---Although I was fully anticipating a marvelous, incredible weekend with my fellow alumni, the experience shared by us all, far exceeded anything I ever anticipated, I have to admit. I feel very confident, if you were among those terribly unfortunate folks who did not attend, if you asked any single one of us how we felt, after it was all said and done, they'd echo my sentiments, and then some! In short, it was simply fabulous and well-worth flying on 4 airplanes to get there and back, well worth every single word I ever typed, well worth any and all effort I ever made. Truth to tell, though, I really did very little, compared to those who put this thing together.

After an unbelievable 7 hours and 45 minutes, from arising to arrival, I walked from the airport in Vandalia with BRUCE CHENOWETH, who served as my personal knight in shining armor, for the entire time I was there. As most of you are well aware, Bruce and I enjoy a long and special friendship, which will likely never change. We were equally pleased to see each other and it would be the beginning of several days of seeing people of whom I was terribly fond. What a great start for my visit! As I've already told all of you, he took me on the grand tour of my childhood home, then I dropped him at home, and went on my way.

Bruce

The big day would arrive on Friday for the Frisch's bash, but before that time, I visited with my lifelong friend at her house, which is almost like being in my own house, and that was SHIRLEY TUDOR MERKER. She's one of those lucky folks who owns her childhood home, so it's where I spent a lot time, during my school years. We had a terrific and fun visit and eagerly anticipated the evening's festivities. I had also stopped by the nearby home of DONNA RICHARDS SIMPSON, but wasn't lucky enough to find her at home. However, I connected with her that evening.

Shirley Donna

Bruce and I decided to meet promptly at 6pm at our old high school hangout, Frisch's. It seemed as though we were almost "late," though. As I pulled into the lot, I was greeted by a tall, silver-haired gentlemen, who was so terribly handsome as to be striking. Although I didn't instantly know him, he was extending his arms to me and I never turn down hugs from dashingly handsome men. So as I approached him in a reciprocal gesture, I got close enough to recognize that this senior citizen hunk was none other than AARON COUCH. Wow, time had been terribly kind to Aaron, I must say. Listen, ladies, he is a widower, but I'm sure that he's being pursued by dozens of female followers, already. I can certainly understand why!

However, he escorted me inside and we sat together, sharing a sandwich and drink, as we got reacquainted. What fun! In the booth right beside us were Bruce and BILL HOWARD, TOM FEE, & HARRIETTE DOGGETT DEL CAMPO. Even though Bruce and I had seen her on the day I arrived, and even had lunch, everyone was so excited and hyped, we chattered incessantly. I looked around the restaurant and saw many familiar, yet mysterious, faces.

Tom Fee

Naturally, I wanted to talk with and identify as many of us as possible. So I set about the business of flitting around the place and jabbering endlessly, writing name after name in my tablet. One booth which caught my eye was accommodating JIM LINDSEY & CAROLE LEWIS. I recall them being an item" in school and they hadn't seen each other in years. I couldn't help but think of how much fun they must have been having, getting caught up on each others' lives, after all those years.

Carol

Then I looked back in the corner and almost screamed with delight. There sat all those good-looking girls from that 1961 class, of whom I've grown so terribly fond. It must have been "in the WC water" for that class. Those girls aged beautifully! There sat EDNA GRAY RYAN, JUDY FRANTZ COFFMAN, DONNA RICHARDS SIMPSON, & LYNNETTE GARRETT HAWVEMALE, all looking like a million bucks! We giggled a lot, told lots of jokes, and had our hellos. Lynn doesn't have one wrinkle on her still-youthful face! I could still picture Donna jumping up and down in a cheer with the adorable pixie face she's always had, Edna was gorgeous, and Judy has a smile which could light up any room. She is a very magnetic personality.

Edna Judy Donna Lynnette

But wait! Someone from 1961 was missing. Surely enough, as I stood there, I heard more laughing and more giggling, so I turned around to confront SALLY GILLETTE WARLAUMONT & JANET WALTERS CHANDLER! I was pretty sure they'd both just stepped off the pages of some style magazine. They both looked positively incredible and chic and glamorous. We all also look so much better when we're grinning from ear to ear, don't we (?), and that's what everyone was doing, all evening.

Sally Janet

BILL HOWARD supplied a number of free Big Boy certificates, which he allowed me to pass out, at will, as I'm sure he did, also. He and Tom Fee are old buddies from way back and they see each other several times each year, even though Tom lives in Tampa and Bill is in WC. We all need to stay in contact the way they do.

Bruce milled around talking with everyone and Harriette was obviously elated to be there, seeing all her old pals. I was so happy she had made the effort to attend.

In another booth, sat SAM WELLER and brother, TOM WELLER, Class of 1961. I was warmly greeted and I was happy to see them both. Before I forget, by the way, we now have SUE BANKS & BOB BRANE on our list. I was happy to see so many familiar faces and see so many people having so much fun.

A very cute, blonde lady walked up and it was none other than NANCY HONHORST and right behind her was JAY 'JUNIOR' CARROLL. I hadn't seen either of them in many years. They looked great! It would be hard for me to tell you how I felt, when I looked at a booth by the window and saw this wonderful, familiar face and it came over me in a great dawning who it was. I nearly cried as I looked at GARY RICHARDS, one of the truly nice guys in the whole world who has never in his life been unkind or mean to a soul. Gary and I go back all the way to 6 years old. I'm sure I nearly strangled him, I hugged him so hard. Then I met his gorgeous wife, Betty, who was so gracious and so nice and I was very pleased to know that he'd spent his life being happy with such a nice lady.

As I turned around, there sat Gary's older brother, DONNIE RICHARDS. He still had that ornery twinkle in his eye and I can tell you that he was a lot more full of mischief than Gary ever was. In a glance, you could tell that Donnie just might still entertain a bit of mischief, if it was something appealing. Donnie was accompanied by wife, Jean, and it was great to see him, too.

Then I looked around and there were those WCHS alumni workhorses, JIM & JUNE RICHARDSON, both looking ageless, too. I was thrilled that they had come to Frisch's.

Just to demonstrate to you all how important it is for us to do "networking, I looked in a booth and found none other than LINDA SHANK KRETZER, who came up to Frisch's after I contacted her earlier in the year. She had been in touch with another 1960 alumnus. IDA JANE TREON GEARY, who had come because Linda told her about it. It was wonderful to see two more of my old 1960 classmates and I wish they all been there! But we had a great turnout!

Those TUDOR girls, SHIRLEY & DONNA, were having a circus, talking to everyone. They both looked wonderful and covered a lot of ground and got to see lots of WC folks, while they were there. At about 6:50, Bruce and I had both departed to fetch EULA FAYE BAILEY, a truly wonderful and kind and gracious human being, from the airport and we returned around 8:30 to see an even larger crowd of great WC faces. As I looked around, there was STEVE KOKOT, BARBARA THOMAS KOKOT, a gorgeous and chic SUE MCCLOUD MACK, the LEET brothers, JERRY & HAROLD, a truly gracious gentleman of whom I am genuinely fond, BOYD JENKINS, the man of whose family I am an extended member, CHARLES CARTER, my terrific pal, JOANN STEMLEY, BOB HOFFMAN, my Miami Shores soulmate, JERRY FULLER, BOB BRANE (who tried to pick up my dropped photo beneath the booth, with disastrous results), and there was laughter throughout the entire place.

Upon further inspection, I found the still-handsome and terribly gracious DANNY WALTERS, accompanied by wife Phyllis. In the same booth was my longtime pal, retired judge, BUD LOWMAN, with whom I always have great fun! That night was no exception. JUDY LINDSEY SELLARS introduced herself to me, after our many e-mail exchanges. There was WALLACE ROBBINS, SUE BANKS, my sister, JUDY RISNER OSTERMAN. In yet another section was NICK WOLARY, and there was GARY FRANK, who appeared terribly "GQ"-ish and stylish. Also present was an old pal and partner in my youthful mischief period, COLIN KELLEY. We chatted a bit and got caught up on things. Then Sally introduced me to this striking, attractive, blonde lady, who was none other than her wonderful sister, CAROLYN GILLETTE JONES, who sent me those 4 Piratans. She was accompanied by husband, Frank, and they'd come from Michigan. It was a privilege to be able to meet her, in person, and actually thank her, face to face.

As I looked to the other side of the room, there sat my old classmate, DENNIS ROSE, who was so disgustingly unchanged, I'd have known him anywhere! It was great to see you again, Dennis! As I wound my way through the crowd there was BERTHA HOERNER WORLEY, sitting with my sister and UTHONA SHOUPE. They shared a long and lively conversation, for most of the evening. I think it's safe to say they will remain in touch.

A special treat awaited me as I reunited with classmate, MIKE WEST. Lest we all forget, this whole Frisch's thing was all his idea. I was only the messenger. It was quite a smashing success, too. Mike and I didn't know each other well in high school. But we've all been blessed with these alumni things, to be given a second chance to see what great people we've all become. Mike was one of those people and we've shared a few nice confidences, over the last couple of years.

Very soon, through the door came GARY SIZER. He looked wonderful and was fresh from his 1959 class reunion. Bless his heart, he had left for me a 1946 Piratan at his son's home, where I would be going on the following day. I will be forever ingratiated to him. Thank you, Gary, so much!

As I was exiting Frisch's, for the express purpose of going down to our old high school building to crash the 1959 class reunion, I was in the lobby area, when a gentleman walked inside, who bore a striking likeness to my high school crush of my life, my sociology teacher, Mr. James C. Johnson. I did a double-take, as I heard this man say to me, "Hi, Bonnie! I was told I needed to come down here to see you tonight." As my knees went weak, I dropped every single thing I was carrying when I realized, in that precise moment, that this man didn't just LOOK like Mr. Johnson. He WAS Mr. Johnson! Oh, how dry went my throat and I felt as though I was once again 15 years old. Well, it was definitely a "Kodak moment" which was not lost on my old pal, Bill Howard. As Mr. Johnson put his arm around me, I grinned from ear to ear until I thought my face would break. Thank you, Eula Faye and Bill, for picking up all my things I had lost on the floor. I'd have never done it! I walked proudly back into Frisch's on Mr. Johnson's arm, eagerly anticipating everyone seeing me with him, which they did. Wow, my life was complete now! He even kissed me! Okay, so it was a very nice, platonic kiss, but hey, I was thrilled beyond words. After a visit with him off I went to the high school and the reunion crash of the 1959 party will be the next chapter. Hang tight!