GREAT NEWS FOR KIRKWOODIANS AND KHS65

Driving through Kirkwood this past week, three times Thursday, Friday and Saturday on my way to and from our KHS65 turns 65 birthday party activities, I happened to be stopped at the stop sign at West Essex and Geyer looking at the Kirkwood Deli & Grocery there on the corner thinking of all the times I'd stopped in there over the years and what a great location it is, such a short hop east of Kirkwood High.  Lo and behold, today I learned that our KHS65 classmate Jeff Frahm, and wife Connie of KHS77, are the new owners of the Deli!  Jeff said to me in an email today, "We loved seeing all our old friends coming by the Deli so much, we decided to buy it!  Come see us sometime."  Jeff retired once, but it looks like he's a true Kirkwoodian, we never stop!  I'll be dropping in when I'm on my way thru Kirkwood, hope to see some of you there too!  Congrats Jeff and Connie, and best of luck in your new venture!  Peggy, what a kick for you!

KHS65 TURNS 65 PARTY GREAT SUCCESS

Last night and today turned into a great time to wish ourselves Happy 65th Birthday!  Frontenac Grill was hoppin' as we gathered for drinks, snax, dinner, talk, fun, music and the Cardinals' baseball game on a large crystal clear TV screen.  Bob O'Neill provided yummy pizza for our table, thanks Bob!  I forgot my camera but I think others might have taken some pix, will post when I get any.  Many were ready to leave around 10:30 or so, but the game was in the later innings and the score was close, so some of us just couldn't tear ourselves away!  A SWEET WIN and a great ending to a nice evening among our friends.  Check out who was there:  Linda Wright Fugate, Mary Jane McGovern Ward, Cindy Jardo Montgomery, Mary Ann Merz, Beth Browning, Octavia Tate Hicks, Earl Herweck, from Delaware!, Barb McEwen Ehnes and Jerry, Diana Bofinger Pfaus, Ric & Patty Clark Roberts, Karen Lowe Adams, Carolyn Madden Willis, Polly Burch who retires from Webster Univ. 12/31 & is moving to WEBSTER with Larry of course, Larry Gibbons, Jack Toman and Jan, Don and Joann Stream, Bill Bailey, Joyce Bond Patton, Bill & Kathy O'Neil Lang & daughter Jennifer from TX, Becky Emrich from MI, in her tiara from the last reunion, Susan Croce Kirkpatrick looking soooo glamorous, Tim Lapping from TX looking darling as always, Dave Korum, Dale & Pat Andrews, Judge Gary Schmidt, Pat Moisio Ciapciak, June & Del Ferguson from Iowa, Bill Watts, Dave Beardsley, Donna Maus Bauer, Pat Craigo Koen from TX (who lost her husband July 2011), John Michener, Peggy Entenman Kramer, Betty Stewart, Lynn Blackwell Bullerdick, Skip Moon from KC, Dr. Ron Masters from TX, Bob O'Neill, Todd Kamp...and if I missed anyone I apologize!  Between talking, the pizza, a glass of wine and the ballgame I'm not guaranteeing I saw everyone.

Today dawned a bit overcast but turned sunny as we gathered at the Scout Pavillion at Kirkwood Park.  I was a tad late but there was steadfast Bill Bailey cooking brats and burgers in his great style as I arrived.  Fixin's were all delicious and crisp, fruit salad, potato salad, chips accompanied by soda, beer and bottled water.  The best part was a scrumptious chocolate sheet cake with nice thick icing and a yummy white cake with a pudding interior layer.  Can it get any better than this???  The winds picked up just a tad, but the weather held.  I imagine today was the prettiest fall color day of the season; if we get the winds and storms forecast for tonight, we might lose a lot of those pretty leaves!   

So who was at the picnic that wasn't at the Friday night gathering?  Alice Bywater, Steve & Susan Huber (above), Sandy Smith Lawson, Jim and Linda Girard Day with a couple really really cute grands, Ken McBride, Jeanne DeBolt North, Bill Watts was back with another really really cute grand-daughter, Rick Whelove from Columbia, Doug Birk, Marilyn Pape Roberts, Steve Hampe & a lovely lady Wife?, Rev. Dr. Kurt Calkins & lovely wife Ann (he has recently retired), Les & Nelson Wainwright fresh from an African Safari and a week in England, Lee & Karen Walters, decked out in great black & gold Mizzou duds and again if I forgot someone, forgive me.  Thanks to Karen Adams and the committee for a great weekend, and to Karen for the pix below.  And a couple I swiped from Becky Emrich's Facebook page!

The Calkins laughing at my comment as I was ready to attack the killer birthday cake and said, "Life is short, eat dessert first", a favorite saying of mine; seconds after this pic was shot, I was indeed eating a piece of the GREAT cake, before eating my lunch.  And it was soooo good I had a piece AFTER my lunch too!!!!  Worth every single little calorie!

Did I say the above pic is Linda Girard Day, Alice Bywater, Jack Toman and Skip Moon?

And three of my grade school buds, Linda Girard Day, Tim Lapping from Texas, and Larry Gibbons, formerly of Texas...seems just like yesterday we were running around the sidewalks of Couch Avenue!

Left to right Leslie Bright Wainwright, Marilyn Pape Roberts, & 2 I can't ID, Bill Bailey, Larry G and Polly Burtch.

Skip Moon and Kathy O'Neil Lang here from the Kansas City area and Texas! 

Pat Craigo Koen and Les & Nelson Wainwright

Here are Skip, Bill & Kathy O'Neil Lang

Bill Pottgen checked in this morning, he & Cindy just couldn't get here but sent greetings to all.  Pat Corpening Hoag is in Chicago meeting their newest grandson, probably more fun that being with us old fogies!  Ric Porte wanted to be with us but at the last minute he couldn't get in from KC.  Actually if the bad weather did what was forecast, he was probably safer at home, but we missed him.  He's recently sent me all of his and sis Janet's (KHS64)  grade school pix for posting.  I just realized, as I went to think about getting photos posted, that the spammers have attacked our KHS65 website again.  I am going to have to turn off the comments, and really get serious about finding a different way to post all those photos.  UGH!  Please hang in there, I'll have more photos from this weekend to post on the website soon.  www.khs65.com
www.khs65blog.com 

Queen Becky, who needs no introduction, moi, Charlie Nemec and Dah Judge (Schmidt)

Becky, Earl Herweck & Marilyn Pape Roberts. Thanks for posting these Becky!

Love, Love Me Do hits 50 - whodda thunk it?

It's hard to think of Beatles' songs being 50 years old, but I guess they are when I do the math!  Fifty years ago Love, Love Me Do was the Beatles' first hit.  And we've had a lifetime since haven't we?  Happy Anniversary to the boys and the songs!

The above photo is the Fab Four performing I Am The Walrus for the film Magical Mystery Tour, West Malling Air Station  - Kent, England

And the one below is Your Mother Should Know for the Magical Mystery Tour film finale, West Malling Air Station, Kent, England.  Both photos are previously unpublished and released today for the anniversary.                                     

 

SIR PAUL COMES TO ST. LOUIS AGAIN!

I haven't been watching much TV this week, but received an email from my pal Lord Pulford in Scotland in which he shared this link about Sir Paul's upcoming, November 11, concert at the Scott Trade Center here in St. Louis!  What a treat for us aging Beatle fans!  "Something in the way he moves me"......

MORE NEWS ON THE BIRTHDAY PARTY WEEKEND

There will be a get-together at The Loop, aka Graham's Grill on Woodbine, Saturday night for anyone who wants to be there.  No cover charge, come enjoy your friends, some music, and really great food and drinks.  They have a great menu of cajun, Key West type food as well as good ole burgers and fries!  I think our plan is to gather around 7:30 but it's a public restaurant so go when you wish.  Band begins at 8:30.

If you didn't receive a written invite to the birthday party, please get in touch so we can make sure we have your correct contact info.

Happy Birthday to Jim Scheidt today, another KHS65er turning 65.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS - IN KIRKWOOD ESPECIALLY

My snailmail box contained a great surprise treat today, from Mike Caldwell, who lived on McLain Lane until they moved away after Nipher years.  Today Mike lives in northern California where his two sons and their wives and children all live right nearby.  They are an amazing family and wonderful people.  I suspect Mike was going through old "stuff" and found the1958-59 Robinson PTA Calendar and Directory. There is a typed page for each room with teacher name and of course all the students with name, address and phone.  There is a page with list of names of Admin, teachers and staff.  What a treasure!  There are memories on every page - my brother's friends in 2nd grade, our 6th grade, and many siblings of our classmates scattered all through.  This is a great tool for finding missing classmates, I frequently contact a sibling to find the whereabouts of our classmates.  I did a quick rundown of my 6th grade class.  There were 26 of us, and 5 are no longer alive; there could be more but 5 that I am sure of.  There are only 6 of the remaining 21 for whom I have no information, or no solid information anyway.  Those are all kids who moved - David James, shared my same birthday and lived near Jack Toman; Harriette Howell, lived in Greenbriar and was in scouts with us; Sharon Cline, another Altus Place gal who moved after grade school.  Nine total sixth graders are no longer living to my knowledge.  So many of the addresses are so familiar to me since I do tend to cruise thru Kirkwood as I navigate around town.  School began September 4 and went til June 5, remember how much better that was than the crazy way things are done today?  If I were still raising kids the schools would hate me, I'd do not much else but bitch about the rules!  What a treasure Mike, THANKS so much for sharing~!  

Robinsonites at our 40th Class Reunion

Left to right back Diane Gorbell, oops I don't know the next, Linda Girard Day, Bill Watts, Jack Toman, Jim Persons, Ron Persons.  Front Karen Lowe, Sue Kraft Almeida, Sharon Lowe, Pat Corpening and me.  Somebody comment and remind me who that is behind Karen please!

BLUE MOON COMING FRIDAY - PARTY? FUN? ROMANCE?

How often do we say, "Oh, once in a blue moon I'll......"?  I've always used that phrase.  And for many years I've known that a blue moon is the second full moon of a calendar month.  We have one coming Friday, August 31, 2012.  I got to thinking about a party theme....Blue Moon Beer (sorry Joal), Moon Pies, crescent rolls filled with cream cheese tinted blue, cobalt blue plates with white round crackers and some cheese!  Sitting outside just lookin' up at that Old Man and sipping a brew....or getting a bunch of people to all go outside at the same time and oogle The Man...maybe some fireworks?  Seems like it might be fun!   Oh and of course, lots of different versions of the song playing on the old Gramophone...several Facebook Friends chimed in with different songs...and Here is my fave version from Frank himself; well there might be one other crooner who might do it better ;-)).  Click and listen as you read!  I found a great website which gives the whole story of the term Blue Moon and how it became popularized. Leave a comment here or let us know on Facebook/khs65 if you think of some very fun way to celebrate!  I'll be doin' somethin', not yet sure what, but I hope I've given you some ideas!

I just learned that the Armstrong family asks that we Americans honor Neil by looking up at the moon and giving Neil a wink, and to also follow his example of service to science and humanity.  Perhaps on Friday night we can look up at that Blue Moon and stop for a moment to think about the strides made in space in our lifetime, and by some of our very own classmates' fathers.  Alan, Ron, Joal, Peggy.... our dads were part of something so great!

KHS65 COUPLE TIES THE KNOT - SO ROMANTIC

10/2012 - This just in, I received a card from the Conways yesterday, they have settled in at their new home in Timnath, Colorado.  If you'd like their mailing address, drop me an email and I'll get you in touch with them.  CONGRATULATIONS to Lee and Craig on their first anniversary, 10/22/12!

I owe a big apology to Lee and Craig Conway.  I knew about their October 2011 wedding and simply never got it posted.  It's been a pretty hectic and FAST year in my life, like most everyone I know!  So apologies to the newlyweds who have let no grass grow under their feet as their first anniversary approaches - where does the time GO?  Here is a message from Lee in June, gee, seems like I just got it yesterday:

We're on an extended vacation ourselves centering around son Cameron's wonderful May wedding in Charleston, S C.  Please share with KHS65ers that Craig and I tied the knot in October of 2011 and have built a home in glorious Colorado!!

Lee and Craig at our 45th class reunion, perhaps just meant to be!  We here in St. Louis miss them!

And from Lee on 8/30/2011:

 We are tickled and excited to enter a great, new phase of our lives.  Never a dull moment, eh?  Our families will gather in town from the far corners of the US, which is going to be such a treat.  Seven of our eight grandchildren are expected to walk ahead of me this trip down the ( very short) aisle.  What a hoot!

Cheers! Lee  

If  you go here: 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150343517671889.334386.721531888&type=1&l=6d89142850

you will see quite a few photos from the family time Lee and Craig shared during their wedding celebration. Obviously it's a Facebook album, so I'm not sure everyone will be able to access it.   Here is my favorite of the group:

 And part of Lee's message to me as she sent the photos:

It's Craig and Lee CONWAY with 6 of our 8 grandchildren at our Oct. 22nd wedding.  (A 7th grandchild was with us also, but in a sling over his mommy, Jenny Pareti.  Grandchild #8 was in DC with his daddy.)  We had an absolutely lovely afternoon and evening with our family before heading off to Hawaii.  :-)

Thanks for your kind words as we were about to depart Kauai.  We LOVED watching and listening to our fantastic STL Cardinals as they pulled together to win the World Series.  What a spectacular topping to our fabulous wedding week!!!!!

Again, my apologies for my tardiness, and I send my very best wishes for your continued happiness and congratulations on your too quickly upcoming first anniversary!  We miss you!!!

BIRTHDAYS ARE NOT BOTHERING THESE LADIES HOWEVER

News from Karen Schurig Bass arrived yesterday, THANKS Karen so much for sharing! And by the way, KHS beat Pattonville last night in the season opener, 38 to 10.  Kirkwood is ranked #11 in the State I'm told! 

Hi Leslie!

Hope you are doing well!  It makes me sad that since my brother  no longer lives in St Louis, my trips to the area have dwindled but still trying to keep in touch with many.  Love the blog and site as well as Facebook……….we are a lucky generation to have these means of connecting!   Thought I would pass along a couple pictures taken this past weekend in Florida.  The story:

After years of talking about the four of us meeting somewhere other than at a KHS65 reunion, Jane Kelly Robert got myself, Susan Klein Schmidt, and Susan Hayes Baker to block four days to meet in Florida. What a great time!  Lots of hours of talking late into the night; some shopping (and still talking); looking at pictures; catching up on our families and what our lives are like (4 retired ladies having fun most of the time….2 big-time golfers..that would be Kelly and Hayes); sharing great wine and food.  It brought back wonderful memories of friendships that include years when we were all together at Nipher and KHS (different elementary schools at times).  Once again we all realize how great our “wonder years” were in Kirkwood!

Arriving at the airport, four great friends together once again and lookin' great don't you think?

Gorgeous setting for our beautiful friends.

Dinner at Club 2.

My guess is that they had a great time and promised to do it again before such a long time passes!

Thanks gals for sharing your fun reunion!

BIRTHDAYS, FIE ON THEM AS MY SWEET MOM WOULD SAY!

We KHS65ers are still having birthdays this year, that dratted 65th in most cases....Medicare, maybe retirement, or NOT, gray hair, hips going to pot, and the worst part of it is, as I hear it from all corners, not a one of us has figured out how we got this old!  Not long ago we were reminded of Marilyn Monroe's death, at age 36, 50 years ago!  Anyone able to envision her at 86?  And this month always brings Elvis' death anniversary.  No, I can't remember where I was when I heard it, but I understand many do.  I DO however remember where I was when I heard Neil Armstrong had safely stepped onto the moon, and today he is gone at age 82.  These memories and milestones are mind-blowing aren't they?  Good thing we baby-boomers are sure we are invincible and most of us are remaining mentally healthy despite our advancing years! 

The Class of 1965 Reunion Committee is coming to the rescue though, sponsoring a 65th birthday party for us 65ers.  Following is from the snailmail letter which was sent out recently.  Details are herein with contact info, so read thru please.

Friday & Saturday 10/12 &13.  Friday night 6:30 PM at Frontenac Grill, 731 S. Lindbergh, just north of highway 40/I 64, zip is 63131 for mapquesting.  It's 1/2 mile north of Clayton Road and it's on the west side of Lindbergh.  The band starts at 9pm, there will be 50s & 60s music and no cover charge.  Food & drinks on our own. Saturday, picnic barbeque 11am to 3pm in Kirkwood Park.  Meet at the Scout Pavilion at the south end of the park by the water tower.  BBQ brats & burgers, side dishes, soda, water, beer and birthday cake will be provided.  Jack Toman Kent will put together music, no band, just great '60s tunes.  COST for Saturday is $15 per person

RSVP:  Check payable to KHS '65 Reunion Alumni Assn; by 9/20 to KHS '65 Reunion Alumni Assn, PO Box 24041, Ballwin, MO 63024-0141.  Questions  to Karen Lowe Adams/ 314-965-0553, twinkah@yahoo.com or Leslie Bright Wainwright/ 636 537 1579, notso@charter.net.

And my 3 cents worth 

 Happy birthday to all!