Update 9-12-06

Hi,

I think I'll write about the future today because, yesterday, so many people were more eloquent about the past than I could ever be.
   
    To start with, several people were happy to hear from Stu Borman:
   
    From Ray Staley:  That was an awesome letter from Stu Borman.  That's exactly what this newsletter should be about.
   
    From Thomas Romano:  I would like to thank Stuart Borman (also known as StuB) for sharing part of his life story with us.  It is truly amazing how seemingly random events in our lives can have such profound effects on our destiny.  I would like to try to assuage his disappointment in not attending medical school and becoming a brain surgeon.  It sounds to me like he is a very successful writer and has a great job.
        As it turns out, my daughter Megan also took chemistry classes at Hunter College.  She previously attended Columbia University and was going to go into the Peace Corps in Tanzania when the United States embassy there was bombed.  After a few years of soul searching, she decided that she wanted to go to medical school, so she took her post-baccalaureate classes at Hunter.  She started medical school this fall.
   
    From Ryki Zuckerman:  the rest of the story
   
    oh, maxine?
    she slimmed down,
    ran marathons,
    went straight after arrest,
    served no time
    (charges thrown out of court
    on a technicality),
    changed her name,
    went back to school,
    graduated cum laude,
    went on to med school,
    became a brain surgeon.
   
    From Jerry Bittman:  I really was fascinated with  the description of Stu Borman's life.  First of all, I'd like to congratulate Stu on his achievements.  Secondly, I'd like to thank him for taking the time to share his story with us.  Maybe it's because I've always enjoyed reading biographies, but articles about our classmates, whether they're about the past or present or about plans for the future, make this newsletter so enjoyable.  Hopefully, Stu's column will inspire others to write more of the same.  I would love to hear how Judy Hartstone wound up in Seattle, how Robert Fiveson got into making documentaries, or how Peter Rosen wound up in Atlanta (that occurred from a conversation between Pete, myself, and his beautiful wife Phyllis back in 1972).  It would also be nice to know how Linda Iaquinto has remained so young looking, how Neil Guberman is doing with his rock band, or how Steve Spector (an amazingly intelligent person) is doing.  And what is Jimmy Karl doing?  I haven't seen him since in 1972 or 1973.  That's when, as I've mentioned before, he asked me if he could use the facilities of the health spa I was managing on Park Avenue so he could lose weight for his police physical.  I could go on and on, but I know you all get my gist.
   
    And from Stu, first to Ryki:  I never imagined my story would evoke this much creativity.  I really appreciate your message.  It made me laugh.  I looked you up, and I found your photo on EarthsDaughters.com, but didn't recognize you.  But come to think of it, when I look in the mirror, I recognize myself even less.  See you soon, I hope.  Thanks.  Regards.
   
    And from Stu to the rest of us:  Hi!  Did you notice that energetic exclamation point?  It's there because I'm trying to organize a get-together of South High School Class of '65 people in the Washington, D.C. area -- like the get-togethers Paul DeMartino organizes on Long Island.  Rich is going to mention this in the next newsletter, and he thinks people from outside the immediate D.C. area and from different South High classes (and perhaps from different planets) might be interested in participating.
        If you think you might also be interested in participating, please let me know which of the following arrangements you would prefer for an initial get-together:
    * a restaurant or bar?
    * a lunchtime or dinnertime meeting?
    * a particular date or range of dates?
        Most importantly, do you have suggestions of a specific D.C. area restaurant, bar, or lounge that would be good to meet at?  My preferences would be a place that:
    * can comfortably accommodate a modest size group
    * has appealing food and beverage offerings
    * isn't too noisy (or too boring)
    * has flexible arrangements (instead of just offering fixed table seating, for instance)
    * and plays music from my MP3 player exclusively.
    (Only kidding about the last thing.)
    (Actually, I wasn't totally kidding.)
        Also, it would be best if we didn't have to pay for a room, so there would be no initial outlay.  That way, there would be no worries, and people could simply show up if they wanted to, not because they felt obligated to.
        I don't know of such a place, and you may have different priorities, in any case.  That sort of rhymes, and that's why I'm seeking your suggestions (not because it rhymes, but because you may have different ideas).
        Paul DeMartino's Long Island-based group is fortunate, I think, in being able to meet periodically at a bar owned by a former South High student (or her family), which sounds like a very comfortable situation.  I don't know if we can be as lucky.
        If you have any thoughts about this gathering, please contact me at sborman@gmail.com or call me at: 301-571-8231.  There's no obligation, and operators are standing by.  I'll coordinate information I receive from people and let you all know what's happening.

        P.S. -- A little known fact:  I was valedictorian of the South High Class of '65 "Snake Pit" (the non-Honor Society group that didn't get to sit on the dais at graduation).  This was a somewhat prophetic title bestowed on me by Barnet Kellman.
        P.P.S -- While I have your attention briefly, may I mention another amazing fact?  Carol Krakow wrote in my 1965 Legend yearbook:  "I expect you to be a chemico-literary biologist," and I'm now a writer for the American Chemical Society specializing in biochemistry and molecular biology.  (Of course, Carol also went on to say, "Here's wishing a pie in your face.")
        P.P.P.S. -- Looking through my yearbook just now, I just found a $1.00 ticket to an October 5, 1963 concert by The Belmonts held in South Hall.  The back of the ticket is signed by the Belmonts -- Frank, Freddie, and Angelo.  I just Googled them and found that the Belmonts broke with Dion in 1960 and reunited with him in 1967, so they undoubtedly performed at South without Dion in 1963.  That makes my ticket worth a whole lot less on eBay than if Dion had signed it too.
        End of message.  (I promise.)
   
    A fast response to Stu from Robert Fiveson:  Restaurants tend to be less noisy than bars (but not always).  Evenings are likely to be less time-restricted.  Anytime but Thanksgiving or Christmas seems good.  And may I suggest the upstairs, smaller room of The Red Sage Restaurant?  http://dc.about.com/od/restaurantreviews/gr/RedSage.htm

 [Rich -- There's more, but not much could top Stu's enthusiasm just now.  So I think we'll quit here and catch up on the rest of the news next week.]