Virginia Ridlehoover (Pepper) (1968)

Attended the Amy Grant and Vince Gill annual Christmas concert yesterday as a part of our Tennessee Christmas. Soon the grandkids will be over and we'll make my mom's Nuts and Bolts Mix. Of course, my son let me know that I could buy it already made, but homemade always tastes much better. We're looking forward to the possibility of waking up to a white Christmas. I remember how magical it always seemed, no matter where we were, when we woke up Christmas morning to find out it had snowed overnight. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Kevin Carey (1967)

Merry Christmas to all my fellow Paris Pirates.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZLRp8n9v98&t=14s

Brant Weatherford (1966)

Well done Kevin! Really nice tune and vocals. Sweet thoughts on this Holiday Season. Brant Weatherford - PAHS 1966

Bill Blake (1956)

I want to thank Barbara Walker Bartlett for keeping this website going for all of us to enjoy.  I went to 5 high schools and Paris is the only one I ever hear from.

Catherine "Kitsy" Symroski (Cameron) (1964)

We only spent one year experiencing a Christmas in Paris; in 1961 and 1962, we drove in our spanking new Citroen east,  then south to  Garmisch-Partenkirchen for s memorable stay at the General Patton Hotel (fresh trout for breakfast) and the train up to the Zugspitze where I do think  we took skiing lessons.  I do know we hit the bunny slopes for the remainder of the week lower down the mountain, hauling ourselves up the rope toes  and snow-plowing our way down.  Christmas Eve mass standing in an unheated Catholic church mumbling our way through “Silent Night” – in German.  Berchesgarden was memorable for the flinging ourselves onto sleds and whisking our way down rutted icy trails narrowly carved into the mountainside.   And the 5- 10-25 cent slot machines at the bar, although real casino slots did not come until much later!

In 1964, we were privileged guests IN, I mean IN, Les Invalides, the living quarters for the family of Chef D’etat – Major de L’Armee de Terre, for 
“Revillion” the traditional sumptuousness feast celebrated at midnight into Christmas morning, champagne and delicacies everywhere.  Oh, to be who I am now,  as a good cook and infinitely smarter about wines, than that admittedly naïve teen aged American high school student,  surrounded by exotic dishes at every course  and likely unwisely tipsy on too much champagne!   Remembering our family walking merrily across the street to our apartment on St Francois Xavier, dawn just rosy against the silvery grey of a chilly Parisian Christmas morning.    

Jack Slimp (1961)

Dittos to Bill Blake's 'thank Barbara Walker Bartlett for keeping this website going' - there is a considerable effort to maintaining a site such as this.  Kudos to the Mademoiselle!

Phil Davidson (1960)

Hi All,

Its a bit cold here in the Pacific NW. Looking forward to returning to Mesa, AZ in the next few weeks. Not much to report on this end - just another day, another dollar. I have not heard of any recent passing of our classmates as many of us are in our early 80s or soon to be there. 

Anyway, a Merry Xmas to all, take care....

Phil  

Kevin Carey (1967)

Oui, Merci Mademoiselle Barbara!   Bonne annee por tout les Parisiens!  On adore Paris!

Barbara Walker (Bartlett) (1969)

Thank you for taking the time and effort and for the acknowledgment. Except… you have it backward; it wouldn't be anything if it weren't for those that visit the website and post comments - you are the ones that make it a success!

Guy Cassegrain

Peter Sadow (1958)

Not a direct response to any particular post.  One of the posts talked about going to Garmisch for skiing.  My familly went to Bavaria several times staying in military hotels in Berchtesgaden and Garmisch.  I remember taking the lift to the top of Zugspitz and ski lessons there.  Then I started down and got to the first curve.  I ended up going straight and over a snow berm into the woods.  I could not reach the releases on the skis and called for help.  A German girl came to my resue, said something cheerful and released my bindings.  I then turned in the skis and took the lift back down.

Another time, in the Summer, I took water ski lessons in Eibsee, I believe.  These were more successful, though I remember practically walking on water to get out.  It was so cold.  I also rented a moped one time and explored the area.  My first pizza ever was at the hotel in Garmisch.

The hotel in Berchtesgaden was called the Berchtesgadener Hof.  It was a former Nazi hotel.  I remember the swastikas on the napkins and silverware.

Does anyone remember going to an Army run summer camp for kids near Royan France?  I spent the Summer of 1957 as a counselor there.  Rode there from Paris on my moped.  Also attended the worlds fair in Brussels in 1958 on my moped along with two other guys from PAHS (the Morrison brothers).  They took the train back, but I rode back.

Nicki Fairlamb (de Naray) (1967)

Pete Sadow's memories of skiing in Bavaria and staying at the Berchesgadener Hof were familiar. We did that in the late 50's also when we lived in Heidelberg. We left from our apartment in Patrick Henry Village the day after Christmas and drove to Berchesgaden/Garmisch and stayed for several days at the Berchesgadener Hof. Such a beautiful place, and I don't think I knew the history back then when I was only about 8 or 9 years old. If anyone has watched "Band of Brothers," an HBO 10-part mini series made in 2014 by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, one of the last episodes details the occupation of the Berchesgadener Hof by US troops from E Company, 101st Airborne Division. It's a great series, and a good reminder of the sacrifices our military made during WWII. I also remember stopping at "Java Junction" on the way back to PHV and eating sloppy joes which seemed like a real delicacy back then! 

Linda Ristan (Schmidt) (1965)

We stayed in Berchestgarden over New Years', 1964/65.  By then, all Nazi memorabilia was gone, and it was renamed the General Walker.  Military rates included room and board, lift tickets, ski instruction and ski clothes.  Don't think I got past the tow rope.  Vivid (vague??) memories of drinking in the cellar bar with Rob Lee, Gwen Lee and others.  My first hangover!!  Trying to act chipper at breakfast and really just wanting to die.  Thought I fooled my parents--Hah!

D

Michael Moody (1966)

I too went skiig in both of those places but when my dad was stationed in Weisbaden in the mid 50's.  That's where I learned to ski.   Sadly, except for a few other times in my later life,  I only went skiiing a couple of times. ONCE in the ONLY ski resort ever in North Georgia at Scaly Mountain.  ONce in NC and once in Aspen.  Living in the south for more of my adult life,  I learned to canoe and kayak in whitewater for my adrenaline rush...

Kevin Carey (1967)

We lived outside Oslo, Norway from '57-'60 where my USAF Dad was at NATO base inside a mountain and would fly up to northern Norway to Bodo Royal Norweginan Air Force Base.  NATO was was watchin' the Russkies, and we still have to watch them.  We all skied and  it was like a snowy elf kingdom  to us kids in those days.  My next door neighbor, Henrik, and I have been friends for 65+ years now and we have visited he and his family in beautiful Norway, and they have been here visiting us in California.

We would travel down into mainland Europe for a month every year and stayed at Garmisch at the Von Steuban and loved skiing there and all the great American food.  In Norway back then it was fish, fish, shrimp. and some fish.  I exageratting but there wasno US commisary at all and there were only a few butcher shops in downtown Oslo.  My Dad and friends would fly to Germany for work and fly back with tons of frozen chickens and beef in a C-47.  I've skied Maine, New Hampshire and Vermontwhen I was young and after going to school in California where I've stayed I've skied in Oregon and Colorado but not often as I became addicted to surfing, so in the winter when the waves are ther best here I had a hard time leaving the coast.  I'm in my seventies now so I just look at the last surfboard I haven't given away to friend's sons. I'll kayak, and sail but I'm not strong enough to surf anymore.  We all had such unique experiences being military/embassy brats.  Sure we moved a lot but that taught us to be adaptable and we got to see a lot of Europe and the States growing up.  Some of my cousins never left the town where our family is from.   

Brant Weatherford (1966)

Thank you Peter for answering the question that has dogged me for years - where was that camp.  We came to Paris in the early summer of 1963 and, as I had just become an Eagle Scout the previous spring in Colorado Sprongs, CO, I went to the camp in the beginning of the summer when it was reserved for Boy Scouts.  I was subsequently asked to stay on for a number or weeks after the Boy Scout week was completed to become a counselor / tent mother for a bnch of 10 - 12 year old boys.  All went well and noboby lost any limbs that summer.  And I could never remember the location, even being an Eagle Scout and all.  Did the camp have a formal name - like Camp Dependent or some acronym that no ne knew the name of?

Our family also spent time skiing in Garmesh, me falling mostly, and our years in France were very special and formative for all of us.  Good times, great memories.  Thanks for the memory.

Brant Weatherford

PAHS '66

Frank Fazio (1967)

Thank you all for helping to remember our skiing vacations to Garmish and Berchesgaden. I think the New Year's Ever of 64/65 at the Hotel General Walker celebrations was the first time I was I'l use the word inebriated. The thing I remember was standing in the men's bathroom trying to steady myself and as I was leaving an officer said are you OK, son. I think I must have mumbled back I'm fine.

But my best memory by far was checking out sleds at the close of the day so we could take the sled run down the mountain into Berchesgaden. The sled track was a horse riding track in the summer so it was wide, sometimes steep and full of great turns. My brother and I would go flying down the snow covered track during the full moon I think where the snow everywhere seemed blue. We would have contests to see who could get down into town the fasterst. I remember clocking a time of around 8 minutes. It was one of the most fun times I ever had, going so fast in the moonlight. The blocked it off the next year as some kids flew of the trail and broke bones.

Thanks for the memories.

Frank Jeff Fazio

Paul Hughes (1968)

Hey all....Yes, all GREAT memories of our "Bavarian adventures!!"....we spent winters of 61-65 at the Eibsee in Garmish......Dad used to complain like hell at the cost for a family of 5 at $45 a night all inclusive for a lakeview room....I took my family of 6 .back in 2005 and the Chateaubriand for 2 in the restaurant cost more than that  and I got very little change out of $1000 a night!!!!!!We all were just too young to appreciate what great value we got in those days.....We have retired to Europe BUT things certainly have changed!!!!!...Best to all!!!!

Robert M. Lee, Jr. (1965)

Dear Linda, thanks for reminding me of that wonderful Christmas we all spent together in 1964/65. It was one of the best Christmas's I can remember from my childhood and young "teenagehood". In fact most of my fondest memories are from Germany in the 1950s and France in the 1960s. It is strange how life takes such unexpected turns. I just returned to Vienna from skiing in Ramsau Dachstein, Austria when I read your post. We have a part time apartment in Vienna near my youngest son and his Austrian wife & two grandsons. Although we live in Folsom, CA we try to spend a lot of time in Vienna. We never escape our past roots and association with Europe. Anyway, thanks for reminding me of one the best years of my life before adulthood arrived. Best Regards, Rob

William John "Bill" Murphy (1953)

I enjoy posts although I preceded most of you and graduated from PAHS in1953. My memories are older but just as vivid. All the best. Bill Murphy

Robert Allen (1957)

Great memories Bill, from ‘55 Le Mans (tragic) race that my brother and I attended, being a counselor at summer camp, doing the invasion drill whew we all hoped into our family cars and headed to the coast, drove my own car, and sitting on the corner of near the Arch drinking a 25 cent Heineken with a bunch of classmates.

Brant Weatherford (1966)

Robert,

Was the summer camp you are referring to the one in / near Royan, France?  If so, do you remember any details, name, etc about the camp?  I was at the Royan area? camp in 1966 but have forgotten too many details.  I also went to La Mans in 1964 & 1965.  What a great time.  Want to go back again soon before they all go electric and before my batteries die.

Brant Weatherford ('66)

Tom O'Keefe (1964)

There was a kids' camp and my scounting group helped set up in early 61 and 62 below Bordeaux by Biscarose (sp) Plage .  We would sneak out at nihjt and enjoy a nearby bar on the beach.  20 cents for my first bought drink - Contreau! First time for SOS ay a mess lunch, too.  Also went to the 64 and 65 LeMans races.  I still can hear that dumb song they kept playing all night long - " les vignt-quartres du Le Mans, repeated and repeated.  Hard to sleep and was it cold!

Philomena Johnson (Williams) (1963)

Robert Allen (1957)

Brant, I too have forgotten much of that particular trip as it was one of three.  What I do remember is we traveled in a Army bus their and back, stayed in 8 man tents, sang songs around a fire pit, the sweet smell of pine needles (really) and that it was somewhere in the south west of France.  Bob Allen