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08/16/22 10:51 PM #15    

Jay Gottlieb

Just to be clear, am I correct to assume that the Junior High reunions will be held at the actual Jr. High locations, i.e. the Locust Jr. High reunion on Friday night will be at Wilmette Jr. High on Locust Rd., Wilmette?

 


08/17/22 02:34 PM #16    

New Trier 1970

Jay, that is NOT correct. Each junior high will have a get-together at a restaurant or other location on Friday evening, but NOT at the junior highs themselves. You need to indicate your interest in attending your junior high Friday evening event at the SIGN-UP & PAY FOR EVENTS link in the column in the left margin, and click on the Friday Evenings Options link to see the who, what, where for your junior high. So far, only Skokie Junior High in Winnetka has designated their location. 


08/17/22 04:20 PM #17    

Jay Gottlieb

OK, that's more like it.  Thank you.


08/17/22 04:29 PM #18    

Jay Gottlieb

I'm constantly testing my memory as my mother passed away from Alzheimer's.  Usually, I try to recall actors' names from TV series.  Recently, I was able to recall many of the faculty from my stint at Locust Jr. High from 09/1963 to 06/1966.  I was relieved (and surprised) to have done pretty well.  (Notice I even remember the janitor's name!)

1963 Principal - Mr. Evans

6th grade teacher- Ms. Boehmer

Mr. Capitani - math

Ms. Iams - math

Mr.  Schmidt - wood shop

Mr. Mitchell - art, photography

Mr. Wink - science

Ms. Ann Davis - science

Ms. Fischer (Fisher?) - Reading Development (?)

Ms. Stiles - Journalism and typing

Mr. Larson - Boys P/E

John Bond - School Janitor !!!!

Peter Egan - Assistant Principal

Sue Plank - 8th grade home room

Ms. Hurwitz 7th grade home room

Mr. Bucholz - Principal

 


08/18/22 06:29 PM #19    

 

Amy Roberts (Ort)

 

Hello Anybody?  I am really hoping that you will be at our 52nd lol Reunion!  I am looking forward to seeing the people that I knew and remember and I am really glad that you are alive and kicking!  
 

 

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!  

 

 


08/25/22 01:11 PM #20    

New Trier 1970

Message from Herbert P. Muller:

Tomorrow, will be our 50th wedding anniversary. I couldn’t have picked a better woman to be my wife. We have both gone through many things in our life together. When Covid hit, I was very glad to have her being a large part of my life. I can honestly say that I have been happy all of my married life.


08/28/22 05:49 PM #21    

 

Peter Collins

I saw Debbie Rhode listed for the "In Memory" names of 2021. I saw her obit in the NY TImes last year and wrote a LinkedIn post that talked about her notable presence and dignity, a quality she shares with Amanda Gorman. 

Gravitas: It’s Not About You

It’s a few days after Biden’s inauguration, and I’m struck by two examples of gravitas. One, a 22-year-old poet. The other, a 68-year-old law professor. One’s eyes shine secretly with an ever-present sense of purpose. The other’s eyes glow quietly with the contentment of a life lived with purpose. One has just entered the world’s notice. The other has just departed. Both know the honor, dignity and joy of purpose. Both can help you change gravitas from a vague concept to a daily “prayer in action.”

    

Amanda Gorman (CBS news)    

                                                 Debra Rhode (Bruce Forrester/Stanford News Service)

Prayer. It’s a tricky subject, because there are so many variants to how it’s done and why it’s done. But here’s one that I like. It’s an old African proverb that former Congressman John Lewis often mentioned: “When you pray, move your feet.” It’s about doing something to effect change, to make a better world, a better you, a better anything. Presence, charisma, star-power, gravitas—we acquire these through daily practice of doing something to make our Being grow through conscious Becoming.

There’s no set formula. Amanda Gorman’s picture above was taken two years ago—two years before the world was captivated by her gracious, yet commanding, poise. Debra Rhode’s picture appeared in her New York Times obituary a few days before Biden’s inauguration—and after a lifetime transforming the field of legal ethics (particularly gender bias in the legal profession). Debra had an inexhaustible commitment to that transformation, teaching at Stanford for more than 40 years and publishing dozens of books—with two more books in the publishing pipeline.

Amanda and Debra have very different paths, but look in their eyes and you will see a similar strength of commitment, purpose and mission. It’s gravitas in its best, least ego-driven, meaning.

Too often words like gravitas set us up for failure because we’re looking for a simple, straightforward definition that comes complete with a step-by-step recipe for gaining that gravitas. Words can help, and words can harm.

 

The Power of “Fluffy,” the Dustmop

I hate the word “gravitas.” Over the years, I’ve heard people toss the term around as if they know what it means—and presuming that we all know and share that same meaning. Words like gravitas have an elusive power, a mystery that courts misperception. That mystery can keep us at arm’s length, never letting us feel we get it.

 

“Fluffy” was like that.

 

Decades ago, I met a woman who lived in a Manhattan apartment with two mountain lions she had raised since birth. (I met the bobcats, too!) Paula was a wild animal trainer who had worked with circuses, zoos and Broadway shows. These two bobcats saw Paula as “mother.” She had a dustmop—one of those  old-fashioned stringy things—that she would whisk around the apartment. And the two lion cubs were TERRIFIED by all the swirling sudden shakings of the dustmop. Paula named it “Fluffy.” If one of the bobcats started doing anything wrong, Paula would shake the dustmop, saying, “Don’t get Fluffy angry!” And the bobcat would race back to its cage and cower in a corner. That worked for many years.

“Still Hunt,” (1883) by Edward Kemeys, Central Park.

Then one day, Paula came home and one of the bobcats was lounging in the kitchen with a self-satisfied smile…and bits of yarn hanging out of its mouth. He had killed Fluffy.

It’s time for all of us to kill Gravitas.

Oddly enough, many of us can spot it instantly, but only in some strikingly noticeable examples. More often, we tend to confuse it with stentorian displays of ego and thinly-veiled anger. Instead of starting with some recipe for acquiring gravitas, let’s see if we can’t find out a bit about what it is, and what it isn’t.

Is It Gravitas or Is It Ego?

Let’s start by getting away from words altogether. (Apologies, Amanda and Debra!)

Instead, let’s observe two different ways to hear an overture from one of Bach’s orchestral suites.

JS Bach, Orchestral Suite #3, D Major, BWV 1068, “Overture (Grave – Vivace)”, Mainz Chamber Orchestra, Günter Kehr conductor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=978z730TXvA

It’s probably best if you stand while doing this exercise. The first 3½ minutes are very grand and powerful. It would make for a great entrance of royalty, a king, to an important occasion. The two different ways to hear it have to do with whether you—as the royal personage—assume the music is about you or about the kingdom for which you are only the figurehead, the steward of its safekeeping.

Stand, eyes open, and first listen to the music as a “salute” to you. Put your hands about eight inches out from your torso with palms facing you and slowly move them up and down your torso, as if the music is filling you up.

When you hear the music repeat (at about 1:40), extend your arms out in front at about waist height with palms facing outward. Now feel that the music is flowing through you and out to the world or the assembled people at this royal occasion. Feel that the music is about the greatness of the kingdom, the honor and dignity of your mission to protect and defend the kingdom. (“Kingdom” is simply a metaphor for whatever honorable endeavor, mission or quest to which you have dedicated yourself.)

With each of these ways to hear the music, try to observe closely what happens to your eyes, face, chest, and Being. The first way is all about ego, pomposity, puffed-up with pride. That’s what many kings and politicians usually do. Here are some particulars you may observe:

  • Your chest swells, but it gets constricted, gripped within the physical body skin.
  • Your jaw hardens and lifts slightly (probably on the right side), giving your mouth a slight self-satisfied smirk.
  • You feel a slight heaviness just below your eyes—a thickness filled with “winning,” “smiting your enemies,” suspicion and, behind all that, fear.

The second way—letting the power flow through you instead of trying to keep it—you may observe:

  • Your chest opening up, “bursting” with enthusiasm
  • You breathe more deeply and easily; a buoyancy lifts your spirits
  • Your face and eyes light up, and your upper eyelids seem to get larger and full of joy
  • Courage, Will, Persistence, facing challenges—all of it becomes less heavy and effort-filled

The result of the second way is to place the grandness, the importance, the gravitas into the mission and out of you. That, in turn, gives you the quiet wisdom and satisfaction of being in service to something greater than yourself.

That’s what shines forth from Amanda, Debra, and anyone who cherishes honor and worthiness above self-aggrandizement. By the way, the second half of Bach’s Overture (after 3:28) is marked Vivace—lively! This is the part where you go forward with joy and purpose on your mission. If you try to do that after hearing the Grave section as an ode to your ego-glory, you’ll resent the forward motion: it will feel as if no one appreciates you, that people aren’t paying enough attention to you.

Here’s one stanza from Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb.”

We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it,
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed,
It can never be permanently defeated.

And here’s a quote of Debra Rhode from Clay Risen’s January 18, 2021 obituary in The New York Times:

“Enduring satisfaction,” she writes, “is most often a byproduct of participating in worthwhile activities that do not have happiness as their primary goal. Ultimate fulfillment comes from a sense of remaining true to core ideals and principles, and of using life for something of value that outlasts it.”


08/31/22 01:15 PM #22    

Jay Gottlieb

There are five of us interested in a Friday Locust Jr. High reunion dinner. We should agree on a meeting venue at a location convenient to all. I am unclear if we are to arrange this ourselves, or if it is to be done by someone running this web page. In any case, we can start the ball rolling with suggestions here.


08/31/22 04:34 PM #23    

New Trier 1970

Jay, each junior high is selecting their own venue for Friday evening. Please go ahead and select your venue. You should look into the lower level at Hackey's on Lake, which another junior high is already using. They have several separate areas. If you go to our SIGN-UP & PAY FOR EVENTS link you can see where some of the other schools will be meeting. Someone from Glencoe's Central School is working on theirs so the only junior highs that have not yet selected a venue are the three schools from Wilmette. Please email us your location and other information as soon as you have it and we will add it to our Friday Evening Options link as well as our SIGN-UP & PAY FOR EVENTS page (see far right column of that page). Please email to newtrier1970@gmail.com. Thank you.


09/17/22 10:01 AM #24    

Jay Gottlieb

Just giving everyone ample notice, the Locust Jr. High reunion will be Friday Oct. 7 at 6:30 PM at Hackney's restaurant, 1514 E. Lake Ave. in Glenview.  It's 1/2 block east of Waukegan Rd. Casual attire is ok.  Our room will be to the right immediately upon entering.  We each order and pay for our own dinners (Don't eat a big lunch.) I'm sure none of us has changed in appearance, so we won't be needing name tags.  See you there!  

Links don't work here, so you can cut and paste this in your address bar for a preview. https://hackneys.net  

 

 


10/04/22 02:02 PM #25    

Jay Gottlieb

Locust Jr. High dinner is confirmed.  9 of us expected, though room for a few more.  Hackney's in Glenview this Friday 6:30. Just walk in the front door and it's the room to the right.  I'll be a few minutes early. Bring your memories and apetites and any late homework assignments.  See you there!    


10/07/22 12:57 PM #26    

David Rich

Have a great time at the reunion, people. Sorry to miss you, but I'm not able to be there at this time. If anyone would like to get in touch, or if you visit NY and would like to visit, please feel free to let me know. I have an upcoming solo show of new paintings at Skoto Gallery, NYC, details coming soon at skotogallery.com. Or you can reach me at davidrichstudio@gmail.com.  All best to you..


10/07/22 04:51 PM #27    

Jay Gottlieb

 

For Locust class of '66 participants


10/07/22 04:52 PM #28    

Jay Gottlieb

For Locust class of '66 participants


10/07/22 06:40 PM #29    

Jay Gottlieb

For Locust class of '66 participants


10/07/22 06:41 PM #30    

Jay Gottlieb

for Locust class of '66 participants


10/10/22 01:27 AM #31    

 

Amy Roberts (Ort)

The Reunion on the 8th was chaotic and was fun because of that, but I think that many of us would have preferred more time together to be able to really connect with one another because we have hit 70 and have already lost people that we have loved and cared about and the short amount of time available was inadequate for that purpose.  I cried when I got back to my bnb after the brunch because I really love my friends from my youth very much and I don't know if I will have the opportunity to ever see any of them again.   And I dearly miss them!


10/10/22 01:27 AM #32    

 

Amy Roberts (Ort)

The Reunion on the 8th was chaotic and was fun because of that, but I think that many of us would have preferred more time together to be able to really connect with one another because we have hit 70 and have already lost people that we have loved and cared about and the short amount of time available was inadequate for that purpose.  I cried when I got back to my bnb after the brunch because I really love my friends from my youth very much and I don't know if I will have the opportunity to ever see any of them again.   And I dearly miss them!


10/15/22 09:31 PM #33    

Jay Gottlieb

Some of the new addtions to New Trier East recently completed.  Rooftop garden, Culinary Court, hallway, The "Scrounge."

sO


10/24/22 09:40 AM #34    

Tq White (Tq White Ii)

Can anyone tell me who has the negatives of the pictures posted around New Trier during the reunion? There was one of me at an anti-war march and my kids are dying for a good image. It was taken by the New Trier News (was that the name of our school paper?). Any pointers would be appreciated. I can be contacted at tq@justkidding.com



01/23/23 04:53 AM #35    

 

Amy Roberts (Ort)

 

i  Hi classmates !  I don't want to lose touch again!  There's always a spate of connection right after a reunion and then things drizzle away.PLEASE keep in touch!  Especially those of you that I couldn't remember and probably should have!  There has been so very many people in my life, and most of us have changed since our youth, so without reference, (at least for me). It's difficult to find the file that the memory is in!  

 iff you are one of those people that I SHOULD have remembered...please tell me what we were to each other, activities or activity we were involved in and I should be able to remember!  Please?

 


01/27/23 08:11 PM #36    

Jay Gottlieb

We think alike, Amy.  I've gone through the yearbook pages.  Lots of names ring a bell, but I can't recall which class we shared or even what grade it was, or if we even shared a class.  I hope we can stitch together a mini-reunion sequel this June.  I'm saddened at how many classmates have already passed on, so time is of the essence.  Maybe an informal outdoor picnic or barbecue format at Gilson Park in Wilmette could work or one of the high schools could open the cafeteria for us. This would give us a chance to connect with the parties we missed the first time around.  I do not relish the though of waiting until 2030.   


01/28/23 09:03 AM #37    

 

Michael Cutler

Yes, spent much time in Gilson Park on the lake. And it's true - so many of my high school friends have passed, including my best friend, Rod Craig. B.J. Elmore, Phil LaCasse, Dick Law, Laurie Anger, Gail Kelly, Mari Haas... All gone.

 

I currently live in Manhattan and couldn't make the belated 50 year reunion. I DO miss the beautiful North Shore of Chicago. Some of the best years of my life were spent there.


04/16/23 07:15 PM #38    

 

Amy Roberts (Ort)

 

Victoria Baugher Clark. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

 


06/13/23 04:58 PM #39    

 

Steve Klein

WE SURVIVED!

Congratulations to all of us born in the 1950’s!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked,  took aspirin, ate tuna from a tin and didn’t get tested for diabetes. In addition to that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright covered lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets…not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air-bags. Riding in the back of a truck was always great fun.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We ate cakes, white bread and real butter; and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren’t overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were ok.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We didn’t have Playstation, Nintendo, X-Box; no video games at all. No cable television (only three or four channels), no video taped movies, no surround sound, no mobile phone, no text messaging, no personal computers, no internet or internet chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We played with worms (most boys did) and mud pies made from dirt and the worms didn’t live in us forever.

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we didn’t  poke out any eyes.

We played cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians with toy guns, and we didn’t grow up to be killers.

We rode bikes or walked to a friends house and knocked on the door or rang the bell or just yelled for them.

Local teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Imagine that!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

Our generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem-solvers and inventors ever.

The past 70+ years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL… CONGRATULATIONS!

(Adapted from a LinkedIn post with a few changes.)

 


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