"My Name is EARL"

This past weekend was the first of the reunion planning meetings. It was a real nice meeting and one that I found to be extremely informative. I have photos of those of us who attended to post (thanks to Susan Ramke Streets), but once again I am having trouble uploading them to the blog. I will have to post them later and link them to this post.

Those who were there........Kathi Easter Nelms, Chris Abney, Lauren Schreiffer Tracey, Sandra Culpepper D'Angelo, Tony D'Angelo, Robert "Bobby" Gunn, Jean Ingram Hoover, Susan Ramke Streets, Renee Gilley McKnight, Carolyn Mauffray Crockett, John Alberstadt, and myself.

The main focus of the meeting was putting together a list of those who are considered "missing". These classmates either have not contacted us or we have been unable to contact them. The contact list was generated from our senior yearbook and the graduation program. I will post the list of the missing classmates soon. Please go through it to help us find these people. Also if you see someone who is not on the list and you think they should be, please let us know. I know not everyone's picture made the yearbook, and there are some who may not have walked the night of graduation. It is important that we try to find everyone.

We are also working on a date, venues, activities etc.............. I will keep you posted as to plans as they are made.

I commented earlier on how informative the meeting was to me! It was brought to my attention at the meeting that I am the reason that some of our classmates want nothing to do with a reunion.

"OUCH!"

I do realize that once I entered high school and over the four years there, I left my title of "Friendliest" behind at Boyet. However, I was unaware that I (ALONE??) was so cruel and tormenting to some of you that it will be influencing your decision of attending a 20th reunion.

The fifteen year old in me wants to tell you to put on your big girl/boy pants and get over it, but the thirty-seven year old mom and former teacher in me realizes that twenty + years is a long time for you to have had carried these hurt feelings. (That is longer than half of our lives.)

So I would like to take this opportunity to say "I'm SORRY!"

I, of course, apologize for my actions and on the behalf of any others who may have hurt/offended/embarrassed you. (If there were others??) I also apologize to my friends that were at the meeting to have put them in a very awkward position. I appreciate the laughs and support I felt from all of you after the 20 year old news flash, but I mostly appreciate Jean for sharing the information with me.

Please don't let a few bad memories from high school keep you home. I think if you attend the reunion, you just might be surprised that you're not going to find the same people (who were nothing more than children) you left in high school. (Click here to read more) And remember that it is not "MY" reunion but "OUR" reunion. Hopefully with your help, your friends will be there too and will miss you if you're not there. However, if you plan to come with bitter feelings and a chip on your shoulder, it is probably best that you stay home.

I also want to take this opportunity to tell those who weren't always so nice to me that I harbor no ill feelings towards you. I realize that it was high school and sometimes that is just what happens in school. I have not turned in to an angry adult because of it. And sadly enough "ugly" still happens in schools today.

So......... if you are ready to see old friends, make new ones, or just to have a great time at your reunion, send your contact information to Kathi Easter Nelms kenelms@bellsouth.net or Susan Ramke Streets sstreets@charter.net If you want to post updates, photos, or fond memories on the blog, send your information to nhsclassof87reunion@yahoo.com