2000 September 1 / OLD PHOTOS Love the new photo additions to the Rumpus Room. In the first one (sitting group)---isn't that Carol Johnson sitting between me and Sandy? [Thanks Lynne, I'll add Carol's name to the photo - Gary] - Lynne Lynne (Maclennan) Schulnik lynnelj@hotmail.com September 1 / WHITE RABBIT TO YOU ALL! White Rabbit to you all -- aren't those supposed to be the first words uttered at the new month? Was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago browsing through cards in "The Papery" when who did I turn around and see? Michele (Marinker) Matthews, that's who! We took ourselves off for a visit over a cup o' whatever. If it hadn't been for the reunion, we'd have passed without knowing. (As it was, we still had to say, "Don't I know you from somewhere?") Gotta go -- organizing "Le Grand Aioli with James Barber this weekend; should be a nice way to end the summer and raise a little money for the operation of our new hall. Cheers -- Terry Therese Williams chickiedoc@yahoo.com September 2 / REUNIONS - radio essay on KPLU This is a transcript of an essay on reunions on KPLU in Seattle. I thought you reunion buffs out there might find it interesting. Thinking of going to your High School Reunion? Our commentator reported the following: "You're not really going", my husband asked .... "yes I'm going" ... said Sydel Raven ,,, My husband's question made me wonder why. I didn't know whether I was being loyal to an old system. As soon as I walked into the room, I felt it was a mistake. Had I come to the wrong place? Who were these old people? I tried not to draw the next obvious conclusion, "if they looked like that to me, what did I look like to them"? Someone greeted me and we hugged each other. How clever to have nametags with old yearbook pictures. We exchanged a few nervous pleasantries, and then a mysterious thing happened. The sextegenerian in front of me dissolved into the girl who sat next to me in Mrs. Taylor's homeroom. Exclamations of "Oh my God," punctuated the room. Other moments of recognition hit. Was this girl with the long red hair and gold earrings ... Brenda? .... that pale, shy, shadow of a girl I barely remembered..... and gentle Doris, still blonde, clutching her throat apologetically, she couldn't talk to me, because she'd just had a larangectimy .... but Pauline could talk. She had nine children, and was now a grandmother of twenty. Not too many of the men were there. Maybe the women outlived them. Men are more independent .... settling their lives far away. ... or was high school a harder place for teenage boys than teenage girls? a place with no sentimental ties. The few men there didn't seem to hold up over time as well as the women.... there were none of the beautiful boys I remembered. Then two of my closest high school friends arrived. We couldn't talk fast enough to fill in the years. It was all about work, and children and houses, and sickness, and divorce and then children. It was impossible to keep track of it all, to absorb the spill of the years. We must be more than the sum of these facts. Some people attend reunions every five years. It's easier to maintain old friendships and not notice the gradual changes, around the lips, under the chin ... around the waist, I can warn you that the bad one to go to is the twentieth or the twenty-fifth. It's the high point of show and tell time. People are barreling along in their careers and need to talk about their success. Mothers are touting their brilliant, talented children... The safest reunion is the fortieth. By that time, everyone knows where he or she is. There aren't too many pictures of grandchildren, but the fiftieth is a complicated mix. At once sad, and rich ... time gives us a powerful punch. I almost had a feeling of looking at survivors, of defeat, disease, divorce, the struggle of life, all written on our faces, in our eyes. It was also the bravery, the defiance, a sweet yearning for the old camaraderie in which the best of friends shared everything. - Laurel Laurel Johnson laurelj@aebc.com September 1 / SURVIVORS, the OLYMPICS, etc... To answer Mike's query: we in Oz have had both the American and the Pom versions of those programs, but not, Don, the Danish ones! Of course the papers enraged viewers of the American one by telling who won the jackpot before the last show aired here, but they did warn fans not to read on if they wanted to maintain the mystery. I am (perhaps) embarrassed to say I haven't seen any of them. Yes, Olympic fever and fervour is really hotting up. We have tickets to some swimming and athletics. Some of the early soccer will be played here in Canberra, too, IF the field is ready in time: it has been relaid after being chewed up in rugby games, but was found to be inadequate and new lawn is about to be laid for second time. They hope it will be okay for the first games! Had a query from Martha Downing about snow reports in Sydney! There may have been a sprinkling in the Blue Mountains above Sydney, but certainly not in the city. Incidentally, we have moved to Daylight Saving as of last week...usually doesn't start till mid-spring in October... so there are longer days in which games can be played. And uni students are having a month-long holiday so they can work at the Games. Think the CBC picked up on one of the most popular cultural manifestations: an ABC TV show called The Games, a satire on the administration, which is pretty hilarious. Australians have perfected comedy based on sport: you apparently joke about the things that are most sacred to you, dontcha? Enough...you will see the whole spectacle very soon on your own screens. - Sandy redoak@dynamite.com.au September 4 / SUMMER We just returned from two weeks at Christina Lake - how incredible to be home again. Our daughters, sons-in-law, grandsons, mothers, etc. were all there. The weather was perfect, the water the best I can remember, and the concrete dried just the way it is supposed to. We have been going there all our married lives, but going home means more to us now than it ever did. Houston is so far away from everything we love, including our family. Our Texas grandson (3 years) kept saying - this is the best vacation! He loves the forest. Doesnt see that here. We came home to temps over 105 and no rain for several months. The foundation is breaking up, not an unusual event in Houston. Going home is an annual event for us (more often if someone has a baby or is in hospital) and renews our desire to move back as soon as we can figure out how to afford food and shelter. The costs amaze us. We load up in Spokane and take as much with us as we can. One of these days we will be back for good. Then I will have open house permanently for all my Oak Bay buddies! - Lynn lynn feir lynnfeir@yahoo.com September 5 / RUMPUS ROOM Those candid camera pics from the dark ages are a real hoot. Makes me wonder where other old mates like Bob Moffatt, Ritchie Kern, Graham Reid, and others, are. Anyone know? Maybe we can expand the Class of '60 Turns 60 Mammoth Beach Party to include some who didn't actually end up in the yearbook/grad class? - Sandy redoak@dynamite.com.au September 6 / CHANCE ENCOUNTERS Linda and I were recently browsing in a funky antique/gift shop in Queen Charlotte City (middle of nowhere) and who should we run into but David Foster on a kayak trip around the Queen Charlotte Islands. I was also in the area of Nootka Sound (westcoast Vancouver Island) in July when John Stenstrom ran into Diane Wiper and Sandra McLeod kayaking the Sound. These were all a result of the reunion as I do believe we would have simply rubbed shoulders and continued on our merry way. Hopefully there will be more. - Ron Ron McMicking lindaandron@home.com September 7 / GREAT PICS! Wow! some wonderful photos! I will check through my old albums, I know I have a few of a pyjama party at Michele Marinker's house. I had a busy summer, was back in Victoria for a couple of days only in early August, otherwise it was just work work work. I have discovered the constant changes in this new industry (internet) that I am working in make long vacations difficult. I'm more than a little envious of those of you that are retired! I am in total support of Sandy's suggestion for a giant 60th party. Couldn't come soon enough for me! Good possibility I will be relocated back in my homeland by then, or at least much closer to the border. Blessings to everyone! - Diane diane (wilson) dyer ddwithlove@excite.com September 8 / SEPTEMBER 29th SNUG MEETING Ron McMicking advised me that there will be a meeting at the Snug on Friday, September 29th, at 4:00 PM where the final report on the reunion will be released. Here is a great opportunity for as many of us as possible to get together before the year end to tell stories and especially kick around some ideas for the future such as a 60th birthday. - Richard rgoodall@shuswap.net September 9 / RITCHIE KERN Just to let you know that I phoned Ritchie this morning at his home in Spruce Grove, Alberta. For those who went to Oak Bay Junior, you will remember him and that he moved to Vancouver in grade nine. He advises that he does not have a computer on line at home but has one at his plumbing wholesale business in Edmonton. The email address is: kernind@telusplanet.net Ph. 780-962-4972 - Richard rgoodall@shuswap.net September 9 / AMAZING - THE NET WIDENS Great one, Dick, finding Ritchie. I should also report that I have found Graham Reid in Peachland, B.C. His email address, for those who want to catch up, is greid@cablelan.net Have we found any more of those "missing in action"? - Sandy redoak@dynamite.com.au September 9 / MID ISLAND CAMP OUT Hi everyone! Was chatting via the net with Dick and I disclosed that NEXT YEAR I will BE 60! Thought that there were some others would be 60 in 2001.( Hmmmmm 2001 sounds spacey,doesn't it?) Anyhoo a camp-out on the island - bring your trailer, tent, baskets of goodies, even! (Keep slipping back into Yogi Bear, etc) We could crawl through the pubs of mid island, wineries of Cowichan, Chemainus mural walk, do a Coombs trip, etc. Let Dick know if you are interested in such an outing. More to follow. Cheers - Mike mgibbs@webtv.net September 10 / PUB CRAWLING Mike has come up with a good idea for a get together next year on his turf at Cedar. No need to get in touch with me though but instead post an email or three if you agree that this could be fun. If you are over the camping bit, there are lots of B&Bs in the vicinity. Sounds like Mike could take us on quite a fun tour not to mention a bit of pub crawling. Now where is that old pup tent that I used to tie on the back of the Harley? - Richard (Dick) rgoodall@shuswap.net September 10 / REUNIONS and ROCK FESTIVALS Fun to keep up with the chat having missed the event itself. Just for interest I'm in the process of writing up a Council Resource Consent for "The Gathering." Look it up at www.gathering.co.nz It's a 3 day event of music/dance for about 15,000 people about 25 minutes from here in Golden Bay. I have to develop an assessment of the environmental impacts and mitigation of a number of events happening at once and at 92dBH. Fire, rescue helicopers, food, water and so on are all involved and then you have to make sure the neighbours are happy. What's the hardest job??!!! So, if you've got nothing to do over New Years and missed Woodstock . . . well, it's not too late to have a fun time here in Golden Bay. - Richard rscox@voyager.co.nz September 11 / CAMPING I read all the e-mail chat last night and woke up this morning with a flash back of Mr. Mercer's hiking club and the amazing camping trip we went on. I remember after breakfast he led us on a gruelling hike and we had to slide down a cliff on our backsides to get back to camp. I would be fun to camp out and crash through the woods again. Maybe David Foster would agree to replace Mr. Mercer as our fearless leader. - Judy Judy Anderson judyxtra@email.com September 11 / CEDAR After reading Mike Gibbs' contribution in which he mentions Cedar where he lives, I'm wondering if anyone knows the true story of Brother Twelve. He set up the original camp for his Cult at Cedar in 1927, calling it the Aquarian Foundation. Many unknowing people thought it was about Fish! But what it really was about was his Power over the People, using his powers to make people want to contribute their $$$, to start a Cult. Mike, perhaps you would even know where Edward Arthur WILSON first was located, in Cedar, before he moved over to Valdes and DeCourcy Islands. P.S. I will sure be there on the 29th at the Snug!! - Lianne LHunter@Islandnet.com September 13 / BROTHER TWELVE An up-Island visit is a great idea. Maybe we can discuss it at the Snug on the 29th. A book was written titled Brother Twelve by a Vancouver man. I believe the author's name is John Oliphant, but the book is out of print now. Brother Twelve's property is situated very near Pat and Mike's house. We can make it part of our up-Island tour! - Charmaine Charmaine Bradley charmbee@hotmail.com September 14 / BROTHER TWELVE Lianne, having nearly forgotten all about the Brother Twelve saga, I went to the internet and found a webpage concerning it. For anyone interested in reading about it, click on the following URL. http://www.islandnet.com/~klund/islands/btwelve.htm Mike, do things go bump in the night at your place? Perhaps some of the buried gold is under your feet. - Richard rgoodall@shuswap.net September 17 / CEDAR RENDEZVOUS Haven't had any time to visit the OBHS Class of 60 site for over a month. What a delight to see that so many people are keeping it going. We had an all too short visit from Jill and Barrie Slagboom a few weeks ago and got to show brag photos of childrens' weddings this summer. The reunion has certainly renewed many old friendships. I think a get together at Mike Gibbs' is a great idea. Dick if you don't snore you don't have to bring your tent, you can sleep in our 5th wheel. I look forward to seeing lots of old (but still young and beautiful) faces at the meeting on the 29th. Is the Snug going to be big enough. I have a new email address if anyone is so inclined to write. woodnpots@home.com. What a dumb address you exclaim! We couldn't use our initials as they were already in use at @home. Irene is a potter and I'm a wood worker so wood and pots shortened to woodnpots. - Tom Tom Miles woodnpots@home.com September 18 / CAMPING Tom- regarding your concern about snoring, please permit me tell you a short story. When I was 19 and working at a logging camp on the west coast, the boom man who happened to share my bunkhouse loaded his rifle and stuck the barrel in my ear and asked me if I snored. "Not any more" I replied. - Richard rgoodall@shuswap.net September 20 / IN MEMORIAM Just a note to all my fellow Willows mates - Tom Curteis, principal during part of our elementary sojourn there, passed away a few weeks ago. I remember him as being a real gentle-man and first rate nice guy (especially for a Principal!). Here's to you, Mr. C! - Robin Robin Estlin robin@yellowdawg.com September 23 / TOM CURTEIS Thanks Robin for letting us know of his passing away. He was a fine gentleman! I last saw him several years ago at a funeral where there were several other ex-Willows students in attendance. I was pleased to see them all crowd around him to pay their respects. He remembered everyone by name and had a little nostalgic anecdote to tell about most: in our case, Robin, it was the dreaded school patrol. - Phil Phil Johnston ibbyjohnjohn@hotmail.com