Wow!

Well, my voice is still a little hoarse and I’m still grinning like an idiot (more than usual, for those who know me). I’m not yet recovered from the parties and the amazing emotional BLAST we have when we get together like that.

Yes, it was a smaller reunion than the 20th, but it was full of special friends from our past. My best estimate was that we saw 80 to 90 people on Friday including Rosie Raftary, Tim McInnis, Paul Rausch, Rick Edwards and Dave O’Brien and 115 to 120 on Saturday. There were more like Luke Lewy and others who were at Ford Field. I’d say over 100 alumni were around for this.

I want to thank some of the many people that help put this one on. Starting with my wife Lisa who knows most of you all too well by now. Also, Lou Damiano and her husband Ken (our well balanced group photographer) for updating the mail lists, greeting people and all of the emotional support.

Michelle Sziraki for her assistance on the mailings, the hall decision, finding people and for putting the night we graduated video onto DVD. I want to thank Renee Bakalis, for her arm twisting and her great support.

Sandy Schlaff also blew us away with the Powerpoint laptop photos of Friday night running the Saturday party. A terrific surprise for us all Sandy.

Most of all I want to thank those of you who attended. It’s a large commitment of time, travel and money. I really appreciate it. You really make it magic when you show up. A few of you ask why I do this, and I say, take a good look at the group shot for my answer. We’re a group that rises to the occasion and has always laughed, danced, (OK, drank some) and cheered a lot and always will. No matter what comes our way. It’s just a lot of fun when we gather, that’s it. (see “We’ve Still Got It” in the Guestbook if you need more proof.)

And also thanks to all of you who are supportive of these events though you may not be able always attend. You keep us updated. You want to know what’s going on. You let others know about the parties, etc. We’ll see you at the 30th...trust me it’ll be here in no time. We’ll all be nearly 50 and I’m dying to see if Jim Shedd can still look like he did the day we graduated like he did at this one.

Group shots and other photos will be posted. We’re not going to identify them, because of the creeps that can also use the internet. But if you want to know who someone is, write me and I’ll tell you.
Also, we will be sending out the Memory Book electronically to those who attended. It is included in the price of your ticket.

For those of you who want a book, but weren’t there, we’ll need $10. for that. Let us know and we’ll get you one. If you’re like David Lomas and don’t have e-mail, we can send you an actual paper book. Again, $10. for that will do it...Lomas is in Hawaii, by the way and said to say “Hi”.

Yes, there is now a DVD of the night we graduated tape. I’ll find out how many of you want one and offer them for sale. More on that later.

God bless all of you. Thanks for making this all worth it. Please keep in touch with us and with each other. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.

Tim