Saturday, June 2, 2007

Birth of the Birthday Bash

As the 45th CHS Class of '59 Reunion was winding down at the Knights of Columbus ballroom in 2004 and everyone had had a great time, conversation moved to attempting to gather again before the traditional five year interval had passed.

The idea of a cruise to be sponsored by a wealthy classmate came up, but there were no volunteer sponsors. Finally, after a thorough discussion including members of the Spouses Auxiliary, we settled on a celebration of our 65th birthdays. Since almost all of us were born in 1941, save Joyce Moody Fletcher, Gloria Rice Henneman and Lew Marrara that I know of, 2006 was the year and the Birthday Bash was born!

Preparing for the Bash was great fun as we heard from lots of class members that I hadn't seen or talked to in years. We tried to anticipate how many people would attend. We thought we could handle up to 50 at the Shirey house, so we decided to have it here. We lined up a good caterer and there were lots of activities the first weekend in June, so that seemed like the right time to have it. Suzy Sherkel Nagle was able to bring the Teenettes out of retirement, subsequently renamed the Pausettes, and we got the Carlisle Thundering Herd Mascot (as in Bisons), and the rest is history.

Some went fly fishing, some played golf, some went to the play at Allenberry, some enjoyed the Boiling Springs Tavern, some attended Foundry Day celebrations in Boiling Springs and all attended the Bash. The rules were simple: "If you are here, we can talk about you; if you are not here, we can talk about you!" It was a hoot and if you weren't here, we missed you.

As a reminder, lots of Bash responses said you plan to attend the 50th Reunion. I have kept the responses so I know who you are and, unless you've moved, where you live. Please join in the fun in 2009.
- Wil Shirey


From left - Nancy and Guy Graham, Tom O'Day. Visible in mirror - back of Guy Graham's head, Don Everist (barely), Sandy Brown Everist and Sue Weisshaus Speicher.

The wonderful, gracious and generous hosts and party-throwers - Wil and Karen Shirey with Carlisle Thundering Herd (as in Bison) mascot.

Foreground - Gloria and Paul Henneman. Background, from left - Sam Smith and Patricia McCoy Livelsberger, Joann and Merlyn (Herb) Maney.

Foreground - Tom Brigandi. Left side - Tom and Bonnie Wilson Hartsock, Wil Shirey (way back in the dark). Right side - Bill and Betty Lou Welch Shull, Jeanine Moon Duke Poulos.

The Teenettes, resurrected as the Pausettes, entertain at the Bash. From left - Sue Weisshaus Speicher, Helen Adam Badger, Jeanine Moon Duke Poulos (with antlers) and Suzy Sherkel Nagle.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Peggy Jo comes through with photos!

Linda Smith, Judy McKinn, Peggy Jo Knepp, Gloria Wrigley and Penny Hile at pajama party.

Peggy Jo and Sandy Brown in band uniforms. No identification of the handsome fellow in the background.

True to her word, Peggy Jo Knepp Thompson has come through with a great selection of black-and-white photos from grade school through high school.
"Sorry I'm in so many of them, but then they are my pictures! Tried to pick those with a variety of classmates...I would like to take credit for having a fantastic memory, but I had to dig out the yearbook for a few....recognized faces and events but not all. And...I'm sticking with maiden names!"