Uhhh...Beavis...that was cool!!!!

Now that I'm finally caught up from being out of the office, I just wanted to say thanks to all who were there at the reunion, and also all who weren't there. Talking about the class ahead of us and reflecting on the tragedy at Va tech really brought home to me what a great group of people our central class really was. Perhaps if I start working on it now I could clone you all by the time my daughter is six and put her in Mrs. Witty's class with you and have you raise her like you raised me. I really would if I could ...except maybe for Jim Brew. No bad boys for her...ha!!! But seriously, thanks all and thanks to Rachel, Stephanie and all those who helped organize. It was, as they say, cool. If any of you are in Colorado look me up. My address is 522 Lakewood Ct. Windsor CO 80550. Cell#970-217-8754. Tony

P.S. How did the Whiskey River extravaganza end after I prematurely extricated?

Thank you!!

Thanks to everyone for making Saturday's reunion so much fun.

Anne Sam warming up for the big kickball game.

For those who couldn't make it, here are a few of my highlights (perhaps others will post their favorite moments as well):

• Girls sleep over on Friday night in my dad's basement(sorry, guys)
• Mr. Hansen arriving in his tuxedo
• Surprise appearance of Helen Christiansen, Central School Secretary
• Maggie's trivia game
• The resurfacing of familiar kick-ball personalities
  (Tony=fiesty and competitive,Anne=adorably enthusiastic, Andrea=loves to socialize in the outfield, Mark Lind=athletically gifted w/o the killer instinct, Andy=stickler for rules, etc, etc). Such a blast!!
• Singalong with Mr. Hansen (seeing Jim Brew sing the Donut Shop song)
• Seeing Dan Pettis without the big glasses
• All the Central spawn - what good looking kids!
  

There were, of course, so many other wonderful moments. Will be posting and distributing more photos as soon as possible.



Rachel, Lisa, Stephanie, Andrea and Anne at the Friday night slumber party.

Pizza power

Oh, and Rache:
Ain't nuthin wrong with looking forward to the pizza. I can't wait. I always remember that pizza was so "tall." Yum. I'm hoping it will help me with my strength in kickball. I've been doing ankle rotations and power squats for a week, but only on the right side. My kicking leg.
See you all on Saturday!

Big big sky

After reading Rachel's memories of staring up at a huge tree and a big sky, I wanted to share mine. I remember going up from our house on Nassau towards the high school---up, up, up the hill---until Lisa & I reached the top of the big hill, on that corner where you are at Grace and the street that leads to Stephanie's house, by the college. There is a big stone marker there. What does it even say? St. Peter High School? I don't remember...but we would climb up onto that and lie on top of that cool, yellow stone in the middle of summer and would just stare up at the sky. Not sure if kids can even do this kind of thing anymore---with all the precautions regarding them being alone---but there we would stay, as long as we felt like it (or until we got hungry). We would just look at the blue sky and the clouds floating, and we would talk about shapes and what we saw. Sometimes it's hard for me to understand the world nowadays where all the kids are so busy with lessons and game schedules and all the computer activities. It just seems like too much. Having enough time that you are a little bored and need to make up games in the yard...and talk about what animals you see in the clouds? I think that's better.

Quiet Anticipation

My family and I arrived in St. Peter last Friday. Although I've been somewhat preoccupied with other activities (my dad and stepmother are both retiring from Gustavus, we've been attending several related festivities), I find myself discovering old memories at every turn.

We've been taking my daughter to the various parks around town. In Gorman park, as I stood pushing her on the swings, I suddenly remembered the giant tree that used to stand on the east end of the park next to the original swing set. I remember swinging and looking waaaaaaay up into its branches, feeling small. At Washington square park they still have the jungle gym thing that, as my daughter describes it, looks like a giant cage. It must be at least 40 years old.

I went to the Family Dollar store to get some goodies for all our offspring to play with at the park on Saturday, and I remember when it used to be that grocery store where you could pack your groceries in boxes. I used to think that was so cool.

It's nice to be here in St. Pete. I can't wait to see everyone. I'm also kind of stoked for some Godfather's Pizza. Is that terribly wrong?

Watch Your Shins

I hadn't checked our blog in at least a week, so a moment ago I pored over the latest entries while the magic of dark roast soared through my veins. I really chuckled as I read Jim's entry because...I am wearing wooden clogs RIGHT NOW. And they are not a beat-up pair from the '70s. They are fresh & purdy...the sandal version for summer. Wear your shin guards.

Rache: We DID do May Day baskets! I remember doing them, too! I think my mom introduced me to them. I don't remember anxiety about getting one/not getting one, though. No idea why. Maybe I was so focused on my creative expression (making of the basket) that I needed nothing in return. What a selfless artist.

The May pole, though...I have no recollection of that. You mighta made that one up. I know. I've decided I need a web of people to help me remember the past. Once they all start disappearing (fast-forward to our 90s), I'm outta here. Unless I still have a copy of this blog, of course. Then I could refer to that.

Note to the out-of-staters: It is so cool you are coming. Thank you for making the trip! Paul: wish you could come! We will miss you very much. Jim: you can't back out now. If you do, we'll just change the location to MT. Ha.

Anne

Mistaken identity

In reading through some of the entries, I have noticed that some of you have confused me with someone else. If you will please look at the pictures of our class (notice my angelic demeanor) , I think you will agree that it could not have been me who gave people bloody noses, picked on people and attempted to molest others.
In fact, it is my memory that some of the members of our central school class purchased wooden(!!) clogs for the expressed purpose of kicking innocent kids in the shins. Others chased me and force fed me raisins. Physical abuse was common, but psychological was worse. I've already begun to get a stomachache thinking that I will be the last one picked to be on the kickball team.
Is it too late to exchange the plane ticket?

May Day

As is the case with most of my childhood memories, this one is incomplete. I seem to recall making little paper baskets that were decorated and then filled with candy and leaving them on the front stoops of people's homes on May 1st. Establish perimeter, place basket, ring bell and run away. I don't recall any specifics, but I do recall some vague anticipation centering on whether or not I would receive a little basket on the stoop of my house. Did this actually happen or was I dreaming?

I also have foggy recollections of the May Pole ritual. I am remembering a sunny day, feeling delighted that it is actually warm enough to be outside without a jacket, and there being colorful ribbons attached to one of the tether ball poles. Or, I might be making this up.

It's tough getting old.

I feel no Paul pain

Paul:
You were always nice to me. Thank you. :)
I do remember Tony & Jim beating on me once and giving me a bloody lip, though.
I was really ticked off.
I'm gonna clock them on May 19.
I remember Paul more like a protective brother. Thanks, bro!

RE: Yo-yos
That is a high-larious story. I love that. That is so funny.

I remember playing a lot of "four-square." I really like that game. In fact, if someone asked me to play it now, I would offer an enthusiastic, "You bet"!"

Can anyone bring a red bouncy ball to the event? That would be tubular.*

*Notice use of early '80s lingo and not current jargon, such as "That would be sick."

I need coffee!
Anne

Don't tell my daughters!

I'm glad my daughters aren't old enough to read about all the terrible things I did when I was younger! If anyone is really traumatized from some friendly playground games, I might be able to recommend a good therapist! If you think Tony and I did some damage, do you must not remember Maggie and Stephanie on the basketball court. We played in the intramural league in 5th grade (with Paul Miller?) and they got pretty much every rebound. Going back to kick ball, would you believe my grandmother lives in the apartments they built to replace the school and her apartment has a great view of the old playground and Gorman park? Now, every time I visit I just sit at the window and recall the glory days.

Sorry for your Pain,
Paul

yoyos

Do you remember when yoyos were a huge deal? Apparently it became "an issue" on the playground because the playground lady took one away from someone. (Anyone remember the playground lady's name?). I remember her walking around with the yoyo and showing off her yoyo skills -- I think she could even "walk the dog" with her yoyo. Very impressive.... So, there she was with her confiscated yoyo when Laurence picked a fight on the playground. The playground lady rushed over with yoyo (now turned weapon) and with frighteningly accurate precision used the yoyo (still attached to her finger with the string) and clocked Laurence in the head to break up the fight. She accomplished her goal, but can you imagine that happening today?

Tony

P.S. Tony: You are looking HOT. I can't wait to see you. Your jawbone is so...so...chiseled.
Luv&hugs,
Anne

Nicknames and more memories ~ !

I haven't writtten in a while cause I couldn't get in cause I couldn't remember my password! It finally came to me, today! Ah, man...aint easy living in the 21st century. All these codes, passwords, log-on IDs, PINs...

I think I remember Tony calling Mark Lind "Linder." I have this vision of him grinning and having lots of energy and laughing and saying "Linder" as he picked him for a kickball team or some other event that required excellent motor skills and sporting agility. Correct me if I'm wrong, Tony!

I remember Dan P. talking about semis. I learned my first type of semi from him I can't remember it right now (surprise, surprise).

The other day I thought about the hurdles. I dreaded those things. They were probably on my top five list of most-dreaded experiences in grade school. It was like staring down a rabid dog, baring its teeth at me. I honestly thought it was unfair for us little pipsqueaks to have to run and try to jump over soemthing that was practically half our body height. And I can honestly say this has not been something I have used in my life...at all.

I remember milk in the cafeteria was 3 cents! And on days there were chocolate, it was HOT DIGGITY FUN!

I also remember the big cinnamon rolls they would have, once in a while, as part of the lunch meal. I thought those were the greatest. If my memoroy serves me, they were usually served on "taco day." An odd pairing but one I never questioned as both food items were top-notch.

Cheers, all!
Anne

Finding Kevin Frey...and others

Hi gang.

Please check out the Missing Classmates section of the Central Reunion site and let me know if you might have any leads that can help us track down those who we haven't been able to contact.

In addition to our fellow alumnae, we're still seeking Mrs. Merkley, Mr. Klein and Mr. Hansen...we've got a few leads, but if you have information on where they are now, let me know.

Apparently Mrs. Bigelow is still around...wow.

Okay. I feel like a blog hog. Time for someone else to post.

Today's Tragedy in Blacksburg

Please indulge me as I vent and ramble for a few moments on the topic of today's unbelievable tragedy...

Working at a university and living in Virginia, I am literally overcome by the shootings at Virginia Tech today. Working in communications, I've also found myself getting angry at people who are criticzing VA Tech administration for not communicating earlier. First of all, hindsight is 20/20, and secondly, I can't believe that getting out bad information quickly is better than getting it right. However, on the flip side, a friend of my mom's called her this evening close to tears... He works at the Pentagon and didn't learn of the shooting until he was listening to his car radio on his way home. He works with an afterschool drama program and knows a lot of high school kids who have matriculated at Virginia Tech. This made me think of all the parents who may not have heard the news until late in the day - over 25% of VA Tech students are from northern Virginia.

I had a conversation earlier with our university spokesperson and asked her for her thoughts on what was happening. She said, of course, that she was so grateful it hadn't happened at Georgetown. She could only imagine what it would be like to be having those heart breaking conversations with families of the people who had been killed. Even worse, she thought, would be informing the parents of the young man (we're assuming he's student) who shot and killed those people before shooting himself.

I know that Minnesota is all red-state now (what is that about???) but I heard tonight that in Virginia one of the biggest restrictions on purchasing firearms is that you can only buy one per month. God help us.

Nickname Roll Call

It's amazing how so many random thoughts and memories associated with my/our grade school experience have been bubbling to the surface (good thing I'm still in therapy!). My most recent preoccupation has been with nicknames. I am sure that I only remember a handful, so please feel free to fill in the considerable gaps.

Anne Sam, Sam, Sammy, Anna Banana
Steph
Rach, Rache or Rachie, Gardner (later, McKliesh...god help me)
Any (spelling? anyone?), Bidelbutt (am I just making that up?)
Lis, Beej, The Beej, BJ, there was also a popular toy or doll that we/I used to refer to Lisa as...can't remember specifically except that Lisa didn't like it
Mags
Jimmy, Jimbo
Ramy (or was it Ramie?? or Roemy??)
Ton(e)
Dan the Man

That is all I have rumbling around up in the dusty recesses of my memory. What did I miss?

This is RAD!

I just love reading all of your memories! We really had a great time, didn't we?! Can't WAIT to see all of you, and hopefully some of your partners and offspring?
So, I am with Anne Sam in the kick ball and dodge ball departments...has anyone else brought up these traumatic experiences in therapy?! Maybe that's why I always did and still do gravitate toward the individual sports activities...:). Can you believe dodgeball has made such a comeback? We played it for a Target corporate event-just as brutal in your 30's.
Maggie-I cannot believe your memory! Paul's b-day?! I went to prom with the dude, and I don't even remember that! Good job!
More soon...
Andrea

Happy Birthday Paul !!!

If my memory serves me correctly it is Paul's Birthday today... I remember some great birthday Parties. Swimming Parties at GAC, hayrides and slumber parties...Ann did your Mom ever get the silly puddy out of the carpet?

Kachina Hotline

Guys: I vividly remember the Kachina Experience (sounds either like a nuclear spill or a drugged-out rock concert) and am amazed you have your Kachinas. I know I had mine for a while, but honestly? I think she might be a goner. And this is coming from the family that has boxes in the basement with the Dayton's logo circa 1974 on them. We save everything...at least for 20 or 30 years. I wonder if she'll turn up. How is it that I recently threw out my actual TEETH (yes, I saved them, apparently) but lost my college diploma? Has anyone else's mom or dad recently given them their youth in a series of boxes, as mine have done? Over about six months, I would get a box or two every time I saw my parents. It is rather overwhelming! I wonder if she still has the Anatomy of a Chicken science project I did, where I taped every chicken bone to a box? I still think of that when I smell chicken that has been boiled.

Yeah, Baby.

It just took me 20 minutes to figure out how to execute a posting. It's good there are these events to force me into learning new things. I feel so web savvy, now.
But enough about that...Maggie, as I read your entry, I could hear your voice. I can't wait to see you!
Hilarious ruminations (is that the right word? or is that some sort of stage in the life cycle of mold...) on kickball. I remember thinking to myself, "I'm not half bad at this game...could be better ( a lot better), but definitely could be worse." And then Paul Pehrson would pummel me. So, yeah, I'm right there with you on that memory train. Dodgeball had to be the absolute worst. Whoever came up with that one should be tied to a brick wall and subjected to a spray of red rubber balls for a sufficient period of time to elicit regret.
I recently talked to someone in her 60s who told me that grade school reunions are the BEST of all reunions, so Rachel...I commend you. You've started something good, here. :) And I think we should hire you for the SPHS reunion because we have had at least 7 people working on that thing since last fall, and we have accomplished about 1/10th of what you did in roughly 3 weeks. That may say something about enthusiasm, too.
I will probably be rambling on from time to time until May 19, but for now I will end with a random memory:
Jim Brew's dimples. Always thought they were the cutest. Sorry to embarrass you, Jim!
Anne "I'm pretty good at kickball until someone whales on me" Sam

Yeh!!

What wonderful way to end my day. Talking to Rachel today, it did not feel like 26yrs have passed... I can't believe I got so excited over the thought of playing kickball...How sad am I.
In reading Tony's blog. I do remember Jimmy chasing me. I think I got caught a couple of times(:

The Zen of Kick Ball

Okay folks, granted its been a few years but as I recall it was always a NIGHTMARE when Paul and Tony were on the same kick ball team...throw Mark Lind in there and the opposing team members were basically just walking bullseyes. It was almost better to surrender immediately than subject oneself to the almost certain emotional and physical pain that was associated with this particular pairing of classmates.

I remember walking around with big red blotches on my legs and torso from where they had nailed me after quickly recovering the ball from what I thought, for one brief shining moment, had been a pretty respectable kick into the outfield.

I do believe that it was these early kick ball games, particularly when it was girls versus boys, that sparked my competitive (some may say vindictive) spirit. Even as I sit here typing, recalling those bygone days, I still want to kick some kick ball ass.

Welcome to the Central Class of 1981 Blog

Welcome!

Wow. Has it really been 26 years??? I feel like I just got sent to the Principal's office for decking Dewey Jackson during a fierce kick-ball game. I think I still have my Kachina doll that we made in art class...what in 5th grade?

I don't know about you guys, but those elementary school days hold a very special place in my heart. So many wonderful memories. I'd love to hear some of yours. Please feel free to post to this blog any random recollections you might have. It will be a good preview for our formal reunion on May 19...and an opportunity for those who may not be able to join to be part of the festivity.

I am so looking forward to hearing your stories...catching up...and staying in touch.

Best,
Rachel Gardner Bridges