Well, ... that was fun!

45 of your favorite classmates gathered for the MHS '67 Annual Picnic, under cloudy skies, but that didn't diminish the energy of this classic old school gathering.  Our record crowd was 53 a couple of years ago, so I don't know if I can call this a near record crowd, ... but maybe a close to near record crowd.   What about a "near record crowd adjacent".   Yeah, I'm going with that.  

Faced with the first emergency situation I can remember at a picnic, ... the food didn't show up.  Most of the attendees initially were unaware, but those of us in the kitchen were feeling the heat, and it wasn't coming from the oven.  Linda, furious under that sweet smile, politely called Dickies, asked to speak to the manager, ... reached through the phone, grabbed him by the collar, and said, "where the h@ll is our food!!!!!".   Good sense implores me not relay any of the brief discussion that followed.  They actually made no provision for delivering the food, even though we paid for delivery.  We did have to pack Linda in ice to cool her off, ... ice and a couple of cans of Mac & Jacks Amber Ale.  Linda's son, who lives next door offered to go pick up the food.   We ended up eating about 2 hours late, but we just front loaded all the conversation, fortunately nobody starved, and the meal with all our friends was really nice.  See, even at our age, we can overcome life's difficulties.  

It just brings a smile to my face seeing Tony Backes and Don Miller sitting under trees on the picnic grounds.   Don was part of our entertainment package this year reciting a self-penned prose in his Bob Dylanesque style.  He vows to have another one for the 60th Reunion, but we'll need to go through censors for that one.  Tony had no words of wisdom, ... he just is wisdom.  

I wanted to get something up on this site to replace the "Last Call" page, so I don't know who won the Cornhole game.   Alan Schultz handed me $5 to say he and Kim Favorite won, but I'll have to investigate further to verify that.   Should have been a 20 Alan, and you for sure would have been the winner. 

Who came the farthest?  I think that honor goes to Dan DeLong, ... he and his wife, Julie came over from Idaho.   That's the state just east of us.  In a related note, Patty Downey came from Lacey, Don Miller came from Winthrop, and Tony Backes came from Ballard.  Kevin and Sue came from Whidbey Island, and Bill Klemm came from Montesano.  If I've missed someone, let me know.  I guess you could say Steve Favorite came from Forks, WA, as that's where he's been for most of the last 6 months, building his new house.  

We also had an announcement on our 60th Reunion.   Oh yeah, ... it's on.  But, more on that a little later.  It's going to be a BIG DEAL.  We're planning for mid September 2027.  It will be a nice dinner at a local hotel, and you're going to love it.  We're in the final stages of negotiations, so we haven't signed a contract just yet.   We'll give you all the details soon.  No word yet on our 70th Reunion (rumor is we'll have it at the Starbucks on Hiway 99), ... so, you better just plan on making the 60th.  

Just to show you how surprising these picnics can be, ... Steve and Shimi McKenzie brought their black German Shepard, ... Lucy, a gorgeous dog.  Lucy is going to be in her first dog show competition, so we formed little groups and cheered for Lucy as Shimi walked her by, ... to get her used to hearing applause.   Lucy, not Shimi.  Never one to let opportunity pass by, ... Betty DuPree, our highest security officer, seized Lucy for her property perimeter surveillance walk.  Would you try anything sinister with this dog around?   Nobody did.  

More pictures and information to come ...

Kudos to all the ladies of the committee who got all the food prepped and out on the tables, and all who helped pack up the tables, chairs, and take down the tents.  We really appreciate it.  Many hands make little work, ... or something like that.  Anyway, we love all of you ... don't let it go to your head.