Monday, September 15, 2014

Reunion Recap Part I

Last weekend, my high school class (Alhambra High School class of 1964) celebrated our 50th reunion. After working more-than-full-time for a year-and-a-half locating nearly all of the nearly 600 class members, and coordinating with the rest of the committee, all our hard work came to fruition.

After picking up a friend and classmate at the train station at 11:30 on Thursday night, we got to bed around midnight.

Friday morning began at 6:00 when Larry and I left to get the decorations chair for a trip to the wholesale flower mart to pick up our flowers and floral supplies. Before we left home, we loaded the van with about twenty boxes of material to deliver to the hotel along with our floral purchases. Even with the extra-long van, we barely had room for everything and three of us.

After reaching the hotel, we unloaded the van, dropped off the floral designer, and then returned home to shower and change.

We took time for lunch with my friend, who had arrived the night before, at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Olamendi’s in Capistrano Beach. The owners, our neighbor and friend, gave us our fabulous lunch as a birthday gift for me since the actual date had been the previous week. It pays to have wonderful friends!

We loaded the remaining twenty-plus cartons and boxes, plus our own suitcases, once again filling every corner of the van. Then we were on our way back to the hotel where we unloaded the boxes and checked in.

The ‘official’ event began on Friday night with an informal get-together. Estimates of the attendance that night were between 70 and 80. We filled the lounge and spilled over onto the terrace. We didn’t have nametags for this evening, but part of the fun was becoming re-acquainted with old friends. Thank goodness for Facebook! Those of us active on that site had seen current photos of each other making recognition much easier.

This was the time when we could have longer, more in-depth conversations which the big banquet event on Saturday would not allow.

Many hugs and kisses and warm reconnections happened throughout the room. Every face showed a smile. Some people who weren’t good friends in school discovered they now shared common interests. New friendships were born.
We left around ten o’clock to go to bed, but the party continued. I’m not sure exactly when the last of the celebrants finally gave up for the night.
We went to breakfast the next morning to find several of my friends already eating. Once again, we enjoyed conversations and reconnections.

We checked on the team putting together the centerpieces. They had done an amazing job!

We greeted arriving class members in the lobby for a while.Then we went to the banquet room to see to the setup. From that point on, most of the day was spent coordinating with the staff to make sure everything was where it belonged, placing the centerpieces, and other decorations on the tables, arranging the memorabilia and artwork we had brought with us. (Other committee members were in charge of receiving and arranging the material brought by others before and during the banquet.)

Next, we set up the table for registration.

The week before, several committee members had come to our house to assemble the packets and sort them alphabetically. The final count of classmates scheduled to attend was 127, and we prepared several extras for any who arrived the night of the reunion. The final count, with those who were unable to attend plus those who registered at the door, was 126 classmates, for a total of 193 including guests. We nearly packed the twenty tables of ten.

After showering and changing quickly, we returned for the social hour prior to the start of the banquet.

Next week, I’ll talk about all the events of the evening.

Have you ever attended a high school reunion? Did you enjoy it? I certainly enjoyed mine!

13 comments:

  1. I loved every class reunion I ever went to. Our last was the 52nd, we never did it at the right year, and was on a cruise. I don't think there'll be another since we're all in our 80s. Yours sounded like ti went off perfectly.

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    1. We all had a great time. No one got drunk or out of hand. All I saw were hugs and smiles.

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  2. Lorna,

    Although I was unable to make the reunion due to my work I know how much effort you put into it and I want to thank you for all you did.

    Kind regards,

    Mark Glyer

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    1. Thanks, Mark. We'll be posting some candid photos on the class website along with some other information in the next couple of weeks. We'll also have the memory book available for anyone who wants one (probably around $35). We'll send an updated email to the whole class shortly. Wish you could have been there. Several people asked about you.

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  3. Lorna when you do something you always go all out. And this time you did even more. When You said you wanted to make contact with every person in the class I told you there was no way you could do it. WOW ! was I wrong. To make contact all but 14 out of a class of over 600 is unreal but you did. it. Great Job

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    1. Thanks, bro! You were a big help. And I know you enjoyed yourself.

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  4. <3<3<3
    The Floral Designer

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    1. What a fabulous job you did! I hope your heart swells when you look at the photo of the centerpiece. At one point, none of us--inducing you--was sure it would come together. But it did, and in SPECTACULAR manner! Even the couple of committee members who at first said they didn't think they wanted their vases took them home. Fabulous work!

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    2. I really enjoyed myself seeing so many people and not knowing their names until I read the tags. I am good with faces but names I can't remember. Nancy Hess will tell you I didn't even remember her face. Sorry Nancy. I must be getting old, ha. Everyone looked great. Thanks again to Lorna and all.I wanted to buy a picture that was taken of Kathy Gill, Donna Simon and me, but I was never able to find the website of the photo people. Mary Kulper

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    3. I'll send the photographer's link and password to everyone tomorrow. I'd have known you anywhere, Mary! Cindy has been organizing and identifying all the photos.

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  5. My dad Vince had a great time seeing everyone. He was greatful to go. I am glad I got to take him. I meet so many wonderful people.

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    1. Thanks for bringing him, David. I know seeing him was a highlight for many of those who attended.

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