Barbara Ayers (Tatum)

Craig, I want to join you on the trip to the Ice caves on Sunday.

George Boyden

Tooey and I will try to be on time !  retired now !

George Boyden

Betty Myers (Schaefer)

Now if we can get our fearless leader, Komadina, to retire, he says he would come to the lunches.

Robyn (Jane) Cholerton

Another enjoyable lunch on Monday!  Present at BJ's Brewhouse to celebrate
the May birthdays ofJerry Goffe and Mary Ann Simanek Villarreal were Betty
Myers Schaefer,  George and Tooey Boyden, Helen Stambaugh
Williams, Jack Dettweiler, Karla Irwin Cates, Lorraine Barth and Ricardo,
Marcy McVay Cates, Mike and  Ruth Wartell, Neal Kloepfer, Sandy Stewart
Smallwood, Steve Brooks, Susan Myers Puckett, Susie Strong
Neuschwanger, Walt Huebner, and me.  

Although I missed a lot of personal gossip, at my end of the table there was
a lot of conversation about our upcoming 55th reunion, in June.  Helen
passed around a list of menu possibilities for Saturday night's get-together
at the Albuquerque Country Club, for us to choose which options were most
appealing -- not an order, but a vote.  (And, thanks to Jack for having made
the arrangements!)  Helen and Neal cross-checked their RSVP lists, to make
sure that all were included.  More information should be sent soon to those
who had responded.  

While I'm on the subject, I'd like to thank those who have been working on
our behalf, to make this 55th reunion happen.  Although this is a simpler,
less elaborate, get-together, it still takes work -- more than you might think --
to put on our celebratory weekend.  So, when you're here and enjoying
yourselves, don't forget to thank those who are playing an important part in
making the weekend so much fun, and not forgetting those who are helping
out in less conspicuous ways. 

And, I can't forget that Monday's lunch ended in a dramatic way.  Many
noticed that as we ate the clouds were moving across the sunny sky, and by
the time we were finishing, there was rising speculation about the actual
possibility of rain -- after 55 dry days.  Then, as some of us lingered, the
sound of rain on the roof was heard, increasing in intensity and turning to
the rattle of hail.  As Helen noted, we all crowded together to watch it at the
glass emergency exit door, just like a bunch of little kids.  Although I'm not
sure we actually left nose-prints on the glass.  That hard rain seemed to go
on and on, with the lights flickering, and hail piling up on the ground outside
like snow.  Like all New Mexico storms, it did end, and left us to pick our
ways through puddles across the parking lot, and back to our usual lives.  I
thank the HHS Band members and their supporters for bringing it on, with
their fundraising car wash on Saturday!  After all, we all know what happens
when you wash your car.  

Looking forward to seeing you at the reunion, and then lunch on June 11! 

Robyn

Robyn (Jane) Cholerton

A couple of days ago, it really dawned on me that our 55th reunion
celebration is coming up very soon!  ("What was I thinking?" you might ask.)

The spotlight is on the two "bigger" events, Friday night's pig roast at the
Wartells', and Saturday night's Cocktail party/Mixer at the Albuquerque
Country Club, but I would like to encourage everyone to get in on some of
the other activities on offer in the course of the weekend.  These are
additional opportunities to do some fun things with old friends, or to enjoy
the company of people you're just now getting really acquainted with!  
There are quite a few on the list, so please be patient with me, and keep
reading to the end.  

I trust that you've already checked in if you plan to do the puzzle or play golf
on Friday.  

And I hope you've contacted Craig Dear if you're looking forward to the
excursion to the Ice Caves on Sunday.  

(And, after the fact of the weekend, it's not too late to speak up if you're
available to Monday's June birthday lunch, which many of us enjoy so
much.)  

At any time during the weekend, we can ride the Sandia Peak Tramway -- at
a very nice discount -- better, even, than the usual Senior Citizen rate.  I
haven't verified it, but this may be the last time that this discount is available
to us, since George Boyden has recently retired.  

On Saturday morning, only, will be the latest in the Public Library's "Making
Change" series, Part 3 of "The Golden Age of Postcards in Albuquerque".  
This series features monthly presentations on subject of local historical
interest, offered by experts on the subject-of-the-month.  From 10:30 PM
until noon, at the Special Collections Library (known to us as the old Main
Library, at Edith and Central NE), admission is free, and so is parking,
although some events get crowded, so you may want to arrive a little early.  

And then there are the exhibitions at the Albuquerque Museum, at 2000
Mountain Road NW near Old Town, open Tuesday through Sunday 9 am to 5
pm.  Admission is cheap; if you park in the pay lot south of the Museum,
make note of your space number and give it to the nice people who will sell
you your admission receipt and parking will be free.  There is a cafe onsite
with beverages and yummy food, although I'm not sure of the hours of
operation.  

This coming weekend, they'll be opening the "American Jewelry from New
Mexico" exhibition, which will continue into October.  There was an article
about this in last Sunday's Albuquerque Journal, and I've seen a piece on
local PBS and, frankly, I'm drooling to see it.  Focusing on "innovation", It
reaches from 2000 years ago right into the present, and covers multiple cultural contributions.  Included will be a photograph of Jim Morrison on stage wearing his Conchiti Pueblo concha belt; no belt, alas -- Morrison was buried wearing it.  

And, opening on the Saturday of our reunion weekend will be "From
Invisible to Visible:  The Chinese American experience in Albuquerque."  I've
enjoyed quite a few of the Museum's exhibitions focused on local history,
and am looking forward to this one, too.  A recent program on PBS'
"American Experience", "The Chinese Exclusion Act". told me about earlier
immigrants from China to the US, but I still know almost nothing about those
who came here to Albuquerque.  I called and talked with our classmate,
Richard Tang, who said that his grandfather and family are featured -- and I
hope that he'll make a post of his own, here, to tell us what we can look
forward to in this exhibition.  Please, Richard?  The opening will be on
Saturday, the 9th from 1 - 4 PM, and will continue during regular Museum hours.  

And of course there's lunch on Monday, at a New Mexican restaurant.  

Or, you could sleep late and laze around on your own.  

Robyn

Helen Stambaugh (Williams)

thank you Robyn for the timely update.

I will not be at the June luncheon because I am flying up to Seattle Sunday night.

Everything is falling into place nicely.

Marcia "Marcy" McVay (Cates)

I will show up but probably not have lunch because i will have to leave early for a doctor's appointment. So save me a place at the table.

Merl Schafer

Sandra Stewart (Smallwood)

I will be at the Monday birthday lunch for June.

Steve Komadina

I can not find the details for next Friday at Mike's or 

country Club on Saturday on the web site.  Can someone help me find it so I show up on time?

Betty Myers (Schaefer)

Both are starting at 6 PM according to the home page, but no addresses on the post. I know the Wartell's are on Carlisle between Lead and Coal. Glad you are coming, Steve.

Helen Stambaugh (Williams)

The addresses will be up on Monday.  

Robyn (Jane) Cholerton

Thanks, Helen!  The addresses for this weekend's festivities (plus reminders of day and time) were in my Message Center inbox, bright and early this morning, as promised. 

See you on Friday! 

Robyn

Karen White

mine too; thanks, Helen

Sally Loyd (Sabino)

Hello Everyone,

It's hard to believe 5 years has already passed since the 50th reunion. I could say where has the time passed however, I am sure you have filled the years with many wonderful adventures as I have.  Several you have shared some grand times.  This is a wonderful time for all of us.

Sad to say I won't be able to make this weekend. Though I didn't know many of you as I only spent my senior year at Highland, I have grown to know you and enjoy your adventures on our website. Your birthday lunches are grand and fun.  I was able to attend one a year after our 50th.

I'm sending warm wishes for all of you and a fun weekend. Sally

Mary Ann Simanek (Villarreal)

Thank you Helen. I’m still not sure about attending activities per my eye surgery recovery. All is going well but do have some limitations. 

Mary Ann Simanek (Villarreal)

I have a Dr appointment same day as luncheon and will be there if timeing works out.  

Robyn (Jane) Cholerton

And then there's that one more thing to add at the end of our reunion weekend -- the June birthday lunch!  

We'll meet at Los Cuates, 4901 Lomas Blvd NE, at 1 PM.  I know we'll be celebrating Kathy Paton Murray, and hopefully others, too.  Some people have already spoken up, but it's not too late to add yourself to the list!  

Robyn

Mary Ann Simanek (Villarreal)

I was going over the home page list of events for this weekend and do not see a location for the puzzling event. Could someone please post the location. Thanks

Walter Huebner

Planning to be there for lunch on Monday!

John Criswell

Will be at lunch Monday.

Sylvia Bernell (Goffe)

Just to reconfirm, I will be attending tonights gathering at the home of the Weddels' and then on Suturday evening at the Albuquerque Country Clue.  You will be the name Sylvia Bernell, in the 1960-1961 Sophomore listing of students. I moved to Phoenix, AZ for my Junior and Senior years of high school.  

Robyn (Jane) Cholerton

A quick interim report on our 55th Reunion weekend:  So far, so great!  A just-the-right-size group gathered this morning at Ellen Coyne Harvey's lovely home to puzzle through some puzzles, chat a whole lot, and -- frankly -- eat a whole lot of yummy food.  Then, after a pause to regroup, a somewhat large group took advantage of Mike and Ruth Wartell's warm hospitality over delicious barbecue and accompaniments.  The desserts were opulent and numerous, and I only wish I could have done justice to more of what was on offer.  (Special thanks to Karen White for her cake -- wasn't it a rum cake? -- and to Nancy Blaugrund, for her rendition of Ruth Wartell's bread pudding!)  

Lots of pictures were taken, and I do hope that we can devise a page here so that many of them (the flattering ones only, of course) can be shared.  

I'm looking forward, now, to Saturday evening's get-together at the Albuquerque Country Club.  I'm looking forward to seeing some of the same faces, and I understand that some will be there who haven't been able to make it to the Friday events.  

Our events just seem to get better as we go along.  As we continue to, ahem, mature, we seem to be increasingly accepting of our imperfections and of the difficulties that we've faced, both in ourselves and in others.  I was especially appreciative of the gentlemen who rushed forward to lend a hand to those of us women kneeling in the front, once the group picture had been taken.  

I hope that people will be taking advantage of the weekend's less-formal events -- the talk at the Special Collections Library, the exhibitions at the Albuquerque Museum, and the trip to the Ice Caves on Sunday, as well as the Tram rides.  Much more fun with a group!  

And a thank you to those who spoke so sweetly of my reports here.  I do wish that others felt more comfortable in speaking up from time to time about whatever may be going on, or just of interest.  

Looking forward to seeing more of everyone, and to lunch on Monday!  

Robyn

Steve Komadina

Great night, weather, food, friendships and hospitality from the Wartell’s!!!!  Sad to miss those who have passed over the years. Reminder to live each day to the fullest. If you are on the fence to come tonight get Off and come tonight!!!!  Thanks to Neal and Helen and Ellen and all others who helped. Jack for tonight and George for the tramp and Robyn for energy and reporting!!!

Steve Komadina

Hey George......  what was that “tramps “ name. Sorry for fat fingers on little keyboard. See everyone tonight.