Guest Book

Where is everybody? Out expanding the waistlines in your duds for the reunion? I've been busy as hell trying to narrow the list of songs down to ONLY six hours for the big shin-dig, getting PSYCHED!!! Sorry Jody and Dewey for not posting the pics you sent yet--it's just that I have a higher cause (with little time left, as usual). Don, your daughter has nothin' on me, procrastination-wise.
Anyhow, I guarantee y'all a contact high on the music alone! And with all the others there at the same time, well, it's goin' to be REALLY GROOVY, man.
Since no one offered to name any songs to play, don't complain to me if you don't hear what you want; however, I'm not worried about it, with so much GREAT music back then, it would be hard to screw it up. I'm sure I'LL like it. But Ruth and Steve, I hope you don't mind if we can't fit in Candy Man. There's just sooo much other great stuff to fit in to only six hours.
Gettin' PSYCHED!!

Well, here's my last before the reunion. In 7 hours I'll be on a plane heading for sunny (and hot and muggy) Virginia. I won't have any incriminating pictures with me but I will have the last copy of the Em Vee Hi from senior year. I've read the web. I've watched my video from the 20-year. I've looked through the yearbook. And I am PSYCHED and READY!! Somebody remind Gary Hudson to be there. It seems he vanished from these pages after such an auspicious start. SEE YOU all soon!

I also have some vintage photos circa 1967 of Claire Garrett, Ginna Ghent, Ruth Haseman, Randy Knight, Tommy Marfing, Jody DeJohne (I think that's spelled wrong) and probably some others from hanging out at the pool and at our houses - and some from a slumber party at my house. I will bring them with me to the reunion and - speaking of blackmail - see how much I can get for not showing them to anyone!! :)

Finally got back on AOL after it died on me. Can't wait to see everyone in a week. I'll be staying at my sister's (MVHS '69) arriving 30 June. I've been going through my old scrap book and have alot of interesting things too. Quite a few pictures of a watermellon session after a football practice. Even have a picture of Gina from a 6th grade birthday party!!!!! What blackmail. I still have my saddle shoes that come in handy around halloween and my mom still uses my drill team sweater for 50/60's parties! See you all next week. Jody

hey Ruth, how could I ever forget prom night. We doubled with that wild couple, Jim Brillhart and Lucy Dee. Do you remember that exciting after the prom party in my basement with Jody DeJonghe (I don't remember her date), and Dave Shanahan (with Debbie Deforest '73). I think we ended up playing ping pong.

Hey Don: I just found a black and white glossy of you and your gorgeous companion on prom night. Also in the picture are the couple you doubled with. Can you remember who they are?

We have made no provision for walk-ins at the dinner. The hotel will order food based on the headcount PAID. We do not intend to risk money based upon the possibility that someone might show at the door.

The hotel will allow us to make minor additions to headcount up until this Friday. However, we will not do so without money IN HAND.

We allegedly have 14 people that plan to attend that STILL have not remitted payment!!! We are not going to personally risk up to $800 + on their behalf -- nor should we.

Everyone has had sufficient notice with respect to the due date for payments. We have already taken personal risks to extend those dates based on "promised" payments. After all of the frustration of calling and reminding people of the due date for payments, we will not continue to believe that those "checks in the mail" for the last few weeks will get here on time to absolve us of further risk. Those thinking that they'll just pay at the door are requested to refrain from trying, to avoid the embarrassment of being asked to leave, and to allow Reunion Committee members to enjoy the party with other classmates without the annoyance of having to deal with such a situation.

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO HASN'T PAID BUT PLANS TO COME? Frank just informed me via email that people CANNOT pay at the door. This Friday is the last chance for Frank to tweak the headcount at the hotel and, understandably, he will only do that based on money IN HAND. Promises don't count, considering how long "the check's in the mail" has been claimed. It's enough this committee organizes this thing. It's too much to ask that they also bankroll it. If you know any late payers, scream at them immediately. And I guess it's time for them to Fed Ex that check.

I'd forgotten all about the Ring Thing too. I asked my 17 year old son - for whom I've bought not one, but TWO class rings (to salve my guilty conscience for moving him to a new high school during his junior year) -- if this was still a tradition. In response, I was treated to one of his best "parents are not only embarrassingly out dated, but also irretrievably demented" looks. I'm afraid I have given him more fodder to heckle me with (damn prepositions). He still hasn't stopped chortling over my yearbook. His 1997 yearbook came complete with a CDrom disc with video clips of student activities. What a difference a quarter century makes!

Gee, Denver's been in the news a lot lately - first the McVeigh trial and then the summit of 8. They get so excited around here when a president's in town. Reminds me to contrast that with what it was like living where it's more newsworthy when the Prez ISN'T in town. Well, I've given my last try at getting video into pictures and onto the web site. I converted, I compressed and I emailed to John. He'll decide what's good enough to post. They won't be up long. Soon we'll have pics of the 25 yr! Janine, I had forgotten ring turning until you mentioned it. I have no recollection AT ALL of who did any of the turns on mine, or if I even did it (but I still have my Blue Zircon ring in my dresser drawer). As for the first and last turns I have some vague sense that the word "virgin" was involved but I might be confusing that with Century Tower at UF (which is said to lose a brick everytime a virgin walks by). Got word that Dan Adkins (class of '71) WILL be attending our renunion. It was iffy there for a while. I presume people can pay at the door. This is my last few days of being able to pollute this page before the reunion. I head for Va. Saturday. I'll be staying at my brother's (MVHS class of '69). Don't think I'll be making any Friday night party at the hotel, Claire. I see that "When the kid's away, the moms will play!"

Trying to get an idea of who's going to be around the hotel on Friday night. Ruth, Ginna , Robin Y. and I are coming in on Friday afternoon and will be there for any activities going on on Friday night. Anyone else arriving on Friday? This means we have all day Saturday to play; anybody want to join us? We don't have any plans as yet, but we're open to suggestions. See you all soon!

Ruth: I can only hope that they therefore switch into "high" gear if they are truly gearing up and get a move on already. Steve? ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... nope .... mine hasn't graduated yet and has not reached the same "sneaker" height yours has. And... hmmm... no other takers, huh? Oh yeah ... Ruth ... oldest spawn is a female .... other is the FUBAR. Seriously ... they're good kids!!! It's just the time of year, I guess -- or life -- or whatever. Do you think we made our parents just as nutz or were they just better at ignoring it all. OK -- ever notice that the guys have remembered the tiniest little details about stuff from high school that the females haven't, and vice versa??? Here's one sure to stump the guys -- remember the "turning of the ring tradition" -- 72 times -- just for ...hmmm... luck was it?? or did we EVER really know why we were doing that. Anyway ... sorry for digressing .... but ... how many of you can remember who it was that was the first one to turn your ring and who was the last one??? (I have no idea why I thought of this - other than I rescued one '98 MV class ring from the throws of the garbage disposal (but MOM !!! I put it on the counter while I was doing the dishes --- yeah, sure, right -- that'll be the day) ... and for some reason ... that thought jumped into (or out of) my head. Regardless.... I DO remember some semi-menial tidbit of information about those years after all and just wonder if a quater of a century later anyone else could recall who "did" their turns? And yes ... you're correct ... I was out in the sun wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too long today.

John: in responding to "everybody's stuff" I did not forget you. I just think it's safer to ignore you if I want to avoid an endless and painful Jackson Five/Partridge Family medley.

Okay, now I've had a chance to catch up and read everybody's stuff (I am sort of disappointed that after five days absence "everybody" is such a short list). Janine: I have a variety of IV solutions. What flavor do you want? Janine and Steve C.: Aren't kids GREAT? You don't say whether your kids are boys or girls. I've about come to the conclusion that we really ought to drown all the boy babies because they are F.U.B.A.R. (The last three words of that acronym are "Beyond All Repair"). Still, regardless of sex, I think we ought to grant reprieves to the 17 year olds since they're about the same age we were when last we met. Try to think of it as gearing up for THEIR 25th high school reunion.

Just back from 5 fun-filled (?) days in Kansas City, MO for the National PTA Convention. Yes, this is the same PTA that your mothers baked cookies for. The same PTA which, I'm sure, ALL of you with children in public schools are members of. (Dear Grammer Police: DO NOT talk to me about ending sentences prepositions. There are more important things to worry ABOUT). Please be advised that the PTA is definitely NOT just baking cookies anymore. During this convention alone, we successfully made the world safe for children and democracy. You can thank me at the reunion (and you can congratulate me for learning how to spell "definitely" since I last used that word on this web site).

To Ruth and all:
We want you to have your favorite music played at YOUR reunion. After all, it's not inexpensive, so we want you to get what you paid for. If you want particular songs played, then e-mail your list to me and we'll TRY to provide it [not all of Ruth's favorites are available, though--but we're still checking ;^)]. On the other hand, if you come to this site, well..., you get what you pay for here, also.

Janine, do you do trades? How about one 17 1/2 yr old for another - Even Steven!?? Steve Muck, check your e-mail. Dave Nermyr, Where are you? No response to my voice mail yet....

::::::::::::::::::whew::::::::::::::::: Thanks... I feel better now ... ummmmmmmmmmmmmm... Ruth????? You still have that IV handy????

For Sale/Rent/Hire/GiveAway: Two teenagers ... one 17-1/2 year old (by gawd -- don't forget that half) soon to be (or is as of today -- am sooooo confused) Senior at MV and one eighth grader at Whitman. Come with their own TVs, stereos, and end-of-school-year attitude. Will send to the first person replying to this post. Can you say: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" ?!?!?!?!

Am glad to see the great reunion turn out. This should be fun.

Absolutely correct Dewey -- they're being protected from the renovation work -- can't have them out there on their shelves while they're ripping the ceilings apart. I should tell you also ... one of the most coveted trophies in the band world is the one from the Mount Vernon Classic which is now 20 years strong. Could you have ever imagined that our own MV would hold its own band competition and as a reward give one of the most coveted trophies on the East Coast. There are usually about 20 bands that compete -- the trophy being a cast bronz of a minuteman fife and drum quartet. Only twenty of them were ever made and the mold broken. Some schools that have one more than one have agreed to denote one or two back in exchange for a plaque ... thankfully so that tradition can continue. Wow !! All those precious mementos you've found has now motivated me to scour my own attic to see what all I can find. The yearbooks with all their signatures have been out on the bookshelf for years -- even have the one from '73 since many of our spring activities were published in that one. And somewhere along the line I evidently marked numeous pages with those namecards from our senior year. I wonder now what the blue satin ribbon "sash" thingy was from as well as several other once-significant pieces of paper and napkins. And .. even after all these years ... the white tassle has survived (well... it was white -- until it aged -- much like us I suppose -- a little graggly but basically still in good shape and humor).

Why, yes, Janine, I do have alllllll that stuff. And more! You mention the colonial hats & band uniforms. I organized a small reunion of some band folks in '79 at an MV football game. I saw the colonial band uniforms. Really liked them. Appropriate for MV's "heritage", I thought. As for the Sousa award, I think Sandee won it in '71. On a trip back around '75 or so I seem to remember seeing that the plaque SKIPPED '72. What do you mean by the "trophies and plaques" being "packed" and "resting safely"? What about "Displayed Proudly"? Or is this just to protect them from renovation work? As for other memoabilia, I was motivated to search deeper and I found another bag. This is stuff from Sr. year, including many issues of Em Vee Hi. The last one has an article listing the "Senior Superlatives". So I guess I get to answer my own earlier request. That same issue lists all the senior college choices, too. Also in the bag were programs from Bachalaureate and Commencement, the fake "diploma" they handed us there, and a bunch of issues of "Major Outlook", the little football game preview flyer. And there was a box of "Senior Cards" which I had totally forgotten about. It had a bunch of mine and many collected from friends. We sure did a lot of things back then to acknowledge friendships. I'm thinking, too, of signing those little 4x4 papers as well as yearbooks. Wouldn't it be nice if theses days once a year your friends would sign something like that? Does anybody know what those little 4x4 papers were called? I can't imagine we just called them "little papers". All this stuff makes me want to get some glass display cases and set up a little "Class of '72 Museum Display" for the dinner/dance.

You still have allllllllllll that stuff Dewey?? ALthough I shouldn't talk ... I still have a few of those 4 x 4 pieces of paper too along with a voodoo doll that's orange and white and one green and white (could those possibly be Hayfield and Ft. Hunt??) and for some strange reason ... a McDonalds cup and a couple of straws (anyone out there know the significance those would have had to me to keep all these years???) .... and you still have one of the tri-corner hats??? Now... that's something that hasn't existed in ages -- except for the very expensive ones the band has for their "colonial" uniforms that can no longer be purchased anywhere. I've often thought we should sell some of those we had at football games since there are a large group out there that continually tries to steal the ones the band members wear. I do still have the eighth grade yearbook tho (awwwwwwwwww.... what a bunch of cute babies) ... I'll have to remember that one for the picnic perusals. As to band mom ... yep ... that would be me ... actually "color guard mom" is the so-called official title but it's all one unit so it doesn't make much difference. The John Philip Sousa Award for '72 says Sandy Flores -- a name very familiar to ... umm... Rich, I believe?? Checked it out before we packed up all those trophies and plaques from about 15 years worth of massive winnings. Now THAT was a job -- but they're resting safely .... somewhere. As to this thing that that gave me the other night .... I'm assured it's "something from that era" (ugh... we're an era, now) ... guess we'll see how good your memory or theirs is ... and we tried to get one in your current size. What you'll do with it ??? ... put in with all those others mementos that you've managed to preserve all these years.

Having checked out the top ten hits from each year of our high school tenure, I think I'm going to need the name and phone number of the DJ for Saturday night. I want to be sure that all those GREAT hits from the Archies, Jackson Five, Partridge Family, Donny Osmond and, of course, Sammy Davis get "appropriate" play time. (P.S. Since I'll probably have to offer the DJ a cash incentive, I'll be collecting the bribe money from like-minded class mates at the door.)

Janine, what were you doing cleaning up old Band stuff? What's your connection there? Are you a "Band Mom" volunteering your time to such things? I can't imagine what this band memory thing is you're talking about. Or, for that matter what I'll do with it!? But as for Band Memories I've still got my maroon V-neck sweater that was the marching uniform in the fall of '70. And I still have a few souvenir drumsticks from back then. And (now that I bother to look) I found a bag of stuff from Jr. year including all my papers for Wedlock's class, 7 issues of Em Vee Hi and three little squares of paper (4" x 4") that have strings tied to them and say things like "SNARE TIGERS" and "BUZZ OFF". These related to football opponents, (like the Herndon Hornets?) These have been signed by various people, including someone who wrote "Ruth '72" on one of them. I wonder who that could have been? ;^) And I have a maroon felt triangle hat that says "Mount Vernon Majors" on it and still has a few computer punch dots stuck to it, that were used for confetti. (These came from paper TAPE! I remember trying to vacuum those suckers up from the ground below the stands on Saturday mornings Jr. year. People on Jr. Class Council (and interested others) cleaned the stadium after games to make money for the class.) Oh - and somewhere I also have a little yarn (voodoo?) doll that I bought from the Drill Team. It's red, white and blue, so I think that means it was for the week of the Edision game. Shall I go on?..... ;^) Janine: Does the band room area still have a plaque on the wall listing the yearly recipient of the "John Philip Sousa Award"? Check to see who's listed for '72.

All, Just to provide a bit of clarification, the list that John has posted includes only the people whose checks I have received. There are allegedly a multitude of "checks in the mail". Also, the list is only the dinner/dance list. There are some that are attending the dinner that won't be at the picnic, and there are some that are planning to attend the picnic but not the dinner.

Br'er Webmeister, PLEASE don't throw me in that brier patch!!!

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!! ((Dodgin' the lighting bolts and installing lead (unpentratable by lighting bolts) walls around what seems to be the new insulation for my home. Hmmmmm.... maybe that's where it would be better put to use in lighting of the warning just received. ((But ... then again .... would hate to have Ruth call me a TOTAL chickenchit)) ... ducking back behind the walls for a few days and rethinking this. Hey guys -- see you all soon!!! Dewey?? Spent a few hours cleaning out closets of long lost memoirs from band years past up at the school the other night. With all the renovation we've not moved the uniform room three times and going on the fourth (yeah ... would you believe?? for a band who at one time Barely had "official" marching uniforms ... the uniforms now take up a room that's somewhere in the neighborhood of 700-900 sq. ft. and is packed solid!!!!!!) For all the rest of you band people out there ... I MAY (just may) have been able to come up with one memory for ya -- but the prize itself goes to Dewey. (Can only imagine (NOT!) what he'll do with it -- but will admit .... actually had someone from that band era there (albeit not from our class) to help me drudge up this one.) Teehee

Who needs trees when there's a roof, and perhaps a chimney? As I recall, cars, bushes, even grass also work well as "drape" supports....

No trees in my yard!

(((peeking out from behind a HUG wall of TP))) ... been silent all week ... but been busy putting Ruth's plan in action here ..... Ruth: I think we now have enough to do both houses!!!! ();-o~ (but...shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... don't tell them (wink))

Frank, after your email message, just had to check this out...the entire reunion committee did a great job..loved the pictures and it sounds like this years will be even greater....thanks for sharing this with me. I'm sure Tim Sharp will fill me in on all the details when he gets back to Alaska....oh, loved the intro song too....Joan

17 years ago, at about this time -- and also on a Friday the 13th -- I was in the "Exorcist" stage of labor with my first child. I distinctly remember thinking, between pants and moans, that, with the advent of children in my life, I would probably never again get a decent night's sleep. As evidenced by my time signatures on this page, I was right. (If I had more time, I could probably come up with a better excuse for the hours I keep, but right now I'm going to take the birthday boy out to lunch.)

Gee, Don, you got pretty quick service on that guest list! Thanks, John. Hear from any people coming to the picnic but not the dinner? It looks like Judy Fortney will make the picnic. Jody and I are still working on her to get her to the dinner. BTW, for everyone: Judy's changed her last name to "Fortineux". Apparently it's the "ancestral original" or some such. So don't get confused when you hear it. ;^) Claire: Keep in mind I live in Colorado so when you see 2 a.m. time stamps on my entries, it's really only midnight here. Ruth has no such excuse and I still claim she takes the computer under the covers. I can't use sleep deprivation as an excuse: I get up late, too. ("I'm a night owl, baby. Sleep all daaaay long...") Remind me, Claire: Were you in Lyon's class with me right after calc? I liked him. He was one of those teachers who was interested in moving us past "book larnin'" and teaching us something about LIFE.

ALLLLL RIIIGHT! Countdown time! Now's where's my list....?

what are the chances of seeing a dinner guest list posted before we attend the dinner?? personally , I'd like to see the list grow as each new person sends in the check. let's get some e-mail opinions posted on this subject.

Ruth and Dewey--no wonder you all are so witty on this guest book, look at the time of day you're on. You all must be sleep deprived! Are we going to stay up that late at the reunion, Ruth? If so I better start getting rested now.

Dave, I'll be glad to meet for lunch anytime. I was actually interested in joining you guys last saturday but didn't feel comfortable inviting myself. If any groups get together again prior to the reunion I wouldn't mind being included...hint, hint.I'll wait to hear from you Dave or I'll give you a ring at work.

Well is every one ready to party on the 5th. Im really looking forward to seeing you all. Everyone get their dancing shoes shined up. See you guys soon.

Hey Gary and John sure was nice to get together with you guys Sat for coffee that two hours went by all to quick. Will have to do it again sometime!! Steve Carroll your just around the corner how about lunch one day? I'll give you a ring on the red line. Hey John (H) you said Mary Vermillion Fones is out here in Burke somewhere any chance I could get her and Sams phone number, she was the one who contacted me about the 10th reunion. John the new pictures are great, really sorry I missed 20th every time I check out the pic's. Well gotta got meeting at 10:30.

Ruth's right. Come on folks. Nothing to say? Claire, no comment on Yearick's Calc class? Steph & Jody, no defense of the real purpose of the Drill Team? Glad we got the pictures all straightened out. (?) I guess I can be allowed not recognizing the wives, husbands and kids. I noticed that picture #1 has Cindy, Susan and Donna obviously posing for a different camera. As it happens, I also got that scene on video and captured a frame of it. I'd say we've got that moment covered. Attempts to talk Steve Sorrell into showing at the reunion seem to be failing. Oh well. I tried. Bob King, now the Press Secretary for the Governor of Alaska, has to be on a trip with the Gov. and Bruce Babbitt at that time. Guess we'll have to excuse that. Anybody out there still have a copy of the "Senior Superlatives" from '72?

It's midnight:30. Time for my regular bed check on the guest book. Interesting to note that there are apparently a lot of folks who READ the guest book, but don't bother to SIGN the guest book (unless incited by self-defense instincts). CHICKEN!! Come on Steve "Oobie Doobie" Curtis, Claire, Steph. Show us your stuff.

Claire: I think we ALL remember Amanda! Seems we have a consensus on Michele.

Ruth, re your 00:13:50 post: In that big, bad, paper-pushing world out there, you simply MUST learn to develop that nack for replying...now repeat after me... "Gee, I never got that memo!"

Since the last several entries sound a lot like Abbot and Costello doing "Who's on first" I've looked at the pictures AGAIN. I'm still not convinced that any of you are who you say you are -- and it seems you're not too sure either. I've seen Stepford wives, and I'm starting to get suspicious....

John, I don't know who that is in pic 3 but that's not my daughter . I don't think she's in any. But that is my husband and Ginna's husband, Mac (hat). It's funny that some of us remember some people and others don't. Guess we better all get the old yearbook out before the 4th. Ruth, I think you'll be surprised at how different we all look. Twenty five years does a lot to a body.

Steph: I don't think it's Donna in Pic #3, unless she changed and did her hair after Pic #1. I think it's Claire's daughter. I also thought it was Pete Morton with the hat (across from Ginna).

In Picture #3, that's Donna Gordon sitting to Claire's left, across from Claire is her husband (red shirt), and across from Ginna is her husband (hat); I don't know who the children belong to. In Picture #6, Paula and Gwen are talking to Michele DePrez. I've got my camera ready for Reunion 25 . . . .

Dewey: The two unknown women in the photo with Mike B. and me are our wives (of course, I won't admit to anything else!). Same with Rick Townsend; that's his wife.

Dewey: That "someone you don't recognize" in Pic #6 is Michele DePrez. She also appears on the right side in Pic #4.

Here's my shot at identifying people in Steph's new pictures: 1) Cindy Barr, Susan Symmes & Donna Gordon 2) Steve Curtis, two I couldn't get and Mike Bannister 3) Paula Thomas standing, Ginna Ghent seated at the end in blue, Claire Garrett facing you in red. Others unknown. 4) Seated is Cathy Morningstar (in black), Don Woods, Cindy Robey, Me (see, Yearick would still want me to cut my hair!) and walking by us in blue shorts is Rich Colella and his wife, Shauna. 5) Amanda Hoogland (in pink & blue by tree), and then Don's secret trio, Ward Kline, Nick Barnett & Don Woods. (Sorry to give it away, Don.) 6) Paula Thomas and Gwen Bard talking to someone I don't recognize. Linda Skwarski is in the background, Patty Nevin is in the foreground. 7) I think that's Ricky Townsend and someone I don't recognize. I had two aids in naming these folks. a) on Sunday I spent a couple hours going through bad video I shot then, trying to capture a few images to post. (Stay tuned) The audio sometimes identifies people. b) I used the "Reunion Yearbook". I thought this was a great idea last time, but it seems that participation was not 100%. We doing it again this time, guys? Or do we figure "Ya probably don't look that different from '92. Look at THAT yearbook." Or will we be doing our own Electronic Reunion Yearbook on the Web! Ruth, I know what you mean about some people not changing. Ward Kline, Steve Curtis and Paula Thomas, to name a few, look like they walked out of graduation, into a time machine, and into the reunion! Just think of all they missed! Like Disco! ...Ooh. Best not to think of that. Makes you glad we're not class of '79 so that John isn't putting a bunch of computer-generated Ohio Players' tunes on here. "That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I LIKE it..." (I suspect I just made Jim West wake up in a cold sweat somewhere.)

Okay, I've looked at the new pictures. I even went back and looked at some of the old pictures. Two questions: 1. Who are these people? (Did anyone check IDs? I'm starting to wonder if there's some group of loons who go to other people's reunions and claim to be fellow alumni.) 2. Why does everyone look so great? Didn't you get the memo about how, after you have kids and/or pass 40, you were SUPPOSED to gain weight, get wrinkles, grey hair and dress funny? I certainly followed those instructions. Never thought that the rest of you would be such slackers. If you can't shape down by the reunion, I'm not coming!

I just saw the new reunion picnic photos. I am in picture #5 on the right side. My oldest daughter is in front of me. She was almost 13. Last night I went to her high school graduation,.... boy did I feel old. Can you guess who I was talking to? hint W.K. and N.B. Speaking of N.B., does anyone know his E-mail address. DW

((Bowing to the Almighty Webmeister)) ((innocent look)) ((halo allllllllllll polished)) A thousand pardons, sir.

Watch it, ladies. It's not polite to mess with Father Webmeister!

Hmmmm... will think on it somemore Ruth .... and consult with the other "neighbors" as well. Actually ... all of the above sound good to me .... and something tells me that if we did one we WOULD end up doing them all. AND ... I justtttttttttttttttt happen to have Frank's and John's addresses ..... anyone else game ((hidng this message from John and Frank)) (hehehehehe) ... no really ... grew up and became an absolute ():-) .... but then ... I always was (wink) ...... running off to polish my halo now. lmaorofl

Steve Sorrell where are you?Any other Keyettes from 72 still around?

Gee, lotsa catchin' up to do. John: "Norwegian Wood". Nice arrangement. (Better than "25 or 6 to 4"). Unfortunately it's a little too old. Takes me back to Junior High. And that takes me back to - well, Colorado, actually (where I lived before moving to MV in '68.) Dave: I didn't remember that Leanne was in a FLeetwood Mac video. Don't think I've ever seen it. Pretty damn cool, though. Ruth: Yes, I'm a Gator. Bleed Orange and Blue and all that. Other Majors that went on to be Gators: Dan Adkins, Chris Abilene ('71), Bill Pinkepank, Mark Signorelli, Roy Glisson ('72), Jim and/or John Wolf ('73) (I forget which). And "f of x" was probably even seen in AlgII. Did you have O'brien for Functions/Analyt? Maybe another class we had together. As for athletes, the only one I've heard of is David Knight (Randy's brother and MV star our freshman year) who went on to play with the Jets in the Namath era. Sounds like Gary Mann and Rick Pannell slept in all their classes. Too much time spent at the Jolly Ox and McDonald's respectively, I guess. Cindee: Wow. Glad to hear you survived the car wreck. Let's be careful, folks. Don't wanna have to miss the reunion by being in the hospital! (I've given up paragliding until August!) John (again): "A memory waiting to happen." Gee, sounds like an official slogan to ME!

Come on Janine! From the sound of things, we're only talking about 100 warm bodies (and perhaps a dozen or so cold ones). I'll even bring the dogs and I bet Gary could rustle up a keg. Wadayasay? If not, I got an email from Steve Muck -- he's living within spitting distance, too. Maybe we should just crash/trash his place? OR, we could all cruise out to Wolftrap and watch an authentic pyrotechnic show? OR we could all meet at the Doubletree and drink ourselves into Boliva and forget the fireworks? OR we could figure out where John and Frank live and have some real fun? (I don't remember how to TP a house, but I bet it would come back to me with a little alcohol lubrication) OR ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!

Geez.... Gary Mann and Rick slept in that class too? What'd they do ...sleep their way through while the rest of us were workin' our carcasses off? (Yeah, sure, right ... like we were alll working soooooooo hard!) Well Ruth ... I have to confess... was thinking about that backyard thingy ... specially since I'm back in MV and have a reasonably good size back yard ... and ... it was tempting ... volleyball, basketball, our OWN fireworks ... BUT ... geez lady ... ONLY 400 of my closet long, lost ... not having seen in 25 years, bestest of buds ??? Hmmmmmmmmmm.... and .... who's got all the food??? Not me hun. ALTHOUGH ... we really should be able to find SOME WAY to entertain you out of town folks the night before .... whatcha say neighbors???

Regarding the list of attendees:

I will gladly post the list when we have the minimum number of paid-up people. I only want to post the people who have PAID to attend, because I do not want to offend the people who have not. We are doing this to have fun, not to publically embarrass any one. It would not be hard to figure out who has not paid on time by checking recent additions to the list.

That being said, we did have a really good batch of checks in the mail today! Another day or two like today, and we'll be there! We're much more optimistic now. But we're not there YET.

Note that only a small percentage of our class is on line. Those that are, are mostly paid up. Thus, any whining on this site about getting money will not really be that fruitful, and may cause apprehension about booking a flight for some. If anyone has such apprehension, get over it! You could be the ONE that guarantees the minimum number needed, and be on the original list of paid-ups.

As to what all you can do, get on the horn, call your classmates, and twist their arms. Even though we're certain to have a great dinner party if all the verbal commitments come through, we'd still like to have more than the minimum number needed! Let's get everyone there! Work on that missing persons list. If you want to make sure someone is there, call them. We don't know EVERYONE in the class well enough to get them to come just to see US! If a person is not on the missing persons list, we have info to contact them. We even have info on some of the missing, albeit unverified.

It's your reunion, too! If you want to see someone there, CALL THEM! However, we will not post addresses or phone numbers on this site--so if you want someone's info, call or e-mail Frank or me (don't ask here!), and we'll provide the info. Do it! It's SURE to be a great time. Where else could you party with so many great people THAT YOU KNOW, with music YOU LIKE!!?? Think about it! This isn't JUST a party, it's a great MEMORY--waiting to happen--that will bring back other great memories.

Guestbook activity seems to be picking up lately! It really is a shame that more of our former classmates have not enjoyed this ice breaking dialog prior to the reunion. You will all have a great time! I am sorry to say I will not be able to join you. Well Ruth, we had a similar week last week. I had a head on collision with a concrete barrier on a busy expressway, did a 360 in the middle of the road, and landed in the express lane. My car is totalled, but thank God my two kids and I escaped with minor cuts and bruises. All this, an hour after my daughter's last driver's ed class! Those airbags really work! Anyway, then I proceeded to screw up computer system while trying to regain the sound on this page! I ended up having to wipe out and reload everything. Carless and computerless! It's amazing how dependent we've become on both. Anyway, I need an evening with my buddy Sam Adams! The trouble is the brain cells--I am impressed at the details that you all remember. Anyway, reading all your notes does help revive some of those memory banks. Since I can't hear this music, just wondering if anyone else has heard Bela Fleck and the Flecktones or Dave Matthews. I went to see them last night and it was a great concert. My two teenagers were thoroughly unimpressed when they found that their parents were attending the same concert as all their friends. When we mentioned that we might also go to the Barenaked Ladies concert, my son had a fit. "Why dont you go to things like Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat? Why do you have to go to things in my generation? I'm sure many of you can relate, but I found it quite humorous! Well I guess I rambled on long enough. Keep on talkin'

Friday night...what better than to be with old friends!!! You guys better be careful...save some stuff to talk about when we're all together! What time is everybody planning on getting to the hotel on Sat? I'm flying in Friday morning, but have to spend some time with Ma and Pa and the ex-inlaws in Riverside. Believe it or not, mom's still working in the library at old MV! Scary!! Hey...what about Cliff Roop? He wasn't at 20, is he coming this time? And the Thurmans? Hmmm. Who else? How about that list, John? Gary...blonde and 40 definitely has more advantages than disadvantages...but, don't you know...everybody occasionally has a little bit of blonde in them...

Steve: Don't EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVEN go there hun .... ((hiding in the corner and gettin' ready to pull the skeletons outta the closet)) (AHEM)... and :P:::::::::

OK gang, we're not exactly ready to say we've pulled this off, yet. We had to go through the trouble of calling many people AGAIN, at the requested payment time, at our (committee members and party expense), just to ask classmates if they intend to come to the reunion. We then had to re-negotiate the contract to a lower minimum amount of attendees, based upon monies received AND verbal "commitments" that the "check's in the mail". Thus, the committee has committed itself to a great deal of expense based upon these verbal commitments...not exactly fun for us. Thus, although we "have" enough people to have the dinner, and we have had a very short sigh of relief,

SHOW US THE MONEY !!!

OK, enough people have finally signed up. Lets give a big hand to the reunion committee for pulling this off - I have to admit I was kinda scared that we were going to fall short.I can't wait to see the regulars of this guest book - got to meet/re-meet those of you behind the really wacky but quite humorous entries - Dewey and Gary and especially Ruth(sorry to hear about the accident) have been quite amusing. Not sure about that Janine girl though - sounds dangerous to me....

Frank: Glad that enough folks rallied to pull off dinner. As a housemom, I LIVE for the rare occasions when I don't have to cook or otherwise respond to the age old question "What's for dinner?" Reunion Committee: As we're now into the one month count-down, is there anything any of us web page addicts can do to help? Dewey: The reason you don't remember me from Calculus is, as I said, Ms. Yearick taught me to hate it. I dropped the class before the end of the first week. I can't remember what I took in it's place, but it was better than the "f of x" (or is that from Functions/Analit?). Lord, how the mind does turn to mush....

OK, OK, OOOO--K! Since John hasn't changed the "gloom and doom" message and you are all dying to know (some of you know already), we have enough paid + committed bodies. The dinner dance will be held as planned. If you know of anyone that wants to attend but has not mailed their check or called me, *please* have them call me. I'll be sending an updated list of "who's coming to dinner" to the committee members tonight. If you all are real nice to John, maybe he'll post it.

Dewey: No, I'm not a Seminole fan -- I can't tolerate that stupid "Indian" chant -- but please don't tell anyone who lives here or I'll be run out of town. Did I read somewhere on the page that you're a Gator? I can't claim to be a fan there either (If you live in Tallahassee, even if you're not a Seminole, you DEFINATELY can not be a Gator). But don't feel bad. Even after 17 years in Miami, I have a hard time rooting for any of the Miami hoodlum teams -- college or pro -- except maybe the Panthers (and that's getting rough too now that they won't let us throw rats on the ice.) This makes me wonder if any of the MVHS star athletes ever made it to the big time. Anybody know?

Hey Dewey I'm sure you remember Leanne Collins I believe she was a year behind us. I had VH1 on the other nite and they had the video from the song TUSK by Fleetwood Mac, In that video they used the USC band and I had forgotten she was in that video until I seen her playing the tom-tom's there in Dodger stadium with Mick Fleetwood. Hey Frank did we get enough people for the dinner dance? Well gotta go see ya

Reunion fever continues. This evening I talked with Don Woods for a couple hours. Pretty soon we were both getting out yearbooks and telling each other what page to look at. Ruth, I didn't remember you were in Calc, but I was mentioning to Don that I've had trouble bringing names to mind from that class. I remember Nick, Jody, Claire (my side of the room) and Don, and Gary Mann and Rick Pannell sleeping. I also remember walking into Yearick's AlgII-Trig class on the first day in '69 thinking "First day of school. No one ever does anything." And Yearick had that board COVERED with equations and things we should remember from AlgI. I was in shock. Sounds like you had her 3 out of 4 years. That's a lot of Yearick! (But she was great. All those colorful phrases like "Tinker's Damn". She'd still think I should get a haircut!) I had Fant for Geometry. Then he left. I have vague memories of sitting at the back of the quonset by the door with Cathy Sweatt and Summers Thomas. I think Chipper Chase was in that class, too. And I wonder who else. Quite the Colorado connection you have there, Ruth. We do have a reasonable park or two here. Don's sister, Sally, lives in Boulder. Louisville's a nice location but it's been growing really fast. I see you've also a Florida connection. Living in Tallahassee hasn't made you a Seminole fan, has it? Gary: Are you thinking of Jerry Pooley? He played flute in that trio Jim was in with Ken Newdeck. I remember being really impressed hearing them at an MV talent show. (But then, Jim's drumming was always impressive. He was a step above the rest of us.) I was pleased to see Jim at the 20-year. Frank: I will gladly give up the "came the farthest" prize if it means more people will show!

Does anyone have any interesting plans for Friday night fireworks? I can't decide whether to seek expensive air conditioned comfort or feed the mosquitoes. In the olden days, my family used to see whatever Ft. Belvoir had to offer. As often as not, backyard sparklers and hot dogs were more fun. Any of you DC area residents planning a neighborhood keg party? Why not invite 400 of your closest friends? Frank, what's the count? Are we having dinner on Saturday? I just took my only semi-formal outfit to the cleaners. Don't tell me it was for naught.

Ruth, I think that we have a few that will be travelling a greater distance than Dewey. I just received a message that Cherie Coonrod's check is in the mail from the left coast (Fresno). Now if we can get Randy Knight out of Hawaii, or Joan Neher (if she's still in Hawaii)...or for that matter, if we can get the rest of the people in the Washington DC/Metro area off their collective butts...

Now that I have replenished the household supply of Glenlivet -- a very good quality IV medication -- I'm feeling much calmer. Dewey, you may not only get the prize for traveling the farthest, but also the cheapest. I just checked airfares and will be lucky to get away with $300. By the way, I've got lots of kin in Colorado, and usually get out there at least once a year. My little brother (also a MVHS grad, but from the Walt Whitman cum MVHS variety) lives near Denver in Louisville and my oldest brother (the first of the seven Hasemans to graduate from MVHS) and my Mom live in Grand Junction. We had a family reunion in Rocky Mountain National Park last summer. Too bad the scenery is so unimpressive out there! Yes, I was in Mrs. Yearick's Algebra II - Trig class -- she also taught me to love geometry and hate calculus. I fondly remember that quanset hut and her A-line skirts.And kids, don't forget today's the deadline. Have you sent in your money?

Hi to everyone! Sorry I'm so hard to keep track of. Look forward to seeing eveyone in a month!

Another tune....So Cool.....I wonder where all the people are that are on the alumni page. It looks like the only people using this (on a regular basis) are the same 5 - 6 people. What's that telling us ?Anyway....Cool Dave..I think you're right Dewey, we didn't have any classes together but I remember you from hanging around Jim West & "Something" Pauly (can't remember his first name). Janine , what the " H E double toothpicks " are you talking about ? I know what ya'all are thinking, what is Gary doing up so early ??!! I WISH KNEW !!! Actually, I have a very early meeting that I'm prepring for. (I have to make our team spitwads and get new straws, anybody know where I can get a bag of navy beans this early????) The time is growing closer for the "B I G 2 5" and I must say, I'm really looking forward to it...

Another tune....So Cool.....I wonder where all the people are that are on the alumni page. It looks like the only people using this (on a regular basis) are the same 5 - 6 people. What's that telling us ?Anyway....Cool Dave..I think you're right Dewey, we didn't have any classes together but I remember you from hanging around Jim West & "Something" Pauly (can't remember his first name). Janine , what the "HE double toothpicks" are you talking about ? I know what ya'all are thinking, what is Gary doing up so early ??!! I WISH KNEW !!! Actually have a very early meeting that I'm prepring for. (I have to make our team spitwads and get new straws, anybody know where I can get a bag of navy beans this early????) The time is gowing near for the "B I G 2 5" and I gotta say, that I'm really looking forward to it...

Uploadin' the IV back to Ruth ..... you poooooooor dear -- actually ... does sound a lot like my life tho. Hang in there !! It's on it's way !!

Damn Dewey !!!!! $128 round trip ... what a bahgin!!! Always cost me $1000-$1200 to travel back and forth to Denver. ok ... I'll admit it ... the trip was on the firm I worked for ... but still..... what a steal !! Good goin' guy! (But don't look for those peanuts -- probably cut out all your frills.)

Ruth: In your own words, it's time for your medicine, dear. Look on the bright side. I haven't deleted any of your messages yet this week!

To all: My Internet Provider has made the classic mistake of trying to change everything at once. The system has been up and down a lot, lately, as you are probably aware. If you are not getting onto the site, it is not because we're gone. Just be patient, as I have been, and try again later. What else can you do?

Be gentle with me, I've had a bad week: I had to fly down to Miami (yick) to drop off my kids with their dad (double yick). On the way to the airport, a woman ran a stop sign (dumb) and rammed into me, my kids and my car (one bumped head, otherwise okay). Of course, her insurance had lapsed (grrrr) so I got to spend hours on the phone with the social rejects from her insurance company, the airlines, the auto repair place, the rent-a-car place and the tow truck place. After all that, I STILL had to go down to Miami (yick again) and part with my children (woeful sigh). But possibly the worst thing that happened this past week is that when I got back up here to Tallahassee and tried to get a soothing fix of MVHS reunion web page banter, I couldn't get on! -- something about the server being down (whatever that means). After frantic emails to John and Frank, 7 jillion fruitless attempts to log on and one minor screaming, computer pounding fit, on the 7 jillion and 1th attempt, my computer finally relented. (If this was some MVHS alumni conspiracy to drive me crazy, it worked.)

Gary, Sat at 1:00 sounds fine if somthing comes up I will contact you by your home e-mail address.

For those with a ways to travel who have wondered about the cost, I just booked my flight for the reunion. Denver to Dulles round trip was $128!! That's CHEAP. It seems there are some fare wars going on. Dave, I had heard that nasty rumor at the last one, too. I was quite pleased to see your first entry in here. Gary: Now be honest. When you asked me who I was and I told you, did you think "Who?" ;^) I don't remember us having any classes together. But we still remember the same speeches by Melvin B!

Ummmmmmm... Gary ?? I know where it is !!!! :::::raising hand and waving:::::

Good to talk to you Steve. And noooooooo ... I won't tell anyone about the invitation to see all your trophies... .... nope ... not me ... won't tell a soul.

Damn...my phone's ringing as I type .... be back later folks.... l m a o.

Oh babeee! Sounds like the Janine I knew in 8th grade at Walt Whitman. I'll certainly call ASAP - with an invitation like that, who wouldn't? But you shoulda told me that 25/26 years ago ;)

WHEW !!! Another day has gone by..Rain, traffic, aggressive drivers..It's so nice to be home in the comfort of my tool shed, pecking away and reaching friends that I haven't seen in awhile....Dave, this weekend. Saturday afternoon, say 1:00 Starbucks at Keene Mill Shopping Center....Where Rolling intersects ? Sue, I was in that history class with you. I'm sure you don't remember me, but that's ok...4th period, HOT Quanset !!!! I remember we shared the "HUT" with Mr. Freeman. I wonder if he still lives back in my old neighborhood (down where Tyler used to live)....Helen, I'd appreciate if you'd control yourself about 40 yo. blondes. We still have SOME of our senses together...Dewey...2000 miles...I'm totally impressed my man. I remember asking who you were, also...I think it was the beard...Well gotta run, my wife will be home in a couple of minutes and I made dinner....(Reservations) for two at 8:15....L M A O !!I crack myself up.... See Ya'All...... ;-)

Ummmmm... Steve??? Does this mean it's our 30th or our 29th ... kinda like your 29th birthday .... can we stay at the 29th forever?? And ... dear ... e-mail ?? Have I gotten one lately -- or did Janine get more of my e-mail and not forward it. I've GOT to do something about that L in my name .... I keep missing ALLLLLLLLL the really good stuff. Better yet hun ... peel yourself away from that keyboard and punch the keys on that phone of yours instead < wink >.

Just saw Kim today Dave. Dave and I go back to 6th gradein case anybody was wondering what we're talking about. I guess this could be considered a 31 year reunion for the two of us!Janine, it's about time you figured out how to get your audio working. If you had only followed the instructions I gave you a month ago! Now peel yourself off the ceiling and return my e-mail >:)

Glad to see so many new names from the past. Was glad I got to exchange e-mails with five or six folks come on Rick Pannell get back to me. Dewey sounds like you may get the prize for the longest trip to the reunion. Exchanged mail with Don Woods last week sure was nice to hear back except for the fact he heard that I passed away in a car accident prior to the last reunion. Lets kill that story right now I'm alive and well living in Burke Virginia not to far from the Mt Vernon of which we all know so well. Steve Carroll talked to Kim Harley Saturday gee it`s a small world you don`t see someone for 25 years and to find out you both work in the same government community and know many of the same people. Gary we still need to get together for that cup of coffee, lets set a day and time soon. well gotta go .... Bye Dave

Just got off the phone after talking with Steve Sorrell for a couple hours (thanks to the 20 year reunion directory and the Yahoo www search engine). He's doing fine, living in Phoenix. He won't be able to make the reunion but he asked me to pass on greetings and regrets, so here they are: "Hi!", "Sorry." It was great to chat about old MV days - as if we had just talked last week, instead of 20 years ago. He even recognized my voice on the phone (after I'd placed it in context by asking if he was the Steve Sorrell that went to MV). We were trying to remember: Ruth, we know you were in Leadership with us Jr year. Were you also in Yearick's AlgII-Trig class with us sophomore? It's funny how the memories fog up. When I saw Rob Stalzer's entry here, I remember knowing him but couldn't remember from what. Steve and I think it's Leadership. (Rob, you listening?) I'm pretty sure I didn't know you, Gary, but I think you might have been the person who came up to me at the 20-year and asked "Did you go to our school?" In an earlier entry, Sue Rollinger mentioned Pete Morton and asked "Dewey you must have heard from him". My thought was "Why? Did I know him?" (apologies Pete, if I did.) Some of the memories are so clear, and yet others get confused. "Faded photographs....memories in bits and pieces..."

Janine: I guess Steve Case and gang have been working overtime to allow those who have paid for AOL to actually get online!

Well... managed to figure out why some on AOL have it and some don't. (Other than, of course, the lack of soundcards and the like.) Those of us who been on AOL forever and did the testing for 3.0 don't have (or didn't) have some of the new-fangled gatches that are currently distributed with 3.0 (or have been for about 3-6 months) with all the "tweeks" built in ... hence the need for the update. Unfortunately ... they also didn't inform the rest of us that these wonderful inventive programs were something that we should probably add. Steve Case and crew strike again !! (sorry, Rich).

John, thanks for the Motown !! I hope the response for the reunion is getting better. Way to go Janine!! You know what I find weird ? I've never had any problems getting all the graphics & tunes that some of the AOL users are having...Go figure. Pretty gloomy Sunday morning here in beautiful, downtown Springfield, VA., cloudy and calling for rain, ALL DAY & FOR THE NEXT 4 DAYS !! Well gotta run, Hechingers has already been open 15 minutes and I'm not there yet. They'll probably be calling here wondering where I am..I spend a ton of money in there every Sunday...AHHHH, Owning a home. Yardwork, repairs, the list goes on and on.....Talk to ya'all soon....

Learned a lot about life in the last 5...anybody else? Wait...I just read all the other messages and by golly! Apparently left off the rest of my email address...HTMAGIC@aol.com (being blonde and over 40 is a bad combination!) Can't wait to see everybody. Anybody (ahem...female!) need to split a room for Saturday nite? Email me...

Learned a lot about life in the last 5...anybody else?

Way to go, Janine! A most interesting description, I must say.

To all of you that can't hear the "hits from when you had zits" on our web site:
you must first configure your computer/sound card setup so you can play and hear MIDI files, or no amount of tweeking a la Janine will help. Look for "Canyon.mid" (or other "*.mid" file) in Windows, and try to play it with Windows' MEDIA PLAYER. If you can't hear it, you need to tweek your system until you do, or you won't get it over the web, either. Good luck!

OH MY GAWD!!!! The home page and all the rest SOUND TOTALLLLLLLLY AWESOMMMMMMMME ... and definitely kewl. (Yep... been hangin' out with those 126 teenagers ENTIRELY tooooooooo much!) To those of you who have been following my saga of the midi's ... yepperoooski -- I FINALLY have ears -- don't faint John, Frank and Gary !!!! To those others of you on AOL that still don't have ears .... you won't believe how simple this turned out to be. Since John wanted the instructions for this once I FINALLY figured it out ... thought I'd just post it hear since a few of you I spoke with still didn't have the music either. SOOOOOOOO ..... follow me here: keyword: 128 browser -- download it ... self-installing .. will sign you off and reload then sign on again. Even if you've d/l'd it before -- do it again -- they've apparently upgraded the upgrade (imagine!!!) Next -- Go to keyword: upgrade ... cool multimedia ... AOL and web multimedia websites .... click on the hyperlink for AOL Multimedia Showcase ... down load Shockwave (and while you're there .. if you don't have real audio -- you might as well do that to make your web surfing even more enjoyable). Sign off .. navigate to your file manager or win explorer... double click and follow the instructions on the screen. AND ... by gawd --- VOILA !!!! It's a WHOLE new world ... you guys TRULY have not an impressible job on this site. ((Personally... Beaming with '72 MV pride at our site )))!!! U-GO-GUYS !!!

Thanks for the hot link to the trivia page Frank - great stuff! And yes I have finally paid up for the reunion dinner! Hope others have as well. What's the present count for confirmed attendence at this point and how short are we? If you need a telephone solicitor to badger some of the hold outs, let me know - be glad to help....

I would encourage everyone to log in with the MVHS alumni directory. This could be a great source of information for future reunions. I would also recommend adding addressses. You could be living a few miles from an old classmate and not know it ( that could be good or bad )....anyway, we should spread the word at the reunion and get everyone signed on.

I saw the Candy Man reference and thought you'd appreciate that, Ruth. Gary, I know what you mean. I'm coming 2000 miles to come to this thing and there are some who won't go 100. I've always thought the 4th of July was a particularly clever choice on the part of the committee. It allows an extra day of travel for those who need it (or one day less off from work), it's in the summer, so those with kids don't have to wonder "Who'll watch the kids while I'm gone?" (bring 'em along!) and for those of us who've left the D.C. area, the 4th seems an appropriate time to be reminded how cool it was to go to high school near our nation's capital. So many people I know had baccalaureate in the gym and graduation on the football field. It's hard to beat National Cathedral and Constitution Hall. I was living in Florida in '82 and made the trip to Va. with a bunch of friends from there who just thought it would be neat to spend the 4th in DC. We went and watched the fireworks on the mall. And, of course, in '92, we got to watch the fireworks from the reunion dinner/dance. Pretty classy, I thought. Maybe we just need to get Mr. Kaz to make an announcement to these people, telling them to report to the office on July 5th.

Frank, I just checked out that radio web page you suggested. KEWL! Once you get past the Seattle specific info, it's a real memory rush. The best tidbit: Even Sammy Davis hated the Candy Man.

You now it's a damn shame that people can't come together after 25 years and just shake hands and ask, "How've you been, how's the family, whacha up to these days" ? I've been in contact with a couple of the old classmates and basically, they had no interest in a 25 year re-union...Hell, I told them about the 10TH & 20TH and we had a BLAST...I even tried to entice them by saying how GREAT everyonr looked despite their age..(No offense to anyone) but to no avail..One asked, "Why the 4TH of July Weekend"? I replied "Why not, you're going on vacation anyway, you only have one 25 year H.S. Re-Union, why not stop by Virginia and see what's up" ? I'm almost at the begging stage now....I can't wait to see some of my old friends again. Talk to ya'all soon....Hey John, any Motown on your list ?

OK gang - try this link if you want more 1972 trivia: http://www.kjrfm.com/ClassReunion/1972.htm
Frank

Hey guys. Dewey's been keeping me informed about all this, but I haven't had much opportunity to tune in recently -- too much time working. It's great to see everyone tuning in and I can't wait to read more and hear from more people. I hope, though I'm not in the class of '72, to visit your reunion and remake some previous - not old - aquaintances. See you soon if I can.

Ruth -- thanks for the upload of that IV last night ... it helped !!!

Ummmmmmmmmm....Dewey? I'm not so sure that the "main" purpose hasn't changed -- unfortuntely for the "natural" drumline, however, the numbers ARE less than sixty and only range from 20-30 from year to year. Believe me tho -- the spirit of both units lives on (shudder).

Ruth, the hours you keep surprise even a night-owl like me. What are you doing? Sneaking a computer under the covers? Janine, glad to hear the MV Band & company are doing so well. In our day, our mediocrity was always set off against the excellence of Fort Hunt under Frank Wickes. I went to the University of Florida which also had a mediocre marching band my first year. Then we got a new band director: Frank Wickes!! The one and the same. The Gators all learned to hate him but love what he did for the band. And so we liked him for that. Which meant we were all very confused. The Color Guard you describe for MV sounds like the sort of thing I've seen at Drum Corps competitions these days. It definitely ain't yer father's oldsmobile (or even OURS!). Of course, in my mind, the MAIN purpose of the Drill Team at MV (besides marching into designs no one could understand without a helicopter, much like the band) was to give drummers motivation to practice: "If you get good enough, then during your senior year (and if you're lucky, junior year), you'll get to spend HOURS after school, for WEEKS, with SIXTY GIRLS!" Works for me. Hey John: I GET IT! "Paint it Black" for Black lights! ;^) What's next? "Don't You Lava Her Madly?"

I haven't checked in for a while -- I'm sure you all understand that I HAD to steer clear of the guest book until I was fairly certain that the Candy Man had moved on down the road, hopefully chased by my more enlightened fellow classmates who (a) were not enchanted by that rather unique rendition and/or (b) had grown weary of waiting three days for the program to download and/or (c) concluded that John had lost his mind. Such a pleasure and relief to enjoy Inna Godda Da Vida (does anyone actually know how to spell that?) and Painted Black. John, remind me to share my theories with you about the tiny line that divides genius from insanity. Janine, it's time for your medication dear.

hey folks, things don't change very much. I've read all of these notes about black lights and as the father of three teenage girls 17,16,and 14 they each have walls covered with posters and they each have black lights. My oldest goes to her prom next week and the discussions about drinking,parties and curfews certainly take me back to 1972. My how time flies.

OK .... one last note. Hey Mikie !?!?!? Does this mean you're paying my fees for that long-lost last dinner from .. hmm... 1973 ??? Make sure you have it in to Frank by the 5th!!

Intersting evening I'm having here. First the echo ... and then when I try to claim I DO NOT have alzheimer's and did NOT post twice .... my denial of that fact INSTANTLY disappears from the guest book. Go figure ?!?!?! John --- you are apparently doing TOOOOOOOOOOOOO good a job with this thing !!! Keep up the great work guys -- it's terrific!!! (And NO -- that doesn't mean I have ears yet!).

No no no no no.... I don't have alzheimer's ... I didn't forget entering my posts and re-enter them .... but we've apparently acquired an echo tonite. Or are those leftover hiccups from that glass of brandy ... or ... maybe Gary's actually serving up drinks now after all?? On the black light posters ... would you believe today's teenagers think THEY just recently discovered black lights and how "kewwwllllllllllllllllll" they are? (Shakin' head here -- have we truly been around long enough for all the fads to be coming back full circle?)

ummmm... before Gary picks me apart yet AGAIN .... I should correct that 1 of 4 bands statement ... 1 of 4 from the state of Va -- the other 2 were universities and 1 was West Potomac (who, in actuality joined forces with MV for the event and formed the Fairfax County All-Star Marching Band). AND .. apparently I was the only one who found it amusing that Ft. Hunt offshoot and Mt. Vernon were marching together. But they sounded great!

OK ... just as I give up hearing ANY of the music at all.... what do I do?? I take a chance and click on "The Candy Man" .... and what do I get??? SOUND !!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOO ... I can't hear anything else.... no suggestions work ... but I CAN hear this???? It's a conspiracy I tell ya ... a conspiracy!! LOL ..... Anyway folks .... (especially Dewey) .... let me bring you just a TADDDDDDDDDDDDDD more up to date on the band. Yes.... they do in fact (and have in fact) been winning awards .... apparently the whole thing started some time after you left (hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....). Last year they took sixth in Eastern Regionals of the Bands of America in Morgantown, WV which moved them on to the grand honor of being able to compete in BOA's Grand National Championships. I'm not too sure where they finished (mainly because I'm a little groggy after having spent 5 days (2 of which on buses) with 136 of my daughters closest friends. As far as the "hose-bagging" of the drill team and color guard and majorettes ... MV came into the 90's midway through as far as top bands in competition. There is a color guard (as we knew it) but is merely a spin-off of The Color Guard (brought out to carry flags for special events and flag ceremonies at football games). The main portion of the color guard is a combination: drill team, color guard and majorettes (only their batons are 6' long now); this brand of color guard twirls and marches with flags, sabers, maces, and rifles (yepperoo -- they throw them 6'feet in the air and even CATCH them). And the band plays and marches to symphonic-type, classical music. Amazing, but true. (By the way -- the color guard's uniforms are MUCH better looking than what was seen in Winchester a couple of weeks ago -- we packed them in rain gear) --- but the real question is -- did you recognize any of those parents running along side of them? Did anyone ever actually believe that one day good old MV's band would be termed "The Pride of Northern Virginia"??? Proof positive -- they were only 1 of four bands to be invited to the Inaugural Parade. Well... obviously I could go on forever ... but who'd believe it anyway??

Come on guys, please get your money in, i have waited 25 years to get back to see you guys, and im finally free to do it now. See you all on the 5th.

Am glad to be back in the area after a 25 year hiatus. Looking forward, also to the 25th reunion. Home # is (703) 360-5111.

I see Don and I were writing entries at the same time. Just wanted to respond to Dave's mentioning of black light posters. I had a great set of B.L. posters in my room in H.S. and then in my dorm room in college. I remember leaving college and throwing them all out, thinking "I'm not a kid anymore." Man, do I wish I had those suckers back. It would be nice to put them up in a corner of the basement just for old time's sake. Put on some Hendrix and stare at the lava light.

Dave, good to hear from you. I just got done talking with Don Woods and he'll be at the reunion. I agree with your remark about how evocative music is. There are some songs that are just instant time machines for me. I've noticed that lately, some have lost a bit of their power due to "dilution" over the years, but still some work pretty well. And I find it interesting how some take me to a particular instant in time, when I must have heard that song or been thinking about it. Everytime I hear Rod Stewart sing "Maggy Mae", I find myself driving along the GW parkway in the early evening, on my way to a drum lesson, fall of senior year. "The Long and Winding Road" has me walking to MVHS in the morning in some spring with the dogwoods in bloom. And Crosby Stills and Nash (and Young?) doing "Our House" takes me back to the MVHS cafeteria, when we got the jukebox in there. I guess that song was a popular choice. "I'll light the fire. And you'll place the flowers in the vase that you bought today-ay-ay...."

What a great web site! I'm looking forward to spending some time browsing but at the moment I have been informed that my eldest needs to write a paper. It is due tomorrow and she is starting at 1030 PM ... she takes after me, the grand procrastinator. We have a vacation planned for this summer in conjuction with dropping off my daughter at the U of Colorado at Boulder, but I just promised Dewey that I'll fly up for the reunion so I'll see you twice this year Dewey. I was happy to see that Dave Shanahan will be there. Well I just wanted to add my name to this list and I look forward to seeing everyone again.

Dewey I was thinking the same thing myself abaout IGDV. I remember sitting in my blacklight lit room staring at glow in the dark posters of the Endless Summer et al listening to that song wondering if 20-30 years from then I'd be able to remember how I felt and the crazy conflicted blend of energy and anxiety which was the hallmark of growing up in that period. What an evocative thing music is (albeit a bit tinny in its cyberized version) It can transport me back in an instant and amazingly enough I CAN remember what I was like. Thanks John for all the tremendous work you've done on the site and the reunion writ large. I'm really looking forward to it. By the way, Ruth I've got something you gave me graduation nite I'd like to return.

I can't believe it's midnight:30 Mountain Time and I'm sitting here listening to Inna Gadda da Vida on my computer. Way to trash my great memories of those dances in the gym, John! ;^) But, of course, in high school IGdV was THE song if you were a drummer. If ya said "I'm a drummer." the immediate response was "Can you play Inna Gadda da Vida?" This replaced the "test song" from junior high: "Can you play Wipeout?" Now all we need is an overhead projector, a glass plate with water in it, and some eyedroppers of oily paints. Psychedelic man.... (I've still got my black light!)

Oh My God !! Inna-Godda-Davita... MUZAK STYLE !!!! I think my very first 8-track I bought was "Iron Butterfly". Never in all my 42....ok 43 on Saturday...did I think I would be listening to them as elevator muzak !! John\Frank you gotta stop it. I'm sure that the percussionists online are breaking their sticks as they listen !! I remember the drum solo...Used to CRANK it up as I rode thru Riverside. Turned alot of heads...Speaking of Riverside.. Does anybody know the whereabouts of Richard Kelly...??? Did anybody think about maybe invitin' some of the teachers to the re-union. I know it's short notice...but....I know we can all bet that Ms. Thomas (Proxy-what did that mean anyway?) will be there with her 3 beautiful daughters...Summers, Paula & Cha Cha. Saw them all at my sisters reunion last summer. All kidding aside John/frank, the music is a great idea....See Ya'All

All, An obituary for Mr. Mike Snyder appeared in today's Washington Post. He died of a heart attack on May 17th. May he rest in peace.

Rick: Glad to hear the Winchester Parade is still a thing. And the MV band winning awards? Unheard of in our day! But.... NO DRILL TEAM!?!?!?! I still consider it a rip that we didn't get to go senior year. I remember the brief rumor that only the Drill Team and Drum Section would go. My kind of trip! But alas, in Reality, fantasies like that rarely come true.

Dewey: Attended the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester a few weeks ago and the MVHS Band was in attendance. I have good news & bad news. The good news: They won second place and the drum major got some kind of award. The bad news: no Drill Team, Majorettes or Color Guard. I guess somebody hoze-bagged (thats a computer techincal term) sometime in the last 2 decades. So much for those after-school rehearsals with the drill-team huh? I think I like watching the parade from my lawn chair & sipping a cold one rather than carrying all that equipment--for WHAT!! certainly no pay!

Rollo: I've kept in close touch with Dan Adkins, some with Don Woods and occasional email with Rich Colella. That 'bout does it. Sorry to hear Shakey's is gone. I could stand sittin' at the MV Band table singing along with the Honkey Tonk! Here's a tidbit folks: Back in 1990 I was reading a January issue of Science News and saw an article on Computer Programs used for Psychotherapy. There was a study comparing them to a human therapist. What caught my eye was: "The human therapist - psychologist Steven P. Sorrell of the Universityof Wisconsin-Madison - modeled his techniques on the capabilities of the computer program, which somewhat limited his flexibility during sessions." Cool! MV Grad gets a mention in the science rags!

John, I foolishly assumed that, despite my taunting, you would never TOTALLY TRASH your Guest Book -- a true work of art -- just to torture me.

I haven't signed on for a few weeks, and reading through everyone's emails really brings back a lot of memories. Shakey's after football games (and it isn't there any more), the parties, the wondering how we made it home from the parties, TPing houses, the neighbors even miss the nights us cheerleaders use to stand in front of my house at 2:00 a.m. practicing at the top of our lungs. Man we had fun!!! For those of you talking about Mr. Skinner, I had his class right before lunch, whoever had the best lunches got an "A" for the day, and if memory serves--Eric Swanson--you got an "A" for the year. Maybe it was because your Mom had a lot of practices fixing 5 boys lunches. I too will never forget Mr. Landus telling us every week that there was "no love-makin' in the hallways," and to stay out of the "nooks and crannies - cause he was watching". Man life good, fun and easy back then!!! I haven't seen sign ons from; Cathy Morningstar, Suzanne Hajdu, Tyler Fadley, Gina Ghent, Peggy Barron, Gail Shelton, Gwen Bard, Paula Thomas, Sandy Denzer, Michele PePrez, Debbie Hoffman, the Jones Twins, and sooooo many more -- Where are YOU????? -- Hey Pete Morton, it wouldn't be a reunion without you -- Dewey you must have heard from him. What about Pete Cruttenden?

John, you've really outdone yourself now! A technology Wiz, a sense of humor, and a voice too? ;) [Let's keep them guessing! -- Moronic Prankster] My world is spinning! I am still having trouble getting the music, except for my favorite oldie "Candyman". Why can I hear that and not the other music? I'll have to check it out on my netscape at work.

Ruth (Haseman) Melton-Haseman (forget Melton)-Melton-Haseman:
Rest assured, if I had a copy of "Candy Man", you would have heard it by now! NYUK! NYUK!

...'Cause the Candy Man MAKES THE WORLD GO 'ROUND!!

John, given your last entry and your sense of humor -- that I am just (re)discovering -- I was certain that I would go into the missing classmates page and hear the nauseating strains of "The Candy Man". (Admittedly, I had begun to worry that SOME of my former classmates had immersed themselves in moronic pranksterism, unmitigated by common sense and good taste.) I can't tell you how relieved and pleased I am.

John, The new music sounds much better. Joe Cocker was really starting to wear on me. If any of you have relatively new MacIntoshes (Performa, Quadra, or any PowerMac) and you don't hear the music, it's because you need a music "plug-in" (in Netscape terms). The best one that I have found is Yamaha's "midplug". Another one is called "crescendo". Find one of these plug-ins on the "net", download it, put it in your browser's "plug-ins" folder, and listen to the music! If you have a PC and you don't have a sound card, what are you waiting for? You can get a cheap Soundblaster clone for $30! If you want excellent sound quality, buy a Soundblaster AWE32 or Soundblaster AWE64. Frank

Webmeister.......YOU ARE THE MAN....DEDINATELY !!!! This whole concept is great.....Janine quit whining.... ;-) Anybody find anybody else ??

Turn on your computer speakers, gang. There's new music on the Home Page, the Reunion announcement page, and the Missing Classmates page. The first time you access these pages, you'll have to wait a minute for the download before the music starts (I don't have streaming audio). Ruth, you may want to check out the missing classmate page first!

OK ... someone help me out here. Did the 128 Browser thing thanks to Steve and John's directions.... but .... what's up with the music..... I can't hear it!!! Signed, Whining Away in Mt. V

I remember a number of years ago seeing Drew Carey, before he had his own sitcom, acting in some commercial where he played the guy organizing his high school reunion. At the end of the commercial, when they show the reunion in progress, I noticed a sign in the background: "Welcome Class of '72"! I guess we're just the "representative" demogrphic!

Just Surfing..!

Happy Mother's Day to those for whom it applies (which I bet is a fairly eclectic group)! John, re your 5/6 entry on "What does it mean": WE are now the target population of consumers. I suspect that any semi-smart marketing company has secured a list of the Top 100 hits of 1972 and will use them, ad nauseam, to tug at our subconscious heartstrings and MAKE US us buy that Buick. Don't be fooled. And, I'd strongly suggest that you don't buy anything that uses "The Candy Man" for background music -- who knows what devious forces might be behind it.

If anyone using AOL to access this page does not see animation in the pictures (e.g., the feather pen moving across the Guest Book), you can update your browser to see animation by clicking "Keyword" at the top of your browser screen and typing "128 browser". Then "Reload" this page to see the animation!

John, I continue to be blown away by your technical creativity! The music on the missing classmate page was so Kewl!

I do believe that dog was half wolf! And German Shepards have a bit of wolf in them, too, making it more than half.

Gary I seen Mr menefee at the Giant out here in Burke about 1 month ago. He is coaching baseball at Robinson High School. He's really slowed down (bad Knees I think). Speaking of Mr Landes as you know I lived in the house right across the street from Skinners hut and every evening Mr Landes would be riding in his buggy being pulled by the biggest German Shepard I have ever seen picking up trash around the high school grounds. And I do remember when he read the under ground news paper could not believe my ears when he used the 'F' word and a few others "quote" that is. Well gotta go.

From the "What does it mean?" department: Has anyone noticed the INCREDIBLE number of our "Top Hits" in TV commercials lately -- from Burger King to Buick. The Buick commercial plays an Allman Bros. tune in the background! It's not your father's Buick anymore!

Ruth, I kept in touch with Mrs. Cooley for several years after graduating - even visited her at her home (which I had completely forgotten about until just now). I used to send her *very meaningful* rock and roll lyrics from college to help educate her about *real* poetry :) !! But, that was all over 20 years ago and I lost contact after that. I can't imagine that she is still around, but I'd like to hear about her as well.

Ruth: Talk about fondling keyboards! I want more selections. Sounds like you still have "it"! Re Mrs Cooley: I seem to recall that she died a few years ago.

Ruth: Looks like you keep the same kinds of hours I do! The video camera is my semi-professional hobby. I write software for TV production equipment (graphics, digital effects, etc.) and I was on the production crew at a PBS station in Florida for 3 years back in the 80's. I try to keep my hand in it with a little home gear. Shooting the reunion was just for my own keepsake. Unfortunately I had camera problems so it didn't come out very good. I'll try again this year. So how often have you tried to explain to friends what Wedlock's class was like? Of the teachers I had at M.V. I'd most like to say "Thanks" to him and Mrs. Yearick. (J. Hanley: If you can't tell, I LOVE having this guest book to share exchanges in! It's like a continuous electronic reunion party in itself. Now if Gary can just figure out how to mix us drinks over this...)

I shouldn't have done it, but I did: I unearthed my 1972 yearbook. Gosh! Aside from my children, I've never seen such a crop of brilliant and beautiful kids! (Just one question for Steve Curtis et al: Are there any Oobie Doobies still out there?)

I know this can wait for the reunion, but I'm trying to figure out what you all are doing now. John and Frank: Do you fondle keyboards and whisper sweet everythings to computers for a living or are you both just overachieving wonks? Dewey: What's with the video camera? Is this your new "instrument" or were you just capturing memories for the sports fans at home? Me? I fall somewhere between domestic goddess and political hack -- but, either way, it doesn't reap substantial financial benefit...yet. (That's why I need a GOOD accountant, Frank.) Does anyone know what happened to Mrs. Cooley? My siblings and I (yes, all seven of us who graduated from Mount Vernon High, with varying levels of distinction, and who ALL had Mrs. Cooley for English, with varying levels of success) are dying to know.

Ruth: I checked MVHS when I was there during the 20 yr reunion and was disappointed to see the "ISA" sign in front. So much for walking the old turf. I was shooting some video of the place and the security guard told me I'd have to do it from off the grounds - excuse me - from "off the plant". For me the nostalgic places would be the halls (of course), the auditorium for study hall, Bandroom, Cafeteria, Mrs. Yearick's quonset, Rm 102 (Homeroom) on a muggy September morning, Mr. Wedlock's Leadership classroom sitting on the floor, and the gym at night with some rock band (Mo Jonah's?) playing "Inna Gadda da Vida" or the Beatles' "Come Together" or some such. And I'd be askin' Angie Berger to dance. I had forgotten about Elevator Passes! Great Stuff! Sorry to hear about Yednock. Nice guy. And as I recall, the kid he had back in 69 was a LARGE one. So that kid's almost 30 now. Yikes!Steph: You bring the drill team, I'll bring the drums! Dida-DUM dida-DUM dida-DIda-dida-DUM... :^)

Talking about Mr. Landes....Remember the day he read from that underground newspaper over the P.A. system ? (I don't remember the year). Also how he would shake his keys before going into the boys room which gave the smokers a chance to throw their butts in the toilet.Do you think that Mr. Skinner & Ms. Johnson (math) had something going on on the side. What about Mr. Menefee & Ms. Vail ??? hmmmm ;-)

Who/what are the "Mojarettes"?

Hi Steph! My Bad! Would you believe that when I said "Mojorettes" I REALLY meant to say "Drill Team"? (No offense to any former Majorettes in the Web page readership.) Anybody out there have connections with a good Alzheimer's clinic? I'm also looking for a good accountant ....

Dewey reminded me of another one of Melvin's PA announcements: remember him telling all the young lovers to stop "swapping spit" in the hallways between classes! Ruth, don't forget to add the Drill Team to your pep rally!

Gary: Saw Yednock's obit, too. I can still vividly remember going outside for PE and congratulating him on the birth of his, I guess, ninth kid! I ask him what he named him, and he said with his typical grin, "Caboose...last one." Funny how some things just stick in your head.

No prob, Ruth....JOHN, you just never cease to surprise. Ya'all HAVE to check out the missing classmate page. You know Ruth, when you mentioned Mr. Skinners quanset, that really set my mind working. I had him fourth period, last class of the day. He used to send me to The Mobil Station, in his car, to"fill 'er up" and then he'd say, "while you're out, go by the 7-11 and get me a newspaper"... Did ya'all also know that a couple of months ago, Mr. Yednock, the varsity baseball coach, passed away...

John,I don't belong in your reunion. Oh well, I'll respond just for the fun of it. HAVE FUN WITH YOUR REUNION

OOPS! It was Gary who first electronically hummed the alma mater. Sorry Gary.

Dewey, as I mentioned before John ERASED it, and as you probably already know, "the Plant" (as Mr. Landis always called it) is no longer Mount Vernon High School, is no longer Walt Whitman Junior High and is no longer a public school at all. It is now the Arab-Islamic Institute -- or something like that -- so we'd need to ask them if we want to take a nostalgia tour. If we were to take such a tour, my first six stops would be (1) the auditorium -- and, of course I'd want the 1972 Majorettes, cheerleaders, band and athletic teams to hold a pep rally; (2) Mr. Skinner's quanset hut -- where I'd expect Mr. S to offer a semi-coherent lecture on ?; (3) the gym -- where I'd want to see if John Rice, Randy Knight, Tyler Fadley and a couple dozen other former star athletes (whom I don't mean to slight by not mentioning their names here) still had "it"; (4) Mrs. Lapsley's office -- to see if I'm still in trouble; (5) my old locker -- I think I left some precious memories there; and (6) the hallways between class -- to sell one last elevator pass to an unsuspecting freshman. Also to Dewey (I THINK it was you who first mentioned it): the alma mater is always inspiring, but do you remember "Beer, beer for Mount Vernon High. You bring the whiskey, I'll bring the rye ..."?

John: I got the impression you were the first with a web site just 'cause it's the only link I saw at the MVHS alumni page. So not only is this site the BEST, it's also "properly placed".Gary: The ultimate "old hang out" would be to be able to sit in one of those classrooms again and here Melvin B.'s voice on the God Box. Complaining about how these bare midrifts have girls walkin' around "half nekkid" in the halls!

Very impressed with the Web Page!!!!!!

Dewey-Actually, we can't claim to be the FIRST class (the Class of '81 has a site). I didn't provide a link because of the nine-year difference. However, if you want to claim the BEST, well, I won't stifle opinion (unless I disagree, of course). Are we having fun yet?

I remember you too John - especially from that tortise club we used to think was a track team ("Please Mr. Grove, don't you think 50 wind sprints are enough for one practice? - Mr. Thomas used to only make us do 3..."). Thanks for the super home page John and thanks again Frank. This is unreal! I was only half kidding when I asked in a previous entry if anybody would remember me. Well, after a quarter century I have found and been found by more old (yup, that's right - old!) MVHS friends then I could have ever imagined. Ahead to the past - see you in July.

All this talk nostalgia talk is getting me a little choked-up....Remembering some of the old hang-outs. Like, Burger King, where Mr. Skinner used to sit and wait for the people that would skip & go to thee for lunch instead.(Especially on pizza day). Perkins Pancake House, used to go there for breakfast and have monthly meetings there for I.C.T. with Mr. Bates and officers.The Dixie Pig.......Can ya'all think of any others you'd like to share with us ???BUT, McDonalds survived the years......

And from the looks of things, Ruth, the class of '72 is the FIRST class to make it into the 21st Century. Good job, John! I took a peek at the top 100 song lists and just reading the titles made me nostalgic. Now all we need is an MV football game to go to, and Shakey's afterwards! "OK it's 14-13 and all the Majors need is to make this extra point to tie Fort Hunt...."

Since entering my last message, I've gotten myself a glass of fairly good brandy and am wondering, first, if any of you fools (OOPS!, I meant to say "highly respected fellow classmates of Mount Vernon High School's class of 1972" rather than "fools") know how to play Bridge. If so, does the reunion schedule include a Bridge Tournament? If not, I guess we'll have to settle for a Minesweeper contest. Second, HI STEVE! Long time, no see. What's up with you?Third (and finally, since the brandy is almost gone) I suspect that Frank has a lot more to do with all of this than may be readily apparent. As evidence, Frank sent me an email that was total techno-jibberish. (Like John, he has apparently mistaken me for someone who knows the rudiments of computer babble while the truth is that I have only recently mastered the art of double clicking my mouse). Thanks to Frank, John, and/or whoever, for all the great work on this page: You will be remembered (if we're not drunk) and appreciated (if we think of it) for bringing 1972 into the 21st Century.

John, you are such a techno-show-off!! I luv the cute dancing ju-ju-bes. Claire, never talk about being a "stay at home mom" as if you were embarrased. It is, in my humble opinion, THE most noble calling (which, coincidentally, happens to be my current job description as well -- the pay may suck, but the perks are unmatched). Still, I hate to see such explosive potential being unappreciated by the masses. Must be the fault of the "Candy Man". (To the Grammar Police: Yes, I do know where punctionation marks and parentheses are SUPPOSED to go --Mrs. Cooley taught me well -- but I LIVE to violate your stoopid style rules.)

Come on and dance, come on and dance,
You may not get another chance...

Thanks Bob. Sorry you can't make it. Stay in touch!

Everybody: You can now sign the Guest Book by clicking on the Guest Book picture as well as the "sign" link.

Good job with the page, John. It's good to see so many familiar names. I'm afraid I have prior commitments in July, but it's my loss. Looks like a pretty good party you've got planned. I'll be thinking of you guys...

Yes Sandy, the zip code is correct. Many of us in northern VA are being re-zipped. You can use either zip and it should still get here until July 1st.

I was addressing the envelope to send in my MVHS reunion registration to Frank, and thought the zip code on the form (20124) looked strange for a VA code. According to my phone book, the zip for Clifton VA is 22024. I have emailed Frank, but haven't heard back from him yet. Can anyone clear this up? What a mess if the zip on the registration form is wrong!!

Stay at home mom with two kids living in Richmond, VA.

Diane Stone you were my very best friend. Where are you? Please respond

Hey Ruth! I think you're giving "The Candy Man" a bad rap. I'll be the first one to hit the dance floor when its played at the the reunion (did I say "when"?). Well of course they'll play it. If you can make it up here for reunion from Florida be ready to dance.

This is great - our 25th class reunion! Chip & I had to miss the 20th, and, from the comments I've read, it sounds like we missed a good party. Well, we won't miss this one!

Hi Ruth, I think you reminded us that our alma mater no longer exists as we knew it! And by the way, I would love to trade your weather in Fla. for Rochester, NY! Quality of life-now that's another story! It's great to see all the new visitors to the Guest Book. And yes, I too remember Jay and Steve. Jay, I think you were in my sister, Melody's class.
P.S. If anyone is visiting and hasn't signed in....it's really painless!

John, I know that when someone babbles like me, it's hard to keep track. However, I asked you to delete my second guest book entry, but, instead, you deleted my third. [Don't tempt me, Ruth, because the Candy Man can! ;-) ] I can't remember what I said anymore, but it was almost certainly gem quality. (Never fear -- I still think you are gem quality too. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who can make magic COLOR pictures appear on my computer screen is of diamond brillance.)

Well here I am, another found alumni (at least its good to know I'm not dead). Frank--thanks for the SIMMS; they looked a little funky but when I plugged them in, they worked like a charm. By the sounds of Ruthie, we won't be playing The Candy Man so we'll have to settle for Eric Clapton. Let me know if I can lend a hand with this affair.

I've cracked the code! I just had a look at the top 100 hits of 1972 and can now see where we went wrong: "The Candy Man" is #7 while "Layla" is #84. THAT expains everything ....

Hi everyone, this is absolutely great. I have attended all of MVHS' reunions, but this by far sounds like the most fun, not that the other ones haven't been. However, the big 25th appears to be promising a lot of new faces. The pictures are great -- someone who stumbled into this Website placed a copy of them on my desk at work (it is hard to believe another 5 years flashed by!! John, you're a wiz!! and the committee sounds like it put a lot of hard work into setting this up by the wonderful choices they made. Thanks to you all!! Look forwarded to seeing you all .... Susan

I've been in touch with a couple of classmates (it's amazing what you can find on the net) just by doing a person search....It's a shame that maiden names aren't added to the search..Really looking forward to July......Have my dancing shoes polished and ready to PARTY !!!!

Steve and Jay-Remember you both. Thanks for posting. Jay, I forwarded your message to my brothers.

Great Site guys. John, not sure if you remember me from the class of 74. We played some ball together. I played football with your brothers too. Found my way in from the Mount Vernon page. Say hi to your brothers for me. Great looking around....Jay

Thanks Frank Kistner for remembering me (we met in the parking lot of a Burger King, of all places, a couple years ago). Looking forward to my first MV reunion - I wonder if anybody will remember who the hell I was/am....

WHERE'S HOWIE???

Hello from Florida -- a state that is second only to Hell in quality of life.

I'm a '71 alum and am glad to find this -- thanks to Dewey Anderson, '72. Missed my reunion(s), if there have been any, but would love to know about yours. Thanks.

I don't see Steve Sorrell in the "missing persons" list. Does that mean you found him? Cool.Hey "Captain Tug". PERCUSSION RULES!!! ;^)

Great job on the color pictures John. Having missed the last two reunions and with the creation of this web page it sure does make it nice to see and get in touch with (young) friends again. Sounds like everything is coming together for the twenty-fifth. To repeat what John Rice said when he visited the site we truely are grateful for your work on this. THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John, YOU ARE THE MAN !!!!!!!!!!!Listen everyone - you HAVE to check out the color photosthat were added.....Great Job !!!!!I received the "411" on the re-union from Frank yesterday...."Checks in the mail...."Again...GREAT job on "THE PAGE"....

Gary-You WANTED color pics. Well, you've GOT 'em, bud.

Glad to see the reunion plans are coming together. Checked out the pictures of the 20th reunion which I didn't hear about. Didn't recognize anyone???

I liked your slide show! My sister graduated with the class of '72. I'll be certain to share this information with her.

John, how do you expect to get people to attend the big "shindig"in July if you keep calling them names. "Old Man"....Just Kidding.Has anyone been in touch with Tyler Fadley or know how to reach him?If so, could you please E-ME with info. Thanks.....

Thanks John. Admit it though--you need glasses, ol' man. Just in case, we're going to make a name tag for you, too!!;-)

John, let me add my name to the list of grateful graduates for setting up this forum. I'm looking forward to seeing so many faces after more years than I care to admit to myself. However, it is really nice to 'catch up' with class-mates electronically beforehand. There better be name tags at the events. I took a peek at the photos of the 20th reunion and had a hard time connecting some names and faces.(It must be this monitor that I'm using.) None of us have gotten older! ;-) John Rice

Ahhhhhhh The Dixie Pig !!!!! I remember I couldn't wait until I turned 21 just so I could SIT IN "The Pig" and enjoy a cold BUD with my barbecue......I used to go there with my dad all the time....I got a brick also......I also took my seat numbers from RFK.....Been a season ticket holder forever......

Sounds like we got a volunteer to cook for our picnic!

.....what can I say......I saved a brick.......... ...... .....but I've got the receipes........ha, ha!

It is with deep regret that I inform all of you that have not been "home" recently that another fine institution in the area has ended its long and legendary reign. The Dixie Pig restaurant at Beacon Hill has been demolished, flattened, vanished, na da--in order that "progress" can march on in the form of CVS Pharmacy. Jackie, would you say a few words, please.

John super job on this entire page, Mount Vernon did produce some pretty crafty people. I looking foward to seeing everyone for the twenty fifth. It will be nice to leave the cold of the frozen north and return to the wonderful state of Virginia and see some old friends.

Where did everybody go......????I've been off line for a few.....BUT I'M BACK !!!!!!Looking forward to more info on the "BIG 2 5" in July.....Why should it matter where it is ?Just as long as it's FUN !!!!It's a reunion.....a time to share old stories....new stories..See old (no pun intended) friends....I hope we get alot of support and feed back....

I like Jackie's barn idea! Looking forward to seeing both Robins. P.S. Happy belated February 17th birthday to Jackie! Keep up the good work John.

Jackie, do you have any good barns in mind? I'll bring the Boone's Farm (have to think twice about drinking it though).

I think of Robin Bickell every time I go to a movie; I look for her name in the credits for costume design. She sewed my dresses for Madrigals in HS and I guess she told me once that she would like to be a Hollywood costume designer. I'd like to see her at the reunion! I second Jackie's suggestion to skip the semi-formal attire. I would feel more comfortable (and certainly more like myself) in casual clothes . . . not to mention the fact that I don't *own* anything "semi-formal". :)(I suspect those Madrigal dresses probably don't fit anymore -as if I still have them!!) :) :)Sandy