FRED CHEMI'S MOM

We just learned that Fred Chemi's mom has passed away at the age of 101. I'm sure we all join in sending Fred our deepest sympathy.

JIM MATTHEWS' MOTHER

John Cerullo passed on the news today that Jim Matthews' mother, Lorraine, passed away at age 91. Our deepest sympathy to Jim and his family.

Patty Portman DeVillers

I received an e-mail from Linda Cohen Gruber with the sad news that George DeVillers, Patty Portman DeVillers' husband, has passed away. Patty does not have an e-mail address, but you can find her mailing address in your Reunion yearbook. I am sure she would be happy to hear from some of her classmates.

THAT'S OUR RALPH!!!!!


FOLLOWING SEAN has been nominated for 2 Emmy Awards! Best Documentary Producers Ralph Arlyck & Malcolm Pullinger & Outstanding Achievement in Writing Writer/Director Ralph Arlyck The nominations were announced by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The awards will be presented on September 22nd at a ceremony in Fredrick P. Rose Hall, at Lincoln Center in New York City. WATCH THE TRAILER – ADD TO NETFLIX – BUY AT AMAZON – OFFICIAL WEBSITE *** Read Reviews in THE NEW YORK TIMES, VILLAGE VOICE, and TIME OUT ***

San Francisco, 1969. Ralph Arlyck turned his camera on Sean, a precocious 4-year-old who lived upstairs from him in a crashpad full of hippies in Haight-Ashbury. Arlyck's candid short film, in which Sean talked casually about smoking pot, living with speed freaks, and watching cops bust heads, garnered great acclaim — and sounded alarms — at the time. Now, thirty years, three generations, and a lifetime later, Arlyck returns to find Sean, his freewheeling father, sarcastic communist grandma, and the rest of his boisterous family. This riveting family saga — a chronicle of growing up and moving on — works both as social comment and suspense flick: Will Sean's alleged pothead past and family drama catch up with his present-day reality as a struggling husband and father? Seamlessly blending rare archival footage with vivid portraits of 60s survivors, and bravely exposing his own personal dramas, Arlyck follows Sean along an epic time-trip filled with moments of surprising tenderness and humor. The FOLLOWING SEAN DVD, a Docurama/New Video release, runs 87 minutes, and includes "Sean", the original 1969 short film, along with other special bonus features. WATCH THE TRAILER, to find out more!

"Eloquent... A tender rumination on the legacy of the 60s and the mysteries of everyday life." - THE NEW YORK TIMES
"You will be deeply, quietly moved." - WASHINGTON POST "The finest film I've seen this year!...As affecting as one of Chekhov's sobering tales." - BOSTON PHOENIX "Remarkably subtle... a totallyunsettling work." - ROLLING STONE
"Exhilarating" - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Marvelous... exquisitely resonant... It touches on a universality that transcends VW buses and Bush-era politics." - ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION "A masterpiece of documentarywork and a moving piece of cinematic poetry." - CULTURE VULTURE

"Splendid... Arlyck constructs, between the 60s and today, a bridge as beautiful and touching as the Golden Gate." - LE CANARD ENCHAINE

Feature articles in: NEWSWEEK, SF CHRONICLE, BOSTON GLOBE, and MORE!


©2008 Timed Exposures

AGING IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER

Bob and Glenda Lewis Palmiter sent the following. It may give you pause.

Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, "surely I don't look that old." Well. . . . you'll love this one.

My name is Alice Smith, and I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his DDS diploma which bore his full name.

Suddenly I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 30-odd years ago.

Could he be the same guy who I had a secret crush on way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought.

This balding gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.

"Yes, yes I did. I'm a mustang," he gleamed with pride.

"When did you graduate?" I asked.

He answered, "In 1975. Why do you ask?"

"You were in my class," I exclaimed.

He looked at my closely.

Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkled, fat-assed, gray-haired, decrepit, son-of-a-bitch asked,

"What did you teach??"

Marcia

Marcia Kirstein Fitzmaurice's daughter (Carey) has been battling cancer for a couple of years and had surgery for breast cancer this week. This has not been an easy time for Marcia (as I'm sure you can imagine), and I know she would love to hear from some old friends. Do keep Carey, Marcia and all of their family in your thoughts and prayers.

YE GADS -- MORE PHOTOS

Photo #1 -- Chucky Lynch
Photo #2 -- Gordon Storms, Eddie Brennan and Mrs. Eddie Brennan
Photo #3 -- Laurel Baird Clapp, Pam Fraser Wilford (a little in the background) and Patty Strahlman Tanner



This is the end of my photos. Let's see some of yours!!!

Photos

Photo #1 -- Betsey Daffron
Photo #2 -- Victor Smith
Photo #3 -- Dick Smith
Photo #4 -- Cathy Codispoti Robbins

TODAY'S PHOTOS

Photo #1 -- Laurel Baird Clapp
Photo #2 -- Kathie Mount, Day Mount, Brian Galbraith
Photo #3
Patty Walsh Speich talking to Glenda Lewis Palmiter

Yup!! More Photos

Photo #1 -- Joe Nappo
Photo #2 -- Joanne Dawson Norton and Rosemarie Iorio McGillicuddy
Photo #3 -- Denny Broadhead
Photo #4 -- Mary Jo Billy Sabo

Photos Again

Photo #1 -- Emerson Brigham
Photo #2 -- Ralph Arlyck
Photo #3 -- Day Mount and Carol Mottola White
Photo #4 -- Jim Bracco

More Photos from Teena

Photo #1 -- Rita Smith, Don Smith, Mike Margulies
Photo #2 -- Patty Strahlman Tanner, Bob Tanner, Bob Palmiter, Glenda Lewis Palmiter
Photo #3 -- Sue Hussey and Liz (Betsy) Allen Allan
Photo #4 -- Ron Symington
Photo #5 -- Eddie Brennan and wife

Jim Matthews

Top photo is Jim Matthews with his wife Carol Boyce Matthews and their grandson. The bottom photo is Jim with his son, Jim, and his graduating granddaughter. Jim and Carol live in St. Petersburg, Florida.

PICS FROM TEENA BROWN

Left - Joanne Dawson Norton, Glenda Lewis Palmiter and Patty Portman DeVillers
Below - Patty Portman DeVillers and Glenda Lewis Palmiter

Left -- Pam Fraser Wilford and Ralph Arlyck
Below - Bill White giving instruction on our tours











These are some of the photos I took. Not quite as professional as Emerson's.

EVEN MORE PICS

Left -- Phoebe Gelford Peister
Below -- Sue Hussey Sklenarik
Jim Bloom

AND MORE PICS

Left -- Laurel Baird Clapp and husband Richard

Below -- Emerson Brigham and Toni Tedesco Krinsky

B

Left -- Glenda Lewis Palmiter and husband, Bob ('56)

Photos

Below --
Touring Town Hall (Washington Avenue School)



Left -- Joe Nappo. Below -- Toni Tedesco Krinsky

MORE PHOTOS FROM OUR REUNION

Left -- Emerson Brigham, Brian Galbraith, Jim Bloom


Below -- Emerson Brigham
Left -- Day Mount talking to Cathy Codispoti Robbins and husband



Below -- Helen Marsh, Sam Marsh, Katie Hussey (Sue's sister) and Laurel Baird Clapp

MORE PHOTOS FROM EMERSON

left - Jim Bracco driving Toni Tedesco Krinsky, Laurel Baird Clapp and Laurel's husband, Dick. That's a '66 Cadillac.
Left -- Jim Bloom and Joe Nappo getting off the bus.

Far left -- Chuck Lynch and Carol Mottola White leaving bus with Jim Bloom coming down steps.

Above -- a familiar sight to us all.

REMEMBER YOU CAN DOUBLE CLICK ON EACH PHOTO TO GET A BIGGER IMAGE.

Marcia at the White House

That's Marcia Kirstein Fitzmaurice second from right above. She is flanked by her husband, Ed, and daughter, Carey. Can you identify the lady on the left? Since Ed Fitzmaurice was a presidential appointee in the current administration, Marcia and family were invited to a White House lawn event.

Group Photo

Here's a photo taken in the gym of Suffern Middle School (formerly Suffern High School). Not all who attended the reunion are in this photo, but you will see the majority.

First row seated and kneeling left to right:
Pam Fraser Wilford, Laurel Baird Clapp, Cathy Codispoti Robbins, Carol Mottola White, Ralph Arlyck, Joe Nappo

Row 2:
Toni Tedesco Krinsky, Mike Margulies, Teena Miller Brown, Susan Folkman Schulz, Chucky Lynch, Bob Tanner (spouse), Patty Strahlman Tanner, Maggie (Gail) Barnes Moyer

Back row:
Bill White, Helen Marsh (spouse), Sam Marsh, Paul Krinsky (spouse), Brian Galbraith, Jim Bloom, Ron Symington, Gordon Storms, Jim Bracco, Glenda Lewis Palmiter, Day Mount

DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO GET A BETTER VIEW!

BACK HOME

I finally arrived at my home in Wilmington, NC, today, and hope all those at the reunion have also traveled safely. I have so many visions of our weekend together dancing around in my head. What an amazing and memorable event, wouldn't you agree?

Having the opportunity to renew old friendships is indeed a gift. Our visit to Town Hall (formerly Suffern Elementary and the school I attended in the lower grades) and The Suffern Middle School (our old high school) brought back so many memories. Although the faces of the people sharing these visits with me seem a little different, I could still picture each of us walking those halls and sitting in those classrooms together more than 50 years ago. And the vision made me smile.

Seeing Jim Bracco arrive in a very classy, red, 1966 Cadillac convertible was fun. Sam Marsh decorated his late model Cadillac with blue and white streamers and wrote "Class of 1958 50th Reunion" on the windows. Some of us thought we missed a great opportunity to form an impromptu parade down Lafayette Avenue. Something definitely to consider for the future.

There was so much catching up to do, but I think the events of the weekend lent themselves well to getting reacquainted again. A very special thanks to Joe Nappo, Bill White, Chuck Lynch, Jim Bracco and Phoebe Gelford Peister for putting together our itinerary for the weekend. It went so smoothly, which is a sure sign that it was very well planned. I particularly enjoyed the visit to the Lafayette Theater, and watching that Bugs Bunny cartoon from 1957 had me laughing with tears in my eyes. The school bus ride certainly was nostalgic, although I realized I was much smaller back in the 50s as I worked my way down the very narrow center aisle. (Sigh.)

For an alumnus of the Washington Avenue school, I enjoyed visiting that building. And what a treat to be able to greet Mr. Watts once again.

Although there were definitely changes at the Suffern Middle School, so much of what was our high school remained. Loved it when Emerson pointed to a large TV on the wall outside the office and said, "Yep. I remember that flat-screen TV well." I guess some things have changed. Like those fitness rooms with all the equipment. I might have actually liked gym from time to time if we had all this available to us. But then again, maybe not.

The principal's tour of the current high school was very interesting, and the facility is amazing. I was particularly impressed with the statistic that 98-99 percent of the current graduates go on to college. By the way, I read in a current Mountain Echo that the class of 2008 is the 100th graduating class. That means the class of 1958 was the 50th!! As we left the high school, Brian Galbraith turned to some of the current students and said, "this is you in 50 years." They looked a little startled!!!

Sam Marsh provided us with great name tags that helped us identify each other. Some of us have changed a little over the years to be sure, but the changes are all good ones. Joanne Dawson Norton helped remember those we have lost with her display of their photos.

Emerson Brigham took lots of pictures, as did so many others. I have a bunch in my camera, and I'll download them on to the Blog. We can now play "remember this classmate." From my observation, I would say that Jim Bloom and Dick Conklin probably changed the most and Mary Jo Billy Sabo the least. Emerson Brigham and Cathy Codispoti traveled the furthest to be at the reunion (from California). Gordon Storms came by train from Arizona. Dick Conklin and Toni Tedesco have the most children I believe. Gordon Storms has the youngest -- a 17-year-old son. Everyone looked healthy and happy. Fifty years seemed to have been kind to most everyone.

It was obvious we knew what we were doing when we elected Joe Nappo class president. He didn't know he was president for life, but he continues to carry out his duties in an exemplary manner.

Bill White is not only a star athlete but an outstanding tour guide. Thank you Bill for making sure our Saturday events were so special.

Several have asked how long I'll keep the Blog up, and I have no plans to discontinue it. If you haven't set yourself up as an authorized "poster" and need some help to do so, let me know. You can also "comment" whenever without any special set-up. At the end of each post you will see the word, "Comment." Just click on that, and then make whatever comments you like. When reading the Blog and you see the word "Comment" with a number (other than 0) after it, click on it so you can read the comments from others.

Post your photos. If you need help with that, send them to me, and I'll be glad to post them. Let us know what you thought of the reunion. What were your favorite times? What could be done differently? I would vote to skip the Alumni Association dinner.

Let's stay in touch!!

HEADING NORTH

Today is departure day for me. My car is pointed north, my new GPS has Suffern programmed into it, and I'm on my way. . . . . TO THE 50TH REUNION OF THE SHS CLASS OF 1958!!

See you Friday at the Holiday Inn. Drive/fly/sail/walk/train safely everyone.

ONLY 4 MORE DAYS!!!!

THANKS TO JOANNE DAWSON NORTON

Have you seen the wonderful photo album Joanne Dawson Norton has recently sent out? Joanne has worked hard on this album and provided us some wonderful nostalgic photos of our childhood home as well as photos of some of our classmates. I'm anxious to see what she adds. Special thanks to Joanne.

Also check out the brand new Suffern High School Alumni website that John Cerullo and Norm Platt have created. You will find it at www.suffernhighalumni.org. Between the class of 1958 blog and this new alumni website, there is no reason not to stay in touch!!!

This time (9:30 a.m. Saturday morning) next week, the class of 1958 will be meeting at the Lafayette Theater Parking Lot to begin our morning of tours.

ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR THE REUNION?

For those coming from afar, weather reports for Suffern on Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7, show highs on Friday to be 77 degrees and 81 degrees on Saturday. No rain forecasted. Looks like the weather Gods are smiling down on our special event.

Believe it or not -- ONLY 9 MORE DAYS

10 MORE DAYS!!!

I just heard from Barbara Eakins Murdock of the SHS Alumni Association that they have 54 reservations for the dinner/dance from the class of 1958 alone!! This number probably includes some spouses, but a wonderful response nevertheless.

ONLY 10 MORE DAYS!!

SAD NEWS

With the exciting anticipation of our 50th class reunion coming up very soon, it is difficult to have to pass on the news of another loss of a classmate. We have just heard from Walter Halbohm that Russ Bowman passed away this past winter. This makes #14 on our list of deceased classmates. So sad.

SOUVENIR YEARBOOK

Glenda Lewis Palmiter has created a wonderful souvenir yearbook for our 50th class reunion. In the yearbook you will find the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of everyone in the class we were able to locate. Also included are those brief bios you were asked to submit. Glenda has added some highlights from our 1958 Panorama and finally put it all in a nice protective cover. These are now available to everyone in the class for a small fee (to cover printing costs).

Glenda will have the souvenir yearbooks available at the reunion for a mere $3 each. For those who cannot attend the reunion, she will be happy to mail one to you at a cost of $5.

ONLY 13 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE CLASS OF 1958 REUNITES!!!

17 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE CLASS OF 1958 50TH REUNION!

MR. WATTS AND COUNTDOWN

I just heard from Joe Nappo that Mr. Watts will be conducting the tour of the Suffern Museum and will be joining us at the Alumni Association Dinner/Dance on Saturday evening.

I can't help thinking how remarkable it is that after 50 years, some of our teachers are still with us. Mr. Eschen and Mr. St. Angelo are the only other teachers from 1958 who are still living (to the best of my knowledge).

ONLY 19 MORE DAYS UNTIL WE MEET THE FIRST TIME IN THE COCKTAIL LOUNGE OF THE HOLIDAY INN (JUNE 6, 8 P.M.)

MESSAGE FROM RON RUTLEDGE

I received the following note from Ron Rutledge who regrettably cannot attend our reunion.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Hey Christina, it was nice to hear from you again! Yes, it's hard to beleive it's been 50 years since we graduated.

I really appreciate the time and effort you spent in locating me! I would love to tell you I could attend the reunion but I can't because of health problems.

Yes, the past 50 years have been good to me and I've had alot of good times. I certainly hope life has been good to you and you will continue to have a good life and lots of fun!

Please say "Hi" to all and again thank you so much for everything!

Your SC classmate and friend,
Ron

ADD ANOTHER TO THE LIST OF RSVPS

Add Walter Halbohm to the list of RSVPs. Although unable to attend the Alumni Association dinner/dance on Saturday night, he is definitely joining us for brunch on Sunday.

Are you one that is unable to attend the dinner Saturday? Don't let that stop you from joining your classmates at any of the other weekend activities. There is the informal gathering at the cocktail lounge at the Holiday Inn on Friday night. Time -- 8 p.m. How about touring the Suffern Museum, Lafayette Theater and the old and new high school? We meet at the Lafayette Theater parking lot at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. After the tours, we will be lunching together at 1:15 p.m. at Irelands. And finally our brunch at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at the Holiday Inn. Hope to see you all at some of the events, if not all!!

21 DAYS TO GO!!!!

22 DAYS TO GO!!!!

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION AND COUNTDOWN

The last trivia question was "who has the youngest child." Gordon Storms has a 17-year-old son!!!

Countdown to our 50th class reunion continues. Only 23 more days!!!

EDDIE BRENNAN, MORE TRIVIA, COUNTDOWN

Eddie Brennan will be at our 50th reunion!! Adding him to our still-growing list.

Another trivia question:

Who in the SHS Class of 1958 has the youngest child?

How great to see a post on our Blog from Cathy Codispoti Robbins. This is your Blog. Please feel free to add your message!! Or send your message to me, and I'll post it. You can also write a message by simply clicking on "comments" at the end of each post.

ONLY 24 MORE DAYS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN IN THAT "PEACEFUL VALLEY" .. . . .

Thanks again

Been travelling for three weeks. One of those weeks was Suffern and NYC. Wow, you guys work fast and hard. Thanks so much. --Cathy Codispoti Robbins

25!!

Had a nice phone conversation with August Kalmus last night. We will definitely see him at our 50th!!

ONLY 25 MORE DAYS!!!!

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION

What female in the class of 1958 has a married name that sounds just like her maiden name but is spelled differently?

Here's the answer . . . . . .

Back in 1958, we knew her as Betsy AllEn.

Today, she is known as Liz AllAn.

And you will get to see Liz at the reunion!!

ARE YOU READY FOR THE REUNION??

Are you ready for our 50th class reunion? Have you sent in your reservation for the dinner on Saturday, June 7? If y ou have misplaced the reservation form, please contact me at cbrown43@ec.rr.com.

Glenda is finalizing the sourvenir yearbook. Sam Marsh has been working diligently on nametags. Joanne Dawson Norton is putting together the display board and memorial for those in our class who have passed away. And Joe Nappo and his committee (Chuck Lynch, Jim Bracco, Bill White, Phoebe Gelford Peister) have planned a wonderful weekend of activities. We are going to have a great time together.

ONLY 27 MORE DAYS!!!!!!

30 MORE DAYS!!

ANOTHER RSVP

Good news!!

Patty Walsh Spiech will be attending the reunion.

We found a street address and e-mail address for Ron Rutledge (thank you Vic Smith).

TRIVIA QUESTION

There is a female in the SHS Class of 1958 who, when she married, ended up with the same last name spelled differently. Do you know who it is?

GETTING CLOSER!!!

OMIGOODNESS.

ONLY . . . . . . .

31 MORE DAYS

COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

ONLY 32 MORE DAYS UNTIL REUNION WEEKEND!!!!

33 MORE DAYS!!

Marching on to the 50th reunion of the Class of 1958 of Suffern High School . . . . . .

Emerson Brigham has agreed to take our official 50th anniversary class picture.

33 MORE DAYS!!!!

Montebello, New York

Check this out --- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montebello,_New_York

34!!!!!!!

A number of people are working to make our reunion a big success. Glenda Lewis Palmiter is getting our souvenir yearbook together. If you haven't sent her your short bio, do so quickly. Everyone will be listed with the address info we have. Glenda has some great plans to make this souvenir yearbook a really special keepsake.

Special thanks to Bill White for securing a bus to take us on our tours. Aren't we lucky to have a classmate who was on the faculty of SHS!

Joanne Dawson Norton has been scouring the internet for additional info as she works on the display board. She found info on a place called "Montebello, New York." And I heard there is now a place called "Airmont, New York." I think I my childhood home is actually in Montebello. I guess Suffern has grown!!

A thought has been running through my head. Do you think growing up in a community that had the constant smell of perfumes in the air affected our outlook on life?

34 MORE DAYS!!!!

REVISED WEEKEND AGENDA

Revised itinerary for the Class of 58, class reunion weekend, June 6 - 8. 2008;

Friday, June 6
...8:00 pm - informal gathering at the Holiday Inn's "Gatsbys";


Saturday, June 7
...9:30 am - tour the Suffern Museum (old Washington Ave. School - park at theater or municipal lots),
...10:15 - Lafayette Theater Tour,
...10:45 - board bus (no cost) to the Middle School, tour our old High School),
...11:45 - reboard bus for a tour of the new high school,
...12:45 - reboard bus for return to the theater,
... 1:15 -Luncheon at " Irelands "..Light lunch and soft drinks, ($15.00) ( Irelands is located on Rt 59, towards Hillburn/Sloatsburg, 1/4 mile from the intersection of Rt 59 & Lafayette Ave.)
... 6:00 - SHS Alumni Association Cocktail Hour (Holiday Inn)
... 7:00 - SHS Alumin Association Dinner Dance


Sunday, June 8
... 9:30 -Breakfast Buffet (reserved dining area for Class of '58, located at the rear of Holiday Inn's breakfast area)
(cost is $15.50 including gratuity and tax and can be forwarded or given to Joe Nappo at the breakfast0

COUNTDOWN 35

The countdown continues. . . . .

Add Nancy Hennings Campis to the list of those you will see at the reunion!!

Anyone else??

35 DAYS!!!!

36 MORE DAYS

Sam Marsh is busily making nametags for the reunion. Is your name missing from the list? Let us know!!!

36 DAYS

RSVP'S

The following are definitely going to be at our 50th class reunion.

Liz Allen (aka Betsy)
Ralph Arlyck
Laurel Baird Clapp
Maggie (aka Gail) Barnes Moyer
Eddie Brennan
Mary Jo Billy Sabo
Jim Bloom
Jim Bracco
Emerson Brigham
Denny Broadhead
Cathy Codispoti Robbins
Dick Conklin
Betsey Daffron
Joanne Dawson Norton
Susan Folkman Schulz
Pamela Fraser Wilford
Brian Galbraith
Walter Halbohm (brunch only on Sunday)
Phoebe Gelford Peister
Mike Hampden (brunch only on Sunday)
Nancy Hennings Campis
Sue Hussey Sklenarik
Ro Iorio McGillicuddy
Augie Kalmus
Glenda Lewis Palmiter
Chuck Lynch
Mike Margulies
Sam Marsh
Teena Miller Brown
Carol Mottola White
Day Mount
Joe Nappo
Patty Portman DeVillers
Don Smith
Gordon Storms
Patty Strahlman Tanner
Toni Tedesco Krinsky
Patty Walsh Spiech
Bill White

Who are we missing? Be sure to add your name to the list!! You don't want to miss this event!!

COUNTDOWN TO REUNION - 37 DAYS

The official countdown to the 50th Class Reunion of Suffern High School's Class of 1958 is beginning!!!!

Only 37 days until we first meet at an informal gathering in the Holiday Inn Lounge at 8 p.m.

Have you made your reservation for the dinner/dance on June 7?

Have you contacted all your good friends from the class to urge them to be there?

Have you sent your info for the souvenir yearbook to Glenda?

37 DAYS

REMINDER

Glenda Lewis Palmiter is putting together a souvenir yearbook for our Class Reunion. The yearbook will list everyone in the class, their address, e-mail address and phone number. And it will have a brief summary of what you all have been doing the last 50 years. You all received a form from Glenda which you need to complete for this yearbook. This is a reminder to get that information into Glenda ASAP, and no later than April 30. We would ask that everyone complete this form whether you are attending the reunion or not. Thank you so much.

Joanne Dawson Norton must be busy Googling. She just passed on to me this excerpt from a feature article in a 2001 issue of Cooperative Living. The article was about couples who fell in love at first sight and went on to have long and happy marriages. Cooperative Living is published by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

Fred & Betty Chemi of Culpeper, Virginia

In the spring of 1966, I gave an automotive timing light that I no longer had use for, to a friend at work. He wanted to reciprocate, but I told him he shouldn’t feel obligated. At the end of June, he insisted that I drop over one evening for dinner. I successfully evaded the invitation as I had heard him tell a fellow employee that his sister-in-law, Betty, was visiting from California. She had come to visit for two weeks as a graduation present from her father. At 26 years of age and still single, I knew I would have no interest in a recent high school graduate. As luck (or, more correctly, fate) would have it, there was a major airline strike at the end of June and she was unable to return to California.

My friend finally wore me down in August and I agreed to come over for a cookout one evening after work. Call it chemistry, call it fate, or whatever, but the two of us immediately saw something in each other that has carried us through 34 happy years of marriage.

Two weeks after that cookout, I proposed and we were married on February 4, 1967. Today, Betty and I are the proud parents of three children — Ann Marie, Louis and Phillip — and we reside in Culpeper.

The same timing light, mounted on a plaque, was given to us as a 32nd anniversary present by my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Like our marriage, the timing light is still in fine working order.

We have three rules for a happy marriage and they have worked well for us:

Don’t ever go to sleep on an argument.

Whoever said marriage is a 50-50 arrangement was never married. If it were 50-50, then nothing would ever happen. Think of it as 90-10 and always expect to only get the 10. That way, you will never be disappointed.
Remember that your spouse is your best friend. There is nothing you hide from each other.

Tell your spouse you love her (or him) at least four times each day and mean it.

Remember, our creator only puts us here for a short time, so make every moment count together.

Hey, I said there were three rules, but she convinced me there were a lot more.
— Fred Chemi