This reunion was different than earlier ones.  We weren’t concerned about how we earn our money, where we live, or what we’ve done.  It was more about who we are, how we got there, and what comes next.  The common points of our conversations have changed.  It was more about retirement, healthcare reform and Medicare.  Our bragging rights certainly aren’t about ourselves anymore and really not even about children for those of us who have them.  Rather, it was about grandchildren and pets and volunteer work.  And, of course, we focused on each other – those who were there and those who were not.  It seems incredible that 26 of our classmates have passed away and there may be more.  We talked a lot about:  Who are you in contact with?  Do you know what happened to this one?  How can we find that one?  Who do you think will come to the 50th?  But mostly, we talked about “old times” – building floats at Art Rice’s, having an undefeated football team our senior year, sock hops and dances and parties, teachers and classes and pranks. 

Saturday started out with rain but it cleared by the time the parade stepped off.  We had a haywagon again with signs that read: “The Greatest Class on Earth – BHS Class of ‘64.”  Barrington under the Big Top was the homecoming theme and once again, Barb Putta and Carol (CJ) Gerhardt came dressed for the occasion as clowns, complete with wigs and red noses.  We tried to sing high school songs but couldn’t remember the words.  We got the first line of, “we’re loyal to you BHS,” and I think Gail Engelking remembered more.  But there are so many things forgotten these days!  Nancy Sullivan had found the Pep Club Handbook with all the old cheers, but Joy forgot to bring them.  Another lapse of memory, but they’re ready for next time!  Instead, we blasted the Beatles’ first album from JoAnn Allison’s boombox (yes some of us still hold on to old technology).  It was amazing that Ferry and his wife knew every lyric!  Cal had the energy to dance alongside our “float” for the entire length of the parade route and was still raring to go later that night.

After the parade, many of us went on the high school tour and saw the $9 million renovation of the swimming pool, along with other incredible improvements.  At one point our tour guide took us down a “new” hallway and was very proud to point out that the steelwork overhead was actually the original beams from the gymnasium that we once knew.  It’s hard to explain and I wish I could draw, but you’ll have to see it to believe it.  One more memory bites the dust.  I think the only thing we recognized was the hallway that went by the study hall.  It still has the glass wall that looks into the grassy courtyard and many of us remembered walking around there to see and be seen before school.

We walked back into town for lunch at Baloney’s next to the Catlow and once again, they had set up tables for us in the lobby of the theater.  This brought back even more memories of who saw what movie there with whom.  Did you ever know the trick of pretending to drop something on the floor and then leaning down to get it as an excuse for stealing a kiss where no one could see you?  Then came the football game along with the rain.  I understand that not too many classmates braved the weather to cheer the Bronchos to victory and I was really in trouble with Jolene Shay for not showing up with the red and white pom-poms.  You’ll have to check with her for a play-by-play but I know that we did win the game.

Saturday night was the dinner dance at Inverness Golf Club.  It’s really a nice facility and they did a wonderful job with the food and set-up.  The cocktail hour was more conversation and greeting classmates who didn’t come Friday or to the parade.  I think there were 80 people there and they came from all over – Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin and, of course, many from Illinois.  Oh, I almost forgot – one came from Washington, DC – can you guess who?

Hank was quite a hit – mostly because he brought money to give to us.  (That’s a little joke.)  Actually, some of us had bills with his printed signature that we wanted him to sign.  But he surprised us by having a supply of brand new one dollar bills that he did sign personally.  Hank was charming and told us all about the appointment, the challenge of the problem he set out to solve and how difficult it is to write about it since he kept no notes while moving through the crisis so quickly.  However, at the end of the night I saw a different side to our famous friend when he started talking about his grandchildren and how they call him “Papa.”  I guess we were all bragging about the miracle of grandchildren and this truly was a leveling point for everyone at our table because we all had endearing stories to share.

But let me get back to the party.  Cal started off as MC wearing a mask because he didn’t want to catch Swine Flu (or anything else) from any of us.  He talked about our classmates who had passed away and then introduced Joy who did the lion’s share of the work, especially finding lost classmates and learning about so many of the deaths.  She welcomed all of us and told some stories about the committee’s work and past reunions.  Then she asked Gayle Bethel to come up and read her humorous rendition of “Then and Now.”  It’s amazing how things have changed and she really put a funny spin on our aging process. 

Anyway, the food was delicious and the great band that Mel Ott found (for a bargain) provided a guitarist and a lady singer to supply background music during dinner.  Later, when dessert was served, they let it rip with all the songs we remembered from our high school days.  After a twist that went on forever (someone asked if the songs were longer of if our stamina was just really reduced), they went into “Wooly Bully” and we had to tough it out to prove to these young musicians that we’re not totally decrepit.  When the band took a break, Cal got everyone together for our group picture and he took shots of smaller groups by grade school.  These are already posted on his page at Shutterfly under “BHS Reunion.”  The URL is www.caldoughtyphotos.shutterfly.com.  There were disposable cameras on each table and when those get developed we’ll put them into the album library of past reunions.  If there are good ones we’ll scan them for the website.

So we danced through the night (and held each other tight) until the band packed up a little after 11 o’clock.  But the conversations continued until the bar shut down and the committee members started packing up the memorabilia table.  I was, of course, one of the last to go but Jack Train, Scott King and Cook Rollo were still there.  Scott told me later that the manager asked them to leave so they went out on the front porch.  Then the manager came out and asked them to please leave the property!  Cook and Scott found another watering hole and continued their discussion until the wee hours.

Sunday came early and we had to be at Biltmore at 10 for brunch.  Joy and I were amazed at how many came.  She said that this was the biggest turnout for Sunday that we’ve ever had.  It was as if no one wanted to leave.  Once again, the food was delicious and we had a great room.  It looked right out at that tee that’s at the top of the big hill we used to use as a toboggan run.  The sun was shining and the sky was blue and the leaves were beginning to turn.  In all, a great ending to a terrific weekend.  One by one people drifted away who had to catch flights back to whatever part of the country they came from.  Joy put together a directory that has a lot of information from people who filled out the questionnaire.  With others it includes to most up-to-date information we have.  There are still a lot of names on the lost list.  I think John Roth has that posted on the website so please check to see if you know where anyone is.

We’re having a committee wrap-up at Joy’s later this month to discuss this past weekend and start making plans for the 50th.  I think we learned some things this time around.  It’s amazing how well we did considering we didn’t really start planning this one until April or May.  It’s been suggested that next time we have one hotel of choice where all the out-of-towners can stay and then plan to hold the Friday night event there.  Also, we’ll put more thought into the “float.”  One class had a big, flatbed truck with picnic tables.  It could hold many more people and we could all sit down – maybe for breakfast enroute!  And, depending on the theme, perhaps more of us could get in character – although it’s always interesting to see what Barb and CJ will do.  Another thought is to do what we did at the 25th when we had Sunday brunch at Art’s.  Then we were invited to bring our children.  Maybe this time we can bring our grandchildren – if they’re interested!

So, that’s it – another write-up of another memorable reunion.  It’s a whole lot wrapped into one weekend but well worth the effort and the time.  Somehow, there’s nothing like reconnecting to remember the good old days when we were so young and “high spirited.”  I have great memories of Barrington and I’m glad I had a fun childhood.  I’m probably idealizing a lot of what went on, but isn’t that one of the prerogatives of being older???

by Sharyn Wison Woods