Update 6-18-02


Hi,

Funniest news I've heard all week, and it's old news, is that Pat Buchanan may have been Deep Throat.  Nothing like spreading rumors about Conservative Republicans.  Other than that, the debate inches on about 2005, and, no, not concerning Bush/Gore:

From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  First, I caught up to Jerry Bittman last night in the hospital.  I will allow him to provide the details, but he is better.
      Also, now that I’ve shown him the way, he realizes that 2005 CAN’T, SHOULDN’T, and WON’T be in Vegas.  All it took was 3 words to cave him in:  New York City.
      N.Y.C. is the BEST place for EVERY reason, and it's amazing how new ones keep popping into my head as I finish typing the last great reason.  But for starters:  It’s home.  It’s our city.  It’s the best city in the world, the most exciting, spontaneous, and alive host for this EVENT.  And it's so commuter friendly:  close to Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and airports to and from every destination.  Hopefully, we are all able to enjoy vacations to exotic places, but our reunion should be at home.  And with so many of us so far away from home, this is just another great opportunity to go back there.  It's like a gift.
      As for the weekly update:  it might be useful to offer the page as a good news bulletin board.  With all that is going on internationally, wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to post all of our bragging and good news that we have:  first/new grandkids, graduations, weddings, promotions, new jobs, transfers, new homes, retirements, vacation plans, “had lunch with,” "ran into," and, well, you know what I mean.
      Also, a technical note:  I CANNOT get onto most past or recent reunion picture pages... ever.  I ALWAYS get the error message, or a prompt directing me to “fill in the blanks” to find and open the page in AOL.  I have a back issue from 5/14 saved that allows me access to the pictures, and, whenever I want to, I open the home page from there.  I certainly don’t understand why that works, but then I am not any great computer whiz.  Since I‘ve spoken to a few people with the same gripe, I know it’s not only me.
      And just asking:  in a clipping from The Miami Herald real estate section, a home seller was listed as Eugene N. Barkin.  Any input?
      Lastly, and most important, for immediate publication, verification, and validation:  Please advise everyone, re: the photo submitted by Robin Feit of my evil bad hair day twin, that, however weird it looks, I am not singing ”Eencie Beenie Spider.”  It’s… "Wheels on the Bus."

From Diane Fruzzetti:  Well, now, when did Jerry take charge?  It will interest you to know, Jerry, that I don't like Albuquerque either.  So there!

From Hy Rosov (Class of 1959-1985):  I would love to shoot craps with Roz.  Count me in for the Vegas reunion in 2005.  I will bring along my left-handed crap shooting wife.  I have watched her roll the bones in Vegas, Atlantic City, Puerto Rico and on the Islands.  When she has a hot roll... watch out.  Can you imagine an entire crap table with South High Alumni?  I love the thought.  I think a Vegas reunion will really turn out to be a great success.
From Barnet Kellman:  Okay, I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'll add my vote for a reunion in Las Vegas -- since I've never been there, and it could be really funny.  Still, I think a reunion should be wherever the most people would show up, and, I suspect, that will always be New York.  So my real vote is for Manhattan.
On a different subject, from Zelda White Nichols:  I am hoping you will pass two messages on for me. There are two teachers who made a tremendous impression on me.  As I mentioned, I attended South from 7th to 9th grade and would have graduated with the class of '65 if I had not been sent to private school.  My heart was always at South.  I was incredibly shy back then, but fell in love with the teachings of Booker Gibson and Hy Rosov.  When Ellen Epstein mentioned that Booker Gibson was at the reunion, a flood of memories came pouring back to me.  My cats have more musical talent than I do, but he taught me how to appreciate opera.  I still remember his having us listen to Madame Butterfly, Aida, and Carmen in class, and all the discussions that followed.  He was such a wonderful teacher, as was Hy Rosov.  I have always loved to read, but he opened up the world of the classics.  I didn't appreciate them then as I do now, but I remember struggling to understand them to make him happy.  I just want to thank them both, and let them know how much they touched and influenced me.
      I am so sorry I had to miss the recent reunion.  I feel I missed out on something very special.  I just went over all the pictures, and oh, what fun it must have been.  Some people, like the two Robins and Denise Frango, I would have instantly recognized.  Ira Levy and I were playmates in grade school (I don't know if you remember me or that, Ira) but I would have loved to have met you again.  There are so many people I remember and hope some of them will attend a reunion out here in July.  You did say San Diego, right? (Just kidding)
      This is for Jerry Bittman:  Jerry, my husband's brother just went back to Geneva, Nebraska for visit.  He wanted to see the last remaining relatives there.  He said it is the same size as it was 30 years ago, about 900 people, and a weekend was as good as a month somewhere else.  They rebuilt that barn, and whenever some excitement is needed, it gets set on fire again.  Everyone gets busy trying to put it out, and that is good for an evening's entertainment.  Hope wherever you live is more exciting than that.  Can't beat the beef though.  Best Porterhouse I ever had -- it had to have been almost 2 inches thick and cost a whole $4.50.  Of course, that was 25 years ago.  Probably went up a buck since.

From Peg Cooper Schwartz:  Things here are status-quo.  My husband, Les, is feeling well, after undergoing four more months of Chemo recently.  We take one day at a time and are grateful for all the good days.  I'm back at work -- 3 days a week.  I'm a pharmaceutical rep for Wyeth (Advil & Premarin).  Our youngest, Sarah, just graduated from U of Maryland, and has accepted a teaching position (elementary), in the Montgomery County, Maryland school system, just outside D.C..  Les and I are headed to Key West this week -- to celebrate our 30th anniversary.  

Address change from Carole Ganz:  I've changed my e-mail address to: cabotganz@hotmail.com

And from Kathleen Hyland Farmer:  Could you please update my e-mail address?  It's now:  Kathy@kwf.us

Business:

About the home page problems:  if a link from a weekly update doesn't work, try typing  http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a  into the slot on your computer you use for finding Web sites.  That might do it.  Otherwise, I can only say, "Be patient with AOL."

About the Midsummer California Gathering:  I'm afraid we just don't have much momentum.  It's summer.  People already have other plans.  The only thing I can offer is I usually have a small midsummer party, just to break the year in thirds with Easter and Thanksgiving.  People are welcome to meet my other friends.

http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a/myhomepageprofile.html


Rich