What a day. I think that I can speak for everyone when I say that this was a prefect day... start to finish! The weather was perfect with crystal blue skies, a light breeze and temperatures in the upper 70s.

About ten early starters headed off the for the High School tour at noon, joined by Kevin Chase from the Class of `74.  Kim Merrihew did a great job of coordinating this self guided tour of the renovated Clarence High School.  There biggest change was that the old West Gym has been changed into a two level 'media center' complete with all sorts of high tech computers and 'stuff'. Back in the old days we had paper books and called these things a "LIBRARY".  Participants left a note on Mr. Shonbrick's (a little help here please) white board. (No blackboards anymore either!)  The courtyard that contained the now famous "Pig of `73" is history.  They filled it in with chemistry labs so no one will bring in livestock on Senior Day.

The Picnic.  Where do I start?  It was great.  We saw friends from 30 years ago... some looked the same, and some looked decidedly different.  Look at the pictures if you have any questions.  I have to tell each of you that was not there, this was the quickest nine hours of my life.  When the park police finally kicked the last of us out at 11PM, we all wondered how the day could have escaped so quickly. There was a steady progression of arrivals from early on until well into the evening. And each new face brought a flood of memories, smiles, hugs, and tears. There was not enough time to say all that we wanted to say. In spite of the fact that the picnic ran all day, many folks related that they never got around to talking with everyone.

Julie Kreher wanted to talk to everyone that showed up... all 73 classmates that made it. (I find it ironic that we had 73 classmates from the class of `73) However, like her, most of us never got a chance to really sit and talk like we wanted to... there was just so much going on, and so little time. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner.

John Fassel and I demonstrated the unique ability to sear different varieties of flesh to the point that it was barely edible. Fortunately, we got better as the night went on, it must have been those beers! No one complained, so we figured that everyone liked their meat extremely well done. Curiously, the salads were more popular than the meat.... And dessert! Cripe, there were at least 10 different compositions of brownies. (Who brought the brownies with avocado filling?) No one can say that they went home hungry unless they never took the time to eat.

Were you in 8th Grade Chorus? Steve Deal brought along his group picture (how he managed to keep it all these years is a wonder) of the chorus from 1968-69. I'm almost ashamed to admit I was in 8th Grade in the 60's. Then someone pointed out that we started High School in 1969! (Julie just used an expletive to that revelation!) I can honestly say that NONE of us look the same as we did in that picture. I can also tell you that the Chorus photograph was passed around more than the Christmas fruitcake is in my family. Thanks for bringing it along, Steve.

Michelle Mangano and Sally Murto presented some awards early in the evening that got a load of laughs. Here are the winners:

• Traveled the farthest- Dave Easterbrook (2000 miles)
• Most challenged hairline- Kevin Waldorf
• Most well-preserved- Dave Palmerton
• Most likely to fit into their high school clothes- Terry Krebs
• Most likely to still wear their high school clothes- Shelly Sweitzer
• Most pierced (and the recipient of the coveted piece of the high school steps)- Marsha Metz
• Youngest child- Dave Hormel (3 years old?)
• Most children (7) - Robin Hammer
• Oldest child and oldest grandchild- Karen Stollsteimer (ages 29 and 4)
• Most unchanged- Dan Corbett
• Cradle robber award- Dave Hormel (spouse is 8 years younger)
• Youngest looking- Debbie Milbrand
• We're surprised you're still alive!- Fred Barron
• Most likely to do something irrational- Don Smith (drive at 123 mph down County Rd)
• Best emcee- Bill Irr (also a recipient of the concrete step fragment)

The evening was not over yet... Bill Irr and Don Smith presented each attendee with a commemorative mouse pad with the Clarence reunion logo. (Contact Bill Irr or us if you would like a mouse pad).

Some last thoughts... we treasure the opportunity of getting to really know people through the process of this reunion. Julie pointed out that she never really knew Jeff Chudy or Paul Jacobs in High School. Yet these two were charter members of the planning committee for the reunion. Working with them and others, establishing relationships and getting to know them has been great. I have experienced the same thing, as I feel I'm really just getting to know some people for the first time.

I have to admit that I find a certain bit of irony in the fact that you are reading this narrative by me. I am the knucklehead that barely passed High School English... I never knew that Mr. Gillies deducted 5 points from your grade for every class you skipped, and I skipped a lot of English in 1973! I was almost in the class of `74! Hope to see you at a future event or the 50th Birthday Party in 2005.