Beaver Tales plus digital Published by Kathy Youngs e-mail: [email protected] April 2012 Vol. 20 Issue 2

KUOTES “BEAVER PIZZA BASH” James and Sue Earl e-mail: prodigy.net Hello Classmates,“ ” The count down has began for this I am sooo looking forward to seeing all years 45th “Beaver Pizza Bash” of you on July 20th. - we’re gonna have reunion! The dates is July 20, 2012 a great time! If you have any questions from 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. about the Reunion, contact Jim and Sue Earl at 269-781-5451 or This year we are bringing a new level [email protected]. of inclusiveness so everybody can attend and have a great time! The If you will be staying in the Battle event will be very casual and very Creek area for the remainder of the informal, show up and have fun! weekend, I have listed a few activities Location: you may be interested in. If you hav e “Beaver Pizza Bash” other suggestions please share them! (casual evening) July 20, 2012 S o, hookup with some of your old friends and spend some quality time Marshall Moonraker together. See you soon! (basement banquet room) 11404 Old US 27 South Golf - Mike Downing (class of ‘68) has (2 miles South of the offered to set up a tee time if you’re Fountain Circle) interested, Jim Nelson will be helping out, too. Time: 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Contact Mike at 269-967-6315 or $15.00/per person cash only [email protected]. at the door for event.

Other Activities in Area Pay and come in and enjoy the Beaver 9th Annual Marshall Main Street Pizza buffet! Blues Festival Av e. downtown Marshall Cash bar available Hours: Music 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM Pop will be available for purchase Date: Saturday, July 21, 2012 from the cash bar http://www.marshallbluesfestival.com Jason LaForge at 269 781-3542 Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Page 2 Vol. 20 Issue 2

Continued from Kuotes on page 1 Continued from Beaver Bash page 1

B o a t / P ontoon Rentals at Gull 7:00 - 7:30 Meet and greet Lake Gull Lake Marine socializing Richland, MI 269-629-4507 or 800-252-3388 7:30 - 11:00 Beaver Pizza Buffet www.gulllakemarine.com where you can enjoy the buffet with many different Beaver Pizza’s Binder Park Zoo throughout the evening. The Beaver www.binderparkzoo.org Pizza features the Geno’s Italian 7400 Division Dr. Sauce! Battle Creek, MI 49014 Don’t forget to register for the (269) 979-1351 drawings for prizes throughout the [email protected] evening! Firekeepers Casino If you have any question please www.firekeeperscasino.com contact: (269) 962-0000 Jim or Sue Earl e-mail: 11177 Michigan Ave E. [email protected] Battle Creek, MI or phone 269.781.5451 Other Activities planned Golf Barn Theater Mike Downing and Jim Nelson are [email protected] working on a golf outing for the 269-731-4121 weekend if interested in playing golf 13351 West M-96 contact them directly. Mike Downing Augusta, MI e-mail [email protected] or phone 269.963.2433 or Jim Nelson Lunch/Brunch? [email protected] Clara’s on the River www.claras.com Hotels/Motels/Marshall 44 McCamly St. N. Comfort Inn 269.789.7890 Battle Creek, MI 49017 204 Winston Dr (269) 963-0966 Marshall, MI Hampton Inn 269.789.0131 Old Country Buffet 17256 Sam Hill Drive (269) 979-3582 Marshall, MI 5700 Beckley Rd. Battle Creek, MI Holiday Inn Express 269.789.9301 17252 Sam Hill Drive Marshall, MI Page 3 Vol. 20 Issue 2

INDEX OF ARTICLES HELP US LOCATE

Index Page Can you help us locate any of these Kutoes 1-2 classmates or let them know about the Beaver Pizza Bash 1-2 “ B e a ver Pizza Bash” on J u l y 20, BT Mail Edition Ending 3 2012! Help Us Locate 3 Janie Banks-Miller Got Something to Say? 3 Jackie Chaney-Drake Obituary Raymond L Lacy 4 Gary Edwards Shirley England-Bachman Concert 4-5 Terry Foster by Kathy Conroy-Quinn Roberta Freeland A Moving Experience 5-6 Cheryl Haines-Moore by Richard Perry Ron Ledbetter A Death of Tradition 6-7 Lydia Mason-Baines by James R. Earl Dianne Myers Radio in our Lives 8-19 Siri Patterson (Charles Haske) by Earl and Pam Clark Robert Simpson Class Reunion Humor 20-21 Rodney Snyder via internet by Kathy Kay Wickwire-Brunner

BT MAIL GOT SOMETHING EDITION IS ENDING TO SAY?

If you got this in snail mail, we don’t While we’ve always had an open door h ave your e-mail! Upgrade your policy on article submission, the move account NOW to start receiving the to digital frees most constraints due to enhanced BT Digital that most space. If you have a story, tale, photos classmates are already enjoying. See of the kids or a pet, a favorite poem or our table of contents to see what you *are* missing. anything else you’d like to share with classmates of long, long ago We won’t share your e-mail with m i s a d v e n t u r e s, send them to us. We ’ l l a n y o n e. Promise. It doesn’t even need be more than pleased to include them to be yours as long as you have access in a future issue of BT Digital. Earl to it. e-mail: [email protected]. and Pam Clark have teamed together This April additions is 21 pages in to create and edit an interesting article; length and you can receive all of the “Radio in our Lives,” in this issue and a r t i cles and photos FREE. BT Digital he challenges other classmates to write will arrive in your inbox in the a r t i cles and contribute to BT Digital. ubiquitous PDF format so any After all, everyone has interesting computer can read it. experiences to share. Page 4 Vol. 20 Issue 2

SYMPATHY CONCERT

by Kathy Conroy-Quinn R aymond R. Lacy Hillsdale Ray m o n d R. Lacy, 61, passed away Thursday, We enjoyed the Bob Dylan and The July 22, 2010, at The Laurels of Band concert here in Kalamazoo at C o l d wa t e r. He was born December 31, Miller Auditorium on We s t e r n ' s 1948 in Battle Creek, Michigan to c a m p u s. He was introduced as the George and Frances (Kuzma) Lacy. He poet laureate of rock & roll and the was married November 21, 1984 to voice of the counter culture in the 60's Vicki Kilmer and she survives. Ray was and 70's. He disappeared in the the a resident of the Hillsdale area the 80's due to substance abuse and majority of his life and he was a emerged to find Jesus. He was written veteran of the U. S. Army serving off as a has been at the end of the 80's. during the Vietnam era. Surviving He shifted gears in the 90's and began besides his wife Vicki is a stepdaughter, writing some of the best music he has Kelly Shiverdecker and Cris Shell of ever written. We saw the 90's version Akron, Ohio; two step-grandch i l d r e n , of Bob Dylan. He has a very impressive Angel Shiverdecker and Cristopher band behind him, but I was hoping to Shell. At Ray's request, cremation will see a little of the Bob Dylan I knew take place. There will be no visitation from the 60's. The one who sang with or calling hours. A private family a nasal voice and played the guitar and interment will take place at the Floral harmonica. He sang only 3 songs that L awn Cemetery in Battle Creek. I remembered, my favorite being "Like Memorial contributions are suggested a Rolling Stone." to the charity of the donor's choice. Continued on page 5

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Concert Continued from page 4 The song was almost unrecognizable, although thewordswere the same.

N e v e r t h e l e s s, we enjoyed the concert. He has definitely reinvented himself. There were many young people in the audience as well as older people like Mike and I He received a standing ovation and came back for an encore, singing "Like a Rolling Stone." I have his Basement Tapes CD and knew what kind of music he would be performing, so I wasn't disappointed.

A MOVING EXPERIENCE

by Richard Perry BT is great . Thought I would send in an update. I am told I need to be more positive and less cynical, so this will be short.

Ok, update on us. I Retired from a DoD civil service job in 2005 and now make bamboo fly rods. A get rich quick proposition if there ever was one. During the season I put in a couple days a week at Gates Lodge (fly shop). Lillian is an RN and works a couple days a week at the local hospital. In June we will be married 41 years.

We live about 2 miles south of Lovells Michigan at the end of dirt road in a Log Cabin built in 1933. We have 15 acres but are surrounded by large private holdings and state land so no neighbors to speak of. Just us and a German Short hair named Doodle. Cedar logs with a river stone fire place. About 1000 square feet with one bedroom, and a stream back of the cabin. There is a quest place on the other end of the property. We moved here from a 3000 sq. foot place in We s t e r v i l l e, Ohio. Quite an adventure in downsizing. The rod shop is insulated and heated for year round operation. I spend a lot of time out there making rods, thinking about making rods, goofing off, thinking about goofing off, or just napping. But when you live in an 80 year old log cabin there is always something to do, and if you know anything about German Short hairs you understand they can keep you busy.

So the days are full and I often wonder how I had time to work.

Hoping for more snow to fill the rivers when the spring melt comes around. R e g a r d l e s s, we are looking forward to another good year of trout fishing. Bird hunting is on the down trend according to the deep thinkers, but should still be bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 6 Vol. 20 Issue 2 good if you know where to go (I do). Doodle is two this year and will finish her field training in the spring and we are expecting more good things from her. Loves to hunt - get out a gun and she goes into search mode and starts covering ground. Great thing to watch, and the grouse are good to eat.

I have a web site "www. r k p c a n e r o d s.com" with contact information. If folks are visiting the area and would like to stop by give me a call.

A DEATH OF TRADITION

by James R. Earl

The Warcups of Saskatchewan, 1927 There was excitement in the house! Everyone had been waiting for the necromancer to arrive with his wagon of alchemy to wage his magic and bend light into photographs. The art of photography was still young, and many considered it a “black art” of witch e r y, sorcery. Light benders had only been around for about 60 years; capturing your image, after all, was akin to capturing a portion of your very soul.

Still, the family scurried around getting into their “Sunday go to meeting” finery: the photographer was coming. Something they’d never done before--the family portrait. Gathered, cousins Bethel, Florence, and Eleanor and all the others were ready before the photographer arrived. Nervousness set the mood. Were they ready? Had they forgotten anything? Grandma had her teeth, straightened her best gingham, the boys in their stuffy suits that didn’t flex and were too hot, freshly scrubbed head to toe, they stood--waiting. He’s here. bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 7 Vol. 20 Issue 2 In a flash of fire and a plume of smoke, it was over. He’d have the picture back in few days--before he left town. The photograph, when it finally arrived, was a moment that generations could look at and wonder: what were they thinking that day? What were their lives like back then? How proud they all looked, ready and waiting. The family photograph was not just another chore to do. No, it was an event! One to share with the generations to come.

Kodak Memories: The Death of the Family Portrait! Kodak did it. In an ironic twist of cruel fate, the very company that invented popular photography had killed one of its earliest promises: preserving the family as it was on that warm summer day, standing, sitting and being certain not to fidget. Kodak killed that--invented the Brownie camera, they did. Now a new term, one from hunting, came into familiar usage: “the snap shot.”

Pictures took on a new ch a r a c t e r, informal in manner and inconsequential in m e a n i n g. The photograph was now in the common lexicon of everybody. Inexpensive, and thus almost valueless, snap shots became the norm. No longer the entire family gathered together, in their finest, for posterity to ponder, the snap shot is so casual that almost nobody even notices anymore. Flash bulbs, once so common, have been replaced by the ubiquitous strobe light built into today’s c a m e r a s. Dark rooms full of exotic chemicals and silver solutions have been replaced by computer softwa r e. Now, even the venerated photo album has been replaced by the web page. Or worse, an iPhoto collection on an iPad or iPhone. The horrors!

N o, now instead of the family, together in one place--a moment in time forever s aved--we have Mom at the kitchen stove boiling the potatoes, and Dad at the table carving the turkey. That has lessened us. Reduced the value of the family. To get a look at the family today one has to gather dozens of snap shots to find the cast of characters--if they are even there--and then they may not even be from the same year. The future will wonder -- did they care they were a family? Were they ever together?

Kodak invented photography! Gave us a sense of kindred alliance, they did! Then they cheapened it. Eventually they reduced our moments in time to the tiniest fragment. They stole our family; in their stead they gave us individuals. Sometimes, I wonder, have they devalued us, too?

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Written by Earl Clark edited by Pam Clark Intro by James Earl scans courtesy of Bobby Todd Most of us spent some of our time with our version of the iPod while we were in s chool – the transistor radio. Most of us tuned in WKFR otherwise known as Keener 14. Sometimes we caught WBCK. Well, to bring old memories back, Pam and Earl Clark have put together an engaging article catching up with our favorite Disk Jockeys from when DJ's really jockeyed discs. Have you ever wondered what kind of impact you had on another persons life or business ? For instance, what impact did you have on radio in Battle Creek? Did this have any effect on radio beyond the Battle Creek area? Never crossed your mind?

BOY HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU! If you lived in the Battle Creek area, the station that played “our” music wa s WKFR AM. Every time you called them to request a song, every time you visited a store having a WKFR remote radio broadcast you made an impact. Think about all the dances (sock hops) you went to that were hosted by a , known as a Keener Key Man, again, you made an impact.

The personal contact, the local information, the phone call, the DJ at the sock hop who knew what songs you wanted to hear and knew what was going on with their l i s t e n e r s. It helped make good radio listening from WKFR and for the entire Battle Creek area.

Rock and Roll was still young. While artists were exploring the new medium so were an intrepid group of young, mostly men, learning the fine art of “spinning wax.” AM Radio was their new home. We made it comfortable, we populated it, we supported it. We played an inexorable role in the rock empire.

Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and many smaller cities with similar radio stations were very important training grounds for then-new DJ's. Ye s, you and I helped train a lot of DJ's. We were a stepping stone for those who went on to the bigger market radio stations.

But what did they learn? What did we do that helped them? I got to thinking about this and starting calling a few radio personalities and found much we weren't aware of at the time. bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 9 Vol. 20 Issue 2 ROBERTA JASINA She worked at the WKFR News Department for about 2 years. Currently Morning News Anchor at WWJ 950 AM . Roberta says; “Rick D'Amico, my News Director at WKFR AM, drilled into me that the listeners were everything! I would do best to pay attention to the listeners and learn what they were interested in, what was important to them” (hey that's us). Roberta always wanted to be in news reporting and tells me that she follows Rick's advice to this very day. Roberta went from WKFR in Battle Creek to WMJC FM in Detroit and from there to WWJ AM News Talk 950 on the AM dial and 97.1 High Definition 2 on the FM dial, for CBS News. I had a nice phone call with Roberta. Every time I've talked to her she has always been nice.

KEVIN SANDERSON He worked at WKFR as a DJ in 1972 and 1974. Kevin came back in 1976 to work for Bill Gray as the Production Director. Kevin is Currently doing Morning Traffic for WJBK Channel 2 TV in Detroit. Kevin was one of the 2 best production guys in town; the other was Joey Ryan. I found Kevin couldn't say enough about listening and understanding the needs of the listeners (us again). Kevin and I talked about an hour, there's too many stations to list them all. Here's a list of a few besides WKFR; WVOC AM, WALM AM in Albion, WIBM FM in Lansing, WCAR AM in Detroit, WAAM AM in Ann Arbor, WDRQ FM in Detroit, WCZY AM in Detroit, WCXI AM in Detroit doing production, (side note: Pam and myself and all of the WSDS Ypsilanti air crew ran in the same market with the same format against WCXI. Kevin was very good, and we didn't have a budget, let alone a production director, but we held our own) after Kevin left WCXI it ch a n g e d formats, and Kevin freelanced, producing voice overs and commercials for many stations.

JIM JEFFRIES Jim worked on air at WKFR. He also spent time at WELL, WKNR and WQXI among other stations. Jim was a Record Promoter in later years and also worked for the School for the Blind, recording books, this gave students access to books they wouldn't have had otherwise. Jim spent some time working with News Talkers Radio Magazine and did some AM himself.

The first time I called Jim a few years back he didn't remember me; then Sandy Zonker helped jog his memory. The second call was very different. Jim remembered me and my brother Karl. I told Jim how seeing him do his show in the studio and visiting some of his remote broadcasts impacted my love of radio. Jim had never thought that just doing his job, would affect anyone. bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 10 Vol. 20 Issue 2 August 2, 2009 Bobby Todd pulled together a mini Keener reunion. Jim and his wife Debbie attended, the group had lunch and had a good time. 2 weeks later Jim passed away. Bobby tells me that Jim was so happy at the reunion and he never lost his love for people. That was the Jim I remember.

BOBBY TODD Bobby worked at many stations besides WKFR; WELL, WLY V, WQXI, CKLW, WIBG, WAKY, WGOW, WDXB, WFLI, WMYK, WILS, WVOY, WQUE, WVUE-TV, KDUO-KFXM, VNN-TV, WKTK. Wow! Now he owns Thurgaland Marketing and Consulting and also participates in an internet broadcasting site www.Beatlesarama.com.

TONY CLARK Tony Clark worked for a very short time at WKFR. He spent some time at WVIC in Lansing, 15 years plus Mount Clemens Radio, 2 ? years WOAP GM. He has spent the past 13 years Tony Clark Production Services.

MIKE MCNEA MIKE was an engineer at WKFR He also worked as an engineer at WCER, for the FBI LAB'S and now as the overnight engineer for THE VOICE OF AMERICA. Mike controls some 80 plus short-wave radio feeds from all across the world. Mike has overcome many health problems since birth – he sets a good example for all of us to follow.

TOM DEAN To the best of my understanding, Tom was at Keener only a very short time. Tom Dean was heard in both Kalamazoo and Keener. (Tom is hard to get a hold of and did not return any calls) I have talked with him many times in the past. Here is what I have: WOHO Fort Wayne; Sturgis Mich;WKFR, WKNR, CKLW, WJBK, WDEE, WXYZ, WOMC, WCLS, WWJ, WOW FM, WYCD, WTCM and their group of stations. Also Internet @ 929 the Breeze.com From Tom's page on face book: Local people have never been more important to what broadcasters do. Everybody has something to say that's worth hearing -- ch e ckout Facebook for evidence of that. Personal experiences, local sports, activities, gossip and happenings are the ammunition that will keep local media on top and worth coming back to. Every media source is looking for ways to get more input from their audience. Those that don't are falling by the wayside -- The Ann Arbor News closed it's doors in 2009. bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 11 Vol. 20 Issue 2 R a d i o, TV, newspapers, magazines, bloggers and other content providers are combining forces, partnering in the new medium -- the internet -- in exciting new way s. Because of my love of electronics tinkering, the changing technology is thrilling for me to be a part of it. We have to be careful -- I have a love-hate relationship with the internet; even Bill Gates grew tired of it, giving up Microsoft, and turning his attention to his family and of course, that pile of money you and I gave him. Some time, look up Tom's web site on-line (a very neat guy)

JOEY RYAN Joey Ryan worked in Kalamazoo and maybe Battle Creek, not sure. Joey was a very good friend to WSDS in Ypsilanti (Mr. Boogie) WDRQ, WTWR, WHIF, WKSG, WMJC, WHNE, WHND, WAAM, WSDS voice overs and station identification calls. Star 97 FM, WJBK TV Channel 2 as their Booth Announcer.

Both Pam and myself were very lucky to have known Joey as a friend. Like Pam and I, Joey also did a lot of live parties. (I worked with Joey long before I met my wife Pam). Joey passed away on June 24, 2011.

BILL GRAY WKFR – WBCK and others ? Here is a man who had worked in Battle Creek Radio most of this life, right in your own back yard. Bill never lost that people contact and as Program Director at Keener he trained all of the people who worked for him over the years with that same idea. He was indeed the rock of Battle Creek Radio and knows how to listen to our needs as we called in or had contact with him and his crew. He was like a Chevy Truck, long time running and longest lasting, as would say, “Like a rock”.

From Face Book; my last contact with Bill: Doing "WELL" here Earl! Good to hear from you. I wish I could maintain your enthusiasm for radio, but it's sad to see how poorly the old girl has aged. I wouldn't want to be starting over today. Local input was absolutely essential We had to localize or we would just hand over our audience to the WLS's of the world Local emphasis was the "KEY" in Keener.

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Tony Clark It was like baby-sitting Darth Vader.. by Tony Clark KEVIN SANDERSON We had the same automation (the 903) in Detroit at WTWR Tower 92FM (the old WCAR-FM). Because I knew and understood how to program it from my days at Keener 14 in Battle Creek

I've seen this pic years ago, but just discovered it flying around on the web today. Rick D'Amico was one of my Program Directors when I was at WILS in Lansing many moons ago. This is a pic of him about the time I was in high school, as Program Director of Keener 14 in Battle Creek, where Tony the Tiger once lived. with Rick D'Amico.

FCC HISTORY PAGE and BATTLE CREEK NEWS PAPER FILE 1940-In November, WELL is upgraded to 250 watts, and a 205 foot tower is built atop the Michigan National Bank Building. The station adopts the slogan “NBC’s Voice in the Food City.” 1 9 4 7- W E L L’s sister station, WELL-FM is born, but survives only a few years before disappearing from the scene. The WELL Players win a Peabody award for the most outstanding public service program. 1 9 4 8 - WBCK is licensed to broadcast at 1000 wa t t s, giving WELL some competition in Battle Creek.

bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 13 Vol. 20 Issue 2 1 9 5 7 - On May 5th, the Enquirer and News sells WELL to Southern Mich i g a n Broadcasting, headed by Fred Knorr, broadcast tycoon and board chairman of the Detroit Baseball Company, owner of the Tigers. 1963 - WELL-FM returns, and simulcasts the programming of WELL-AM. 19 6 4 - WELL becomes WKFR, Keener 14., after research and in-depth surveys indicate that young people are listening to out-of-town radio stations. 1 9 6 7 - The stations are sold to Joseph Wa l d s chmitt of Engineering Investment Corp., D.C. 1972 - WKFR-AM becomes WKNR-AM. WKFR-FM adopts the “Beautiful Island” format. 1 9 7 3 - The stations double studio and office space, occupying about half of the seventh floor of the Michigan National Bank Building. Also at about this time, a new tower was erected at the present site on Territorial Road, near Riverside Drive. 1974 - The station becomes the first in the country to completely computerize its operation. 1978 - WKFR goes from “Beautiful music” to contemporary light rock. The 215 foot WKFR-FM tower (formerly AM 1400’s) is removed from the roof of the Michigan National Bank Building. 1983 - In October, WKNR drops the top 40 format and changes to hits of the 50’s and 60’s. 1985 - Hicks Broadcasting buys the stations, for a reported $3.5 million. 1988 - In July, Triad/Comm Co. in Marshall buys WKNR and brings back the call letters WELL. 1 9 8 9 - Format is changed to Country, and WELL-AM is tri-multicasted with WELL-FM (Marshall) and WALM-AM (Albion). 1990 - The format is changed to /Nostalgia. 1991 - Triad/Comm Co. files bankruptcy in November. Bankruptcy court takes the stations dark on December 31st. 1992 - Lansing entrepreneur Donald Fox buys the station. 1 9 9 3 - Liggett Broadcasting, owners of WBCK and WBXX, acquires WELL-AM and FM and WALM-AM. A format is adopted for WELL-AM and FM, and the stations are restored to the airwaves, ending almost an exact year of s i l e n c e. WELL-AM is now granted a license to broadcast at 1000 watts day and night. 19 9 6 - In April, WELL-AM is changed to Keener 14 WWKN-AM. A 60’s format is adopted, and the original Keener jingles from the 1960’s are used. 1996 - In November, Keener 14 moves to FM and becomes Keener 104-9. AM 1400 bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 14 Vol. 20 Issue 2 adopts an Adult Standards/Nostalgia format and Unforgettable 1400 is born. 1997 - The call letters are changed from WWKN-AM to WRCC-AM. 7-27-2006 - Call Letter are changed from WRCC-AM to WBFN-AM. 8 - 1 - 2 0 0 6 - The format changes from Music of Your Life to 1400 WBFN “The Fan”

MAIN STUDIO WKFR LOOKS LIKE A RCA BOARD 1964 BOBBY TODD HARD AT WORK old RCA MICROPHONE and OLD TURNTABLES (Just like what we started with at WSDS, NEAT)

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THE CLASS REUNION Now Kathy brings us this humorous look at reunions via e-mail: Every five years, as summertime nears, An announcement arrives in the mail, A reunion is planned; it'll be really grand; Make plans to attend without fail.

I'll never forget the first time we met; We tried so hard to impress. We drove fancy cars, smoked big cigars, And wore our most elegant dress. *It was quite an affair; the whole class was there. It was held at a fancy hotel. We wined, and we dined, and we acted refined, And everyone thought it was swell.

The men all conversed about who had been first To achieve great fortune and fame. Meanwhile, their spouses described their fine houses And how beautiful their children became.

No one had heard about the class nerd Who'd guided a spacecraft to the moon; Or poor little Jane, who's always been plain; She married a shipping tycoon.

The boy we'd decreed 'most apt to succeed' Was serving ten years in the pen, While the one voted 'least' now was a priest; Just shows you can be wrong now and then.

They awarded a prize to one of the guys Who seemed to have aged the least.. Another was given to the grad who had driven The farthest to attend the feast. They took a class picture, a curious mixture Of beehives, crew cuts and wide ties. Tall, short, or skinny, the style was the mini; You never saw so many thighs. bt digital [email protected] [email protected] 707-747-0807 April 2012 Page 21 Vol. 20 Issue 2 At our next get-together, no one cared whether They impressed their classmates or not. The mood was informal, a whole lot more normal; By this time we'd all gone to pot. It was held out-of-doors, at the lake shores; We ate hamburgers, coleslaw, and beans. Then most of us lay around in the shade, In our comfortable T-shirts and jeans.

By the fiftieth year, it was abundantly clear, We were definitely over the hill. Those who weren't dead had to crawl out of bed, And be home in time for their pill.

And now I can't wait; they've set the date; Our sixtieth is coming, I'm told. It should be a ball, they've rented a hall At the Shady Rest Home for the old.

Repairs have been made on my hearing aid; My pacemaker's been turned up on high. My wheelchair is oiled, and my teeth have been boiled; And I've bought a new wig and glass eye. I'm feeling quite hearty, and I'm ready to party I'm gonna dance 'til dawn's early light. It'll be lots of fun; But I just hope that there's one Other person who can make it that night.

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