BHS Class of 1969 Survived the 35th Class Reunion
Well, fellow Bulldogs, the 35th class reunion was incredible. We wish everybody could have made it,and if you didn't well, there's time to make it to our 40th! You absolutely must make it then! For those who were able to attend the reunion in Orlando this past summer, we are all filing away the great memories and looking forward to making new ones at our next class reunion.
We had a great turnout and everyone was in high spirits. We met on Friday afternoon for a happy hour with drinks and food in the villa and enjoyed the oh so fabulous company. The place was packed. We didn't even need to run to the Zonian to see who was who. Really! We were, of course, younger and more handsome/ beautiful than ever, let me tell you! (And the name badges didn't hurt, either.) No ice-breakers were needed; we were all hugging and talking at once. And each time the door opened a long lost friend appeared. We had the usual liberally made drinks, plentiful empanadas, arroz con pollo, ceviche, and other assorted nibbles. Even the stateside spouses of our classmates had a good time and felt like they truly belonged (which they do!). Some said they wished they came from a class like ours! We moved on to the Panzonian dance, for which we were already warmed up. And that was just practice for Saturday night!
Saturday was the main event: a happy hour, class banquet and the Society ball. Many classmates attended the other Panama Canal Society functions during the day or took advantage of the many tourist attractions Orlando offers.
For the banquet, we cleaned up nicely; except for that one woman wearing the 1969 multi-colored platform shoes. We entered the banquet room, which a very large group of us had decorated earlier in the day. We had no idea the men were so decoration-talented. Neither did they! The theme was tropical, on the tables were cloth toppers of Cuna colorful materials (imported, don't you know) and cloth runners of printed scenes and mementos of the Canal Zone and school. Finished off with candles, vases of birds of paradise, banana leaves (are these imported if they came to us in a car trunk?) and tropical fruit, along with beautifully decorated bateas (imported, also, of course). But we were not to be outdone by the table décor! Oh no! We chattered away through happy hour and enjoyed our dinner (snapper or ropa vieja) together. Our emcee did a great job and made us think about where we came from -- and he knew waaaayyyy too much about us! There were prizes of gift baskets (filled with Maggi catsup, Chinese plums, chombo pepper hot sauce, to name a few items) and unique items from Panama and the Canal Zone donated by classmates. The attendees bought raffle tickets generously and our silver-haired, very debonair emcee kept the evening's raffles and prizes moving along to waiting hands and hearts. Even the table decorations were included. They weren't tied down.
In the middle of all of this, we also had our group picture taken. And we were pretty much looking in the same direction, which is a feat! Also, during dinner, there was discussion about the next reunion in five years. It will be in Panama and the vote was loudly unanimous!!!
There were respectful remembrances and toasts to our departed friends, too soon gone from us, but remembered with love still. Also, we recognized contributions of our military members and their families.
The evening was full. But far from over. Off to the dance we went, to our own class table to leave our drinks on, while we danced until we lost our shoes somewhere. And also lost whatever sense of rhythm we started out with. The music was, as always, too good to leave. Until the conjunto played the last, okay, really now, the last, last one. Then we left to get an hour or so of sleep.
We met again on Sunday in the villa to say our goodbyes. Cleaned up our mess. Traded addresses, hugs, kisses and goodbyes. It was over. But not quite. Hasta the 40th! Go Bulldogs!
The 35th Class Reunion Committee thanks you all for your generosity of spirit (and checkbook).
