LAST CALL FOR EMAILS

I have been working on the class email directory and should finish it this week. Trying to make sure that it's complete. Many of you have sent your info to Pat or directly to me and I have the list from the reunion. Don't want to leave anyone out, so if you'd like to share your email address with class members and receive a list, please let me know.

This list will not be posted anywhere on the net.

It's easy to set up a yahoo or gmail address if you prefer not to use your main email address, so consider that option if you're still on the fence.

Ro

WHO'S WHO? THEN AND NOW

Ok, which one of these couples were childhood sweethearts?

Which one of these girls was a member of the Colorguard? What did the other 4 girls have in common?

TIME STANDS STILL.......FOR SOME

Former Rockettes, or Majorettes? Now girls, on three, left leg first..........

Either Ken has a Time Machine.......or....... damn, he looks good!

Now Patti was always cute, but Cliff...what can I say? Some men improve with age.

Betsey is NOT AMUSED, Deanie is DEFINITELY AMUSED, and Kathy is ALMOST AMUSED

Susan, Chris, Jane, Sharon, Jeanie, and Dolores are all TERRIBLY AMUSED

Now this is my favorite photo. Nancy still looks 18, ok .....maybe 20, and Mr. Dabkowski just got better looking

A NOTE FROM CLIFF

Folks,

The final package of “essays” that many of you filled out was emailed out on the Tuesday before the reunion. I have heard that some of you who filled out page 2 did not receive your copy of everyone’s stories. If you are one of those who didn’t get the “finals” and did fill out page 2, please email me at k1iff@snet.net and I will send you your copy ASAP.

Thanks,

Cliff Cayer

Cliff just shared his photos of the reunion. I'm hoping to post some new faces, as soon as I figure out who they are! Great Photos, Cliff.

SPEAKING OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK FAR TOO GOOD

I'm sorry girls, but you must have the wrong reunion, either that or you were 10 when you graduated.

Seems to me I've seen this couple before......hmmmm when was that? Forty years ago, you say? In the halls of PHS? Can't be, they look much too young.

Now here's another handsome couple... of classmates, that is.

Rumor has it that these two '67 alums crashed the party with Janet Weed and Marcia Sharasheff. Whaddaya drinkin there, boys?

SNEAK PEEK

These are just a few of the photos that I have received from Pat, Judi, and others. Cliff has promised to send me some and I hope the rest of you with photos will share. One thing I want to say is that some of you have absolutely no right to look as great as you do! I must say that I feel like a '55 chevy that needs new tires, some body work, and a new paint job when I look at some of you, and you know who you are! Seriously, this has been a joy for me to see all of you in photos. Pat wrote about the prize winners and she kindly sent me some lovely mementos of the day, but the photos are the absolute best prize she sent.

I am still getting more additions to the email directory, so I think I will give it one more week and then distribute the list to all of you who contributed.

Look for more photos, next week. Some with interesting stories.

Don't forget to visit our complementary info website. Pat's deputies are growing in number and have discovered a great site to keep all of our statistics in order. Please check it out. It's easy to use and a great resource for keeping track of our class. Thanks to Cat Smulski for finding it, but it's up to the rest of us to fill it up, so click on the link and keep yourself in the loop.

WINNERS WINNERS WINNERS

I am sure we all feel like we are winners being in PULASKI HIGH SCHOOL CLASS of 1968. For those that were not able to attend the reunion I thought you would like to read the names of those that won our raffles. We were fortunate to be able to raffle off 20 cash prizes along with 24 gift bags. The winners of our cash prizes were: Betsy Rental, Pat Czarnaty, Nancy Matascik, Susan Woja, Jimmy Mitchell, Diane Larkin, Stephen Carey, Madonna Byett, Michael Osga, Marsha Neumeister, Linda Sylvia, Tom Gzyl, Warren Burton, Michael Pina, Jane Baxer, Jean Bonafonte, Pat Wearne, Sandie Mazur, Jimmy Williams, and Karen Rivenberg. The winners of our gift bags were: Peter Zagorsky, Donald Azarigian, Victoria Miklos, Gary Youmans, Joe Piatek, Bob Piorkowski, Susan Willet, Donna Filipek, Nancy Roy, Shirley Gugel, Laura Unguire and Larry Anderson. Our questionnaire winners, without mentioning which category they won for are: (Sorry you had to be there to find out what they won for). Jane Bentley, Delores Koff, Janet Weed, Tom Bocompani, John Vento, Sandie Mazur, Bob Piorkowski, Debbie Bayram, Gary Youmans, Madonna Byett, Karen Rivenberg and Shirley Gugal How come only one committee member (Linda Sylvia) was able to win? Something didn't go as planned. Hope all our winners were pleased with their gifts, we certainly had a great time handing them out, even if Nancy Lamb and I didn't win.

DO PATTI & CO. KNOW HOW TO THROW A PARTY, OR WHAT?

I didn't think that anything would keep me from attending the reunion. But as John Lennon said: "life is what happens while you're making other plans". My family has suffered a terrible loss and I was where I needed to be. Patti called me today and gave me a sneak peek of her photos. Hey, when did you guys get so old? (wink, wink) I thought I was the only one. Actually all of you look so well preserved, I'm feeling a little insecure. It has been a true joy to help with this blog and I hope to keep it going until the next real life meeting, and the next, and the next...... Please share your photos and news, whether you were at the reunion or not. One thing I learned this past week, for the umpteenth time, is that life is indeed shorter than any of us thinks and you need all the friends and family you can muster, to enjoy the good times and survive the bad. So I'm inviting you to continue this uncertain journey together through these pages.

Some things to look for: .......a photo essay of the reunion ........an email directory coming soon to your email box of choice(you must share your address to be on the receiving end of this mailing) .........news of smaller gatherings planned every so often in different locations

Best Reunion Ever????????

After reading everyones' comments, I have come to the conclusion that either we had the greatest reunion in the history of high school reunions or,............we really need to get out more! (Personally I'm sticking with the first choice, although , for me the second is probobly also quite accurate.) In any event..... Our lives have certainly gone in many varied directions. Some have literally been around the world, (amazing). Others have happily lived close to home. We have earned our 'smile' lines and (OK wrinkles), worn out our joints, may be hard to recognize ( sorry Gary), but come on it's been 40 years, but the truly important things have not changed. We still have this underlying lifelong connection. I felt a sense of peaceful friendship. It was amazingly easy to talk to and reconnect with good friends from a very different time and place in our lives. As I go forward on this adventure of life, I look forward to keeping in touch with rekindled friendships. Jean I'll call you next week. I still can't believe we live within walking distance ( well if we were ambitious). Personally I hope we don't wait 5 years to get together in some way. Christmas party?? Meet for drinks??? I'm up for most anything. After all we have definately established the fact that we are a casual (and fun) bunch!! Take care, and enjoy the special moments in each day. Lisa (Dowling) salamon

Sally Way Out West

To the Gang of 68: Wow! The reunion was all I hoped for and more. To see so many familiar faces and realize what a great class we had was so much fun. I can't thank Pat Dezi, Judi Meese, Rosann Faiola, Cliff Cayer and Lou and Phil for all the hard work that went into making that a success. The food was great, the gifts were great, but most of all the Class of 68 was great. I am so proud to have been a part of a group of people that accomplished so much. And do you believe we all talked for 8 hours straight? When I got there I was scared to death thinking I was too this or too that and all that foolishness fell away as soon as I saw all those faces that were near and dear to me. You all looked 18 again to me and were as fun as I remembered you way back when. My buds, Gretchen S(I haven't laughed so hard in years) Marsha N (a mile wide smile as usual) and Lisa D (email me and come to New Mexico to see me-I still want to talk to you about the flower stuff.) Sweet, sweet Cheryl Griffin always with a kind word, Chuckie Searle we just wanted to be your "posse" all over again, Nancy Matascik "you go girl!" Jeannie Bonafonte no wonder you were homecoming queen, Bruce Kraskowsky thanks for the words of encouragement and take good care of Nancy. Steve Carey a surprise kiss on the cheek,and a generous compliment- I wish we could have talked more. Vicky Micklos, keep the faith and email me, I have been on that road you are traveling. Bob Piorkowski, you may have been quiet in PHS, but it was our loss, I wish I had known you better. Kathy Samek, smart and beautiful, we needed talk time. Lou Z, what a woodworker! Keep it going. Patti Dezi, I wish I had known you better in high school. I owe you a great tour someday. Everyone, next reunion lets make more time to catch up. Keep in touch and when we do this again in 5 years, how about making it a destination reunion? Jackson Hole, Santa Fe, Yellowstone, Glacier, Phoenix, Tucson, Colorado Springs anyone? Let's get some ideas going. Fond Memories of the Class of 68 "The Spirit is What We've Got!" Sally (Hornkohl) Bell

Thoughts from Ursula

Hi, PHS classmates - I've found myself thinking about all those I was able to see at the reunion, as well as others who were not able to make it. It has surprised me how much I have gone over and over in my mind how you all are now, what you are doing, what we remember from way back then. Even though four decades have gone by, it hardly felt like being among strangers and, even, like we knew we still had similar views and values (-- there's that overused word again). It was great to see you all, and hope that I can catch up with others some time. I also want to sincerely thank all those who were involved in contacting, organizing, coordinating, engraving, making name tags, buying raffle gifts, compiling bios, sharing desserts, etc. etc. etc. It sure was a lot of work. Your efforts, far above and beyond the call of "duty", made it happen and made the get-together such a fun, memorable experience. Thank you. I put my email address on the list, hope to see you if you're passing through or near southeastern VT. This is a great area for outdoor stuff all year round; and plenty of good coffee shops, tiny theaters, and space to just sit. What a class we were, huh? Take care. Ursula

The Party is Over

Hi, The party might be over but the new memories of the day will linger for quite awhile. I will first appoligize to my friend Patti for giving her such a hard time with working on this reunion, I can honestly say now that all the effort and work we did for 5 months was worth it all! Saturday surpassed all my expectations and from the feedback I received all day everyone love the picnic idea and the casual atmosphere that it generated. The socializing and mingling that I observed all day proved that our class was truly connected back in 1968 and we never lost that feeling for each other. Our lives went in different directions but our years apart melted away on Saturday because of who we were and who we've all become. It was my pleasure working on the committee and I hope to be around to work on the 45th and so on for many years to come. I hope everyone will use this blog to stay in touch and keep our "pit bull patti and her deputies cliff and phil" informed of any email or address changes. Thanks again for all of you that made the day such a success and I hope the ones that could not make it will be able to enjoy the messages and pictures and look forward to our 45th. Judi (Mags) Maglio Meese

40th is over 45th is right around the corner

What a great time had by all. We could not have asked for a better turn out. 105 classmates, 4 teachers and many spouses and guest for a total of over 150 attending. Seeing all your smiling faces, listening to all your wonderful comments let us know how much you all appreciated the hard work and effort that went into our 40th reunion. We were pleased that everyone was happy with the decision to have a PICNIC. Hearing many of you say you prefer a picnic over a more formal event really pleased us. We know we can not please everyone, however I feel we came close to succeeding with this event. I was concerned that an event lasting 8 hours would have some classmates getting bored and leave early, just the opposite happened. We needed more time, I did not get to talk to everyone as I had hoped but I made a great effort trying. The last 20 or so of us didn't want to leave, next time we will have to continue the party elsewhere. We'll leave that thought for another time.

How about those desserts, what a great idea Judi had to have take home containers for everyone. I was able to munch on my way home to Long Island, rethinking the event with every bite as more calories entered my body. Oh well, the diet will start tomorrow.

How about all of our classmates that traveled so far to attend including Alaska, New Mexico, California, Florida, Arizona and Kansas to name a few. If that doesn't say PULASKI'S SPIRIT OF 68 LIVES ON, nothing does. I applaud all of you.

I want to thank Judi, Nancy, and Linda for their part in getting this off the ground. I may have had contact with most of you, however I could not have done it without their help. We are a team that will continue as long as our classmates continue to respond and attend our future events. Now I may need your help to convince the 3 of them to do it all over again in 5 years.

I also would not have had the success in finding as many classmates as we did without the help from many of you, especially my deputies, Cliff and Phil. As long as I continue as their CHIEF we will not rest until the 13 missing have been found.

Lisa Dowling a big Thank You for your flower donations, it added just what the picnic tables needed. CLASS from the Class of 68.

Lastly, a big thank you to Ro Faiola for her continued work on the blog. We all missed you more than you can imagine.

Please post your comments on OUR blog, let's keep this going well past our 50th.

THE ESSAY PROJECT

First I want to thank Cliff Cayer for his brilliant idea. The Essay Project is truly a wonderful keepsake for all of us that contributed. In fact it has proved to be so meaningful to some, that I'm hoping that we can continue the collection and add to it after the reunion. There is one small announcement that I'd like to make. Some of the essay writers did not contact Cliff in time to have their email addresses included.

I think we may want to have a voluntary classmate directory for emails , so that we don't lose the connections that Patti, Judi, Cliff, Bruce, Phil and others have worked so hard to form. There will be a sign up sheet at the reunion, so that you can enter your name and email address if you want to be included. If you can't attend the reunion, please Email me!

Now I have to tell you that I won't have the pleasure of seeing any of you in person this weekend. We have had a medical emergency here at home and if that isn't enough, one of my family members is missing in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Georgia/Tennessee border.

I expect lots of pictures and lots of details. DETAILS, I TELL YOU! This blog will go on as long as there is interest so carry on and have a drink for me, maybe more than one. AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS, JUST ASK!

AS THE WOOD TURNS

(sorry Lou, couldn't help myself)

Subject: Norm Abrams Watch Out

Okay Gang,

If you are interested in seeing what I look like now, so you can easily identify me at the reunion. Let me tell you where to go:

www.expertvillage.com, click on "Our Experts", click on "L" and scroll down to my name. There you will find a selection of instructional videos I did this spring on woodturning. A career I really should have pursued when I grew up, if I knew about it then. Sorry Cliff, no slide rule used in the making of the videos.

See you on the 28th.

lou (Zabohonski)

WHO'S SAYING WHAT

"I was thinking about the hours of the reunion and it struck me; Do you realize that about the time everything starts to wind down, our classmates who came in from the left coast will still be going strong? And then we have Bob from Alaska. When the sun goes down so early, will he think its late autumn?"

"Let's hope the weather cooperates - we had a heat wave last week ( 95 - 100 degrees for 4 days), but now we've gone in the other direction and it's barely 60 and rainy with the same forecast until Friday. So who knows..."

"It is strange what one remembers, eh?"

"I'll get my pictures together this weekend so we can exchange 30 years worth of history."

"This is, and has been, quite an adventure and it's not over yet. In fact, it may just be beginning!"

OLD BIRD or SPRING CHICKEN?

"I wish I had Cathy Smulski's wit and the wisdom that some of the others seemed to have gained. But alas, I'm still just Karen Tatum Arasimowicz and I have earned every wrinkle and pound that I have gained.

I remember Coach Eaton always said, "Don't panic, adjust" and I think I have adjusted well for an old bird."

Whenever a woman looked much younger than her age, my mom always described her as a "spring chicken". So I must respectfully disagree with Karen. I don't see an "old bird" in this picture, but I definitely see a lovely woman, looking far younger than her years with that twinkle of experience in her eyes.

FIRE ESCAPE TUBE????

DENNIS '67 AND JANET WEED BOUTIN bring us this little bit of nostalgia. A stroll down memory lane-with photos!

45 rpm spindles

Green Stamps

Metal ice cubes trays with levers

Beanie and Cecil

Roller Skate Key

Cork pop guns

Marlin Perkins

Drive in Movies

Drive in restaurants

Car Hops

Studebakers

Topo Gigio

Washtub wringers

The Fuller Brush Man

Sky King

Reel-To-Reel tape recorders

Tinkertoys

Erector Set

Lincoln Logs

15 cent McDonald hamburgers

5 cent packs of baseball cards

Penny candy

25 cent a gallon gasoline

Jiffy Pop popcorn

5 cent stamps

Gum wrapper chains

Chatty Cathy dolls

5 cent Cokes

Speedy Alka-Seltzer

Cigarettes for Christmas

Falstaff Beer

Burma Shave signs

Brownie camera

Flash bulbs

TV Test patterns

Old Yeller

Chef Boy-AR-dee

Fire escape tubes

Timmy and Lassie

Ding Dong Avon calling

Brylcreem

Aluminum Christmas Trees

If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived!!