25th Reunion Survey Responses – what a reunion!

Cathie (Hammond) McNeal
winmedtransport@horizonview.net

Hello everyone, the best laid plans of mice and men were unable to be fulfilled this summer to come home to Cortland for the reunion. My husband is in Iraq and we have three very differently aged children, with one going into her sophomore year at Ohio State, and with a business to run all on my own as well, I am sure you can tell why I did not make it back. I am sure all of you had a great time and feel free to drop me a line. - Cathie.

Marilyn White
Marilyn_saporito@hotmail.com

I attended the Friday evening get together only. I had a great time!! It was so nice to talk with so many classmates! I only regret that I was unable to attend the Saturday events! I think our group is a caring one - we share memories and we respect the people we have become. My sincere thanks to all of you who organized this. It was a success. God bless you all. Count me in for the 30th!

Kelly Egan
Singkel@verizon.net

This was truly an amazing experience. Many people I hadn't seen since the 10th reunion and many more I hadn't seen in 25 years. All looked wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing what they had done since 1979. There were too many "favorite memories" to list, so I'll just make an observation. Some of us contemplated why so many didn't attend. First, the obvious and most rational reasons were other commitments (weddings, job conflicts, children activities, etc). For those who cited cost as a factor, when Sue Dear said all events plus the class photo cost $56, I almost fell over. For that money I got free drinks (yes, even beer/wine) and an impressive food spread at the Friday mixer, a delicious picnic buffet with soft drinks, and a very nice restaurant dinner with prime rib and some of the most delicious scallops I'd ever eaten. Here in DC, $56 would buy me one average dinner and a couple glasses of wine. I know, I know, tack on transportation costs, babysitters!, eyebrow waxing, cosmetic surgery, and crash diet plans, and the costs escalate. But this was a special event. You'd pay that and more to attend a wedding or even a New Year's Eve party. Why not the milestone of a 25th reunion? Some of us speculated that those who live in Cortland may feel that they haven't done anything special with their lives because they never left home and might feel inadequate among the "world travelers." Well, this "world traveler" firmly states that she'd trade her life any day for someone who lives in beautiful Cortland. You never really know how much you miss home until you're gone. You've got great schools, low crime, and a community feeling that I haven't had for a long time. And everyone's job is important, from the accountant to the homemaker. Finally, I heard some chose not to attend because of bad memories of high school. All I can say about that is I am in no way the same person I was 25 years ago (well, I'm still a bit goofy). In fact, I've gone through at least 5 people since the person I was. And I found that so has everyone else. You're most likely not going to find the same people, so what's holding you back? Remember, our connection is that we all grew up together, all are the same age, and all have Cortland in common. I admit that I was a bit nervous sitting next to Dan Cifonelli at dinner. I don't think he ever said two words to me in high school. But there I was discussing nuclear power and electrical engineering with the guy. The band geek and the hunk were sharing a moment that would not have been possible 25 years ago. That's what these reunions are all about and I for one am so glad I didn't pass this one up. So if you're still feeling awkward about attending future reunions, drop me a line and I'll write back. Then you'll have at least one person to talk with when you decide to come to the 30th.