Subject:  Now what?	6/23/2007
Four years ago, I wasn`t sure that I was retiring when I quit my job. Whenever I went to work I`d starting crying and couldn`t stop and I`m not the weepy type. The light bulb finally went on that maybe I should quit. They really wanted to get rid of this mouthy, old dinosaur anyway. So I half-heartedly thought about getting another job and read a whole bunch of books about retirement. One retirement theme was do something related to your passion(s). I liked to do a lot of different things, but didn`t really have a passion. Hmmm, what to do? As a result of going down memory lane after receiving the news about our 40th reunion, I realized that my passion is simply being content. I`ve gone from being an happy but stressed overachiever to being a happy and minimally stressed underachiever (if underachieving means spending time with friends and family, helping them out , making them laugh and cooking for them). Speaking of cooking, does anyone have any good Spam recipes? I`ve entered in the Spam contest at the State Fair for years and won 2nd place twice and 3rd place once (always a bridesmaid). Spam seems to be a love/hate thing for most people. I only eat it during August while trying out recipes. For those Spam haters, you need to try Spam quesadillas with fresh peaches and brie, drizzled with fresh lime juice and honey. That was one of my 2nd place winners. See you at the reunion! I`ll try not to drink too much this time...
-	Sally Huntington
Subject:  Retirement	8/4/2007
I retired in June 2004 after 33 years of teaching at Pine Valley Elementary School in South Dayton, NY. (There were many times when "my" Pine Valley was much like that of the soap opera.)The majority of my career was spent in kindergarten and first grade. I loved teaching and was a bit concerned about the void it would leave in my life. I was quite surprised at how quickly I was able to find things to fill that time and have never looked back. Retirement is wonderful. I`m as busy as I want to be. It`s great to be your own boss and not have a schedule to follow. There are many volunteer opportunities in Fredonia which gives me a chance to give back to my community. There are lots of places in the area to go out for lunch with friends. On beautiful days in September, October, May and June it`s such fun to be on the golf course rather than in the classroom. I thought about taking up skiing again last winter but by the time winter actually arrived here in February I`d found other things to do. I`ve learned to play Mah Jongg and started Line Dancing. I`m looking forward to the reunion. I`ll be staying with Sally Huntington. From her comments, it sounds like I might be the designated driver. We didn`t have those in 1967, did we? I expect to eat a lot of SPAM there as Sally will probably be testing recipes for the Fair. See you soon. Marcia Latham Drayo
-	marcia drayo
Subject:  This Millenium - started bad but got better	8/7/2007
Hi Marcia Latham. Anyhow, I skipped the 90`s because it was all work and corporate crap - exciting at times - wore nice suits, acted very conservatively, always thought people could tell I had a freaky/druggy past - just my paranoia. I have had the opportunity to travel quite a bit. Love Italy, been all over the country. Bought a Greek Revival house in Mumford, NY built in 1840. I was an antique dealer on the side and refurbished lots of old furniture and filled the house with victorian era stuff. Things got pretty crazy in the 2000`s. Moved back to Cortland and bought a big old historic house out in the country. Took two years off work and rebuilt the house. Things were going along pretty good except for the relationship with my wife of 25 years. She hooked up with one of her old boyfreinds and had an affair. I was at work one day (July of `06) and the boyfreind showed up to let me know he`d been doing her for a year or so. Talk about your bad days at work - geez! I was pretty upset at the time but it actually got me out of a lousy relationship. The girl I hitch hiked around the U.S. with (see `70`s info - stay with me now) sent me an e-mail and asked if I was ok and thought maybe I`d like to visit her in Rochester MN. She was divorced for a few years (husband cheated on her). That was Sept. of `06. The visit went well so I moved out here in Dec. SO now-----we`re moving back to Cortland NY. We both have jobs back there. I`m leaving this Sunday 8/12 and will be back in B`Ville in time for the reunion. It`s been a trip typing all this stuff out. maybe I can do a better job with this relationship - the second time around. See you all soon, John (or to the guys on the football team - STINK)
-	John Mann
Subject:  What`s retirement?	8/8/2007
I had my retirement back in the 80`s when my husband died, 16 years I took care of my sons. So, today I work full time for Prudential Properties of Big Bear, as the Broker`s Trancaction Coordinator. With Real Estate being what it is today, I`m glad I just work "in the office", not selling. At least I know what day and how much will be in the bank... My partner and I have 3 sons, 3 granddaughters (a real joke from God), a full life here in the San Bernardino Mountain of Southern California. I`m sorry that I will not be at this reunion, however Sandy Myers said she would be and get lots of pictures and "dirt" on what has happened over the last 40 years. Let`s do another one in 5 years, before we are too old to move. Let`s keep in touch..Leslie Orr Petit
-	Leslie Orr Petit
Subject:  What`s Happening	8/14/2007
Thank you, the committee, and all your helpers for your time and effort pulling this reunion together. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend this time, but hopefully I will the next one. I didn`t see a section on the site to update what we are doing now, so I`ll just send a little message here if that is OK. I sold my small business at the end of 2000. I felt like I was supposed to do something else with the rest of my life, and after a couple of years trying to figure out what it was, I was lead to the diaconate program for the Archdiocese of Boston. It is a four year program and I start my final year in September. If all goes well, then I will ordained a deacon in the Catholic Church on May 31, 2008. I must say that this would have not been possible without the support of my darling wife, Karen, who supported me through the "mid-life" change in direction. Our kids were 10, 8 , and 3 yrs old at the time. Now they are a healthy 17 (Kelsey), 15 (Morgan) and 10 (Casey) yrs old. My wife is a hospice nurse and yoga instructor, and my daughters are normal teenage girls (pray for us) and my son is a sweet/ passionate kid who sees himself saving all the endangered water creatures in the world when he gets older. We are fortunate to be able to spend the summers in our small cottage on the Cape of Cod. I`ll try to attach a couple of photos to this note. One is of my wife and daughters with my sister Lisa holding her new son "Beaver", and the other is of me and my daughter Kelsey with Cardinal O`Malley in Cologne, Germany (these are the only photos I have on this computer). Have a great time at the reunion, and I look forward to any photos posted on the site. Pax, Mike Mott
-	Mike Mott
Subject:  Catching Up WIth My Classmates	8/18/2007
Greetings from Charlottesville! I am sorry that clinical responsibilities have prevented me from attending the reunion. Having lived over half my life here in the Old Dominion (try listening to ³The Old Dominion² by the group ŒEddie from Ohioı, describes it pretty well), I am beginning to call this home. Surprisingly, when we moved here from upstate (NY, of course) it did not feel that strange, although some of the people did talk a little funny. Cıville was ranked as a #1 city to live in a few years back, which meant it was discovered and drove property values through the roof! Nevertheless, in spite of getting a little crowded, itıs been a great place to live and raise a family. So can tell it all, so here is the outline with editorial comments. After graduation (and working a summer at a drive-in in N. Syracuse!) I went to Houghton College, which was really OK for me ­ small, and far enough away (~3hrs), but not too far. I was a chemistry major, which was good for me, and summer of research convinced me I liked it, but not exclusively. I managed to squeeze in some yearbook editing (finally, but I should have learned from that administrative experience) and some newspaper managing (learned a bit of the now totally unneeded skill of type setting). Oh yes, and my senior year met a freshman named Elizabeth (never Liz or Beth or Betty, should you ever meet her) Kurtz. I managed to get into an M.D.-Ph.D. program at the University of Rochester, which was also really a great experience overall, and not a bad way to spend 7 years. Elizabeth and I got married in June 1973 and spent the summer on Cape Cod, which sounds wonderful, except the long hours working at the Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole) and all the visiting relations made it less than idyllic. In June 1974 Adrienne was born, and Ethan was born January 1977, and the great parenting adventure began (such an interesting process and way maintain the species). In July 1978 we moved to Charlottesville to begin residency in anesthesiology at the University of Virginia Hospital (then Medical Center, now Health System!). We almost went to Madison Wisconsin, but we decided that ice-skating and cross-country skiing did not mean that much to us. In 1981 I joined the faculty, combining research on how anesthetics work with clinical practice, got some National Institutes of Health grants, did a bit of traveling to speak and consult professionally (not very much, but enough to enjoy), and read and reviewed a lot of science. Benjamin was born in September 1985 and Susanna in March 1988, which made life yet more interesting. I managed to rise through the ranks to finally be a full professor, and then in a fit of slightly misplace ambition accepted the position as department chair in 1999. I found that while science and clinical work were considerable but interesting challenges, administration was definitely not! So I gave up administrative work in 2005. I still enjoy clinical work but am trying to figure out what an interesting second career would be! Although two of our kids (now 33 and 30!!!) were born in Rochester, they are still mostly Virginians. Adrienne is wife, mother (of Meredith and Sam), and teaches school in Prince William County VA not to far from DC. Ethan has however moved back to NY (Belfast in Alleghany Co., NYıs poorest!) where he is getting ready to build a house (in spite of the property taxes) for his family (Angela, Ryan and Derek) before he goes off next spring to Afghanistan courtesy of the National Guard, where he works full time as an NCO. Ben is working at a coffee shop and getting ready to go off on his own, and Susanna returns to Calvin College as a sophomore (or junior depending how you reckon it), so we are empty nesters. Other notes: We spend a week (sometimes two) at Hatteras Island on the outer banks of N. Carolina, where I so a bit of windsurfing (one week a year is not enough). My friend (of 34 years) Ron from Rochester and I have decided next year it will be kiteboarding! I do my work on a Mac and have from the beginning, although I have no iPhone and gave my iPod to my son. I spend a couple weeks a year (since 2003) working at a small mission hospital in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, which is a wonderfully refreshing change, although my medical Spanish course in July may not be a great help (we have great translators). It is interesting to be all grown up, and while the changes on the outside are remarkable (I was going to suggest a prize for the person who has gained the least weight since graduation! Or lost the most hair - my competitive venue!), the changes on the inside may be the most remarkable! This would have been longer but I am a slow and terrible typist! For those of you in the know, itıs Œone day at a timeı and Œexperience, strength, and hopeı on the road of happy destiny! All the best to all of you, Carl
-	Carl Lynch
Subject:	9/9/2007
Im now sitting down to a computer of my own, on my own, for only the second time in my life. A day or so before Reunion, I inherited a laptop (whom I`ve named Frognall). Since I`ve been out of the workforce for decades--and don`t have a single technilogically-oriented bone in my body--I have virtually no idea how to deal with computers. Cousins have been getting me started, showing me what plugs have to be plugged in where, what button has to be pushed to turn this thing on, what a mouse-area is, what spots have to be clicked when (our uncle did NOT leave the instruction book)...... Trust me when I say I`m a complete novice. (One cousin received a blank e-mail from me--we talked over a cell phone I`m still trying to figure out how to use---you have to remember to push Send---and then I managed to get an e-mail to her that actually had words in it; another cousin sent me something--which I promptly lost before getting to read it). Somehow I managed to reach this spot on our class website; the cousin with the degree in computer engineering set the site up on a "favorites" list for me ( I have NO idea how to accomplish such a feat on my own). And I`ve now found myself at a spot --well, stumbled on it--where I`m supposed to be able to ADD to this where-we-are-in-the-2000`s list now: supposed to be able to add if I knew when to click--or, heavenhelpme, click twice--where and when. But to state the obvious, if you`re reading this now, I`ve managed to click correctly. Bear with me, please..... As I said earlier, I`ve been out of the workforce for decades, having "retired" on a Social Security Disability income. In the late 70`s I nearly died. Had a very rare tumor (I`m the 38th person in the entire world, on record, to have had my type of tumor where I had it): It was growing directly on my carotid artery right at the spot where the artery enters the skull, both displacing the artery and impingeing on the jugular vein, thereby screwing up the bloodflow both to and from my brain. This is not good. I also had a small stroke--also not good. And I`ve had about 30 years of nonstop dizziness now (For a very short period after my surgery , I thought the dizziness had gone away: It hadn`t: it had only temporarily abated). Actually, I don`t feel like I`m spinning, but the world around me is in constant, constant motion: It NEVER stops. Lines of print undulate, something lines of print are NOT supposed to do. (I have to read with a straight edge under each line to avoid the muddle my brain puts those lines in; I also have to learn to not actually physically touch the screen on this thing as I use my finger to guide me through the text). It`s a very weird world to live in---took some getting used to. (I was also left with a completely paralyzed right vocal cord; with the help of a clump of Teflon in a strategic part of my throat, I`m able to talk with just the one functioning vocal cord; can`t sing or scream, but at least I can talk; just have to be very careful about laryngitis: It has the potential to be fatal) (Weird). Until six years ago, I lived with my folks in B-ville. After Dad died, Mom and I moved to the Binghamton--well, Endicott--area to be with family. The house she grew up in--and the house I lived my first few years in--is just a minute`s walk up the street from here, still in the family, now being prepared for cousins from Boston to retire to. Mom and I live in an apartment in a duplex another cousin owns.; (Close family: a lifesaver). Right now I`m caretaking for Mom--her dementia gets worse and worse. I do have help, but I can`t leave her for more than a couple-few hours. In spite of all the oddities and difficulties, I`m actually doing quite well. I`ve always been obsessed with reading, I own many, many thousands of books, and I have my ``retirement" time to devote to the printed page: I love it! Also listen to a lot of music, classical, blues, and jazz. (I finally got a CD player about 2 or 3 years ago). Dote on my cat. Tend to my flowers. Try to learn the ancient game of Go. Often get together for short stretches of time with family and friends; I can`t do any driving and they`re very understanding about it (Actually, one cousin keeps exclaiming, Thank god you don`t drive!!!!! I tend to bump into things and fall down a lot). And I write--hoping that once the caretaking comes to an end, I can get down to some serious work (A cousin is soon going to show me how to get onto WordPerfect). I`m not too good with sending snail mail, though; but now maybe with this new-fangled e-mail thing...... My "address" is MarthaMaeBooks@aol.com; I think there`s a place in here to enter that properly , but I don`t know the directions to it; if someone could do it for me, I`d greatly appreciate it. I would love to hear from people--and will try not to send back any blank e-mails. Now I`ll be getting back to a world of paper, a much easier place for me to negotiate. Maybe I`ll try something really easy....like reading some philosophy........ Take very good care, Always, Martha
-	Martha Hanitchak

  Where are you in the 2000's? Where are you parkin' the rockin' chair these days? Tell us about your dream retirement :

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