My friends and fellow classmates of the Paint Valley High School Class of 1985,

I was briefing through some of the pictures and profiles on here, and looking at peoples facebook profiles and I was grimly reminded of how quickly life is. There is a picture of me standing in Mrs. Ingles 3rd grade class, and I don't even remember getting that picture taken! I thought I could remember everything in Elementary School, but I don't remember that! I think that it is important to remind everyone that while our family life is a strong foundation in how we were raised, it was our school experience, and our friends and classmates in school that is the foundation of our growing up! We shouldn't have never let go of that. We have allowed ourselves to become merely "aquaintances"! We may see a fellow classmate walking down the street and if we're lucky we might honk at them, or give them a friendly nod. Or we might drive by a classmates house and see them mowing their grass, and maybe give them a friendly wave! Sometimes we may become face to face with a fellow classmate, we may say "Hey, how ya doin"? Which might lead to a brief conversation. This is something that may happen at fairs, or festivals....where we might get caught   up on things, but that's usually all that is said!

                                                                                                                                             We had a 5 year reunion during the FFL in 1990 at the old Bainbridge School Cafeteria. As I remember there were quite a few showed up, but probably not as many as could have. The Reds were playing in the World Series, and the Festival was going on, so it was a busy weekend, people had other things to do too!

The 10 year reunion was held in June of 1995 at the old Bainbridge Gym. There was a lot of planning that went into this, however really there was only a group of us that showed up! We all had a wonderful time, getting caught up on things, telling what we were doing, and telling what our plans were. Some of us told what some of the other classmates that wasn't there, were doing at that time. We had covered dish, and music. It was nice! Too bad not everyone was able to take part or take an interest, because they really missed out!

We didn't have a 15th or 20th, I can only speculate that this was probably because there just didn't seem to be any interest from anyone to take the lead on this and try to put it together. Beth had already done a wonderful job on the 10 year reunion, only to find that there was only a small group of maybe 20 people that showed an interest. Some came from out of state, anticipating a huge turn-out, only to find that the rest of the class either couldn't make it, do to something important, or simply didn't care!

Last summer my Dad put together his 55th class reunion. It was the Bainbridge High School Class of 1954! He had quite a remarkable turn-out for this event. There were even 4 teachers that showed up! Can you believe that? He had more people show up for his 55th class reunion than we had at either of our reunions that we have had. A room full of 73 year old people. Some traveled from miles around! I helped serve food and clean up, and let me tell ya'  it was a room full of happiness! But at the same time it's sad, knowing that for some of those people their may not be a 60th. In fact there may not be a 60th anyhow, if someone doesn't step up to plan it. There was so much joy in their hearts, but deep down they all knew that it might be the last time they see each other!

My friends, this isn't what we want? This isn't what we want to be like in 30 years? We can do better than that! We are the Class of 85! We are class that is above and beyond all other classes at Paint Valley. We are "Unique" in so many ways! We can put together a Class reunion that is better than anyone has ever seen! There is nothing we can't do, if we can get away with it! We need to reconnect, we need to laugh, we need to cry, we need to have fun, and maybe above all we need to share in happiness! Let's make this work! Let's not let 2010 go by without our 25th reunion. We need all the help, all the support, and most importantly all the classmates from the Class of 85 that we can get! Please?

Thank you, and God Bless you all,

Brett Kretzer

Brett,

That was beautifully stated.  You missed your calling. 

I hope we will have a much better turn out for 25, then we did for 10. I miss so many of you and can't wait to see you, hear about your life and meet your family.

We are starting this very early in the hopes that it will gain momentum as we reach out to more and more classmates, as opposed to lose steam because interest dies out as quickly as it flared.

We can make this great, guys...we really can. 

Beth