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.