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from Phyllis Mar (August 14, 2010)
It was great to reconnect, or connect for the first time, with my classmates who attended our 40 year class reunion. I made a more focused
effort to mingle this time around instead of just sorta clinging with one group or hanging out in the food. I invite anyone who wants to
contact me to shoot me an email at PMar0319@msn.com. I’d love to talk to you. You can also find me on Facebook.
I’m still in the euphoric afterglow of the reunion, and I was thinking about how much we are a part of each other’s memories.
There are at least five classmates that I’ve known since kindergarten: Carol Fitzgerald, Barbara Nesmith, Nancy Hileman, Laura Gray and Brian Berlin. Laura was born
the day before I was, so I guess we technically met in the hospital, and I’ve known her since Day 1, and she’s known me since Day 2. Carol
used to tickle me at the neck. Mrs. Bayles was the teacher.
There are others I’ve known almost as long. I think I met Ginny Reling and Vicky Kleiner in the first grade. I met Kent Glasscock in the
second grade. He asked me Saturday if I remembered our second grade teacher’s name, and I did – Mrs. Cooley. Then it starts to blur a bit
about when some of the others showed up, but in the picture of Mrs. Compton’s third grade class, there’s John Roberts, Ann Bidwell, Joyce
Kufahl, Karen Morey and several others. Eric Schoeff was serious even back then. Ann Bidwell invited me over for a playdate (but we didn’t
call it that in those days), and I met her June Cleaver-glamorous mom and Pedro the Chihuahua.
Twila Weyerts appeared in the sixth grade, along with Rosie Kelley, for those you who remember her. Rosie was obsessed with knitting at the
time. She couldn’t stop knitting, and during class she’d be knitting away with her hands under the desktop. I think the teacher had to
admonish her for it. I remember Twila being very profound about the situation as only a sixth grader can, and she solemnly intoned, “Knitting
will be the ruination of her.” That was probably the first of my many Twila Weyerts memories.
I was an asthmatic child, and very unathletic, so I was always one of the last ones to be chosen for things like the kickball team. I had no
expectation of being chosen for anything. So one day we were playing Thumbs Up 7 Up for recess, and John Roberts pushed my thumb down. Since
I had no expectation of being chosen I went into denial about it and didn’t stand up to guess who had done it. I shared this memory with him
Saturday night, and he teased me about having a crush on him, which was sorta true, except that my really big crush was on Jimmy Taylor, who is
in the light colored shirt in the row in front of him in the class picture.
I think it was Ginny Reling who found out I had a crush on Jimmy, and she spread the word to the rest of the class, who teased me unmercifully
for several days. Jimmy took it in stride, but nothing ever came of it. I mean, hey, we were just in the third grade.
Miss Thielen, the student teacher, got married and became Mrs. Giebar (Geiber?), my fourth grade teacher. Bill Gellinger was in that class, and
I think about him every time I drive on K177 from I70 because he was killed on that road. It was only two lanes then.
Anyway, in Mrs. Giebar’s class, Bill sat in front of me. We had those old lift-top desks with the inkwells in them. I don’t remember why,
but one day I drew a picture of a woman in a bikini. I put it into the inkwell (there was never any ink in the inkwells), and all Bill had to
do was turn around and look into the inkwell, and I knew he would enjoy it. I wouldn’t consider Bill a crush, but maybe we can say he was a
patron of the arts – mine. He enjoyed it enough that I was inspired to erase the bikini and make her naked. Sara Jensen saw what was going
on and she ratted on me to the teacher. I had to stay in during recess and write an essay about how sorry I was that I had misused my talent. I
wrote a pretty sincere essay, and hopefully it won’t surface like Kent Glasscock’s typing test. That’s my Bill Gellinger memory, and I still
get a chuckle from it. That, plus a memory of him lipsynching and pantomiming Please Mr. Custer. Hope you are all ROTFLYAO.
It was fun to chat with a couple of our world travelers – Vicky Umscheid and Kirk Lindly. I don’t think I had any classes with Vicky during
high school, but I had a great time connecting with her. I did have classes with Kirk, but I had a big crush on him back then, and I got really
tonguetied around him. Now that he’s old and fat like a lot of us, he’s much easier to talk to. LOL Sorry, Kirk. You know you are.
I guess a lot of people aren’t clear on where the pictures I took (see Memories page) came from. One set came from an impromptu birthday picnic
party we threw for Vivian Tsen. It must have been a Sunday morning, we piled into several cars and woke her up and sorta kidnapped her. There
was no beer involved, in spite of the picture of Twila Weyerts holding a can. I think it was something she picked up from the ground and she
decided to read the label.
The other set came from a party that Vicky Faurot gave, and you’ll see Jan Schafer and Cyndy Trent. Cyndy was heavy into Dark Shadows and
Barnabas Collins. I caught her in a moment of enthrallment as she embraced an album of music from that show.
I chatted with Stu Parsons about getting the Blue M online. He thought that there might be a copyright issue involved, and on his suggestion,
I will research that. It’s something I’ve wanted to see on our site, and I’m certainly willing to help make it happen.
At our 35 year reunion we had these terrific name tags with our senior pictures on them. I still have mine, so I wore it Saturday night. It
sparked an idea in my head, so I pitched it to Becky Mosier. Wouldn’t it be a hoot to have our own senior picture on a tshirt? It would be
even funnier if we wore each other’s tshirts. We took the idea to Linda Dungan, who said it was possible. Yeah, I know not everyone will go
for it, but maybe we can get enough participation that the spectators can still enjoy it.
Another idea that came to mind was to put a video, or videos, on YouTube. And what if we were able to do a live feed for people who couldn’t
come but wanted to participate? Ah, the possibilities.
Kudos galore for the organizers and workers. We are so extremely fortunate to have them. Extra kudos this year because I think you finally
got the music and the food just right. IMHO, anyway.
I guess this was a long bulletin board post, but it wasn’t quite a bio.
Yeah, check out my bio. It took a while, so I can really appreciate how much some of you put into yours.
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from Phyllis Mar (August 14, 2010)
I’d like to address the apprehension that some folks may have about attending a reunion. Is your fear or concern in this list?
Too fat / Too old / Not enough hair - bald / Too much hair – can comb it up from the armpits / Gray hair / White hair / They ran out
of my usual hair color and it won’t be back in stock until after the reunion / No teeth / Have teeth but they don’t fit right / Unrecognizable
for some reason / No children/grandchildren / Too many children/grandchildren / No spouse – unmarried or divorced or gay / Have spouse but
they won’t come and I don’t want to come alone / Have spouse but I married beneath me and I’m embarrassed to bring him/her / Not rich / Did not
marry rich / Not successful / Not famous / Embarrasingly rich and I don’t want people hitting me up for handouts / None of these people were
ever my friends / People only reconnect with people they knew in high school and I’ll feel left out because the cliques are still there / None
of the people I used to hang with go to these events, either / So and so still hates me after all these years and I don’t wanna go in case they
show up / Don’t have the right clothes to wear / I have the right clothes but they don’t fit anymore / It’s been years and I might get lost
driving around town / I don’t want to waste my once a week shower or bath on these people / I’m homeless / I still live with my parents / I
live with my children / I’ve been on drugs and /or alcohol and I am/am not in rehab / I’m on welfare / I’m incarcerated / I’m not incarcerated
and I’m on the lam / Too far / Too close / I’m a recluse-even being beside myself is too much of a crowd / I’m a pessimist and this would be way
too much fun / Nobody knew me back in high school, and I don’t want to introduce myself at a reunion, and have people go, “Who??? Never heard
of you. Are you really on the class list?” / I was supposed to graduate with the MHS class of 1969 but I was held back / Still have a large
amount of unspecified emotional baggage that I blame the entire MHS Class of 1970 for
A bit tongue in cheek, but probably spot on, too. I’m sure I missed a few, but this should be good for starters. I don’t have any solutions.
All I can say is it would be good to see you again in some cases, or to finally meet you for the first time in other cases. Life is short,
and getting shorter all the time. Come on, whaddaya say?
Reasons to Attend a MHS Class of 1970 Reunion:
- Everyone else is old and fat, too, and they don’t care what you look like
- Large group of people that you don’t have to explain what you’re talking about to, and they don’t care if you have lousy syntax
- High school was stressful for everyone else, too
- Now you can really laugh at the silly things you did back then
- When these people look at you, they visually overlay your current appearance with an image of how you looked when you were young
- Folks are more real and relaxed with the passing of time. What’s truly important emerges, and all the extraneous falls away
- A chance to meet the people you didn’t get a chance to meet in high school
- Terrific tshirts in your size
- Wes Milbourn as the emcee
- Good food and “our” music
- Richard Schlegel riding his motorcycle into the hotel lobby
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from Kenny Young
mykycharlie@hotmail.com (May 26, 2007)
I lived in Manhattan, KS, from 1961-1964. I had a close friend I would like to get in touch with.
Not sure when she would have graduated. We lived on Fremont Street and 10th on corner. Her name was Carolyn Crane. Not
sure of spelling. Does anyone remember her? She had a brother, Butch, and I think a sister. |
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from Virginia (Dunbar) Sikkenga (October 17, 2006)
Hi everyone,
Thought I would post a note to everyone and say hello. Sorry I
wasn't at the 35th reunion and heard it was great. My hats off to
the committee for doing such a wonderful job in coordinating and
bringing everyone together having a fun time and catching up.
Most of you don't remember me as I always was a shy kid and kinda
stayed to myself during those yester years. I haven't changed much
since then either (except the middle age spread) LOL...
I still live in Michigan about 10 miles from the big lake (Lake
Michigan) and still married, No kids living at home (thank goodness)
a couple of dogs - collie and buff cocker. I still reborn baby dolls
to look life-like a real baby. Check out my website when you get a
chance and tell me what you think
www.greatlakesreborns.com. My daughter and I do this together
and have lots of fun. My nursery's name is Great Lakes Angels and if
you want to see a pic of me now, just click on "About Me" page, but
don't laugh we are ALL getting older. Well I've taken up enough
space, hope to hear from someone but make sure you identify yourself
or I may not open you...
Take care
Virginia |
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from Nancy (Gourley) Larson
(May 25, 2006)
It's great to hear from so many classmates and keep in touch. So many want to know what they
can do to help; my suggestion is to check the "missing" list and
forward any addresses to Stuart. Tell everyone about our website.
Also, check out the new Manhattan High School Alumni Association website;
www.mhsalumniassociation.org. they're restoring the mosaic Indian that so many of us shined. |
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from Mario Gutana (May 20, 2006)
My hats off to the classmates maintaining this website. This is a wonderful and positive way of encouraging each
other to work for the greater good by staying in touch.
It's so appealing and comforting to know and see something of our
fellow classmates. The pictures, the updates and the invites.
In this age of downsizing, out-sourcing and runaway cost-of-living,
this website is a great reminder that we should always fight to
maintain our way of life.
Wish the adjoining years had a similar website. |
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from Linda Dungan Zwickl (April 24, 2006)
Hey Helen!
Welcome back. I really enjoyed going to my first reunion in 20
years. Was amazing how much you can laugh about then, and now for
that matter. I swore I was going to pursue a reunion of the SOG
before the end of last year and all the rest of our gang, but as
usual, I have procrastinated getting that done. Still trying to find
Fitzgerald, and keep checking up on where all the others are. Hagan,
Blackburn, Nesmith, Alexander, Roach... think of you all often. We
really need to get together one more time don't you think?
Later...
Linda |
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from Carla (Ellas) Stanley (February 15, 2006)
Wow! I finally had time to look over the website- what a great idea. Thank you all for all your efforts.
The pictures were alot of fun. I think it is time for me to make it back to the next reunion while I can still
recognize folks. I would like to get involved in planning the next event. Our daughter is going to attend K-State next
fall, so will be in town quite often. Let me know what I can do and who to contact.
Take care,
Carla |
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Webmaster note:
You can use the "Reunion Committee" button on the Home page to e-mail the
committee. Currently, Nancy (Gourley) Larson is the head of the committee. |
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from Helen Buzenberg (September 27, 2005)
Hi There!
The problem with being missing, it seems, is that it's hard to know
who to let know, that you're missing! I am in Alaska, this month,
but have been living in Oregon for the last 22 years. I would like
to be more in touch with old classmates. Thanks to Stuart, and all,
who put this great website together. Also, thanks to Mary Wheat for
finding me, through my brother Bill in St. Paul!
helen @ fourwings.org |
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from Robert Reidenbach (August 2, 2005)
Hello fellow classmates,
Sorry I couldn't attend the 35th class reunion, having had prior
commitments and living in PA just made it impossible to attend. I looked
at the photos posted from this year's reunion and even having not seen any
of my classmates in 35 years, everyone looked great. (Having been amongst
the missing) I have recently reunited via E-mail with several old friends,
Dan Hall & Stuart Parsons. I often think & talk about my friends &
memories at MHS with my friends here. Those were the days. Just a hint for
Stuart. I think it would be great to have a chat room through our website
with specific days & times for everyone to use to keep in touch, if for
nothing more than to say Hi.
Hope to hear from classmates.
Enjoy life
Bob |
Webmaster note:
Sorry, Bob. The chat room thing is a nice idea, but it would require a
higher-cost web hosting plan (not to mention a more knowledgeable
webmaster). |
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from Phyllis Mar (July 3, 2005, 2:25 am)
The Class of '70 goes digital. We can have an ongoing reunion online: "All Reunion, All the Time." So way cool.
Still pumped from the reunion. Got another five-year Class of 70 fix. Let's all stay as healthy as possible and keep
going. What say we shoot for a 70 year reunion? Heh, heh. With the advances in medical science and nutriceuticals, it
becomes more possible all the time. |
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