raffle. Diane said we have done really well on the reunion. After paying everything off, she wants to have at least $1,200 in the bank to begin our reunion in 2011. Eeeek!!! Can you believe... we'll be almost 70???? Gots lots a living to do before then!!!!

We gathered several new email addresses!!!!!! Glen Rose, Eric Gustafson and Kathe Worthing Gustafson, Shirlee Richter, Steve Judson, Gloria Vanoni and Sandra Jacoste.

If any of you who were not at the reunion want to buy the mini annual, please get your money ($20) in as soon as possible!!!! Send it to:

Class of ‘61 Reunion Committee

1930 Aurora

El Centro, Ca 92243

I guess I’m not as long winded as I thought - finished in only two installments!!!! REALLY BIG HUGS!!!!!! Jan

P.S. I keep remembering things!!! If I remember anything else I will start another update!!!!

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Sending a special "THANK YOU" to Jan and Diane for organizing such a wonderful reunion event. I had a great time and shared all of your messages with Mother when I got home. She was VERY pleased. We LOVE the pumpkin centerpiece. How clever!

There are several people I would like to get in touch with and hope to do so soon.

Thanks again,

Susie Mcfarland
slmcfarland10@aol.com

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