GATHERING WITH MR. BRANNAN!

John Nordin, who has limited Internet connectivity in Greece at the moment, has asked me to post the following:

Calling all class of '72 debate-forensics people and anyone who had Mr. Brannan as a teacher (or who just want to catch up with him): We will gather from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at Rockin’ K’s, 1880 Kimball Ave. Doris and Roger will be there. Bring any debate photos or memorabilia you have – though Roger probably has a bigger collection!

REUNION UPDATE: SHOW-AND-TELL!

Dig deep into those dusty boxes in your attic, because we want you to bring a favorite high school memento with you to the reunion. We’re having a show-and-tell as part of the banquet program! Our inimitable Marcia Higginson will be asking you to talk about your item to the class, so bring us your best. Who still has a Pep Club card, a ticket to “Camelot,” a locker combination, a prom corsage, a Vista wrapper? The possibilities are in your hands, folks. Coming to the reunion? Bring us your memories to share! (And look for Marcia at check-in both nights so she knows you've brought something.)

GALEN'S ADVICE: GET BOOSTED!

Galen Gates won't be able to join us at the reunion, but bless him for keeping us all in his thoughts as we prepare to gather. I recently received this email from him that he wants me to share with you all:

Hi Nancy,

While we will not be able to make it to the reunion this year I hope you will encourage everyone to be sure to get their second booster before the reunion. It’s worth it.

Recently, we were in the mountains of North Carolina participating in a week-long study group. No one could attend without proving they had their vaccinations. (One of the leaders was replaced and two participants denied due to insufficient proof of vaccinations.) We thought all was well for those remaining.

Nonetheless, Linda and I came down with Covid. We were due for the additional booster in early March (duh). The period of efficacy for these vaccines is shorter than I thought, apparently it is four months – as the doctors say!

Upon our return (4/17), three of three (historically) health-conscious friends had not gotten their boosters (but did the next day).

“We” have become far too complacent. Today, over 50 percent of hospitalized Covid patients were previously vaccinated.

Stay vigilant,

Galen, the latest poster-child for Stuuped

 

WHY I'M COMING TO THE REUNION

Jan McCoy Buckner, Susie Campbell Heddens, Jane Hoover Bartlett,

Shari Feltner and Lynn Faulkner Simon

Although our lives have taken us in different directions, there is still that bond. I look forward to returning for our 50-year celebration. Hope to see you there!!! -- Lynn Faulkner Simon

 

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!