Classmates Chatter is an ongoing message board to keep us all in touch.  SO DON'T BE BASHFUL!!  

Click "Post Response"  and  add your entry to the string of conversation!  Let the Chatter begin!

Heidi Wolske (Dugger)

Great poem, wonderful memories, Laur, loved this the first time around and it's still an oldie but a goodie! Sorry I didn't get to the 50th, but still love everyone, and continue to know we were blessed to be part of a class that is still great & fine! 

Kathy Winger (Baker)

Wow that was perfect!  Truely brought back a lot of great memories! Thank you for sharing.

Dan Marignoni

Love reading posts by Laurie and Chris....Keep em coming!

Dan

Frank Bright

Hey Everyone - Hope all is well with you and yours - especially now in these crazy times. We're at home during this outbreak of CV19 and following Governor DeWine's order to stay at home.  Caring for some grandchildren at least for now during the day.  Maintaining distance and not giving the virus people to infect (and thereby keeping the virus  alive) is so important.  Stay well. - Frank Bright - BHS'69

Sandy Shaia (Shimshock)

thank you Frank...are you on our common yahoo email??  we have been chatting about this.  so far all is well with classmates and families, at least what i been hearing.  personally im going stir crazy, im so used to being on the go,, but grocery store only., ug.. this is scary for sure!  praying for it to be over and praying for America!!

love to all~~~~sandy

Jeff Miller

Jeff Miller

Spendiing my Covid-19 vacation in Chesapeake VA. The local library is having a "50 Book Challenge". I decided to read the complete  works of Ernest Hemingway.  I'm currently reading, "The Dangerous Summer" . This book is a descriptive narrative by Ernest during   1959.  Two "brothers-in-law" compete as bull-fighters in the heat of the spanish summer.  Hemingway  creates his last book, during his 60th summer.  Hey! the friggin' Gov'ner down heh, won't even open the gym for work'n out, argh!    How are YOU surviving this?

Howard Rhoad

Hi all...things good w/Howard & I. Busy w/my elderly parents but still a little stir crazy. We don't even have any projects around the house to keep us busy but trying to come up w/one!! Thankful that we're healthy & hoping you all stay the same!!

This too shall pass....but when??? Hang in there & be well as we are all in that "demographic" whatever that means...lol

Louise Hocevar (Vanek)

I received this today from Mary Ioannou who lives in Italy:

Hope to connect to my friends at a better moment. The virus epidemic is serious in Italy where I have my residence from 1973. I agree that my best school days (so many fabulous memories) were at Bedford High.

I have emailed and asked her to keep us posted on what is really happening near her.

In the meantime, Mark and I are hunkered down, self quarantining one day at a time in order to be able to stay with my 92 yr old dad at either his place or ours.  Our 'winter in FL' was cut short and we drove back before absolutely everything was shut down.  We found it difficult to enjoy the sun knowing we might get stuck there in a house with only bare minimum.  We are much less stressed being back home and finding all kinds of projects to keep us busy.  Spring and being able to work outside will be very welcoming this year.  

We are sure not liking the fact that we are "THAT" demographic of high risk, just due to our age.  I had high hopes that this year was going to be especially special since us 69-ers are turning 69 ! 

Hope you are all doing well during this very serious time.  Please stay safe!

Dan Marignoni

Wishing we could have seen many of you this weekend in Ft Myers. Maybe next  year!   Stay safe , practice social distancing and wash those hands (often)!  We will get through this....

How about today instead of worrying, being fearful, having anxiety you write a gratitude list?

1. I woke up today
2. I have a bed and roof over my head
3. I have running water and food in my fridge
4. I get coffee to start my day! 
5. I live in one of the best towns around
7. I live in paradise with great weather and abundant sunshine
8. I have friends and family who love me and I love as well
9. .....
10. ....

Judi LeLoup

Hey Everyone,

Although I see many of you on Facebook, or in our yahoo egroup, thought I'd chime in here also.

I'm laying low, working from home.  Only going out for necessities!  Funny how taking a ride to the "transfer station"  (the dump) is an exciting event at the moment.  And I will treasure them always:) 

Although no one is starting a renovation or new home right this minute, there are still some  who are preplanning and looking forward to when we can.  I guess I can give people a little something to keep their minds involved, in control of planning and thinking about the "what if's" we can accomplish in their new space, and definitely something to look forward to!

Hope all is well with my BHS classmates.  Stay home, stay connected, this too shall pass.

Hugs,

Judi  

Pat Pfeifer (Albert)

We are living in Naples at least our weather is good. We are staying home but riding our bikes in the evening for some excersise. I was so disappointed about the Florida reunion being cancelled. I don't think I have seen any of my classmates in 50 years.

Donna Stusek

Hi All!  Hope everyone is staying healthy. I'm putting a lot of miles on my sneakers walking the dogs. Good for the heart and good for the soul. Starting to get outside in the garden areas as the weather warms up. There's enough to do to keep me out of trouble for a while.

I am a volunteer trumpeter for Bugles Across America. I play taps at military and law enforcement funerals. Ironically, due to quarantine and Covid-19 virus, the bugles have silenced because the funeral gatherings have ceased. These, indeed, are tough times for all.

Stay well.... God bless! 

Frank Bright

So glad folks are doing well in this crazy scary CV19 times.  My daughter has become an expert on Zoom and has had virtual pizza parties and "wine tasting" with friends via Zoom.  A friend of mine hosted an 8 couple virtual dinner party via Zoom.  And I thought it was only for work! :))  Wish I had bought stock in that a couple of months ago.  Getting a lot of walking done like many of us.  So glad we had our 50th in September before all of this.  And the Florida reunion was a great idea - maybe later.  We were going to be on a cruise next month - that's toast now as are all travel plans.  Chicago next week was also on the agenda for a cancer control meeting - now we're doing it virtually.  Hunker down is the "new normal" ( I hate that phrase - it's never associated with something good such as Hey! The new normal is that we're all rich and healthy!).  Stay well everyone and stay in touch as much as possible using all the technology available to us now.

Bob Richardson

Hi!

Hope everyone is well.

Frank Bright mentioned Zoom. We did that a couple nights ago with our 3 kids and 7 grandkids. The grandkids kept talking over each other, making faces, and laughing at each other. It was fun to see and hear everyone (even tho we're all within an hour of each other), but ... Maybe next time we'll just do it just with adults.

I work with a country club in Naples, so I see what's hapopening there on a weekly basis. We were going to extend our mini class reunion a bit and see them, plus a cousin in Dunedin, and a couple of Deb;s friends nearby. Maybe next year for all of that.

Hospital volunteering is obviously put on hold. As is cardiac rehab. May have to venture outside and walk around the neighborhood, staying 6 feet from everybody else with the same idea.

Deb is deep cleaning the kitchen and laundry rooms. A bunch of stuff for the trash and our local thrift store.

Just before this crap started I began learning Scottish Gaelic online. (My 4th-great-grandfather, John Richardson, was born around 1770 in Roxburgh, Scotland.) And working a bit on our family tree.

Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Slàinte! (Cheers!)

Bob

Sarah Goldsmith (Clark)

Hi All,

I was really looking forward to the FL reunion but it will be something to look forward to next year. I've been working through this crisis at a retirement/health community in Sarasota. We're of course social distancing and the resident healthcare center has been shut down to all visitors for more than 2 weeks. Lot's of FaceTime and Skyping for the residents.
Thankfully, at home, we have 6 acres and live in a place with plenty of walking space available. Horses, dogs and cats for love and distraction. Staying as safe as possible. I hope everyone is taking this seriously but do something fun that brings you joy daily. Our age group has been through a lot of stuff through the years so hang tough. We are great, we are fine, we're the class of '69 👍🏼❤️💕. Love you all!!

Sarah

Christine Paparone (Sembiante)

Hi Everyone!   It was terribly disappointing to have to cancel our Florida Reunion.  I kept thinking all weekend about where we would have been and what we would have been doing.  But, that said, thank goodness we canceled when we did.  It's hard to believe how much worse all the states are since that time.  We figure, next year at this time we will all be celebrating our 70th birthdays!   There is always a reason to party and celebrate, right?!  

Like Dan M. said, we are fortunate to be living in paradise.  AJ and I are keeping isolated, just going out when absolutely necessary.  I keep telling him, it's a good thing I like him!!!   This is real togetherness!   In our old community, we were so active, we were like two ships passing in the night.  We vowed that when we moved to our new neighborhood we were not going to get involved and that we would spend more time together.  Well, guess who got their wish!!!!  I apologize to everyone!!!   

Seriously, we are doing okay, but are heeding the warnings.  We walk and bike almost every day.  Up until our courts were shut down this past Monday, we were playing tennis and pickleball - just the two of us.  Shutting down the courts hurt.  Our new clubhouse was 3 days from a grand opening celebration - of course, it didn't open.   We are just staying positive...  As long as we stay healthy we will have a lot to look forward to - new neighbors, new amenities, time with our young grand nieces who live near our new home, and a BHS 51 year Florida reunion next March!  Stay healthy everyone!  Best class ever!!!   BHS Class of  '69!!!!     Truly GREAT AND FINE!

Christine (Chris Paparone) Sembiante

Jeff Miller

Sandy Shaia (Shimshock)

wow Jeff, you have some great energy for sure!!! love all you been doing, thank you for the update.  all is good here with me and family in Macedonia, no covid, knock on wood even tho my daughter works for cleveland clinic, i worry, but she is good... thank you and take care!!!!♥

Jeff Miller

Sandy Shaia (Shimshock)

Hi Jeff.... how great getting rid of cable, I agree its ridiculous!!!  anyway, Gib died back in 2008, the other one we are looking up., are you sure of the spelling?  Hope you had a great Birthday :)

Mary Ann Schneider

Jim Graner died way back in '76!

Howard Rhoad

Good for you Jeff. We have been "cable free" & lovin it  for a couple years now. 
There are a couple Internet options that are a lot cheaper also. Sling being one of them!

Debbie Rogel (Scruggs)

Hello Mates!

Living in MI across the St. Clair River from Canada, we enjoy about 3 of their TV channels.  We don’t buy cable either😁  We are trying to avoid the virus so we follow the guidelines by keeping our distance, wearing our masks and face time a lot!  We put an addition on our house and it is taking twice as long as normal and still not done...but it’s close and looking great.  That is what has kept us busy.  How could it be over 50 years since graduation....it sounds crazy😁  Oh yes, we play pickleball also...it is all the rage!  Stay safe, stay well!  Love to all of you💕

Debbie Rogel Scruggs

Jeff Miller

This is a Happy Birthday shout out to Bobby Richardson !   No! No! No! Not that  slick fielding second baseman for the  New York Yankees back in the Sixties.   I mean Barb and Arch's  son , carefully tucked in bed reading another "Hardy Boys"book 60 years ago.  You had the complete set, right Bob?  I see that Hulu is going to release series about the ageless boy detectives pretty soon  I'll be watching.  It's a drag living in Naples at this time of year. It still gets dark at 4:30,, when its still 75 degrees outside.  I want to thank-you for for the driving instructions going home from our reunion last year. We did try to keep the sun on the left side of the car,but we were driving at night mostly.  Keep wearing your mask,Always reflect on the good times and the warm memories they leave us

Bob Richardson

Thanks for the birthday wishes, Jeff! You're a week early, but who's counting? Yes, I read all the Hardy Boys books. So many timesI probably had them memorized.

Your memory is slipping, just a tad. Barb is my sister. Jane was my Mom. But pretty darn good for not having seen them in ... almost ferever.

It's 21 degrees in the suburbs of Detroit, so I can't listen to too much complaining about Naples weather. And you're out of Hurricane Season!

Slàinte! (Scottish Gaelic for Cheers)