The New Travels of Maureen and Carol: Let the Reunion Rock On

From the first emails and phone calls planning the reunion of women from Marian Central High School’s Class of 1966, every life decision Maureen made hinged on that one early week in April 2014. While Maureen needed dental work, she made it clear to both dentists involved that no appointments would happen until after Las Vegas. Carol’s looking for a job? As long as it starts after Las Vegas. I got roped into jumping on the early planning bandwagon with a call from organizer Chris after everyone sorted out that we’d all stay at Caesar’s Palace instead of the more expensive Bellagio, where Gerri planned to stay. As the departure date neared, Maureen reported a flurry of emails with everything from meeting up times to, of course, oh-what-to-wear.

I mentioned in the previous post Gerry’s very gracious hosting of dinner and cocktails on the first evening in Las Vegas. A couple of things struck me as an observer more than a participant. First, the smart phones – showing photos of kids and dogs to each other and snapping picture after picture of each other.

Then there was the din of so many conversations starting, changing course and coming back, invariably to much laughter. And the stories: Gerry, a newcomer to the grade school being told by a nun that she would share a locker with Maureen, who pointed out exactly what spaces to use, traumatizing Gerry to this day; tales of various hijinks in vehicles traveling at excessive speeds down country roads, fueled by alcohol, as it were; and the sadder recounting of classmates lost or vanished. All of which reflected the camaraderie going back for more than a half-century. And the accent. Everyone sounded like Maureen and her accent became more pronounced after every passing moment. The accent is hard to describe – it isn’t quite the movie Fargo, nor as distinctive as that of min-eh-SOH-dans (who hate the Cheeseheads – Green Bay Packer fans – even more that do Illinoisans).

The party in the suite continued for some time after Maureen and I Ieft, tired from our days of driving. The group convened for brunch on Sunday morning, our northern Midwest friends marveling at the flowers and warmth of the day, all but Pat and us having all just emerged from an unusual and hideously cold and snowy winter.

I got the group to pose for a group shot. Introducing (left to right): Pat (Santa Fe), Maureen (Oakland), Kathy (Chicago), Chris (Crystal Lake, Ill., near the Wisconsin Border), Nancy (Wisconsin), Teri (Woodstock, Ill., Maureen’s original home), Gerry (also Crystal Lake), and Diane (Minnesota).

Moving this group of strong-willed girls took a firm hand. Most often, Gerry and Kathy knew where we were going and former teacher Chris led us, two-by-two. Often lagging in the back, I wondered about the seemingly amoebic movement of the group as it would ooze along, stop and clump for no apparent reason, start up again I disorder, then fall back into its decisively moving phalanx.

Maureen and I enjoyed meals with the group and some day time gambling.

Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris Hotel/Casino

Hash House A Go Go in the Quad Hotel

Our server next to Gerry and her "Man v. Food Favorite," Andy's Sage Fried Chicken.

The rest partook of much of what Las Vegas had to offer – the Bellagio fountain lights, the lights of Fremont Street in the old Strip, and a show – at least one arriving in the morning swearing off gin forever. It seems that everyone but me came out even or ahead in gambling on various machines (no tables for any of us, except the two who found an accommodating and bored roulette dealer who taught them how to play).

Far too soon, and with too early flights to reconvene on departure day, we bid farewell to the women of Marian Central High School’s Class of ’66.