Yorktown High School, Arlington VA
45th Reunion
Reflections
May 13-15, 2011
“I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again"
Ricky Nelson’s ‘Garden Party’
And so the Fabulous 45th reunion weekend is over. It was probably better than any of us had expected. Looking back we saw folks we don’t remember having seen before at previous reunions - maybe because Patty Dugard Goerlitz introduced us to Rich Lyons, a Wakefield alum, who did extensive research for us to help locate lost classmates. Some of us don’t even know that it is because of him that we were found and contacted. Along the way he discovered that many more of us have passed on.
Well the long weekend unofficially began on Thursday night. Someone, we think it was Vicky Bowman Easton, came up with the idea of getting a bunch of girls together to get this party started. Seems she passed the idea on to Linda Hales Zirkle, who mentioned it to Bobbie Lee Shrum, who promptly began recruiting interested parties. Linda dubbed it Girls Night Out or GNO and mentioned it to Betsy Thompson Brady, who made reservations for 17 at Evo Bistro in McLean. (And when GNO was divulged at the final reunion committee meeting, the boys were like “Wait a minute … you’re having a Girls Night Out? What about us guys?” to which the girls replied “Yeah, what about you guys?”) Anyway the evening was beautiful! The girls began showing up at Betsy’s house, hung out on the back deck and had a mother of a good time catching up. The girls tried to behave at the restaurant and not embarrass themselves but the maître‘d admitted they had definitely intimidated his waiters.
Back in Herndon at the Dulles Marriott there was a bit of revelry going on as folks checked in while trying to decide if that gray-haired guy on the other side of the lobby look familiar.
We understand the next day there were fun things happening such as trips to the day spa for facials and massages in positive attempts to diminish the effects of 45 years’ worth of life after Yorktown!
By Friday evening we were all dolled up just like the days of old with a pretty cool place to go, a new meet and greet establishment – Rustico – in Ballston. (Ballston, where’s that? We never called it that when we were bombin’ around – seems that part of town merely consisted of Bob Peck’s Chevrolet dealership and a Putt Putt golf course on the way to a place called Clarendon). But Rustico was our destination, designed as an icebreaker event by Mike Chamowitz to ease us gently back in time. Mike brought this place to the attention of the committee because he owns a small interest there. He arranged for our own private space and it began filling up with the class of ’66 joyfully reuniting within itself: hugs, smiles and high-fives! It was fun to stand and watch all the mini-reunions unfolding at once! Of note were the non-stop trays of sumptuous hors d’oeuvres served by the wait staff, moving through the crowd, compliments of our host, Mr. Chamowitz. Thank you, Mike, it was a very nice opening for the days that followed …
Saturday was our Main Event Garden Party at the fascinating, historic farmhouse home of Laura and George Price. George’s mother, Jean, was born in this very house! People walked up the winding driveway checked in, got their nametags – yeah, we needed those – and began conversations with old friends. While we had been hoping for blue skies so as to fully enjoy the beautiful grounds of the Price home, the lack of bright sunshine did nothing to dampen the spirits of those gathered. The photos speak to that. (Not until way later, after dark, did the skies open up and treat us to an excellent thunderstorm.) Buddy McElvany was our DJ host – drawing out our youthful memories and serving up special requests. This was his last DJ gig; yeah he’s hanging up the CDs, the 45’s, the 33’s.
Laura and George called in all their Herndon connections who served strolling hors d’oeuvres and prepared a buffet that was not only yummy but had been made extremely affordable. We also appreciate the Price’s friends setting up, tending bar and freeing us up to socialize. After all the weekend was all about US!
It was interesting to see all the memories that folks brought in the form of vintage pictures (we were just babies), YHS football programs and all kinds of assorted memories.
We took a group picture – unfortunately not everyone had shown up by the time the ambient light dictated that we needed to take the picture so there are a few missing … Susan Kreer Gleason where were you? We think it was Tom Gauss who noted that so many in the crowd had gone to Tuckahoe Elementary and rallied a Tuckahoe group shot.
The following day we still had quite a crowd and being Sunday, it was actually sunny. We assembled at the home of Janet and John Weber in Arlington, a tiny short block from the new, improved Yorktown High School. My goodness, it has been almost completely rebuilt. George Varoutsos was able to convince Arlington County that they should not only open the school for us but also provide a guided tour. (Pays to have friends in high places.) But first the Weber’s provided a touch of class while treating us to breakfast goodies, coffee, juice as well as additives that went nicely with those juices! A final chance for stories and reconnecting …
At the appointed time of noon, just like a bunch of kids, we marched happily across Yorktown Boulevard, now fittingly, the main entrance to the school. George Price, bringing up the rear, remarked that once again he was late for school! We got one more nice group shot outside. Then we were sort of blown over at the things they have in high school these days – yoga lab comes instantly to mind. It was all lovely and completely unrecognizable.
But when we pushed open the double doors and walked into the gym it was like coming home! Like a free ticket back to the 60’s – the place was untouched by any bulldozer. You could feel the old memories reverberating off the walls, especially when Nancy Wilson Templer, Vicky Bowman Easton and Pat McEvoy Nuzum led us in a cheer! Unabashed school spirit.
One thing that perhaps made the weekend so much fun was the feeling of going back to that place in our minds where we are still teenagers. True, life then had its hardships and melodramas, but it sure seemed like a nice place to visit.
Already thinking about our Fantastic 50. And any other things we can think of to do – together – between now and then. How fun to have rediscovered so many old friends!
It is all about us.
Betsy Thompson Brady
on the occasion of
Yorktown High School
Arlington, Virginia
Class of ‘66
45th Reunion
Page Update: 6/26/2011