WOW! What a Reunion!

The Big Event we've planning for for many months finally happened---and it was indescribably delicious!

For those of you who couldn't be there, I wish you could have seen the countless "buzz groups" of classmates--sometimes in twos, or in threes, or fours---drawn to each other like magnets. The Information Center (a hospitality suite in the Hampton Suite) was one place that the reconnecting started. Another was the "Girls Night Out" at Ann Leedy's house and the Guys Night Out at a local sports bar.

We wore name tags that had our class pictures on them...and there were many times we needed those tags because as we looked face-to-face at someone else, our brain was saying, "WHO is this?" while our mouth was stalling for time. The photo on the other person's tag led us to say "OHHHH...You're...[fill in the blank]!!!" And off the conversation would go.

The Wednesday morning (May 14) picnic at Sawgrass Lake Park brought people together...and then people starting trickling (and then flooding) into the Info Room after the picnic. If you saw Roger Whitehead, you could probably count on seeing Ron Murphy, Bobby LaBrant and Woody (Reed) Tanner somewhere close by.

Carolyn Tanner, Woody's jewel of a wife, is my nominee for Saint of the Year. She worked countless hours long before the reunion ever started and then worked more countless hours in making sure that all the details--gift bags, table arrangements, printed materials, name tags, etc.---came together in the right place at the right time. We could not have had the reunion without her, even though she kept a low profile and worked "behind the scenes". (If you get the chance, and you were at the reunion, send her a quick email THANKS, won't you?)

We missed those of you who couldn't come, but you were not forgotten. Campus stories that are 50 or more years old were retold and laughed about, and friendships were revived from long ago.

Watch for news about an annual gathering on the first Saturday in November in St. Petersburg. And if some of you create local groups in your state/region/etc. , send me a note so I can promote your meetings in the blog.