|
What you missed!!
|
|||||||
|
Comments from George
First the people who were there were: Paul Gardner, Paul Kolsanoff, Daria Morozoff and husband George, John Gillespie, Aldo Donnaloia, Judy Hamway and husband Eddie, Rachel Wahba and Judy, Doug Moorhead and wife Peggy, Kathy MacLeod, Mary Ellen Peterson, Jim Bray, Bob Zurhellen, Ken Moorhead, Julie Baldwin and husband Jim, Ken Downs, Barry Barankin, Lena Gassman and husband, Ed Story (Ed was ASIJ, but knew many of us from Nojiri), and of course myself and wife De. De and I got up to Julie's house Thursday night. Julie had a very nice pasta dinner for us. The four of us sat around and talked till 11:30. I got up early and Jim Bray and I drove to Oakmont Golf Course where we met John and Aldo. If you guys have never played golf with Aldo you are missing a unique experience. 
Aldo Donnalioa Trust me, he is a good golfer (had the low round each day) but each shot or putt is followed by a litany of comments, directional instructions and cursing - most of it in Japanese. Short missed putts were "Baka" or "Dame". John, on the other hand was cool and smooth and, with the athletic talent he has, will be beating us very soon. Jim with his course knowledge (he plays there) knew what to do. I, on the other hand, slapped the ball all over the course and as the good missionary kid that I am, took my medicine in stride. Afterwards we had a nice lunch at the course and then split up to prepare for the evenings activities. That evening around 5:00 people started coming over to Julie's house. She had a great catered meal. The Alaskan King Crab Ken Downs brought down from Alaska was out of this world. We sat around Julie's back yard, ate, drank beer or wine and just talked and visited and caught up with everyone. As the evening progressed all of us had funny stories to tell about CA - dorm incidents, camp outs, basketball games, Sukugawa Lakes, etc. We laughed so hard at some of the stories. Around midnight it broke up. The next morning, John, Aldo and I played golf again (Jim Bray couldn't make it). We had a great time again and Aldo did not let up yelling at his ball in Japanese. That afternoon at noon we met at a winery called Ledson. Julie had arranged for a private room with lunch and a wine tasting. The winery and the surrounding area was beautiful. That evening we all went back to Julie's house and had a great meal with left overs from Friday night including that delicious crab. Again, we sat around in the back yard looking at yearbooks and telling stories. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt the next day. No one was spared any embarrassing moments we could think of from CA. Again midnight and it finally broke up.
If you have never been to a CA reunion, I really encourage you to go. They are so much fun, so refreshing and the bonds I have made with my old CA buddies are even stronger that they were at CA. George Saito, CA 1965 |
Comments from Paul
i want to thank you all for a meaningful, enlightening and thoroughly entertaining reunion i was thankful for the opportunity to pick judy and her husband up at the airport because it proved to be the only time i had to really talk with them in our ride to san raphael dont feel dissed ME i was glad to be of service and besides you and i talk frequently tho maybe not enough and that goes for all of you bang out an email once in a while even if its just to say "hi, i was just thinking about you, thanks for the smiles" for me this was the best reunion yet i had the opportunity to finally meet the legendary Mr Downs and meet some new people as well ( barry and john ) some of you i didnt get to connect with enough: kathy, rach, lena (not at all) but i was blessed to finally have the chance to connect with the two jims bray this was the first time since you showed me the shadow puppets in SF (a hundred years ago) that you and i have really talked and i miss those words of wisdom that you so gently impart and our host...thanks for the music, i think i love you LOL i knew there was a reason julie liked you; i finally got more than a glimpse of why DD thank you for being, bless you and our hostess, julie bless you bless you bless you and thank you for asking that personal question george, bob, paul i love you guys dont ever stop... i believe i know who you are and who you were far better now than i ever did at CA bless you, i love you all i/we are blessed to have such experiences and such friends once again thank you all and someone please forward this to anyone it is not addressed to and please send me the email addresses of any one who was there who i didnt send this to peacepablo (Paul Gardner)
Comments from Mary Ellen
George Saito continues to amaze me with the details he remembers...about everyone, it seems. When someone else remembers things about you that you've forgotten, it's kind of scary... but so much fun to relive those moments. What's really fun is watching a "collective memory" pull together details to recreate an especially funny episode. We laughed SO HARD! Julie was the epitome of the calm, well-prepared hostess.. admirably pulling it all together at her beautiful home and at the winery. She generously let not only one or two, but FIVE of us stay with her and her husband Jim! And Jim's great - just like "one of us." It's always a thrill to be in Rachel and Judy's comfortable, rambling, beautiful home in San Rafael. We had a delicous brunch there on Sunday. They have a way of making everyone feel welcome and it was a great place to spend the last several hours of this reunion (see the group picture taken on Rachel's bed). There's so much more to share... De Saito's wonderful way of knowing just what needs to be done, and doing it graciously, Doug Moorhead's gentle manner, Ken Down's incredibly delicious Alaska King Snow Crab legs, Kathy MacLeod's cheerful personality, Kolsy's absolute dedication to the school, the first time I've seen Judy Hamway since we left Japan in 1965 (and getting to meet her husband, Eddy), and John Gillespie's many connections and experiences, to name a few... Now I'm looking forward and hope to stay in touch with the "Santa Rosa gang" and others who weren't able to attend, and work together on the next reunion! Mary Ellen Saville (Lynne Peterson 1965) |
||||||
Rachel Wahba
