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Chris Pratt (Whitaker)
A great big THANK YOU to all the reunion committee and everyone who made the effort to come to the 50th reunion celebration. I hated missing Friday night. Saturday went by way too fast to say hello to everyone who was there. I hope you got to see your friends and the ones you have missed the most. Shirley reminded me that DuPont and Landon schools both came to Wolfson for 10,11, 12th grades (3 years). In 1969, the students from Douglas Anderson also joined us. So, we had a lot of kids (Shirley said 581). Now that is a large senior class especially for the times. It was almost impossible with the quick change of classes to meet and get to know everyone. Aside from a class together or a shared club experience it was pretty much your neighbors, church family you saw the most. Most of us had curfews, limited phone use and bed times. Social media was our lunchtime. I am actually thankful for that and no technology, smart phones. I would have liked to have the music instead of just AM WAPE. It was unthinkable to have music on demand in a hand held device? Sounds like one of our weekly readers discussing things in the future. As for the 50th reunion, it was wonderful time. Except for the summer heat wave, I would say it was perfect! Thank you to the planners and committee members. Thank you for the brillant scholarship campaign and huge success $10k! Thank you for the pictures, the memories and most of all to everyone who came. I thought our class looked amazing. Most of us are 68 and looked great. I mean it. It has brought back so many memories of not just high school but growing up in that time period and in Jax. I think what they have done in the downtown area is fantastic. There have been so many changes but south Jax has stayed much the same. I miss seeing the majestic oak trees and azaleas. I could see the blue Main St bridge from my hotel window so pretty all lit up at night. The beautiful and big St Johns river timelessly flowing by. I wished for just a moment I could walk back into the old Gator bowl or drive my car down to acess 5 just one more time. Lakewood Presbyterian and other churches were still there (and some very big now). I was happy to see Lakewood Plaza thriving and a Starbucks. It was fun running into you there Mary Jo Linnville. I drove past the three houses I lived in, seeing many of my friend's houses too. It made me miss them and their parents who we also knew and loved. I only lived in Jax for 14 years coming from Charleston SC and then moving to Tallahassee, Clearwater, Tampa and Bradenton areas. Many of you stayed and raised your families and enjoyed a continuation of our friendships even 50 years later. For everyone who could not make it to the 50th, just know you were very missed and thought of with love. Enjoy the great pictures (photo credits to Shirley and Joanne) and maybe we will see you at another gathering soon. May God bless you and keep you until then sweet friends. 2019 "seniors" are still fine as in '69.
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