May Classmate Dinner...

 

Front row: Al, Brad, and Cal  Back row: Deb, Bruce, Donna

We changed our dinner from Wednesday to Thursday this month to accommodate folks who couldn't join us on Wednesdays. As it turned out, Thursday apparently didn't work either. The result was a wonderfully small group of regulars.

Unlike the larger groups that end up with multiple conversations, we were all part of each story. We got all caught up, and truthfully, I heard one of these old friends laugh harder than I've ever heard him laugh in decades. It was great.

We're going back to Wednesdays from now on, but I'll file this month away as one of my favorites. I sure do love these people.

Another Month, Another Gathering...

Front (l-r) Al, Bruce, John and Brad. Back: Mary, Donna, Deb B, Cal, Lisa and Dave

No married couples yesterday, but these old friends shared a lot of laughter over dinner. We were all saying what a blessing it is for all of us to be able to spend time together. 

We talked about classmates who'd passed in the last month, as well as a few that are pretty sick right now. It reminds us just how fortunate we all are to be in good health. 

There were discussions about upcoming vacations, as well as reports on recent destinations. A few of us homebodies listened intently, but then agreed "there's no place like home" for us. Even so, we can't Wait to hear about our friends once they're back home. We'll look forward to that next month. 

The next dinner date is set. We hugged and said our goodbyes, and all headed home. Until we see each other in April...

In Memoriam...

Karen C.  1955-2025

Today, my former classmate and friend, Karen will be laid to rest. She lost her husband a number of years ago, welcomed a granddaughter named for him, and celebrated her seventieth birthday in January. The day after Mother's Day, she lost her battle with cancer.

She was one of the hard working members of our high school fiftieth reunion committee, and until she became too ill, would always join us for our monthly dinner gatherings. The last time I saw her and spoke with her was at her birthday party. She was frail then, but put on a brave face for everyone who came to celebrate.  

Karen leaves behind four children and their spouses; three grandchildren; her siblings and their spouses. Her legacy will live on through them.

I'll be attending her visitation and funeral this morning along with so many others who will miss her smile, her kindness, her generosity, and her gentle spirit. She's reunited with her dear husband and is now whole and healthy again. Rest well, dear friend. I'll miss you.

April Classmate Dinner...

Back row: Al, Donna, Bruce, Max, Janet and Jeff. Front row: Cal, Brad, Deb, Mary and John

The weather was perfect for dinner next to the lake yesterday. Our regular spot for dinner is a restaurant located right along the south shore of Lake Winnebago, and it was so nice to see moving water where there was ice only a short time ago.

We had eleven classmates in attendance, and as always, we spent the time sharing stories, family news, and other interesting (to us) things. Seems health is always a subject, too. "Did you hear about...?" "How is <insert spouse name here>?" You know. Thankfully, conversation soon turns to something other than our shared aches and pains, and "How did we get old so fast?". Things that comes from life and times shared.

Our meals together usually last about two hours, and just like the old folks we used to giggle about (Early Bird Diners), we were all heading home by 5 pm. Rather than talking about the old times, we're busy making new memories we'll be able to look back on in the years ahead. Of course, we took this photograph to share in our classmate Facebook page, and to have a record of this month's gathering. We'll do it all over again in May.

October Classmate Dinner...

Back row: l-r Tom, Max, Donna, Brad, Al, Cal, Dan and John. Front Row: l-r Janet, Kathy, Deb B, Julie, Deb N. and Mary

Fourteen of us gathered to share a meal last night. We had a great time, catching up on the events of the past month, and welcomed new classmates to the group. Our reunion committee members are the core group - who attend as schedules allow - and then there are other classmates who drop in from time to time. It was really wonderful to see folks who hadn't joined us before, but saw the posts I put up in our Facebook group and decided to pop in.

We spend a couple hours together, laugh, share stories, and eat our meals. Afterward, we choose our next month's date, hugs are exchanged, and we say goodbye until we're together again. It really is lovely, and we mentioned that when we're all together, we're really all just kids again. We don't see the gray hair, extra wrinkles or pounds, and our joints aren't quite as sore. We're just old friends who look forward to our visits.

So, we've chosen next month's date - the week before Thanksgiving. We're all here and relatively healthy, and the way time flies these days, we'll see each other again before we know it.

Happy Halloween to my friends who celebrate. Happy Fall to those who don't.

Girls’ Weekend...

Saturday Craft Group

I drove to Portage on Saturday for another play date with dear friends. This month was Marie’s (she’s to the right of me in the photo) turn to decide the project. We made wall pockets. 

To create the wall pockets we began with large embroidery hoops, selected the fabrics we wanted to use, and then added embellishments. 

We were all finished in three hours, and you can see the results. Each project turned out reflecting each creator’s personality perfectly...and we had fun visiting at the same time! We’re already looking forward to next month!

High School Friends

Sunday was an outing to a local goat farm/creamery with a group of friends from high school. Many of us work together on the class reunion committee. 

The creamery had a Wine/Cheese/Chocolate pairing event. While the taste testing was enjoyable, it was really catching up with the ladies that was most fun. 

I got home mid-afternoon and spent the rest of the day catching my breath. We have a lot scheduled for this week, so I just enjoyed the rest of the weekend with Handsome and the critters. 

I have orders to prepare and mail today, and then more office work to do. Yippee. (Snort)

Well, That Was Fun...

Reunion Wrap-up Gathering (l-r: Mary S., Karen C., Pat B. Rose R. and me. Missing: Jane W.)

 

On Sunday afternoon, a group of us from our 45th Class Reunion Committee gathered to get a final accounting on our party in August. Numbers came out good, and we even still have money in our checkbook as we look ahead to our 50th!!

I hosted the group here at the farmhouse, and we had fun as we "conducted business". These are ladies I've known since we were all kids. I had lots of snacks prepared, and each of them brought along goodies, too, so we nibbled and laughed while we went over the last celebration. Then, we brainstormed ideas for the next one!

(Missing from our pictures is another friend, Jane W., who left before we got out our camera phones.)

 

Reunion Wrap-up (l-r: Mary S., Karen C., Joe G., Rose R. and me. Missing: Jane W.)

 

At one point, we mentioned something about our ages...and we all agreed, we sure don't know how we got to be sexagenarians, because we don't think or feel like it! 

We kind of kept track of the Packer game (they lost - booo!), and then said our goodbyes mid-afternoon. We've decided we'll be getting together again to continue early planning for the 50th, and to spend more time together. Another reason I'm so glad Handsome and I moved back to Wisconsin. These are really wonderful women (and Joe) and I'm close enough now, to see them more often.

I'm back in the studio today. I'm going to be doing a local craft show in November, so I've got some ducks to get in a row as I prepare for that. I think I'll start working on Christmas gifts early, too this year. I can't believe how quickly it's coming! What are you doing this week?

It Was A Great Party...

Class of 1973 - photography by Ken Bauer

Saturday night was full of fun, friendship and surprises. It was the 45th class reunion for my high school graduating class. I was part of the planning committee, so I helped with anything that needed to be done prior to, during and after the party. There was still lots of time to visit, dance and catch up.

Not everyone who attended the party (and was a member of our class) is in this photograph. I noticed twenty or more people who chose to stay outside to visit or watch us taking the photo. (It was really hot outside, and worse inside.) I think they were just more comfortable not huddling next to the classmates that were posing for the picture (or perhaps they were camera shy).

Dr. Cyd Quarterman and me - BFFs for 57 Years and Counting

When I spoke with my oldest, best friend a few months ago, she told me she wouldn't be able to come as she planned to be in Wisconsin a few weeks prior and wouldn't stay on or return. I was disappointed, but completely understood.

I was sitting with my stepsister (also a classmate and long-time friend), Sher, when I glanced up to see my BFF walk across the room. She had decided to surprise me and come back to Wisconsin (from Georgia) for our reunion! She brought her younger brother as her "plus one". I've known him since he was a "pup", so we also got a chance to talk.

I couldn't have been happier to see her, and to spend time with her brother. She really blessed me by taking the time to come back to town for our reunion celebration, and we're planning to get together later this week at her mom's before she heads home.

Planning Committee Volunteers (L-R: me, Mary Schingen, Karen Suhs, Karen Courtney)

Mary, Karen S., and Karen C. were all busy Saturday night. The reunion really was the work product of Mary and another classmate, Rose Reigert. They called for volunteers to help plan the party, and that's how I got involved.

The night of the party, it was all hands on deck to make sure food and drink were available, a fun photo area with props was set up, and of course, end of night cleanup was accomplished. There was also plenty of time for committee members to eat, dance and be merry. (I'm sorry we didn't get a photo of all the committee members and volunteers together. This wouldn't have happened without them!)

John Freund and me

John is the younger brother of one of my old high school boyfriends. John was in my class, and he and I had time to share what's been going on in our lives since we last spoke.

We shared a couple of old stories, and he told me what his brother is doing in the northwest part of the country, too. Lots of changes (although not unexpected) since we graduated and his brother and I went different ways. It was nice to learn that they're all doing well.

Rose and Me

More than a few classmates passed since our last reunion (five years ago), but Rose Roberts is the younger sister of one of those who passed in the last year. She came to the reunion to visit with some of her sister's old friends, and we ran into each other.

We visited for quite a while, catching up on friends and relatives, and she's still as lovely as she always was. Rose always had a quiet elegance, and a great sense of fun. She seems to have become even more so over the years, and we hope to see each other again soon.

All in all, it was another memorable time with so many old friends. The next time we're all together, we'll celebrate our 50th. It's so hard to believe, when so many of still feel like thirty year olds inside. Sure, we have a new ache here, or a little "hitch in our giddyup" from time to time, but our hearts and minds are all still vibrant and fun filled.

I'll continue to work with the committee to plan the golden anniversary of our graduation, and pray that all of us alive today will be able to celebrate together in 2023. What a celebration it will be!