If you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever consider going to a Wagar reunion…I likely would have laughed and dismissed it…BUT…last year my husband went to his. He sat on the fence until the last minute and even though he paid, he wasn’t sure he was going. Said he could not remember anyone. He knew one guy … the two of them decided they would hang together (strength in numbers – I thought this was just a girl thing)… We went through his year book. There were a few people he wanted to see. So off he went. We had bets down on whether he would stay more than an hour. Not only did he surpass the hour…he stayed until the end and was glad he went. He said that if my year had a reunion…I should definitely attend… I retorted…”no one in my year liked each other enough to even throw an organizing committee together, but if someone organizes it…what the hell, I will go.”
Fast forward a few months….Steve White reaches out to me – he wants to organize it…will I help him? We then learn that Bobby Abrams (our former class President) is keen on the idea. Nicole Guigui jumps into the mix as well… then I recruit Nancy Katsof and Doris Kertesz and the ball starts rolling. You have seen Cathy Vig’s cartoons…and there are more to come. We have a committee…Michael Rubin and Jonathan Isenberg even attended a meeting or two. Turns out… there is a lot of interest! Marc Lechter is planning to come in from Sweden, Bruno Edery from France, Lloyd Herman from Colorado, Brigitte Bako from California if she is not off filming a new project in Africa. Tickets are selling… Sanae Takahashi (Ontario), Leslee Klineberg (Halifax), Steven Margolese (Florida), Marcie Epstein (New Jersey) and Shelly Loran (New York) -just to name a few- have already bought their tickets and booked their flights….a number of Montreal locals have purchased their tickets as well.
Being involved on the committee, and moving home to Montreal recently, has put a different spin on things for me. In returning, I have been fortunate enough to rebuild friendships with Melanie Greenberg, Doris Kertesz, Nancy Katsof and Charles Dahan. That, in and of itself, has been fabulous. Then with the search for class mates, I have reconnected with Shelly Loran (New York) and Janice Breitman (Chicago). Seeing them was surreal and remarkable…25 years have passed and we picked up like we had seen each other yesterday. This inspired me to reach out to my long lost friend Joshua Bloomstone (Arizona). We grew up on the same street. There are so many incredible memories. We spoke for over an hour and again…it is like no time has passed. I am really hoping he can make it in.
Yes, time has in fact passed… our lives are fuller now and some of us may have a few more pounds or a bit less hair…but…in essence we are the same and the friendships we had are ever present.
Looking forward to a great event!
Karyn
