Update 8-16-05

Hi,

Ellen. Nancy. Yes, both former Nudlemans. And only one of them -- in addition to Lynn -- was able to come to the party. Ellen. Not Nancy. As I mistakenly wrote. It would have been one thing if they were both in the same room, and I couldn't tell them apart. But that night, there was 3000 miles between them. Sorry.

A lot of mail this week. More that I can fit into one update. So if you wrote, and your note's not here, it will be next week. To be fair, I'm running things in the order they came.

About the photos: Sometimes even I get irritated with AOL. There are 52 photos online, courtesy of Emily Kleinman Schreiber and Lynn Nudleman Villagran, and the pictures weren't nearly as blurry as they presently seem to be until AOL got to them. And now AOL won't let me finish editing the pages. So you're going to have to wait a day-or-so before you get to strain your eyes. But, eventually, if you go to our usual, unfortunately blurry home page at http://hometown.aol.com/vssouth65, then click on Photos, then 40th Reunion Photos, you'll have an impressionistic view of some of us having fun at the parties. And, yes, I do need to make some real investigations about a better website. If anyone has suggestions, please write me

Some notes that came in before the reunion:

From Henry Gabbay: Sorry I will not be able to make the reunion. I hope everyone has a great time, and I look forward to reading about the event on the web.

From Nancy Garfield: Wishing everyone a great time at the reunion this weekend. As one of the people unable to attend, I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures posted on the web. If you're able to record Booker's performance, I'd love to see and hear it. Wish I could attend, but I look forward to our 50th. We'll all be eligible for Social Security and Medicare by then... if they still exist!

From Larry Rugen: Sorry I could not make it to the reunion this time around as my wife and I will be flying to Seattle to catch the Sapphire Princess for a cruise to Alaska and then a few days in Port Angeles, Washington. Any one been on the Sapphire or Diamond Princesses, sister ships and two of the largest in use? Did you know the Sapphire was really the Diamond Princess? Confused? These ships are part of the Princess Cruise lines, but are managed by Carnival Cruise lines, and were built by Mitsubishi Industries in Japan. The Diamond Princess -- almost on completion, and while still in dry dock -- was set on fire by a welder's torch. It was considered a complete loss and was one of the largest insurance losses ever in shipping. So the Sapphire Princess came online first, but was renamed the Diamond Princess. The actual burned-out Diamond Princess was cut in half, salvaged, then rebuilt and renamed the Sapphire Princess. What ship were you on last? Who knows? It may have just been renamed. In any case, I hope you all have a great reunion.
And the start of what came in after:

From Barbara Blitfield Pech: Somewhere out there are the words to some song that will best describe, better than I can, the reunion weekend. But I can also ASSURE you, it will take the rest of my life to be able to listen to even the first few notes of "That's What Friends Are For" without losing it. I already have a working note to Terri Donohue Calamari, and it was my good fortune to be seated next to the concierge of the Ritz Carlton, Naples Beach, Florida on my return flight. Once she said, "Lobster Station, Bloody Mary Station, and Separate Dessert Room," my credit cards perked up and were begging me to have her "hold the date" for the Florida + Contingency Brunch in January or February 2006. Details to follow, along with the new guidelines for Weight Watcher's 2007 program! Any out-of-towners who are interested in joining us for the party are always welcome at the newly-renovated Pech Palace. As always, poolside suites available at "good rates."
    Also, I crammed. I compressed. I passed. 8 YEARS CANCER FREE! Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, very best wishes -- and friendship! PINK HUGS to all.

From Dennis Pizzimenti: Benette and I enjoyed the party. To us, it was more relaxed and less overwhelming than the last gathering. And it was flattering to learn that, within a small circle of the then-9th graders, Benette and I were the "it couple" of South High in 1965.
    Congrats to Rachael and Ira. Welcome back to Linda and Rob. To Terri, I apologize for what I didn't do forty plus years ago. In mitigation, I can only say, I had no idea.
    I also enjoyed seeing Larry Coleman. He and I were best friends for about 6 months in elementary school. He was a "Google" of information about the Catholic school kids who grew up in our neighborhood.

From Emily Kleinman Schreiber: Thanks for dinner! It was a lot of fun!

From Lynn Nudelman Villagran: Hi, all. I wanted to again thank Paul DeMartino and Dennis Shapiro for all their hard work in bringing together the 40th reunion. In spite of the difficulties involved leading up to the reunion, I would think that those who attended would agree that it was a resounding success. I felt just as I did three years ago at the last reunion -- I had a big smile on my face the entire weekend and felt an instant comfort level with old friends. The smaller size party enabled us to have more time for in-depth conversations with more people. And it was fun to see people from other classes enjoying each other as much as we did. It just amazes me that I felt such comfort and closeness to people whom I've seen only twice in the past 40 years. We shared lots of laughs, stories, and sadness for those no longer with us. It is a weekend I will remember for a long time to come. Thanks so much to all those who shared it with me.

From Ralph Kramer: I just wanted to thank Dennis, Paul, and Rich for their obvious tremendous effort in putting the reunion together. It was well worth the 600 mile drive. By the way, for all of you who didn't know, Dennis Shapiro has bowled four 300 games and five 299 games. Who'da thunk it? Thanks again everybody.

From Steve Cahn: I'm sending your reunion notes on to my class, '70, because I'm jealous! I also told them: "I've developed an e-mail relationship with a representative from the class of '65. They, too, had problems getting people to attend their reunion, so they made some adjustments. And some people who couldn't make it sent in a contribution to make it all happen. It was quite a nice 'class effort' to pull it all together. If you have a few minutes to read the Class of '65 update, you'll see how it reflects what this whole affair should be -- a group of people who shared a common thread getting together to enjoy what bound them together for some very important formative years. If you're still undecided about attending our reunion, read the notes, and I'll bet you decide to come."

From Eric Hilton: I would have loved to have joined all of my South High friends, but I work in retail and had no time available. Besides, I was in New York a month ago, shooting photos at a wedding, and I drove up Rockaway Avenue, only to be saddened by its condition. There were so many changes that I became depressed. Rockaway Avenue never looked so bad. My daughter Robyn, who works in the advertising department of Newsday, also reminded me that there had been a stabbing on the bridge by South. She was as appalled as I was at the condition of Valley Stream. To me, this was one of the best places in the world to grow up, and South holds very fine memories fro me. Last year, while I was managing a furniture store in Sarasota, a customer whose name sounded very familiar told me he was from Long Island. When I asked "Where?" he said he owned a sporting goods store named Suprinas on Rockaway Avenue across from the movie theater. I asked him to come back in 15 minutes, and I ran home and brought back my car club jacket. When he looked at it, he shouted, "I remember making you that jacket in 1964!" What a small world.
Since attending the reunion three years ago, I am still in touch with special friends, and I have reunited with some of the most wonderful people. I was saddened to hear that Grace Dibble is not doing well and send my warmest regards to her and her family. And I want to send congratulations to my first true love, Jean Cohen -- whom I played Spin-the-Bottle with in Mario's basement -- on the wedding of her son Ezra. Mazel tov. Again, thank you all for getting so many special friends back together again.

From Robin Feit Baker: Sunday, while enjoying a group breakfast, I couldn't avoid noticing the sadness -- our weekend together was now ending. Aren't we fortunate to have the gift of long-time friendships!

From Stu Kandel: Old friends are the best friends, and these friendships are really something special.

From Dennis Shapiro: It really was great seeing everyone and enjoying some good conversation. The hotel did a fine job, and the event went very well. Sunday was a sad day for me because I realized that I probably won't see many of our classmates again. We will just have to wait and see what happens. I hope we get to see each other again. Be well.

Finally, from Allen Moss: Well folks, it's that big mouth from Maine again. Jeez, you would think I would have been talked out, what with three days of non-stop flapping of gums, but NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
    First of all, several rounds of standing ovations to Paul, Dennis, Rich, Robin, Terri and all the other members of that great reunion committee who, once again, put together a wonderful weekend for all of us to enjoy and remember. Everything seemed to go just fine and, if there were glitches, they didn't seem to show.
    What a treat to see Mr. Saffrin and Mrs. Margolin both looking absolutely great for South High elder states people. And it was so great to spend relaxed time with lots of folks who I just didn't get a chance to connect with at the 37th. The atmosphere was not as highly charged and frantic as the 37th, and it seemed right this time. It was a chance to "fill in the gaps" that might have been missed at the previous reunion.
    Being the "touchy-feely" type of guy I am (and proud of it), I wanted to share a few moments that seemed to sum up the 40th reunion experience for me. Several years ago, I wrote an article entitled "Breathe Deeply and Give Thanks" as part of my freelance assignments for the Maine/New Hampshire "Employment Times." In a nutshell, I spoke about the need for folks to slow down, experience, and appreciate the non-material things in their lives like nature, friends, family, and their own emotional complexity. That article came rushing back to me Saturday night at the dinner-dance. I was just recovering from dancing to four straight Motown songs, and taking some sips from my portable oxygen container (!), when I glanced up across the table and saw Dennis Pizzimenti and Joan Aries talking with each other. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but the body language was unmistakable. Here were two former classmates who were SO connected in a wonderfully animated conversation. I have no idea whether Dennis and Joan were friends in high school or whether they have communicated during the last 40 years. All I know was that there was pure delight and joy on both their faces as they took turns talking and listening to each other. There were moments of shared laughter and intense concentration. Then I took a look around the other tables -- and there was more of the same! At that moment, I "breathed deeply and gave thanks" that I could be part of this most wonderful experience. And to all my classmates and friends who made the 40th another special moment in my life -- thank you as well!