We'll see you in July

"Hi Kids!

Time is drawing near for our picnic event at Moe and Nancy's. All final plans were made last week. . . all is in readiness." Writes classmate Lynne.

"As we get ready to party together. . . our classmate Greeley is having another type of event. On June 1st our Greeley will be having some colon cancer surgery. His cancer is well contained and the outlook for a complete recovery looks good indeed. I was able to have a visit with "G G" and give him some support having "been there, done that" nearly 8 years ago. But no matter how many times you hear, "If I can do it, you can do it," it is still an unsettling thing, to be sure. If anyone would like to send Greeley a note of encouragement and give him some grins, I am sure he will appreciate it. . .and Greeley has asked for prayers. He is planning on attending our July 3rd picnic. If you need an address e-mail me (lflemingwilburn at yahoo dot com) and I will provide or check your class booklet from the last reunion it should be in there.

Diane B. is currently recovering from a broken ankle at Pinecrest. . .she is our first classmate to take up residence there, however temporary it might be. . . a doubtful honor to be sure. She is undergoing therapy and some of us visited her last week to find her doing as well as could be expected. . . but bored. She, too, could use some cheering and some "atta girl" pats on the back.

I spoke with Fran today, and she is doing very well. But after 3 surgeries since October she is not really looking forward to her fourth on June 3rd. The fact that none of the surgeries found any cancer is a positive thing and she is grateful. She has one more surgery to go to remover the growth on the kidney, which she will now be able to keep and be done with hospitals. She has had a long bout, but you know Fran. Today she cheered me up! She has heard from many classmates and thanks us all for our thoughtfulness saying, "it means a lot, believe me!"

All three of these stars from the Class of '57 plan to attend our July 3rd picnic, as Fran and Greeley both said, "I'll be there if I have to crawl," and Diane said she'd probably have to hop! Again, if addresses are needed for any or all of three let me know. . .

See you in July.

Breakfast cookout--senior girls

It is my hope that we've all improved our cooking skills since May 1957 when some of the senior girls gathered for a breakfast cookout. We were not like today's students who would probably stop by a Starbucks or McDonald's. No, we had bacon, eggs, o.j., milk, and someone probably figured out how to make toast on an open fire. I'm trying to remember what the occasion was, but the only thing I can remember is that we were allowed (or flaunted the rules) to wear casual clothes to school, so we combined that with a breakfast. It must have been a chilly day--we're all bundled up.

Upper left is Lynne F. pouring orange juice; upper right (that is not smoke, just a bad exposure) are Sylvia T. warming her hands, Darlene H. watching, and Nancy L. wondering if she should blow on the fire; then lower left is Francine K. stirring the eggs and Darlene trying to take the spoon (or is that a rake?); Then lower right is Nancy blowing on the fire (her mother was our Girl Scout leader), with Frannie laughing (surprise!) and Nancy's back to the camera. I don't know who that is in the white Illinois sweat shirt with loafers and white socks, but she's in 3 of the photos (possibly Pat B?). The picnic tables look like we were at the White Pines State Park, but the shelter house in the back ground doesn't seem right, unless it was the one right at the entrance.

Senior Picnic

Although I'm using a magnifying glass, I might get some names wrong.
Left to right in front: Sharon R. and Ebba L. waving; Daisy W., Darlene H., H.A. Hoff, possibly David S. sitting in the shade, Ken Z. and Norman G. with his head turned. Left to right, standing up is Nancy S., sitting Carolyn M., Judy T., Mary Jane F., then possibly either Priscilla D. or Mary Lou S. waving, and Sally O. next to Darlene. Then back to the left again, I can't tell who is next to Nancy S. behind Carolyn's head, then Barb E. and Diane B., Kay A. and Lynne F., Nancy L. and Sara Y., maybe Pat B. with her head down, next to Ron D. and would that be Darrell M. with the open shirt? His head is down--can't see the face. I'm guessing the partial head there is Mike B. Then left side again I see Dorothy R. and behind her Nelson P., Jerry T., Jerry W., maybe Glenn R., then standing with the hat might be Greely, John M. showing some leg, Melvin K. and Nancy G., Francine K., and Dave B. I don't know where everyone else is--I'm taking the photograph. Maybe we divided into two groups or were waiting for some to return from hiking. I'm betting we had more than one chaperone! It was the 50s after all!

I didn't have this identified, so I'm going to guess that this was also the Senior Picnic because of Nancy L.'s shorts, and that they are ready to get on the bus. If it is the picnic, someone has shorts on under his jeans. Left to right, Nancy L., Norman G., Steve B., Jon M., and Bob C. I'm thinking Steve got a whole lot taller after graduation, because when he said, "Hi Corby," at the 20 year reunion, I looked up and asked him his name.