Joan Fraser (Conklin)

wow jim!  what a good reminder to all of us that we have so much to be grateful for.  kind of puts things into perspective.  look forward to seeing you on the 5th.      joan

Sue Thomas (Burns)

Nice warm up to our reunion, Jim. Gratitude is contagious and wonderfully subversive, countering fear and anxiety while generating a reason to act for hope. We have been privileged in every way. I am in the midst of writing so called 'words of wisdom' for my grandson who turns 20 at the end of the month. I think the plan is to inundate him with what we, the older generation, has learned. Not sure he will find it helpful but it has been a fun exercise. Hope we might share in the same vien. I know I wish I knew in high school the things I know now. 

Jim Thomson

Thank you for your kind words. After reading over my thoughst I can see that you might think that I am in some way knocking the USA. While I don't agree with their choice of president, I consider having them as our neighbours and friends to be one of those factors that make us so lucky. 

Carolyn Gamble (Wright)

Jim,

A word from your neighbor to the south who had the privilege and joy of attending Point Grey and Magee with my neighboring Canadian friends.  I took no offense to your remarks about the US.  There are numerous negative remarks being made right here at home, to put it mildly, and I'm sure that any criticisms are likely shared by both many Americans and many Canadians.  Let us all hope for the best!

As an American teenager in Vancouver, I was very sensitive to the troubles occurring at "home" in the US: the Viet Nam War and Kennedy's Assasination in particular.  I experienced a few anti-American remarks that hurt and puzzled me at the time.  But now through wiser eyes I understand and accept the youthful exuberanceand innocence that produced them.  Ninety-nine and ninety-nine one hundredths of the time I was wholeheartedly accepted and welcomed by everyone.  I can't even call you all Canadians, vs Americans.  We all feel the same to me.  As Gordon D said, we are more alike than different, throughout the world.

We were so lucky indeed.  To walk to school with friends, to ride buses throughout the city, to roam the beaches and parks without the fears that children have to deal with today.  What a blessing.  As an aside, my father brought the family to Vancouver for two main reasons.  One, the beautiful green, lush beauty of BC AND the existence of mass transit!  He was an early advocate. He would be blown away by what the city and surrounds have accomplished with their transportation systems. I also value the richness of culture that existed then and still does.  I experienced so many varied activities related to music, the theater and the outdoors in a way that has not been matched since, in my life.  And many of the friendships I made at Magee and in Vancouver have lasted my lifetime.  It is especially sweet to develop new friendships and renew lapsed ones through our reunions.

It has been a joy being involved with these reunions and I hope we continue to enjoy our connections, built on the strong foundations we were so fortunate to grow up with, these many years ago.

From the Yank, Carolyn 

Many Vaartnou

Hi Carolyn & Sue

Your message is A-one. I went through a lot of this in 35 years. However, have survived, with a wife & daughter for cuddles. Still working on the lawn, now that I'm retired. WE have our own problems: Christie vs Hogie vs Greens: but I think that Donnie can solve everything with a bomb when Ivanka might not be there. Cheers, if I can function

Good notes; but great to see you at MAGEE 50TH. Will not see you at 52 (back problems) but have fun. Cheers, MV

Marti Eilau (Tutti)

Sorry to hear about your back Manny!

Marti

Merrilee Dobson (Davis)

Hi Lewis,

  Just got my password reset so saw the mugs and shirts. If it is not too late bring me a small shirt and a mug, thanks. great idea. wow our birthday reunion is next week. It will be fun to catch up with those that can make it. 

I have been travelling almost 5 months back packing in India and Nepal. I may be getting older but I will never grow up. Loving adventure and still enjoying life to the fullest. See you May 5th. 

Merrilee

Lewis Beck

Awesome, Merilee; good for you.  I was just thinking yesterday how I'd love to hike the Chilkoot Trail--the one those old Klondiker's struggled over between Carcross Yukon and Skagway Alaska on their way to the gold fields in Dawson City back in 1898 .  Don't know if I can do it now with two artificial hips but it's still on my bucket list--along with paddling the MacKenzie River.  Anyway, I salute your adventuresome spirit; you are an inspiration!

I'll be delighted to bring you a mug and a t-shirt.   Do you want them with the kid and "I was there!" on the back or just plain? 

I still remember that great party you hosted at your summer camp back when we were all in grade 8 at Point Grey.  It was a wonderful time that I'm sure everyone who was there remembers to this day.

John Armstrong

Hi,

Just catching up with all your notes.   Jim, thanks for sharing your thoughtful words of gratitude. Your memories brought more than one smile to my face as I recalled our days growing up, and I agree with Gord, very eloquently said!   I'm sorry I won't be able to join you all at the reunion tomorrow. Shoko and I just got back to Nelson after spending the early spring in Japan and we're busy at home.  Best wishes to everyone in this year of turning 70!

John

Clive Langton

Thank you Jim. 
What you shared was so descriptive and a captured the essence of our lives back then in the 60's in Vancouver. 
We were there in that era when the world bestowed upon us playfulness and abundance. 
l feel very blessed that l lived in those times. 
Back then, my family subscribed to the 'National Geographic', and since l had traveled quite a bit as a child, the adventure of exploring the world through the pages of the magazine with its stories and pictures was very alluring. 
Reading about a newly found tribe in the Amazon or in deepest, darkest Africa, or a new species of birds found in the Himalayas, was exciting for me. 
And now, many years later, we read about rivers that are flowing with plastics and toxins, and about peoples devastated by wars and famine, The world seems like a different place. 
Fortunately, the wise say, "we cannot change the world...but we can change ourselves." 
We were raised in a part of the world where there was innocence and new beginnings...and l feel so grateful that l had such an opportunity to live in Kerrisdale in those times. 
For those of us attending the Magee 70th tomorrow, l will be happy to share the event with you, and for those of you not able to attend, remember we were all together within the Magee building some 52 years ago. Those experiences, at that time, will be with us forever...
May we live the remaining years and moments of our lives with happiness and gratitude.

Marti Eilau (Tutti)

Jim, both you and Clive have such a talent for the written word! I feel and think both your thoughts but will never be able to express them so eloquently!!!! 

Enjoy the reunion tonight and all of our 70th year!!!!! Will sadly miss the event. RVYC holds a special place in my heart as does Magee!

Merrilee Dobson (Davis)

Well was that not a fabulous 70th birthday CELEBRATION! !!

Thanks to the reunion committee and all their dedication to making the day so special. I think everyone loved just having so much time to catch up with each other. Wish I could remember everyone I chatted with and their news. Unfortunately at 70 some of us are getting pretty forgetful.

Thanks Lewis for the shirt and Magee mug to remind me of our birthday party/ reunion. Pretty funny all of us singing Happy Birthday to US.

We were pretty fortunate to be born in that era.

Hugs to you all,

Merrilee

Greig Soohen

Many thanks to the reunion committee for making the arrangements so that we could all have such a wonderful time!  And of course to everyone for just showing up.  The "Sunshine Coast" group will now look forward to some more visits up here as well - a simple day trip. And you don't have to bring your car.!

Greig Soohen

Sandy Waterman (Chernoff)

Hi Everyone,

I would just like to add my thanks to the organizers of our birthday bash.  It was truly fun to see everyone who came and to visit with them.  As the group was smaller this time it was possible to chat with almost everyone!

We really did go to school with a wonderful group of people and it is always great to see you and catch up when we get together to mark a meaningful occasion for all of us. 

Happy 70th to  all of you, whether or not it has happened yet!  May you all enjoy many more years of good health and happiness to spend with your family and friends!  Have a great year!!

Eric Thomson

Hi all. Very sorry to have missed the celebration. I gather it was a wonderful affair. Just wondering if there are any pictures to be posted. I am sure there are many classmates who are in the same boat, unable to attend but interested in sharing some of the fun through seeing pics. Cheers, Eric 

Jim Thomson

Again, thank you to the organizing committee for a job well done and a very successful event. Here are a few thoughts for anyone thinking of taking on this daunting task in the future. 

1) A great venue - bright and airy and great to have so many tables that made conversations easy and comfortable. Thank you to Dave Slader for sponsoring us!

2) The afternoon timing is very appropriate as we age. I couldn't help notice how long people stayed and enjoyed themselves speaking with so many different individuals.

3) Attendance was a double edged sword. It was sad that so many people couldn't make it. However, having a smaller group facilitated making it easier to spend time with a greater number of people. The lower sound level made it easier for people like me with hearing issues to be part of conversations because I was able to hear other peoples contributions.

4) The food was delicious and appropriate.

4) Thank you Marrilees for volunteering to drive. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know you better.

I would love to hear other opinions.

John Spikerman

Let me echo what Jim and others have already said about the excellent event orchestrated by Marion and the Committee. I missed the last event cuz my out-of-town daughter belatedly announced a same-day-arrival into Vancouver...family first. 

In this event, it struck me that memories are a tricky thing. But I am sticking to my Don Crompton hero story...which he denies.

Putting together such an event requires a Trojan effort. I suspect Marion must have felt at times that the organizing was like trying to herd cats...but she and others persevered and won! Congrats to all! 

Kathleen Johnston (McAuliffe)

Me too - I'll get my loonie's worth in - the Birthday Bash was wonderful, every aspect of it, and has been mentioned, it was great to have a little more time to visit with more people, and not feel any time constraints. And lovely to see folks who were unable to get to our 50th reunion. Those who didn't attend the birthday party were definitely missed, but probably talked about! 

Thanks to the committee for doing a superb job of organizing - we're so lucky to have such a good team to have come together to make these reunions a success.

I wonder what excuse we can come up with for the next get-together?! The year 2020 - 55 years since grad - is 3 years from now, that seem a bit far off... hmmm.....

In any case, I'd be happy to be part of a new organizing committee for the next one - so hope we can get something going. 

Meanwhile, 70th Birthday wishes to everyone!

Lewis Beck

Ditto from me.  I fear I bored my poor wife to tears, enthusing over and over about what a wonderful event our "bash" was; how great it was to catch up with everyone again and what a great job our faithful organizing committee did putting it all together.  From start to finish it was a joy and I too thank Marion and her hard-working fellow committee members for everything they did.  Yes, let's try and have another sometime in the not too distant future!

Philip Allingham

Do we have to wait for 2020 for another reunion? That would be the the 55th anniversary of the Class of '65. Those who didn't come missed more than a leisurely drive through the halcyon groves of adolescence remembered. The Class of '65 contains so many vital, well-informed, interesting people who, by mere coincidence, happen to belong to the same age cohort. Heartfelt thanks to the dedicated organizing committee!

And, now: back to the garden and the computer.

Gordon Davis

Great fun and a credit to Marion, Gord and their committee for doing 2 epic events in 2 years! I

As an out of towner (Kamloops) I am speccially grateful for those who help all of us get to enjoy the cameraderie of our classmates. A great setting, good food and better company ( and even free parking!).

Well done!

Sue Thomas (Burns)

Our 70th Birthday cum reunion was a sublime event. The venue with sunshine, light and lots of space made it very inviting and much easier on the ears than our last gathering. It was great fun and still I didn't even make it to the other side of the room or talk to half of you. Kathleen, I hope you get some other takers to mount another in three years. Thank you Marion and the COMMITTEE, it was a grace-filled day.

Laura Fisher (Kerr)

Yes! Thanks to the committee who gave us another golden opportunity to meet, eat, and have so much fun catching up on each other's lives.  It really was a wonderful all-day party.  I am so sorry to have missed all those who couldn't make it this year.  You were all missed and I hope everyone can attend the next reunion.  PS: to the committee:  feel free to contact us all for help with the next one!

Gordon Ellis

And the birthday cake was terrific, so good that I had some for breakfast today. Thanks Marion.

Philip Allingham

Hear, hear, Laura! Let's hope the grip of nostalgia becomes so strong that far more than 39 of us cannot resist the allure of a "Perfect (Rear) Vision" [20/20] reunion.