The "Class Of 1962 Celebrates All Night Long ... Until 10:00 PM" Story

The HIgh School Yearbook on the left and tonight's program
on the left with tonights program shown on the right.

It was an ordinary day.  Our friends Jere and Sue arrived in Lancaster from State College, PA mid-afternoon in order to attend our 55 high school class reunion.  Jere, Sue and myself were all in the Manheim Township High School (MTHS) class of 1962.  My wife Carol is a few years younger than the three of us and graduated from another high school in Lancaster County.  Jere and I grew up together, living just a few blocks from each other on the north end of the city of Lancaster.  After graduation he entered the Navy and I entered Millersville State Teachers College.  Four years later I was teaching at my high school Alma mater while Jere was now a student at Millersville.  He too returned to teach at MTHS for a few years before beginning the job of Plant Manager for the entire school district.  We both retired in 1999 and along with our wives began to travel together.  Our high school class had about about 180 members when we graduated in 1962.  Tonight's class reunion will have about 35 of those members in attendance along with quite a few of our spouses.  

Appetizer table on the left at the Lancaster Tennis and Yacht Club.

The four of us arrived at the Lancaster Tennis and Yacht Club at 6:00 PM, just in time to get in line for check-in and appetizers.  After collecting a plate of appetizers the four of us found an empty table and sat to enjoy the Penn State vs. Pittsburgh football game on the big screen TV directly next to our table.  Wasn't long before another couple and a female classmate joined us.  Surprisingly, we all recognized each other after all these years.  I quietly said to Carol, "Why do all these people look so old?  We certainly don't look that old, do we?"  No comment on her part.  We talked amongst ourselves and then an announcement was made by the star football player in our class, Jody, that it was time to eat.  He ushered all of us, table by table, to the buffet line and after all were fed, he made a few announcements and then announced it was time for dessert.  

Rick, with the steering wheel, leads his Barbershop
Quartet in one of the many songs they sang for us.

More commotion with everyone enjoying desserts from Costco.  It was then time for entertain- ment.  One of our classmates, Rick, is a member of a Barbershop Quartet and they took the stage and performed for about 20 minutes.  Rick then made the announcement that one of the class in attendance was celebrating his birthday today and they would lead everyone in singing Happy Birthday.  Well, after the song ended, I felt it appropriate to stand and thank everyone for singing to me!   The rest of the evening was spent listening and dancing to oldies as well as making the rounds of the tables, meeting and talking with friends that most haven't seen since our last reunion five years prior.  One member of the class, Tom, traveled the furthest, arriving from California for the reunion.  About half in attendance traveled from a variety of States, with the other half being Lancaster County residents.  A few of us became teachers and returned to our Alma mater to teach.  Our table had Jere and myself as well as Pam who went to elementary, junior high and high school together as well as returning to teach in the high school.  

Class members dance the Electric Slide.  Many probably
had a rough time getting out of bed the next day.

Nancy made a visit to our table and reminded me that she too was a teacher and substituted for me from time to time.  We did talk of those who couldn't be in attendance due to other commitments or sickness.  And, naturally had to talk about all those who had died since we graduated together.  Norm was remembered for his service in the military and dying for his country.  We talked about Ted whose wife returned the reunion notice telling us that he has been ill for sometime and couldn't attend tonight.  In all we have lost about 30 class members.  The evening was a huge success and I for one enjoyed the chance to dance once again with my sweetheart who has been my wife for the past 50 years.  The only sad part of the weekend was opening the morning newspaper the following day and reading the obituary for our classmate Ted who had succumbed to brain cancer.  We all agreed that we should keep the date open for 2022 and another evening of trying to figure out who was who in the class of 1962.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Four members of the reunion committee stand next to the appetizer table before the evening's festivities began.