IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED YOUR REGISTRATION-DIRECTORY FORM ...

... please email mhsclassof72@gmail.com!

Today, here's why Dawn Thompson Olney is coming to the reunion:

“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” The Adventures of Huck Finn,” “Little Women” — everyone loves a good coming-of-age story. But to me, the best coming-of-age story is the one at Manhattan High School in the early 1970s, where we are in one another's stories. We were together every day of the week for six of the most formative years of our lives. Many of us even stretch back to grade school. Through countless classroom discussions, lunches, field trips, science projects, and extracurricular activities, friendships developed. We figured things out. We grew up together and continue to influence each other to this day in ways we don’t even realize.

When I go to reunions and I visit with former classmates, I am always struck when I realize how familiar they are to me — even if I only see them at reunions. I see mannerisms, their posture, their laugh or voice, their sense of humor, and they are familiar. I know them. And more fun memories come flooding back.

The musical, the smoking lounge, football games, pep rallies, homecoming chili feed and bonfire, debate, choir, The Mentor, sock hops, assemblies … and then there are other memories that are not so great, like the showers in the girl’s locker room, the negative score on my senior English term paper, or boys tossing pennies at girls outside the cafeteria.

It’s all our stories together. I hope you will join me in May to remember and celebrate the time we came of age, and catch up on the lives we are living now.

Dawn and Brad Olney, Class of '72

REGISTRATION-DIRECTORY FORMS HAVE BEEN EMAILED!

Forms were emailed out today to all known addresses — 186 in all! If you have not received one, please email mhsclassof72@gmail.com, and one will be sent to you.

Do take advantage of the early-bird registration rate of $75 (until April 15) for both the Friday mixer at Colbert Hills Golf Clubhouse and the Saturday banquet at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. (You can find details about the events in the Feb. 5 post, "Countdown to the Reunion!"). If you plan to attend only one event, the cost of the Friday mixer is $30, and the cost for Saturday banquet is $60.

Hey, classmates, let's get ready to party!

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS ARRIVE THIS WEEK!

 In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, Lee Harris tells why he's excited about attending the reunion:

Lee and his wife, Barb (MHS Class of '73)

The reunion is definitely on Barb's and my calendar, and I anticipate it's going to be the best reunion our class has ever had! A wide range of activities are planned – some quite novel.

Our class is unique and has been close-knit from the beginning. We’ve held reunions every five years, and they’ve all been well attended.

I always look forward to reconnecting with our classmates to receive updates on their families, travels, and other activities. Fortunately, we are long past the stage of needing to impress one another. We can simply be ourselves and enjoy catching up and reminiscing!

We’re at a point in life where we are beginning to lose more of our classmates – even more reason to reconvene. But more than anything, I want to attend this reunion to say thank you to so many of you who were there in my formative years, sharing hopes and dreams and helping to make many of them come true. 

If you have been attending reunions regularly – please come again. If you haven’t attended for a while (or ever), we'd love to share this special weekend with you!

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS GOING OUT THIS WEEK!

In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, Susan Rohles Grapengater offers why the reunion is such an important moment in the life of our class:

Maybe you're thinking, "Why should I come back to our 50-year reunion?" Well, I want to give you these reasons:

If we have learned anything from the last two years, it's that people need people, and more importantly, we need people loving people. So COME, and let's encourage and love one another!

We, as human beings, are built for community, and our class formed a community when we attended MHS together. Fifty years later, the commonality of the community is still alive and well. So COME back to this community!

When we were in high school, we were just beginning to find the voices that would lead us into our adult lives. Now, 50 years later, we can look back and see where those voices have taken us. COME, and let's celebrate those journeys together!

Susan with husband, Rick, and their grandchildren

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS TO BE EMAILED NEXT WEEK!

 In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, here's why Tad Thompson, Dani Green Spain, and Pat Dunne are looking forward to the reunion:

"As I've bounced around the country, I've come to our reunions whenever possible. What a joy that has been and how fun it’s been to hear of our peers’ life turns!  MHS 1972 has had more than its share of literal and figurative rock stars.  But those of us who weren’t rock stars also led interesting and meaningful lives and have great stories to tell. Our 50-year reunion is sue to be an event you will happily remember forever. Make plans now — before your classmates look any older!" — Tad Thompson (with Debbi Hardin Thompson, '73)

"Since our last reunion I have witnessed so much heartbreak. I’ve lost three siblings and endured working at a regional medical center during COVID. I’m looking forward to better times, catching up with folks who are so dear to me. Keep On Truckin’ has never had more meaning.” — Dani Green Spain

"Who we are in life is heavily influenced by our 'family of origin.' I count the MHS class of '72 as part of this family. I’m looking forward to seeing lifelong friends at the upcoming reunion, and I'm bringing my wife of 42 years, Elia, with me. We must value, remember, and celebrate our roots!” — Pat Dunne

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS TO BE EMAILED NEXT WEEK!

In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, here's why Cathy Hollomon Naylor is looking forward to the reunion:

I am planning to attend our 50-year reunion for several reasons, one of which is to keep my record going! I have not missed ONE (not even ONE) reunion since the very first one in 1977-- our five-year reunion. Now I'd be lying if I said I remember much about it, but I do know that each one has been fun, interesting, and maybe a tiny bit sad. It's always so great to see all (or at least some of) my old friends and to pick right up where we left off. It's amazing how that is so true! It's so cool to be able to talk to old friends who I have maybe not even spoken to since the last reunion (or since graduation even!) and it's like nothing has changed -- except maybe the way we look, just a little! (Haha.) The sad part, of course, is finding out who we have lost ... and there have been many. So, I guess the good news is it's great to reconnect and to feel blessed that we are still here to reminisce and reconnect ... if only for a couple of days.

I have always felt that we -- the Class of '72 -- were the best class ever! What other high school class do you know of that has continued having reunions every five years? (Well, except for one, I think .. but we picked up with the next one.) We are awesome!! 

So, thank you to everyone who has hung in there with us and continue to do their best to attend our class reunions. They are a blast, and I'm looking forward to seeing y'all in May!!!

Keep on Truckin'!