AFTER THE REUNION - 30 July 08

Just got back to Vancouver on Friday, July 25th. I wanted to take a moment to make a post here "after the reunion", and...

Thank everyone that came out to Thom Collegiate's 30th High School Reunion - Class of '78. I think it is safe to say that everyone had a great time. I know I certainly did. It's amazing that it was 30 years ago, we were all sitting in classrooms, together, learning the same thing, yet what different stories we were able to share with each other.

We collected everyone's information and I will be compiling it all and sending it to everyone...soon. I must admit, I have a bit of "catching up" to do in my own work, and your patience is appreciated. I also will be sending out a few thank you cards on behalf of the reunion and, therefore, hope to get to the contact info list sometime after the summer. (unless I have a sleepless night before then, I may start on it then...hey, it happens every now and again.)

Garnet Brown posted a few video clips of the reunion on youtube. I googled his username: egopotimus + youtube and was able to find them. I found myself smiling as I watched them, as they brought back memories of that night.

Thanks to Art and Bonnie Hosie for having us "diehards" over when we had to leave the Canadian Italian Club. I can't remember the last time I stayed out till 3:30 in the morning. Considering I was staying with my mom, I betcha she was having her own dejavu's when she heard the door open in the wee hours of the morning.

Many thanks to those that participated in the evening as well. Orville Chubb (toast to the grads), Reg Read (toast to the teachers), Ron Stettner for performing the same song he did for us at our graduation, and Mark Zimmerman for being our Emcee.

And, I think it was fabulous that we had Mrs. Ann Van Vliet, and Mr. Peter Chernoff and his wife, Irene, there to share the evening with us.

It was great to see Desiree (Lafayette) Reis, Janice Mah, Kelly Frizzell, and Twila (Kennedy) Forsyth out that morning to help Ernie and I with decorations. Desiree, Twila, Mark, and Dawn (Dolan) also helped Ernie in trying to locate everyone. It was a big job and the help was certainly appreciated.

Twila, my gawd girl, you were an absolute godsend. We couldn't have asked for a better volunteer. And, please make sure you ROYALLY thank that husband of yours for us for all those MP3 cd's he made of hours and hours of 70's music. There were enough made that we could give some to the volunteers, some went as door prizes and some on the silent auction table. Wow! What a nice addition to our evening.

My family was awesome in helping out with this reunion. It was my mom's idea for the 50/50 draw, and when Twila said she had a Thom jacket she would give to us as a door prize, my mom also suggested a silent auction. She also donated the bottle of wine for a door prize and the Coor's TShirt for the silent auction. She was great too, for bouncing ideas off of. My brothers Chuck and Wendell were also a great help. Chuck, with his donations to the silent auction including a Thom golf shirt, not to mention all the questions I asked him being he was a teacher at Thom for 18 years, including info on getting a list of teachers, And, my brother Wendell, for all his running around town in helping us to initially find a venue. I sent him to a few places, getting him to take pix and email them to me...poor guy. "No, I don't like that one. Can you go to.....what do you think of ...... One brother, a teacher at Thom, and the other brother in the bar business. Could a girl be so lucky when it came to planning this reunion! Hey, my other brother, Alan, is in the construction business....anyone care to front the money to build a place for our 40th? lol

Although the initial venue was the Murphy's at the Regina Court and Fitness Club, we unfortunately had to switch venues. Carm Carteri did not leave us out in the cold though, as he was so kind to book the Italian Club for us. He also donated items to our silent auction: the Sask Roughrider windbreaker, the Sask Roughrider baseball cap, and the Regina Court and Fitness Club Golf shirt. We also had a tshirt from him as well that went as a door prize.

All in all, we raised over 400 dollars between the 50/50 draw and the silent auction with proceeds going to the Thom SRC/Alumini. I will be sending in a money order to Cheryl, the secretary of Thom, who, I have to say, was a tremendous help as well. If any of you were at the reunion, are in Regina, and have a chance, please stop by the school to thank Cheryl for me/us. She is one of the most helpful, beautiful people I have ever have the honor to meet.

And, finally, I must say many thanks to Ernie Berg. We spent alot of hours on the phone trying to pull this reunion off, alot of planning, and I am grateful for all our experiences, before, during the reunion, and after. It was a pleasure having the opportunity to organize this reunion with you.

Now, Ernie and I have spoke since, and our sentiments 2 weeks before the reunion about planning a 40th, would have been, "Are you nuts? Do you know how frustrating this is? Someone else can do it!" It's amazing how the success of an event, seeing everyone that you haven't seen in years, and seeing everyone have such a great time, makes you think twice...or forget about the negative. Now, that's not to say that we are committing to this now, 10 years is a ways off, but stayed tuned to this blog, and remember, I have all your contact info now. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO HELP THIS TIME! Additionally, make sure you let Ernie or I know if your contact info changes so if there is a 50th school reunion in 5 years, or if we do plan a 40th, it will be easier to find people.

And spread the word...let those know that didn't come what a good time they missed and hopefully we will see them at the 40th...ok, there's a good chance there will be a 40th, but again, not wanting to make a commitment right now, but do check back in a few years. (smile) Additionally, those that didn't make it, but would like to be put on the contact list, please have them email me at healthconscious@shaw.ca with name, (including maiden name if applicable) address, phone number, email address, etc. so I can include them too.

Again, it was great seeing everyone. And, to those of you that couldn't make it....WE HAD A BLAST! Wish you were there!