Keep it going…

Another six months have passed since I last posted a comment. At that time I was hoping that, as a class, we might get together for a late summer picnic. Well, as it turns out…folks did get together in many small ways–reunions to celebrate birthdays, motorcycle trips across the country together, once-a-year extravaganzas to an exotic locale, or just a meet-up on someone’s back porch.  Yep, we did it “our way” and I encourage anyone reading this to please continue to gather with re-acquainted classmates for I’ve just finished posting yet another obituary and this time it is one of my club sisters. She’d be the first person to encourage me to continue this message and so, Lynnie, I am, in your honor.

Live to the fullest and love till you burst we don’t have forever. BL

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We didn’t have a summer picnic after all (see post below dated in March 2010) however, friends who re-connected at our 40th Reunion in 2009 continue to meet up, email, and yes, even phone each other! A recent posting to the Faculty Tribute page by our wonderful Amundsen teacher liaison, Rosemary Tirio, mentioned the following: “I’m sorry to inform you that Librarian Mrs. Marie Cantwell also passed away Sept. 8, 2010.”

I remember Mrs. Cantwell – what patience and kindness she showed me when I brought my high energy into her quiet library! This was a reminder to me that each day is precious and so are old and new friends so I decided to share the responses I received to an email I sent to everyone who attended the reunion. It was sent on the first anniversary of our last reunion. It read:

Hello to all those who participated in the 40th Class Reunion of Amundsen High School! It’s been one year to the day since this group gathered in 2009– HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Etc., etc.

I hear that many have continued their renewed friendships and that’s very uplifting. Please stay connected and practice good health so we can see you at the 45th!

I leave you with “The Organic Commandment” written in 1940 by Frank Lloyd Wright

Love is the virtue of the Heart
Sincerity the virtue of the Mind
Courage the virtue of the Spirit
Decision the virtue of the Will

May all the very best in life be yours,
Bonita

I considered every response to that email a gift and while some continue to praise the work undertaken to create the 40th reunion, know that it took ALL of us to make it a reality that we enjoyed! I hope these messages will inspire you to participate again if you did and to reconsider participating in the next reunion. Here are the “voices” of the class of 1969. Bonita

Bon, Along with all the others, I can’t believe a year has zipped by already either. It was such a wonderful weekend. I am still in awe of the fabulous job you did arranging everything. It was probably the best reunion ever! It was so wonderful to connect with people I hadn’t seen in at least 10 years (since the 30th) and some I hadn’t seen in 40! At this stage of our lives, it no longer matters if you weren’t the cheerleader, or the most popular kid in school. Those things come and go. I don’t care how successful someone is, what I care about is how you treat me. What really matters is what kind of people we turned out to be. I’m please to say that I think we all turned out to be pretty darn nice people! It is a truly special group of people who want to stay connected and look forward to seeing each other again in 4 years. I can’t thank you enough for all you do to keep the connection going. Hugs,
Janice
(Janice Purdy Bednarz)

Thanks so much for the reminders & for your dedication.
Georgiana L. Barrie

Bonnie-
Thank you for reminding us. It was a great weekend…..
This past week I heard the Air and Water Show promos on the radio, I thought of the reunion last year. Wow, what a year it has been. I retired a second time! After three years as Principal I decided to retire. It was one thing to work during the day, but 3-4 nights a week was too much. So on June 18th I walked out and on June 20th I was winging it to Europe for 10 great days……About 3 weeks later, I went to New York for 6 days….About 2 weeks later I was in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin, boating.
Wow, tough life. Stay in touch
Tom (Dr. Tom Baba)

Amen to that! Had a great time seeing everyone and can’t wait for #45!!!
Cindy Kaiser Hart

Yes, Bonita, thank you for everything especially your friendship. And thanks to all of you who have stayed in contact with each other since the reunion.
I have a few wonderful relationships with some of my former classmates because of you, Bonita. You are truly a gem. Love you.
Lisabeth Ross Cummings

What a lovely sentiment….. I couldn’t have said it better myself…. hello to all my classmates, happy anniversary of our reunion, and may you all have a good year!!! Thank you Bonita for the “force” that you are! and for keeping in touch,
Love to all,
JoAnne Harris Hoffman

Ditto on acknowledging and thanking you for your energy and thoughtfulness. It’s hard to imagine that a year has gone by in a proverbial blink of an eye! Friendships that last a lifetime are the virtue of our Interconnectedness. Frankly, an unexpected and welcome surprise…Smiles and hugs to all. With love, Susan (Sue Hill)

Happy 41st! I was just talking to someone this weekend about being home for my high school reunion. That was one great weekend. Thanks again Bonnie and I’m looking forward to the 45th; I am planning on flying home for that. Hope this finds everyone well and in good spirits.Wish Australia wasn’t SOooooo far away.Thanks Bon for the quote, I like it and something that is very helpful. Love to all
Kathy xo
(Kathy Koclanis Horan)

I add my thanks to Bonita L. for her hard work and all who were able to attend or kept in mind last year’s reunion…I have reconnected or connected for the first time with a number my classmates… It has been a pleasant and enriching experience. Something to think about? I had a thought about a class bail fund… LOL! All are welcome to message me, rattle my frequency, smoke signal, etc. I trust everyone’s summer is going well.
Best Regards! John B. Krug

Happy 41st anniversary to us all! Thank you, Bonnie, for your perseverance, creativity, and time — your efforts have been a great gift to all of us! Thank you for the poem. I, too, look forward to our 45th! Peace,
Andrea (Andrea Bliss-Lerman)

Once again i have to thank you Bonnie for all your hard work. it was wonderful seeing people i haven’t seen for 40 years, if only for a minute. Thank you for sending me our picture from your house (a teenage outing)–that was so cute. Also, Charmaine Badal Gallagher brought to me a new perspective regarding my ovarian cancer. She lost her beloved sister to this awful disease. Her sister was so pretty and so talented. My cancer is back once again and i am currently on chemo. I want to visit Kathy (Lorber) Pepin but i don’t drive and need someone to get me over there. Once my daughters can get things together, we will go. I’m sure we will have a great time reminiscing. She was a great teacher and my daughters loved her so. Have a great rest of your year and i do pray I see you for the next reunion. Love and peace to you. Sharon.
(Sharon Albrecht Gonzalez)

Bonnie, What a star you are! Many of us absorbed in our busy daily lives, just think of how nice it would be to stay in touch with our old friends, and you, being so generous with your time, reminding us that we are as close as a click away… many heartfelt thanks and look forward to being together again in 2014 . Carolyn (Carolyn Rose Avila)

Bonnie, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making sure we all were able to create a wonderful memory. It has brought so many of us together again and I cannot wait for our 45th. Thanks to you and your dedication, time and love. You are the best. Bonni
(Bonni Holzman Van Buren)

Hello Fellow Classmates -
Happy 41st plus a day! Today’s a beautiful day in the Chicago area not unlike last year. I’ll add my thanks to Bonnie without whose efforts and determination none of this would have taken place. Since this past year has gone by so quickly we’ll all be meeting up at the 45th before we know it! Best Regards to All,

Nick Cosmas

Bonnie, I again want to thank you for all of the work that you did last year. The Good Lord Willing, I will see you at the 45th. Stay safe and always be careful, Jim Kehoe

Bonnie-You are just a force of nature! Thank you so much for all your efforts on our behalf. If there is anything I can do to help you with the 45th, please let me know. I can’t wait. Joanne McCarthy Schoch

Greetings Classmates,
Just the other day I was looking at photos from the reunion. It’s hard to believe another year has whipped on by. Here’s hoping all are well and thanks again to all that made the 40th happen! Bob Deckert

Bonnie- You may not have been a cheerleader in high school, but you’ve certainly made up for it in the after life. Your Pom Poms may be a little lower, but you are still getting the job done! Rah Rah
JTC (Joanne Tegtmeyer Clark)

Thank you so much I enjoyed the 40th looking forward to the 45th.
Love to everyone.
Rickie Gates Taylor

And of course, there have been a zillion emails from my co-heart Alan Gerber, who can’t seem to stop saying thank you because he continues to experience the rewards by staying in touch with classmates and because, like Jan, he is only concerned with who they are today. Love you too Alski!

BL

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