Again I must re-iterate and repeat that I'm 90% sure I am not an
"original 13", since it was never clear whether the group started in
Lincoln or had earlier roots in elementary school. If elementary
school then I'm out for being a Madison'er with Astra/Amanda/Amber and
Clem. If Lincoln, I confess to spending too much prankster time with
the likes of John "Napalm" Turley and Mike (and Ted Lee and Darryl
Pollack and Perlmutter and ...).
Didn't we have this same discussion about 20 years ago...
--H.G.
OK, Original 13
Fer sure: Janet, Eric, Paul, Greg, David, Keith, Susan
Argue for any 5: Alex, John, Domingo, Richard, Joy, Nora, Janine, Jan,
Brandy, and whtshis/hername...
--- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, Joy McCann
<jmmccann_at_s...> wrote:
[snip]
> I still think it would be good if the authoritative "original 13" list
> were released. Most people-in-the-know other than Dean appear to
> believe that Dean was on it. And I do believe it's actually written
> down, in our Holy Documents.
>
> Woe unto them that haven't read our Holy Documents.
>
> --J
>
>
> On Nov 2, 2004, at 10:36 PM, Georgie Hinklemyer wrote:
>
> >
> > No, John. She was referring to the event itself. It was kind of
long
> > and boring...
> >
> > --- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, "tschibasch"
> > <tschibasch_at_y...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Joy,
> > >
> > > Of course there were names at the reunion that you did not know.
> > Just
> > > like there were people at my Halloween party that you did not
know..
> > .
> > > You must accept that there are Olives who predate you. You joined
> > the
> > > group in 1980 - - how can you be accepted by those who joined in
> > 1977?
> > >
> > > ;-)
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > > --- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, Joy McCann
> > > <jmmccann_at_s...> wrote:
> > > > It was kind of long and boring, and I didn't really know many of
> > the
> > > > people you discussed.
> > > >
> > > > --J
> > > >
> > > > On Oct 29, 2004, at 5:59 PM, tschibasch wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > To whom it may concern: Here is a description of the 25th
> > anniversary
> > > > > Samohi reunion. If you are not particularly interested, please
> > skip!
> > > > >
> > > > > ###
> > > > >
> > > > > The reunion was held at the FantaSea Yacht Club in Marina Del
> > Rey on
> > > > > Saturday, October 16th, 2004. It started at 6:30PM and ended
> > around
> > > > > midnight. A buffet dinner was served at 8:00PM.
> > > > >
> > > > > The event was hosted by "Elegant Reunions". They were
charging
> > $90
> > > > > online and $100 at the door. To my knowledge, I was the only
> > > person of
> > > > > our extended group of friends ("Olives") who was attending.
> > > > >
> > > > > I arrived promptly at 6:30, and it was already dark and
> > sprinkling
> > > > > rain. After giving my car to the valet, I went inside and
stood
> > in
> > > > > line. Just like the last reunion, there were people behind
> > tables
> > > > > checking our names. After finding mine, they gave me a very
> > unsticky
> > > > > rectangular nametag to put on my jacket. Besides your
name, the
> > tag
> > > > > included your 1979 yearbook photo, which for me was blank
since
> > I
> > > left
> > > > > in 1978. There was a second line after registration, now for
> > photos.
> > > > > These were going to be put on CDROM. Brad Wheeler and Jeff
> > > Condon, the
> > > > > first two folks I recognized were at the back of the line, and
> > I
> > > > > joined them. Photos were $20/$30, depending on what kind of
> > framing
> > > > > you wanted. None of us were thrilled at having to pay out any
> > more
> > > > > money; a lot of folks opted for the "no frame / no pay"
option.
> > > > >
> > > > > I enjoyed speaking with Brad and Jeff. Brad is an architect,
> > and
> > > lived
> > > > > for a while in Italy and New York. And Jeff is an attorney
> > whose kids
> > > > > have gone to Franklin Elementary School. Brad, Jeff, and I had
> > a good
> > > > > laugh waiting in line for the photos. They very much seem like
> > people
> > > > > that I would like to stay in touch with, more often than just
> > at high
> > > > > school reunions!
> > > > >
> > > > > After the photos were taken, I started to mill about. There
> > were so
> > > > > few familiar faces! And yes, this was a repeat of the last
> > reunion I
> > > > > attended in 1999. I would see someone who was basically
> > > > > unrecognizable, and then look at the nametag. Again, I would
> > not know
> > > > > this person. The old graduating photo stuck on their jacket
> > didn't
> > > > > help either. Who was this person?? I would see them doing the
> > same to
> > > > > me: studying my face, looking at my name, frowning... A fear
> > started
> > > > > to come across me - - was I maybe at the wrong reunion? Well
> > no,
> > > since
> > > > > Brad and Jeff were here! I was at the right place...
> > > > >
> > > > > I then came up to Laura Karst and her husband. She asked
me how
> > many
> > > > > people I was recognizing, and she was relieved when I told her
> > it was
> > > > > so few! She was with Ann Van Winkle and Kathleen Keane. At
last
> > I was
> > > > > among people that I knew, though not terribly well. They still
> > > live in
> > > > > the area. Kathleen told me she went into law enforcement. We
> > all
> > > > > talked for several minutes, and I turned out to be a valuable
> > memory
> > > > > resource. They remembered a few teachers and bullies from Samo
> > and
> > > > > Lincoln. Who was the short bully? Fred Redman, as it turned
> > out. And
> > > > > who was that other troublemaker who got expelled? David Boring
> > > was the
> > > > > answer. I was able to recall names for them as long as they
> > asked the
> > > > > right questions. Overall, my trusty memory for names and dates
> > > came in
> > > > > pretty handy during the course of the evening. One of the
women
> > said
> > > > > that she had heard of Fred Redman moving to Oklahoma. Nobody
> > had a
> > > > > clue where David Boring ended up, but the suspicion is not
> > good,
> > > based
> > > > > on information we had.
> > > > >
> > > > > Jon Arenberg was the chief organizer of this event, just like
> > for the
> > > > > 1999 event. He was the next person I bumped into. Over the
> > > evening, he
> > > > > seemed to spend a lot of time with Annette Herbst. Maybe she
> > had been
> > > > > involved in coordinating the event with him? It was nice to
> > speak to
> > > > > them both. Jon asked me if I had any news on Greg Turk, since
> > he had
> > > > > been looking for him some time back. I updated him on Greg's
> > > > > whereabouts. Jon is still an engineer, involved in research.
> > Annette
> > > > > now is in LA, but had lived in Colorado for a few years. She
> > works
> > > > > with children.
> > > > >
> > > > > I then met Douglas Gunson. He is now a lawyer living in North
> > > > > Carolina, and has 7 (!) kids. The oldest is 21 and wants to go
> > to
> > > > > UCLA. It was nice to speak with him. I never knew him too well
> > > back in
> > > > > school. In fact, the only class I had with him was Art in 8th
> > grade.
> > > > >
> > > > > Next came Jane Grafton and husband. She did not remember me
> > very
> > > well.
> > > > > I don't hold that against her, since we only had one class
> > together,
> > > > > in the 10th grade. Remember Mathematics with Harry Pappas?
Jane
> > had
> > > > > lived in England for a few years in the 1980s, but now lives
> > back
> > > here
> > > > > in Venice. While were talking, Cheryl Pollock came over. She
> > was in
> > > > > another class with me in 10th grade. Neither of them
remembered
> > being
> > > > > in these classes, or names of other people at that time. I was
> > > able to
> > > > > come up with a couple other names. This did not help them
any..
> > .
> > > > > Anyway, Cheryl is still living locally, involved in computer
> > > graphics,
> > > > > and is unmarried.
> > > > >
> > > > > I next saw Mark Swartz, who looked the same as at the last
> > reunion.
> > > > > Talk about dressing down! He looked like he had come over to
> > > paint the
> > > > > place, all in work clothes. While I studied him, he cheerfully
> > > pointed
> > > > > out that maybe I had overdressed for this event. I think
he did
> > > have a
> > > > > point, since not every guy there was wearing a suit and tie!
> > Mark now
> > > > > lives in Mar Vista, happy with his bachelor lifestyle.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then I saw Shauna Lockett. I had a super-8 film class with her
> > in
> > > > > Lincoln. Her recall of this was extremely good. She recalled
> > that she
> > > > > liked Mr. Wexler, the teacher. We both remembered other
> > characters in
> > > > > that class. Shauna now lives in Montana, where she manages a
> > dental
> > > > > clinic.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then a strange thing happened when I bumped into a certain
Mike
> > > Smith.
> > > > > Friendly fellow. We did not know each other. Mike told me he
> > took
> > > > > Latin at Samohi... There was just one Latin instructor, a
> > brilliant
> > > > > linguist by the name of Michael Quinette, and I assumed only
> > one
> > > > > class. How many people study Latin?? I suggested some names of
> > people
> > > > > who were in the same Latin class, such as Robert Baker,
> > Caroline
> > > > > Sauls, Robert Tarquin, Lisa Greenwood, and of course Karen
> > Elizabeth
> > > > > "Bisbee" Jerome Shepherd Goldfarb! Mike did not remember
any of
> > them.
> > > > > I now suspect there were two Latin classes at Samohi. Or maybe
> > Mike
> > > > > Smith never took Latin. Or maybe he never existed at
all!?! The
> > mind
> > > > > wonders if maybe HE was at the wrong reunion... Well, whether
> > Mike
> > > > > took Latin or not, he told me that he became a plumber. Latin
> > is not
> > > > > needed for that.
> > > > >
> > > > > I went outside to get some fresh air. The rain had temporarily
> > > > > stopped, and the night air was fresh. I was joined by a bunch
> > of
> > > > > friendly smokers. Craig Allen was one of them. He works now in
> > > > > entertainment, and often visits Las Vegas. I do not know
> > exactly what
> > > > > he does. Then I spoke with Richard Cardenas at length. A very
> > nice
> > > > > guy, and definitely someone I never knew in high school. He
> > told me
> > > > > that he had been involved in track/long distance running, and
> > at 17
> > > > > years of age, he was hit by a car! He was in a coma for a
week,
> > and
> > > > > after that, the doctors told him it was unlikely that he would
> > walk
> > > > > again. He managed to beat those dismal odds. Right after high
> > school,
> > > > > he got married and moved to Houston, Texas. He bought a house
> > and had
> > > > > three children. Richard went into the printing business, since
> > he
> > > > > enjoyed the shop class with Mr. Little at Lincoln so much. He
> > is now
> > > > > on marriage #2, and his oldest son (20) is married with
kids of
> > his
> > > > > own. Anyway, Richard still lives in Houston, caring for his
> > ailing
> > > > > mother. He was not going to attend the reunion, and then
at the
> > last
> > > > > minute got in his car and drove directly to LA.
> > > > >
> > > > > Richard Cardenas asked me if I remembered Nick Trifunovich.
> > Yes, I
> > > > > recalled a few classes with the guy at Lincoln – he was tall,
> > skinny,
> > > > > with blond curly hair. He was a prankster! Apparently, in 1984
> > Nick
> > > > > went to the hospital for some exploratory surgery on his
> > stomach.
> > > They
> > > > > put him under and he never woke up again. How awful.
> > > > >
> > > > > I went back in and milled around some more. It was now as full
> > as it
> > > > > was going to be. There were all told about 200 people, maybe
> > less. It
> > > > > was noisy and cheerful, and people were sitting at tables
> > enjoying
> > > > > dinner. I again looked around, and I don't think that I missed
> > > anyone.
> > > > > Some other people that I noticed and barely remember: Mandy
> > > > > Kamibayashi, Chris Kolodziejski, Frank Lempert, Glenn Sato. A
> > woman
> > > > > named Bonnie Kanner was overdressed, if I might say. Maybe too
> > early
> > > > > for Halloween, if you get the drift.
> > > > >
> > > > > Everybody was really nice, I must say. And they looked good –
> > happy
> > > > > and healthy. As I made the rounds, I usually managed to strike
> > a
> > > > > conversation as long as there was some other student or
teacher
> > that
> > > > > we both mutually remembered. Even in cases where nothing was
> > found,
> > > > > there was still interesting information about someone's
current
> > job,
> > > > > or where they are living. I was doing fine and enjoying
meeting
> > > > > people...
> > > > >
> > > > > Well, almost.
> > > > >
> > > > > I then met Alison Raeder. The poor thing seemed a little
off...
> > After
> > > > > the perfunctory "hello" and "how are you", she asked if I was
> > > married.
> > > > > She was genuinely sad to hear I was still single, and hoped I
> > would
> > > > > get married soon. She said she would pray for me... She then
> > told me
> > > > > that since the previous reunion, she had at last found her
soul
> > mate.
> > > > > She now summoned her husband, Dave over to meet me. After a
> > warm
> > > > > handshake, it was his turn to ask if I were married! No, I
> > responded,
> > > > > I guess you might say that I am "married" to my work. And much
> > > happier
> > > > > about that now, by the way, compared to 1999! Dave explained
> > that he
> > > > > was from the Samohi graduating class of 1975. He was unkempt
> > and also
> > > > > a little off. He was also very big and loud! He looked exactly
> > like a
> > > > > character you might meet at a Star Trek convention. (Not
that I
> > would
> > > > > know about such things.) Dave now launched into his obvious
> > favorite
> > > > > topic: comic books. Alison fell quiet, looking on adoringly as
> > Dave
> > > > > explained that he is an expert on "comic book
technologies"; he
> > > > > matches weapons used by comic book characters with the correct
> > genre.
> > > > > He cited an example in Batman, where the Joker used a
laser gun
> > that
> > > > > could not possibly have been invented yet. He told me that he
> > writes
> > > > > angry letters to publishers to protest such inaccuracies. He
> > was very
> > > > > knowledgeable about this subject, and would not stop talking
> > > about it,
> > > > > in fact. At a convenient pause I managed to excuse myself. I
> > > later saw
> > > > > Dave talking to Mark Swartz, giving him the same treatment.
> > > > >
> > > > > The dinner was superb, I must say. Very enjoyable.
> > > > >
> > > > > After dinner, more milling about, drinking good coffee. No new
> > faces.
> > > > > However, I heard the following names of people who were
> > reportedly
> > > > > doing okay but who did not attend the reunion: David
Early, Tom
> > > > > Erspalmer, John Vidor, Jason Hoffs, David Kearney, Sandra Loh,
> > Damon
> > > > > Moore, Ted Lee, Dave Newdorf, John Nolind, Brian Yori, Ralph
> > > > > Slaughter, John Drexel. I have no other information about
> > them.
> > > Also,
> > > > > Michael Perlmutter did not attend.
> > > > >
> > > > > Many people commented on the low turnout of this reunion. It
> > was
> > > > > suggested that the really big ones are 10-year, 20-year, and
> > 30-year;
> > > > > the 25-year is generally low. Really? I would not have
expected
> > > > > that...
> > > > >
> > > > > Anyway, that's all, folks!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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Received on 2004-11-03 07:51:20