Reunions…Good Times As Always!

1988 our 5 year reunion. We were still just babies!

Rich & Cheryl with Patterson in the background. Where is he?

The 10 year reunion…I remember it being an “S” storm. This was the part of my life when the Dr.’s had complete control of me, I was miserable beyond belief and I was married.

The hardcores were making the circle that I remembered at the field parities. A bottle of Boone’s Farm would be opened, take a swig and pass it around. I remember Stickles going around taking up a collection and going to purchase more wine. 36 empty bottles were left behind. The story goes that we as a class were barred for life at the Moose Lodge. Like I said, a “S” storm.

I only attended 1 of the next 3 and that was the 20th in 2003. Tish and I had just moved in together and she hadn’t been around too many of my classmates. But if you’re going to be with a Strasburg man, you need to meet his family from S.H.S.

The 30 year reunion, we are aging well just like fine wine!

Just 3 years ago we celebrated our 30th , Margo had organized a picnic for the town park all the way from Portland, Oregon. We attended and we left around 1 and took Horton and his better half to Glen Manor Vineyards to enjoy the warm July afternoon and wine. A group assembled at the Depot Lounge and more drinks flowed. During this time a talk of a field party were discussed and plans were made. In Sept. of that year, we had a good ole redneck field party.

Now that a good group of us are on the social media’s, we make plans to meet more often. The Depot Lounge seems to be a good meeting place but I’m always interested in other options if one is suggested.

A good many of my classmates are now facing an empty nest. Although in Brenda’s case, she’s dealing with grandkids because she started way too young. Damn Granny.

Then a familiar face appeared on Facebook, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The last time I saw Joey was at SVP where a good number of ’83 worked and some still do. I heard rumors about him moving but I exhausted them as that. When I visited the Southwest in ’84, I never thought about looking him up. Then again I was with my Grandparents and they were keeping a tight lease on their grandson. I recently found out that Joey hadn’t moved out that way during that time. So all is well.

A year ago, Joey had posted that he was going to be at a conference in DC for a week. I reached out to him and asked if he would be making a trip to the valley. To my surprise, he was going to come and visit with family and we decided to grab a cocktail at the Hotel.

Joey came to town and we showed him a large time. Hey enjoyed so much he came back for more this year!

My phone began blowing up from members of the family wanting to know if they could join us. I’m all about a party. I coordinated with Joey and he agreed to the small group. I put additional info out to those who turn their nose up to Facebook. They were informed and some showed. I believe we had close to 20 folks show and we had a large time.

Over the past year, we have gotten together 2 other times and I truly enjoy meeting up with these good friends. I’m confident that if I needed bail money, I have plenty of folks to contact. With that being said, I’m blogging from lock up in Woodstock, I went streaking down Main Street this morning and I need some one to pick me up and bring me a towel.

Hmm…that would be an interesting way to celebrate my 60th birthday.

Add.

To.

Bucket.

List!

Grandfathered!

The Class of ’83 was a tight unit. We played together, laughed together but most importantly, we partied together. If someone didn’t have a party at their house, then it was in a field with a bonfire with the occasional dead animal in a pit. And when it was too cold for a field party, my post Cruising The Block, explains how we adapted to the winters in Strasburg, Va.
Keep in mind, we did a have a few that did not partake in the consumption of adult beverages. If they showed up at a party, they were always welcome and they had a good time. But you know, some of those who we thought didn’t drink – actually did. The majority of the guys in my class were rednecks/good ole boys but we had a few that were considered “nerds” or “brainiacs”. Those boys could throw back a drink or two with the best of them…I’ve seen them do it!

One of my oldest friends and classmates recently told me a story regarding his way of enjoying an adult beverage at the Depot Lounge located in the Hotel Strasburg as a senior.

Dave and I try to meet up when we can. Thanks to him, I was able to remember something about the Lounge. Back in the day, there was a juke box in the bar and it was loaded with Beatles & Rolling Stones tunes. But I don’t remember drinking in there. He talked about drinking and enjoying Gaymers Pub Cider, oh the things you learn after all these years.

Some of you are probably wondering how we were able to purchase beverages. Sure some used fake ID’s or got creative. One classmate had an older brother who looked his twin with the exception of glasses. He took his brothers old ID and an old pair of his glasses and he became his older brother. Or we just visited The Star Market, enough said.

The state began to mandate the laws for purchasing alcohol. At 18 we could sit in a bar and consume beer but couldn’t purchase from grocery stores. Liquor was 21 so the state made the necessary changes and beer fell into that category too. Once the law took affect, we were grandfathered in and the legal age for me to drink was 18. Of course this new rule didn’t deter my family in the least, we were a resourceful bunch.

West Virginia laws were 18 for everything and the state line was only 12 miles from Strasburg. There were many trips made to WV to get what was needed. Chewy’s van could drive itself across the mountain to get Jack Daniels or whatever our palate was craving. If I haven’t mentioned Chewy before, he was our class’ “Jeff Spicoli”. If you have never seen Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Netfix it this weekend.

Then of course there was our varsity club trip. Since I was the basketball announcer – they allowed me to go on these outings. This one was by far the sweetest of trips.

Oakley, one of my true country boy classmates and a down to earth soul. How he was able to pull this off what he did that day, I have no idea. We traveled to Landover Md. to the Capital Centre to see the Georgetown Hoyas play the Villanova Wildcats. This was the Ewing years and they were just a year away from the title. But then again, Villanova won the title two years later…beat the same Hoya team.

The coaches and teachers were on the opposite side of the stadium leaving us kids on our own, not a good move. Oakley made many trips to the beer vendor that day. I’m surprised they didn’t cut him off but he probably visited different vendors. My classmates…crafty & smart.

Once Spring arrived in the Shenandoah Valley in ’83 we became restless and anxious…the end was near.

Prom came and went and fun was had by all.

Our senior trip…oh the memories. Of course, there were a few who don’t remember the outing.

The Class with Class

I grew up in a small town in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. In my neighborhood there were kids at every house within a miles radius. We played until it got dark and when Momma hollered our names, we made sure we were home in the proper amount of time.

We all went to Toms Brook Elementary or as the locals call it “T.B.U.” [Toms Brook University], From 1st to 7th grade we graced the halls of that school. The funny thing is, the road I lived on was the counties imaginary line for where we were to attend high school. Those who lived on the north side of 655, like me, went to Strasburg High School in Strasburg. The south side, went to Central High School in Woodstock. Of course some choose to go to where they wanted. So it wasn’t set in stone.

Once we “graduated” from Middle School, my class was split down the middle. Half went to Central the other went to Strasburg.

One of the few things I remember from school (brain surgery has erased a lot of my childhood) was the first day of high school. My frail frame, all 4’ 11” and 80lbs walked down the hallway to my locker. Upper class men lined the row of lockers and I thought; “This isn’t so bad.”

I spoke too soon! 

Books knocked out of my hands and two goons on each side hoisted me on top of the lockers. I tried to get down but they advised me to stay put. Welcome to high school.

We’re gonna fast forward to my Senior year. I was still the skinny kid but I had grown to almost 6’ tall. I had a job with a local printer and was fortunate to be able to drive to and from school. No more buses.

As Seniors we were as cocky as the last class. But we were a unique bunch. Even though we had the obvious cliques, we all got along and if something or someone messed with us we United and our rednecks would show.

We have heard stories of how the educators at our school couldn’t wait until we graduated. How can a group of 18-year-olds be that bad?

There are many stories, here are a few…