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.