Thursday, October 29, 2015

Monumental Memory Book

One of the most monumental tasks I've ever taken on was compiling a book for my 50th Class Reunion.  Classmates were asked to share what has happened in their lives since we graduated from Turner Ashby High School in Dayton, Virginia in 1965.

Some aspects were a bit beyond my computer skills so I met with the man in Savanna Club (my 55+ community in Florida) who runs our computer lab.  He showed me how to accomplish what I was after and encouraged me.
 
Next was getting people to send in their 300 word biography and a recent photo.  It was not an easy task to summarize 50 years in 300 words!  There were 150 class members with 30 deceased.  After nagging, nudging, and begging from me and others, we ended up with 76 contributions! 

This wasn't accomplished alone!  There were many people who helped me greatly and their help was invaluable. 
 
 I have shared the book with friends and relatives.  They have read every word, even if they didn't know the people.  I continue to be fascinated with what happened in people's lives AND in the variety of entertaining writing styles!!
 
 The evening of the reunion, Sue Shull-Miller, Mildred Funkhouser-Lynn and I checked people in, gave them their nametags, and gave them their book.
 
The high school photo and recent photo were included with each write-up. 
(If you want to read mine, click on it for an enlargement.)
 
Sometimes in life, we cannot help but be pleased with the result of hard work and effort.  This Memory Book is one of my most challenging projects ever.  I was delighted at how well it was received and appreciated.  Naturally, that made it all the more satisfying and worthwhile.

Monday, October 19, 2015

50 years!! How could that be??!!!

My "save the day" invitation arrived in the mail and I was shocked to realize it really was 50 years since we graduated!  How could that be??!!!
 
The Reunion Committee put in many hours of work behind the scenes and it paid off.  The day of the reunion, we met for breakfast and then had an evening event.
 
Things were different - it seemed we all came together as one.... the cliques were issues of the past, which made our time together all the more enjoyable.

5oth Reunion of the Class of 1965
Turner Ashby H.S. Dayton, Virginia
October 10, 2015 
(Click on photo for a larger view.)

 What a great day and evening!  Here's to 50 years and many more!

Friday, October 16, 2015

Social Life in Virginia 2015

It is always a joy to share my home in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with friends from out of town.  I sometimes find it very lonely and isolated but as I look back over the summer, I realize I had several guests and local friends this summer.
 
Jane Pinson, Diane Dickerson, MaryMay Angelil
Jane lives next door in Florida and is from Harpers Ferry.  Diane is her long-time nursing friend and has become my friend, too.
 
I call this group the "TA Girls."  Mildred Funkhouser-Lynn has kept this group of 1965 Turner Ashby graduates alive for many years.  They meet 4 times a year - sometimes there are 5 gals and sometimes 18  -  whoever shows up is welcome.  This summer we had dinner at the CrossKeys Vinyards.
 
My dear friend in Florida is Norma Pennie.  This is the second summer she has come for a visit!  It's always fun to show a city girl the country way of life.
 
My new local friend is Judith Stroop who lives in Singers Glen.  Sometimes you just "click" with someone and Judith is one of those people!
 
Marty Stover-Barlow, Linda Steele-Suter, and I got together and had lunch several times.  I enjoyed their company!
 
Marty Barlow volunteered to help me drive to Florida and it was a special time for us to get to know each other better.  We went on one of the local boat rides and enjoyed getting out see the local flora and fauna.
 
The time with my brother, Phil, sister-in-law, Maribeth, and nephew, Levi, and my various cousins were always fun.  I also enjoyed time spent with my friends from church.  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of them.  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the moment that I forget to get out my camera - but that's a "good thing"!
 
My summer wasn't quite so lonely this year, thanks to the company of family and friends.  It is challenging to "re-invent" myself as I learn to live alone.  Friends make such a difference in this process.