The Reunion………………

- Photo by Tyler Erickson

It was truly one of the best times of my life. The pic Karl posted on the blog is great. Hope eventually someone can provide names to match the faces.

I wrote a letter about my experience as well as my expression of gratitude to the planning committee. I initially intended to email it to the folks on the committee but I'll attach it for your consideration for posting on the CHS blog.


By Sandi Howland Archer

Nearly talked myself out of making the trip. Too tired. Not enough energy. The newly acquired limp and stutter are embarrassing. Wouldn’t remember anyone. No one would remember me. Why bother?

It was my daughter Michelle who encouraged me to “bother” to come home for what would surely be my last trip “back East.” She kept gnawing at me like a dog with a bone. She’d make all the travel plans, get me quickly and safely moved from one airline gate to the next, do all the local driving, ensure that I’d get adequate rest, and….drum roll, please….she’d abandon her usual impatience so that I could see and do everything that was important to me. After all, it was her daughter Lexxi’s eighth birthday and this would certainly make it a memorable one. And so we made the trip.

Our arrival was late and our scheduled departure much too soon so we had to forego some of the planned activities. We started off with the tour led by Penny. What fun! Initially disoriented, I quickly recalled the familiar landmarks of “home.” My daughter and granddaughter, both born and raised in Arizona, were most amazed at the river winding its way through town. Our Tucson river, the Santa Cruz, is actually dry with only seasonal rain that’s barely adequate for the river to “run.” I was absolutely delighted that my childhood home, elementary school, high school, and the hospital where I began my nursing career still stand and are mostly unchanged.

Getting reacquainted with some high school chums was the frosting on my cake. Merlyn, never “Herbie” to me. My mouth says Bea but my head still thinks Biaggina. Don’t remember the J in front of Paul’s name. Was it really always there? And sweet Patsy who ran to the parking lot to tell me that Amos was there. Bil (where’d the other L go?) was Guillermo Jefe. Dennis, kind and gracious. Still is. Mary Newman….so many memories. I could go on and on and on. Oh, wait a minute….I really can’t end without a comment about Tom’s good looks. OMG!

There’s not a word or phrase in my language that can adequately describe my appreciation for all the hard work done by the planning committee. My goodness! Clearly every aspect of this important gathering was oh so carefully thought out. HUGE kudos to all of you who worked so hard to make the event spectacular.

I’d like to come home again. But perhaps this really was my last trip. And that’s OK. It really is.

By the way, the trip was memorable for Lexxi. While at the banquet, she leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Nanny, I never saw so many old people in one spot!”