On The Bright Side

In High School there were a number of us who were just a little too clever. But then there were those who were gifted with the sense that our parents wished we all could have.
They knew better than to make snarky remarks in class when the teacher was in listening distance. This wasn't because they were flying below the radar or were sneaky. No.
They just had 'sense'.
Well at least to me they did.

Peter Wares, Richard Beauchamp and David Murdoch were three such people. I just hope they can let that guard down a bit now and come for a visit.

By the way Peter -say 'Hi' to Lois and the kids for Me and Jane... we miss you both.
Oh yes- Richard still looks this good!

And David??? It's been years -love to see him again. Is he still with Anne?
L

At least three of this line-up will be there and one said she would...but.





Four out of eight from this picture below are scheduled to show.

Can you guess who will be there?
The absent ones are still absent...so far.




At least two of those on this team will be there.
Guess who.











And one for sure on this team will be there. Another even approached me in the super market and asked expressly for all the info and said she would... but -oh well .....

Rick Rice In His Element






So I made my way over to Kahnawake yesterday and picked up Rick and then we booted into the City to pick up Mark Stafford at CHOM FM.
I hadn't realized that these two, who used to blaze the contemporary 'troubadour trail' with Roddy McManus, had not seen each other since 1972/73.
But there was something I sensed in this meeting-the bond - the music -'the life', those with the magic we used to see and hear- the humour, was still there.
I think -with a little luck, we'll be in for a treat once Dave Glass pulls into town.

Oh - and Karen Green wants me to let you all know (as she has discovered) that it is not too late to sign up.
Damn! Did I go and leave that door open?
Oh well use it now, you never know when it will close.

Before we cracked through the '100-people-paid' mark, the concept was to keep things
'all-inclusive', but now, since we are at 135 or so, we can afford to have a little more latitude.

So, I suspect that by the beginning of next week, those who have not yet paid because they only want to go to the school but not the main evening event, may be able to pay on-line for a '$25 Morning-Kick -Off' ticket, to attend the big kick-off on the Saturday morning to gain admittance to the Moshure Auditorium.

Also for those who want to avoid the main Dinner and Social Event, but perhaps swing by for drinks, blend in with the crowd and perhaps hear some live music in the bargain (AFTER 10:00 PM) - well, - we could have the 'After Dinner Tickets' on sale for $35 on-line or paid in advance by cheque also by the end of this week or beginning of next.

But be forewarned, (as one of my teachers used to say with index finger raised) if you wait to pay at the door, prices will be raised above these levels, so please do us all an administrative favor to prevent us having to collect money at the door- pay on line or by cheque in advance to keep your price low.

All considered though, the savings and value of the whole event including dinner and wine etc. at $100 per person or $175 per spousal couple is still the best value for the dollar -especially when adding on the hotel discount for rooms and free parking for the "all-in" ticket.
L

Name Game

I have been asking people the question..."What motivates you to join in a reunion?"

Some of the responses have been:
1) nostalgia .
2) enjoyment of social occasions.
3) curiosity.
4) coming home and looking around.
5) for those who still live here, simply seeing who is willing to come back to this little spot on the map.
6) for some who had strong networks in high-school-times but feel marginalized by life to some degree now, the magnet pull of the old gang "feel" just one more time.
7) the possibility of seeing 'the one(s) who got away'.

But it was suggested to me recently that I should list a few of the key names of people who are paid-up and going since no one likes feeling left out. And, if one's friends are seen as "going" -well ... I guess this would be a subtle form of peer pressure, in that one might not want to have left oneself out -cutting of the nose despite one's face (as it were).

OK so let's have a look at a modest and incomplete list of names of just some of those who we know for sure are paid up and going (in no particular order)- "Yeah, I guess this counts as name dropping, so tough, - these are people I am very proud to know.":

John Saunders, Rick Rankin, Susan Deliva, Margaret Kavenagh, Susan Davis, Mark Stafford, Anne Christine Gurholt, Joanne Beda-Tansey, Carol Mates, Barry Jones, Rickey Rice, Irene Grant-Smith, Yens Harnest, Bruce Craig, Ron Enros, Mr.Mcrea (teahcer), Rick Jones, Cheryl Mates-Jones, Kathie Parsons-Harnest, Bobbie Houston, Vincent Murphy, Roddy McManus, Bernetta Starkey(Mclean), Jimmy Williams, Anne Kavenagh, Seleda Williams, David Glass, Ingrid Gurholt, Stephan Fuchs, Gabrielle Kerth-Houston, Judy Vokey-Mutch, Mike 'to ski or not to ski' Voizard, Barbara Trampf-Zimmerman, Les McConnell, Joe Doucet, David Poirier, Susan Walsh, Lorraine Robichaud-D'Aguilar, Andrew Mutch, Colleen Hillock, Garth Phillipowsky, Gervase Bushe, Debbie Hanney, Barry Stevens, Rick McCallum, Doug MacKenzie, Carol Anne Robichaud, Robin Moody, Steve Devlin, Debbie Yeudall, Lynda Young, Daniel Zimmerman, Tom Heggisson, Pat DuCaen, Eileen Henneman, Hopeton D'Aguilar, Debbie Kaye and many more.

I would list a lot more, but it's time to go out and do the groceries. I am telling you this is getting good.

By note to Rickey Rice and Mark Stafford and Roddy McManus - remember we meet sometime this coming week to discuss the possibility of the Saturday Night set of songs to play (Live Rock and Roll) in addition to the recorded music that will be played. I will be copying in Dave Glass and Jack Kennedy on our discussions. I wonder if Dave or Steve Poirier might be into this aspect of the Reunion? Steve as usual is hanging back.

As I discovered the hard way with the "passing" of one of our old friends last week- there are sometimes good reasons other than shyness or other less than serious reasons to not be interested in one significant life marker time.

Sure would be neat if Sonja and Rodger were to respond but...ah...'hard to get'...come on - you know you want to come.

Someone please call Danny Lee and Marty Calligan get them into this. I do not have their numbers.

AND I LIKE IT ! YES I DO!

I guess the only question to ask would be - other than dire medical and financial reasons, why not reunion?

Fear? Fear of what people might think or say of what we look like now? - or I am not a success yet and I'll feel small by those who seem to have success... wel if these last two are the ones you hold tight to... then yes - please stay home.

Those of us who are attending simply don't care about that stuff. All of us with bags under our eyes, scars, lack of hair, extra mega pounds of fat, still not millionaires yet- well, we know what we know and see our own deficiencies in our own lives, we are going to the reunion to hug people we haven't seen in ages, to have a good time and celebrate what we do have - an inclusive community. If you choose to leave yourself out, then perhaps you are doing us a favour. But chances are you are undervaluing yourself needlessly and not even giving us or yourself a chance. As long as you pay the fee like everyone else ...then just as in those summer memories and school times - consider yourself at home, part of our family. Everything is good. And we do miss you. Come on down.

Mark Stafford.

Earlier in the blog -months ago there is a picture, black and white of Mark, Roddy and Romy in the control room of the student radio station.

Well here is Mark Stafford in his control room at CHOM FM/CJFM. He is still tall with hypnotizing eyes and mellow tones. The essential Mark, gentleman and scholar of life , is still there.

Just don't ask about snow-boarding.