"Party at Shenvalee"View Gallery In 2001 we arrived to our 20th reunion on a clear, bright and sunny day day. Birds were chirping, people were laughing, the Mt. Jackson and New Market faithful were gearing up for a great night. Ummmm, that wasn't the case this time. It was cold, rainy and windy- about the most miserable conditions (short of a blizzard) imaginable. I pulled into the school parking lot about 4:30. After a flurry of cell phone calls to Natalie and Lynne (who wondered aloud "why are you there?") we decided to bag the gathering and watching the game completely. Lynne said the reunion committee was coming to meet me at 8:00 at the Shenvalee Pro Shop and we would go later (10:00 or so) to decorate the Resque Squad hall for our dinner. I stayed at SJHS until 5:15 hoping that, if anyone showed up I could direct them to the bar instead of staying there. I subsequently found out that Tim Jenkins did show up and watch the Generals beat Pendleton County 8-0 in the deluge, but I would rather be dry and toasted. I went to the Pro Shop at the appointed time and waited. In the meantime, an older gentleman offered to buy me a beer. I declined, saying that I was meeting some friends. I proceeded to occupy a lonely bar stool in the corner of the place for about a half-hour. Then Lynne Funkouser Hoye, Lynn Foley Mowery, Natalie Dellinger Roy and Mark Jordan showed up with Lynn's daughter Meghan as the "DD". That man's opinion of me increased exponentially when he saw how pretty my "friends" were! (Not Mark... sorry pal) I won't go into detail about the amount of libations consumed or exactly what happened as I'm sworn to secrecy. Let it suffice to say that we were about as off-the-hook as we were in 1981! About 9:00 or so, Bill Jones and wife Laura arrived from Wilmington, NC. We continued until 10:30, then we went to the Resque Squad building. This was a riot! People were running around with streamers, ribbons and other decorations who were not in any shape to do what they were doing! I've got to hand it to Lynn... she was coherent and did a fantastic job putting things together. Lynne also, as she assembled a tremendous tri-fold display with all the yearbook pictures (yes, the afro was in full view, damn it) and scenes from Reunion 2001. Bill and I were conveniently wallflowers, and Lynne and Natalie had a fantastic time trying to wrap themselves in some type of ribbon-like decoration while trying to remain standing. We had assistance from Lewis "Buck" Grove, a childhood friend who attended SJHS with our class. Buck is a long-time member of the New Market Resque Squad. It was great to see him after a lot of years, and it was great to have someone in command of his senses helping us set up tables! After this shindig Meghan took us all to our appointed resting places so that might rise another day... |