My alma mater, Santa Catalina, has annual school sponsored reunions on the campus in Monterey, California, but this one was unofficial, held at the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon. Thirteen classmates, coming from California, Oregon, and as far away as Germany, met at the bed and breakfast for a weekend of renewing friendships, sharing personal histories, and developing new memories.
The Oregon coast was spectacular with unseasonably warm and dry weather. It was perfect for strolling on the beach and clustering together for countless photo ops. Having the whole weekend together provided us with time to spend with different individuals at different times, as well as reconnecting together as a group.
The hotel treated us to generous breakfasts, delicious dinners, and excellent service. Although we took up most of the dining room, there were other guests in the hotel too. I wonder if they resented all the fun WE were having. For the next reunion in 2008, hopefully enough classmates will turn out to make reserving the entire hotel just for our group possible.
Laurie brought cake to celebrate. Bea brought a couple of bottles of luscious wines from her CA vineyard. Antoinette also provided us with excellent wine from New Zealand. Flo kept us entertained with her hilarious anecdotes. I was honored with two recognitions: one for traveling the farthest (all the way from Germany) and for having been at SC the longest in the group (since 4th grade.) And everyone should be celebrated for looking wonderful at 60+ years.Perhaps the most significant part of the reunion weekend was the feeling we uniformly shared, of friendship, warmth, and appreciation for each other. There was a willingness to be genuine and open. And we decided that this remarkable group should expand and regroup again in October of 2008. Put this on your calendar.
Love,
Marianne.