Keyswench After BLUE MAX ADVENTURES: 2014-11-6 to 11-13 - Philly trip

Note: I know this isn't a BLUE MAX adventure, but it is my adventure so I created it to be my own personal diary.

Our reunion was over a year in the making & all of a sudden, the time had come. As I mentioned in the Cape Coral blog, my cousin, Sue, & her fiance, Dean were in Bonita Springs. Months ago we booked our flights out of Ft. Lauderdale because that's where we were supposed to be & Sue & Dean were going to drive over to spend a few days on the boat before we left on the 6th. Making plans months ahead usually spells disaster for me. For example, a few years ago I made arrangements to fly out of Nassau to Philly for a wedding cause that's where we supposed to be - NOT...we were still in Marathon. We drove to Lauderdale & I flew out of there.
As the time drew near to make a decision what to do, the Ebola threat came to the USA. Wayne voiced his concern about me flying. I decided not to go & informed the reunion committee & Sue. The emails & phone calls came in trying to change my mind with common sense thoughts - it worked (thank you all) & the 3 of use changed our flights to Ft. Myers.
11/6 Check in at the airport was a breeze & we were early enough to visit a bar. Boarding was simple, the plane left exactly on time & landed about 15 minutes early. We boarded a SEPTA train from the airport, switched trains mid-way, got off in Colmar (PA) - Sue's daughter, Loni, picked us up. Something I've never done but I felt safe being with them & saved someone from driving at least an hour in heavy traffic to pick us up. I'll be taking the train back to the airport, on the 13th. - alone

LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN!!

Many of us have known each other long before High School meeting in our neighborhood, at HR Edmunds Grammar school or at St. James Luthern church...so for some of us, this was a 60+ yr. reunion.

2004 - I sure don't remember HR Edmunds looking like this back in the day

Edmunds 1960 graduating class

1960 was a big year for us - Confirmation class at St. James Luthern church

how many of us can you pick out?

On Friday, 11/7, I met my oldest friends, Joanne Knapp, her older sister, Marj & Jay Lance for lunch in Lansdale. (shame Ruth Ellen, the youngest sister couldn't make it) This truly was the beginning of the reunion. Being an only child, my parents always invited Joanne to join us on vacation - the sister I never had.


Year unknown - from left-me, Joanne & Marj at my house

11/7 - Me, Joanne & Marj - Jay took the picture
Jay said, Marj was his first girlfriend

Jay drove me to the Crowne Plaza in Feasterville which was only minutes from both venues. The 'meet & greet' was held at the Brookside Inn in Somerton Springs. Our 40th was held there as well as Friday night dances in the 60's sponsored by our Frats & Sororities. (yes, we had Frats/Sororities in High School- I was in Theta-Gamma-Phi) Lovely evening in a beautiful venue with fireplace & all. Oh, did I say that it was freezing up there?!

2014 - June Costello

Robby Blyer, another friend I knew before HS was at the meet & greet & he was also staying at the hotel so I had a free ride for the weekend. Robby was also instrumental in helping the committee locate many 'missing' alumni. Robby & I met up on Saturday at the bar where he was watching his alumni, Penn State, play some other team. I was happy to hang out in my room watching HBO movies I've never seen. Between movies, I ran down to the bar to chat & watch the game.
I have to say a special thank you to the hard working committee who created a most memorable weekend for all of us & a real BIG thanks to Bob Szeliga who made an amazing web site: www.fkd64.com
There was an overwhelming response to the reunion, the committee had to get a larger room at the (famous) Buck Hotel.
I was a bit disappointed to see a 3-piece band instead of a DJ until I heard them play- WOW, they were awesome & played 'our' music just like it was supposed to be. I jitter-bugged my butt off with my dancing partner from our 40th - Nino Bambino.

2014 - A bit blurry, but we were movin out

I certainly won't include all the pics, but a few interesting shots from the 50's & now.

1953 - Jo & me at the Pagoda in Reading, PA


1964 - Joanne Knapp

1964 - Winnie Mirkle

2006 - Here we are in Houston, TX - I was attending a week-long seminar


2014 - Jo & me (she lost weight-I gained weight!)


1956- my house: Jane Collar; Joanne, me & Robby Blyler

1964 - Robby Blyler

I tried hard to get the 4 of us together for a 2014 shot but I still don't know why I was unsuccessful ? So, here we are now:

2014 - Me, Robby & Joanne

1964 - Jane Collar 1964 - Barbara Degenhardt

2004 - Jane Collar & me

2004 - Barbara Degenhardt, me & Jerri McDonald (missed Jerri @ the 50th)

2014 - Jane, Barb & Joanne

2014 - Barbara & Bobby Robbins

Barbara Degenhardt also lived in our neighborhood.
The next picture is Bill Albright (now deceased), Jay Lance & me. I had a huge crush on Jay, he was our paperboy, but he was older (he graduated Jan. 1963)& his first 'girlfriend' was Marj. It was great that they got to see each other at lunch. He also lived on our block- 5200 Oakland St.

2004 - Bill Albright (now deceased) & Jay Lance

2014 - Jay Lance & Joanne Knapp

I emailed this next picture to Sammy & wondered where we were going that night? He told me, 'bowling'. yea...right. (I wish I had that 19" waist today!)

1961 - Sam Schoell & me steppin out

2014- Sammy & me

Sam & Elaine Schoell

It was interesting at the 'meet & greet' Sam introduced me to another tall & lanky 'kid' who was his spitting image. His son was at his 20th (I think) reunion in the next room.
The only picture I could find of my good friend, Tommy Spoltore, was from 1960 in Elementary school

1960 - Tom Spoltore (sorry for the quality)

2014 - Tom & his wife, Joanne

1964 - Diane Barauskas Bambino

2004 - Nino & Diane Barauskas Bambino

2014 - Diane & Nino Bambino

The next picture is classmate, Gary Hannigan, who married my old friend, Judy Otto. Judy is a bit younger & graduated in 1965... She was accepted to Frankford Hospital School of Nursing & I became her 'big sister' throughout our 3 years.

1964 - Gary Hannigan

2004 - The Hannigans - Gary & Judy

2014 - Judy, Robby, me & Gary

The next pictures of two girls whose friendship has lasted all these years & still get to see each other. They worked tirelessly on both reunions.

1964 - Sandi Bartholomew

1964 - Carol Tobin

2004 - 'The Dream Team' - Sandi Bartholomew & Carol Tobin

The Dream Team 2014 - Still working hard on the reunion committee

1964 - David Alexander- so serious

2004 - Committee member, David Alexander

2014 - Now married to Judy, David is still working hard on the reunion committee

Our amazing web site, fkd64.com, list the many classmates who have passed away. For me, it's difficult to read the names of those I knew well. I wanted to show a few pictures of those who passed away since our 40th reunion in 2004.

Amazing legs !!

2004 - On the left-Bill Albright & Bobby Robbins
Bobby & his wife, Barbara Degenhardt, attended the 50th

1964 - Bill Courtright


2004 - on the left, Bill Courtright - Bobby Robbins Bill still had the scar on his chin from a fall while we were ice skating 1964 - Paul Thomas 2004 - Paul Thomas 1964 - Ye New Spooks - Richie Ploucher, sitting, 2nd from the left 1964 - Bobby Robbins, middle row, 2nd from left; Bill Albright, 5th from left Richie Ploucher, kneeling far right