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Volume 4, Number 2,
September 1999
MIDNIGHT
SUN ONLINE
-The Online Newsletter for
Robert E. Peary High School Alumni-
MSO WEB SITE - http://www.pearyhs.org
Page 5
From: Margot Watson Simons hotsoo@thesocket.com
(1969)
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website from a former classmate
(Jim Trygstad)!
Occupation: eligibility supervisor, Spouse: Harry,
Children: Suzanne 16
(4-19-83), Grandchildren: None yet!
Memorable Incidents: Class trips to Williamsburg our
sophomore year and
to NYC our junior year.
Since High School: Although I moved to CA with my
parents after my
junior year I always felt that Peary was my high school.
I attended
Parkland in 7th and 8th grade and Peary in 9th - 11th. I
began working
for the Fresno County Department of Social Services in
1976, married
Harry in 1979 and we had our daughter in 1983. After a
few years at
home being a mom, I returned to work for Madera County
Department of
Social Services.
Future Plans: Now that I've finally re-connected, I
hope to attend a
future reunion. I can't make the 30th but will try for
the next one!
**********
From: Ron Bostwick ronsroom@flash.net
(1977)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999
Subject: My PHS July 4th weekend...
Dear kindly Sargent Krupke,
(some names are changed to protect the guilty and the innocent)
You see it all started out so innocently, officer. I
had planned to go
to a simple Colorado Rockies baseball game in Denver the
afternoon of
July 3 with three of my friends from my high
school...Nikki Wantling
('85), Janet Peters ('80) and Felicity Shagwell ('77). I
headed home
after work that Friday afternoon not knowing what lay
ahead of me. A
nice peaceful, long weekend with a baseball game Saturday
afternoon and
my radio shift on Saturday night was all I was expecting.
Honestly, I
had no idea I'd end up in trouble like this. Can I make
my one phone
call yet? No? Not til I finish? OK.
So I get home to find a message on my answering
machine from my "long
lost friend, Kaki Blevins" ('77). She's in Boulder
for the weekend with
her friend Pat Ketchum Bahr ('83). What's that? Do I know
this Pat
Ketchum? Well, not exactly. You see, when I moved out to
Colorado,
Kaki gave me Pat's name and number. Because I didn't
settle in Boulder,
I didn't call. We emailed a couple times but she'd
already moved to Los
Angeles and gotten married. So I guess I KINDA knew her.
Huh? Yeah, I guess I COULD pick her out of a lineup if
I had to. But
really, she's not involved in this, HONEST.
Next thing I know I'm meeting them for drinks after
dinner. It was some
quick catch up (or katsup, if you're from the midwest)
then off to the
Mexican joint Juanita's for margaritas. And here's where
the trouble
started. You see, on the way there, I tell Pat about the
PHS West
group, our crab feasts, and the other PHS grads in the
area. When I get
to Andy Torri ('81) she wants to call him to say hi. Even
though it's
now 11:15pm, I get us both on the phone to Andy.
Even though it was late, I knew Andy lived alone and
besides, this was a
special occasion. Special because I was drinking
margaritas with two
beautiful women late on a Friday. Excuse me? Uh, sorry
officer...just
the facts.
When a woman answered I was pretty embarassed. When I
stammered out the
message that I was his friend Ron and Pat Ketchum from
Peary High was
with me, the woman asked, "Is this Ron
Bostwick?" Now I was embarassed
AND mystified. It turns out this was Andy's younger
sister. She and
the whole family were in Colorado to celebrate Andy's
brother's wedding.
And it turns out his sister Terry was going to be calling
me.
Well, I felt like I was walking into a
"Multi-Class Peary Reunion Dream"
at this point. Yes, Sargent, maybe it was the margaritas.
Because Andy
was in Denver seeing a concert, I made plans for Terry to
visit me at
the Boulder Farmer's Market the next morning.
On Saturday morning, in the span of one hour, Kaki and
Pat showed up,
Terry Torri Hoffman, her husband and kids, her sister and
brother-in-law
and their children, came by. Then Nikki showed up at
11:30 for us to go
to the Rockies game. Yes sir, the game I mentioned in the
beginning.
With all these PHS grads in Boulder, I was overwhelmed
with memories of
the Bell Tower, the Senior Court and many other PHS
stories.
At Coors Field (foreshadowing here), I tell my sudden
and
out-of-left-field story to Nikki, Janet and Felicity. As
you can
imagine, this gets us talking heavily about our PHS days.
A few Coors
were enjoyed.
After the game we decided to find a bite to eat before
heading home.
And lo and behold, not 2 blocks from the park, we come
upon a brand new
restaurant in Denver...Anita's Crab Company. Crabs! Our
decision was
made.
In we went to finish off lotsa crab legs & claws
and a few bowls of
steamed, spiced shrimp. Oh, and a few more rounds of
alcohol. Again,
we spoke of our Maryland days.
Now officer, you gotta believe me on the next part.
I'm tellin' the
truth. Someone, NOT ME, brought up the subject of
"wrapping houses".
What's that? Well, it's where people take toilet paper
rolls and fling
them through the trees on someone's property and around
the bushes and
sometimes even around the cars in the driveway.
Why do this?
Back then we didn't know. We just knew it was a sign
of honor, kind of.
You only did it to people you liked. Yeah, I guess it's a
funny way of
showing it but don't teenagers always have funny ways of
showing
affection?
Next thing I know, these 3 women are saying "hey,
we should wrap
someone's house tonight." I just kept eating. I
wasn't going to add to
this conversation. Besides, I had to be on the radio
until 1am. But in
just 4 minutes, plans were made to meet at my place
later, toilet paper
in hand (so to speak), ready to go. We were going to wrap
the house of
a PHS grad, Dr. Evil.
And sure enough, when I got home at 1:10, there they
were. Drinking
beer in my living room with 20 rolls of Charmin on my
dining room table.
(they had bought out the convenience store down the
street) So out
comes the camera and off we go.
Yes officer, I know it could be considered vandalism
but do I look like
a vandal? Let's talk about that Janet Peters! Yes sir,
they took my
mug shots and I'm expecting them to be on the MSO soon.
Mug shots from
drinks with Kaki & Pat, Terry Torri Hoffman at the
Farmer's Market, the
baseball game and wrapping the house.
And this put an end to my ephemeral PHS reunions. It
was 28 hours, 8
PHS grads, 3 margaritas, 1 Crown Royal and 20 rolls of
Charmin. Oh, and
countless stories of life in Rockville and on Arctic
Avenue.
What? Someone posted bail? I'm free to go? And the
charges were
dropped? Oh thank you officer. Thank you.
Uh, excuse me...anyone gonna eat that creme filled?
[Photos on their way from this impromptu event - BL]
**********
From: Bob Slowey bslowey9@idt.net
(1980)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website from Gerry D'Ascoli.
Occupation: Business Meetings Coordinator, Spouse: Scotti
Hunter Slowey
Memorable Incident: Port-a-Potty on the roof of the
school. Now who
could'a done that?
Since High School: It's a really long story
**********
From: Joe Fabiszewski jfab1732@aol.com
(1969)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website from Steve Stahl.
Occupation:
Producer/Writer, Spouse: Kay, Children: Joshua 29,
Grandchildren: "DJ" 20 months and Parker Joseph
3 months
Memorable Incidents: Being part of a community; the
excitement,
confusion, stimulation, uncertainty, accomplishment,
fear, friends,
teachers, awakenings.
Since High School: I dropped out of college to work in
theatre. My
entire working life has been spent in some aspect of
entertainment
and/or media. In addition to about a decade in live
theatre, I have
presented live music (maybe some graduates remember the
Wax Museum
Nightclub in the early '80's -- I was the general
manager). I had my
own business from 1985 until just recently, consulting in
the arts and
writing and producing events, videos, etc. In 1995, I
partnered with a
long-time associate in a small DC area production
company. We produce
videos, films and live events. Probably the most
recognizeable thing we
do is the production that surrounds the lighting by the
President and
First Lady of the national Christmas tree on the Ellipse
each year. It's
a great life: I get enormous pleasure, self-expression,
and satisfaction
in my work. And I get to work with a really interesting
array of people,
from Presidents to many of the most famous entertainers
in the world. On
the personal front, I have been married for 21 years to
Kay, who has
made my life a wonderful place for me to be. Among the
seemingly
limitless joys she helps me find in life, she has shared
Joshua with me,
her son from her previous marriage. Josh is, to me, my
own son, and his
wife and two little ones complete the circle of my
treasured immediate
family. No -- I should add our two dear dogs: Thompson
(named for the
Thompson Twins) and Cosette (named for the blonde orphan
in Les Miz) --
they are sitting with me right now, looking after me and
wondering when
I'll tell them it's time to join Kay for bed.
Future Plans: Kay and I will be spending as much time
with our son,
daughter-in-law and grandkids as we can; we also travel
as much as we
can, which is quite a lot these days. Professionally, I
have two shows
in production that will be sold to television, and
several more in
development.
Memorable Teachers: Vincent Gibbs really supported the
emergence of my
identity and self-expression; to me, being self-expressed
is the real
juice of life. Santa Vadala, who knows so much about
laughing and
enjoying a moment, gave me so many things to think about
that might
never have come into my head. Barbara Goodman thought I
could do more,
and I still hope to prove someday that she was right. And
there were
others, of course -- I feel very fortunate to have been
surrounded by
so many teachers from whom I believe I learned a great
deal, and who
affected me in ways that I'll always remember.
Other alums I know about? Michael Steen (as of a few
years ago) was
working in the national park system somewhere in the
northern midwest.
I'm pleased to find that this website exists and that
so many people I
recall fondly are out there doing great things. Thanks to
those who
created and manage this communication system.
**********
From: Buddy Clay buddy1@netkonnect.net
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999
Subject: Midnight Sun Online
After a year and one month I have just returned to
work. I am a cancer
survivor thank God and want to thank all those friends
and associates
who took the time to pray for me. I received the prayers
and want
anyone to know that if you are sick you can be healed by
his stripes!
Thanks,
Buddy Clay
Class of 1978
**********
From: Joanne Pearl Scott Jaclynsmom@netscape.net
(1975)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999
Subject: Miscellaneous, etc.
Hi All. I am Joanne Scott, formerly Joanne Pearl, yes,
Lisa's little
sister! I still live in Montgomery and from what I see
and hear, I am
one of a very few that stayed here! I work in Rockville
for a software
company that has changed names about six or seven times.
My sister,
Lisa, moved to California (southern) in 1979. She has a
nine-year old
daughter. If anyone wants to contact her, let me know. I
live with my
husband, Jim, who grew up on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, and our five
year old daughter, Jaclyn! She just started kindergarten,
can you
believe it?
I do keep in touch with some former Peary folks, but
not too many.
There are three of us who have stayed close, even though
we may not
speak every day. Two of us are cancer survivors, the
other one has gone
through quite a bit of chronic pain diseases and other
traumas to her
body. I survived melanoma that was diagnosed in 1977 or
1978. It was
caused by overexposure to the sun - so parents, everyone,
be aware! It
is really true! I have a deformed right thigh that proves
it really
does happen. I have had reconstructive surgery twice, the
last one
being about two years ago and was very successful. I have
skin grafts
all over my "bikini" area and this is something
that I will never forget
because the scar will never, ever leave. You sun
worshippers need to
pay attention to the warnings about sun exposure. I hated
the sun and
grew up with a pool in our backyard before we moved to
Rockville. I
remember getting a scorcher of a burn around my bathing
suit edge at my
right leg -- and that is exactly where the melanoma was
found many years
later. I do NOT go outside with one of those umbrellas up
when the sun
is out, but I do NOT sunbathe anymore. And, I am proud to
say that my
daughter has no tan lines at all, thanks to that bottle
of sunscreen!
Every spring at her daycare school, I would give the
teachers what I
called my "melanoma lecture" and let them know
how important it is to
put the stuff on -- cloudy or sunny or anything!
Well, that is it -- hello to all and let me know ---
WHY DID EVERYONE
LEAVE MONTGOMERY COUNTY???? I am told I am a rare bird in
that I stayed
here -- or am I just missing something.......????
**********
From: Barry Rich mrrich@brier.net
(1980)
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website through surfing.
Occupation: H.S. English
teacher...how ironic, Spouse: divorced, Children: No
kiddies
Memorable Incidents: Oh gosh! If I knew then what I
know now... The
"incidents" which stand-out are always those
things I shouldn't have
been involved in.
Since High School: Joined the Marine Corps, went to U
of M, got married
and moved to the Atlanta area, got un-married and moved
to the north
Georgia mountains, became a hermit and a born-again
Christrian, moved to
West Virginia, and generally have been living my life
trying to figure
out what I'll be doing during its second-half, and
spending each week
daydreaming about what outdoorsy fun-stuff I'll be doing
on the weekend.
Future Plans: Buy a WV farm, find a wife, and have some kiddies.
Memorable Teacher: I remember Mr. Hassler the most. I
admire how well he
intimidated me into doing my algebra homework.
**********
From: Sharon Baird Coady traviler98@aol.com
(1970)
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website from my mother, who
found it on the
internet. Occupation: LPN, Spouse: Edward, Children:
Carissa Anne 25,
Shannon Lee 22, Deanna Elaine 20, Erica Lynn 18,
Grandchildren: Cheyenne
Astin 4 1/2, Katelin Hannah 3 1/2, Kyle Alexander 15mths.
A grandchild
due any day, one due in Dec. and one due in May they are
keeping us
busy!
Memorable Incidents: Art class with Stan Parojino, the
Bell Tower
incident.
Since High School: I have been traveling with my
family due to my
husbands job in the military, we have lived in Germany,
Hawaii, NC,
Ga., Texas and now back in Md. I am currently working as
an LPN, but
also am a tattoo artist. That has been an exciting
occupation to say the
least! I have a beautiful quarter horse that helps keep
us busy, and the
grandchildren that keep us very busy and very young. For
those of you
who remember the guy who used to pick me up on the
Harley, that is who I
married and we still do a lot of riding on the Harley.
Future Plans: We plan to retire from the military to a
farm hopefully
large enough for the kids to move to also. We would like
to move South,
don't like the cold much any more!
Memorable Teacher: Ms. Glass, because she basically
let Stan and I be
as creative as we wanted!