Update 8-30-05   

Hey,

The weather nationally is not nice, but it's especially dangerous in the Southeast.  A report from someone who lives there.

From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Dry and windless greetings to all.  It was a dark and stormy night.  Somewhere just after 8:00 PM Thursday, we lost power, phones, Internet, air conditioning, and I lost my mind.  While candles and lanterns are lovely, not so in a hot, wet, shaking house, especially when it's from a howling, thrashing hurricane.  Needless to add, those of you who have been to "The Pech Palace" know the big old banyon tree that canopies the back.  Well, it's now  part of the front, side, and roof of the house.  And while branches blew, limbs catapulted through the roof, creating a lovely waterfall and atrium in the "great room."  I can also boast a newly-installed indoor pool.  Okay, that's an exaggeration -- it's just a small pool.  But nonetheless, it's surrounded by a lovely sofa ensemble and a formerly-great stereo system that -- who knew? -- can float.  Unfortunately, a fragile-but-still-intact good neighbor policy is being put to the test as two cars parked on the street were harpooned by tree limbs and crushed.  Double eek and bummer.  Massive quantities of soon-to-spoil frozen foods are being quickly consumed.  Note:  all the ice cream was "saved" just after the lights blew.  The neighbors have pulled together as we do in these emergencies, and the block party is in full swing.  Over 10 barbecues are fired up and the recovery has begun with steak, chicken, and other assorted freezer items.  All are welcome to join the festivities.  All we need is you, a row boat, and more COLD beer!  Pool side and dock side rooms available.

[Rich -- As I immediately wrote to Barbara:  My friends in Key West were flooded and lost power, but they sound like they're in better shape than you.  I hope the worse of it has passed.]

And she quickly wrote back:  Hey, not unlike the American History regents, Katrina has passed, for now.  But  I have yet to recover my mind.  Good to go.  Good she's gone!

Another note from Barbara, before the storm:  Just got my tri-annual hurricane call from Bea Massa Brown offering a hang out during the anticipated tropical fiasco due this weekend.  Some reunion that will be.  Updates to follow, I hope.
    Also, a quick note to again mention that the recent reunion has stayed with me these weeks, and I am now just sorting out new ties and old feelings.  The continued notes and words from those who attended and those who wish they'd been free keeps it all so close.  I meant to tell you that as I was heading out for the airport the morning of the reunion weekend, I flipped on the car radio, and there was the musical sign that all  was right in the world -- "Be True To Your School."  I tell you, my car flew to the airport!
    Segue into:  I have left two voice mails and sent additional e-mails for Terri Donohue Calamari asking her to get together with me to detail the Florida contingency reunion in January.  Over this last weekend, I went to the other side of the state -- to Ft. Meyers, just past Naples -- and the drive took less than two hours.  (Okay, so I wasn't exactly going the speed limit.)  So it's close, and it seems suitable, but if anyone wants to contact me, I'm open to all suggestions.  Also, eventually, I will forward my reunion candids, pool side and beyond.  No one is safe, and negatives are for sale.

[Rich -- Similarly, if someone would like to scan and e-mail me the two formal class photographs from the reunion, I'll post them.]

On a related matter, from Detective Moss in Maine:  One correction to the photos -- I think the last picture on the last page for class of 1965 is of Dennis Pizzimenti and Irene, not Irene and me.  I was wearing blue pants and a blue shirt.
    Also, to Lynn and Emily, about the photos:  "Thanks for the Memories" as Bob Hope used to say!

[Rich -- Yep, Dennis was wearing grey pants and a white shirt.  I'll correct the caption.]

And from Detective Jay Kinder:  I might see Mark Gladstone, Andrea's brother, at a party next month.  It turns out he's a friend of my brother-in-law.  If I do, I'll ask him for Andrea's e-mail address.

[Rich -- And about Helen David's driver's license photo:  I mentioned to her that I recently had my California driver's license renewed, and for the first time in thirty-five years, they asked to shoot my photo with my glasses off.  It's part of the new security rules.  Helen wrote back:  "Last time, in Hempstead, I blew into the DMV out of the wind, was told to take my glasses off, they snapped me immediately, and that's the miserable picture I carried for years.  I don't even recognize me without eyeglasses.  The only good thing about that picture was that I never aged, since it was saved through the next few renewals.  By then, it certainly didn't look like me -- not even a gray hair on my head!"]

From Lynn Nudelman Villagran:  Thank you to Peter Panzarino for sharing his high school story for the update.  I didn't know him, or even talk to him at the reunion, but he looked like he was having the best time of anyone and exhibited so much joy, especially on the dance floor, that it was contagious.

From Irene Saunders Goldstein:  Thank you, thank you -- to all who attended, to all who planned, to all who contributed to the reunion.  The weekend was fabulous.  At the risk of redundancy, it was wonderful to connect with old friends and fascinating to make new ones.  I'm looking forward to seeing my special South classmates again wherever and whenever.  If you plan to come to Washington, DC, let me know!

From Peggy Galinger Menaker:  Many thanks to Dennis Shapiro and Paul DeMartino and their committee for their work in planning the 40th reunion on behalf of the Class of '65.  Thanks also go to those who could not attend but still chose to support the undertaking.  It is always great to see old friends and former teachers from those wonderful years, and what is so much fun at these gatherings is to hear funny and sometimes outrageous stories about things I never knew (or, perhaps more accurately, have probably forgotten).  We find ourselves with the ability, if only for a few hours, to go back to those days.  Shared history truly is one of life's special gifts!

A request, from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  I keep forgetting to ask.  Do you know of anyone in your class who'd be interested in helping to get a South High Alumni Association off the ground?  Bernie O'Brien brought a huge envelope to my house and sort of put me in charge of getting this task accomplished.  I don't think it's all that difficult -- as long as I can find out how to get tax exempt status and proclaim our group a not-for-profit organization.  Unfortunately, I don't have time to do this all myself.  Maybe you can put out a feeler in your next newsletter?  Thanks.

An update from Steve Cahn on the coming class of '70 reunion:  We will have a good showing of 80 classmates, but it is still a bit disappointing because we've only reached 135 of 330 members of the class.  So two-out-of-three don't even know there's a reunion.  I feel bad about that.  Also, by the end of next week, I may be able to extend an invitation to your class for a reduced rate of $60.  There is so much still up in the air.

Some updated information from Zelda White Nichols:  Six months ago, my husband David and I moved from Alpine, California, which is 30 minutes east of San Diego in the Laguna Mountain Range to Lexington, North Carolina.  After spending twenty-one snowy years in Haverhill, Massachusetts, we opted for a warmer climate and stayed in California for six-and-a-half years.  I was manager of a business development group for a computer hardware manufacturer called Western Scientific.  After being in three major fires (the last being the largest in California history, two years ago), a number of smaller earthquakes, and considering the high cost of living, we opted to cash out of the real estate market and moved to North Carolina.  We are now living our dream of having a waterfront property on High Rock Lake with our own dock.  I am currently doing business development for my husband's company itSM Solutions and working out of the house.   Kids:  0;  Pets:  3 cats -- Suda Rose, Elijah Blue, and Amber;  Hobbies:  Fishing, hiking, travel, wine enthusiasts, cat fancy;  Retirement:  Can never see us retiring to do nothing.
    I did not graduate from South, but did attend through 9th grade.  I then went to private school for the next three years in Jamaica Estates.  I did, however, recognize a lot of my elementary and junior high school classmates’ names.  I went to college in Boston and lived there for four years before moving to Connecticut where I met my husband.  It's funny:  it's been twenty-five years since I was in Valley Stream.  My folks moved to Florida twenty-eight years ago, and I have no other relatives on the Island now.  I returned three years ago for my dad's funeral and was amazed how little has changed in all that time.  I immediately recognized everything.

And a new e-mail address from Judy Hartstone:  Could you please send mail to my new email address:  judyinfo4@msn.com  Thanks.

More reunion clean-up next week.