Stop the Cars and Turn Up the Music

Reunions are designed to bring people together, relive old times and feel young again. And for a small group of Denver's Regis University and Loretto Heights College graduates, the beat goes on.

Recently, my good fortune of travel took me to Vero Beach, Florida as a guest of my best buddy and significant other, Tom. Our mission was to join this years gathering of the intimate group of college friends, hosted by one of the most delightful couples in the state. Their winter home, located in John's Island, continues to be the stunning venue for friends who met some 50 years ago. This year, 9 grads along with a few spouses and me, celebrated the 23rd year of their exclusive camaraderie.

We golfed, swam and dined together, and as the new kid on the block, I listened to stories of yesteryear and how it all began. This is a great story:

Classmate and the hostess with the ultimate mostest, Jeannie, was married to a Regis man named Denny McDaniel who decided to throw a 50th birthday bash for himself. They lived in St. Louis and invited their many friends from around the country. A few Regis guys wondered what they could give their birthday buddy who, by then, had everything and more. So, through mutual collaboration, the guys and Denny came up with an idea that hopefully would keep on keeping on....a healthy amount of cash to begin the Dennis and Jean McDaniel Scholarship Fund for students of their Alma Mater. The endowment fund has been supported for the past 23 years to the tune of over $100,000.00, and a fair percentage of that number has been given by the 1962/63 classmates I'm writing about. Pretty cool, huh? The scholarships could only be directed to students in good standing with the university, demonstrated leadership qualities, were of good moral character, and, get this......Denny added one other stipulation; only students with B or C grades would be considered. He recognized not all kids in need of financial assistance are brainiacs.

Jeannie lost Denny in the 1990's and has since remarried a wonderful man named Joe. He, folks, is a blue and gold Notre Dame man and rightfully proud of it. He's also a charming host. Thank you to Joe.

So here's the mystery answer to the not so burning question regarding the title to this story. It seems a few years back this same group of matured, intelligent and successful Catholics decided to be not so mature or intelligent. After being at dinner and on a darkened road on the Atlantic ocean coast, their happy feet got the better of them. So they stopped the cars, turned up the music and danced the night away on the A1A...can't you just see them doing the Mashed Potato on the highway? Brings potential road kill to a whole new level....OMG....and a big thank you to God they live to tell about it!

OK, stay with me here....many pieces to this story.

As with most reunions, a few nicknames came back to haunt. One of interest is a man who, to this day continues to be called Checkers. Reason? His father wore Sears and Roebuck checkered attire and his nickname was Checkers. He also sired 12 kids. Thus, one of the little checkers became a big Checkers in college. Another nicknamed and still gorgeous brunette was called Lolita, real name Loretta and attended the all girls school Loretto Heights. Lolito from Loretto....fun, huh? Loretta is a psychologist in Boca Raton and if turned inside out would be just as attractive. Another cool lady was hot back in the day....shoot, I can tell you they ALL were and still are...but the scoop is when this certain cutie was once escorted to a dance by a tall, dark and handsome dude, she was given a title of Queen and her dashing date was kiddingly referred forevermore by his loving and harassing frat brothers as the King. During our visit, whenever anyone called yesteryears King by his nickname you should have seen King's brown eyes roll! You only tease the one's you love, right?

Besides, Checkers, Lolita, and King, also in attendance was another Jeannie, a totally neat lady from Denver, Carol from Chicago, wonderful Dr. John and wife Linda from Denver, cool dude Charlie Brown from Chicago, and Kevin and Tina, now Floridians.

FYI...if you are wondering who the pretty queen was, it was Carol and her date for the evening was Tom. He is now a king once removed, but still shows occasional signs of being a prince. I think Carol looks like Debbie Reynolds. I also think she must be the nicest lady in the Chicago area. You should see these septuagenarians.....they all look at least 10 years younger than they are......good genes and clean living must be the reason. (However, sidebar to Kevin: your good looks may be from a third reason.
Kevin, continues, to this day, to be the class clown...I once read that, in order to keep healthy, one should laugh at least 17 times daily.....if so, Kevin and Tina will live forever. I got my moneys worth from his quick wit and funny stories. Bumper sticker: Have laugh lines will travel. Proud to be lined!

So, now onto the meat of the matter and thank God it was Saturday so there was no need for fish. The beef tenderloin Joe prepared was to die for. The new president of Regis University happened to be visiting in Florida and after hearing about the reunion at Jeannie and Joe's home, he offered to give a private 5 o' clock mass on Saturday and then stayed for dinner. Father Fitzgibbons is a true gentle man. His words came from deep within his Catholic Jesuit heart and it was a pleasure to digest his message. Afterwards, he answered questions regarding religion and faith. It was a very special evening not only for the Jebbies, but also for this plain jane Methodist from the 'hood. I described myself this way: I grew up in a town near an area called little Italy with many catholic friends. I also was one of seven children so even though we weren't catholic, everyone assumed we were!

Well, folks, there you have it. I met some awesome people.

A special thanks to Tom for inviting me into this most generous circle of friends. He's more fun than a barrel of monkeys, and speaking of....(OK, Tom...I did promise not to tell that story. What happened in Denver in the 60's stays in Denver!) Seriously, we have great fun and bring to the table outstanding friends we now share. As proven again, it enriches both our lives very much.

Jeannie and Joe have been doing this gig for quite sometime and you can't believe how well it works. They must love it since they already named the dates for next year. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the dancing on the highway will no longer take place but memories never die. And Denny's endowment won't either thanks to friendship and honoring a man beginning years ago. The Regis/LHC gang own something extremely special.

Upward and onward.....

Wait....hold the phone and turn up the music.....I have a super post script thought......

In your minds eye, imagine 15-20 college friends, ages 50-something, at a reunion in Florida. They've been to dinner and are driving home late at night on a highway along the Atlantic ocean coast. The music is playing and suddenly what comes on the car radio? The song was number #3 on the top 40 charts in the year 1962. They stop the cars with headlights on, get out, turn up the music and start dancing in the street.....know the tune I'm talking about? Click the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwfQbMyh2i0&sns=em

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Happy Birthday Norman

February 3 is the birth date of three notable people; my mother and 2 friends. Also, on the CBS Sunday Show, Charles Osgood reported that it is also the birth date of Norman Rockwell. I've always admired his works because of his incredible talent to paint like a writer. Each of his paintings tells a story unlike any other artist I can think of. The news triggered a memory of a virtual reality Rockwell party I attended years ago and ever since have had a desire to paint in Norman's style. That is, if I could, which I can't. So, since my artistic talent isn't remotely close to his, I'll write the story. It's about a birthday party so is fitting on this day of notable birthdays.

Bill Knapp and his longtime friend David Kruidenier shared the same summertime birthday. Every year they would alternate giving a party to celebrate. The years that Bill hosted were welcomed because he had air conditioning. The years David hosted were not unwelcome, but were usually hot times in the old town tonight because David and Liz's home, a magnificent classic contemporary, had no air conditioning.

This particular evening, The Kruideniers entertained about 20 for the casual but catered gathering. It was to be a lovely night, however, Mother Nature decided to turn the up the temperature that day. At 7 PM it was still 90 degrees in the shade.

Heat makes for thirst, so the cocktail hour got us well hydrated and by time we took our places in the dining room we were also really steamed up. I was seated next to a man who was an attorney and past president of the US Olympics committee so he was used to sweating profusely, however, that evening, he took perspiring to a whole new level. OMG, you could have rung out his shirt it was so wet. The rest of us were in various stages of glowing like nuclear power plants to looking like we'd just come up from the bottom of the pool. I'm telling you, it was unbearabley hot.

By then, the sole topic of conversation was, "David and Liz, just what is it about cooling a home you don't get?" Both had been extremely successful in publishing and law so it certainly wasn't an economic issue but they defended their liberal and environmental ideology. Different strokes for different folks, huh?

Here's where Norman comes into the story. Close your eyes for a minute and envision a Rockwell setting for a painting:

Somewhere between the salad and main course, a lovely 70 something lady and good friend of all decided to take the wet bull by the horns and make a statement. She quietly unbuttoned her blouse and calmly took it off. Another lady friend at her table did the same. Then the men followed suit and disrobed their upper attire. Soon, with the exception of our hosts and a few of us who had worn one piece dresses, the ladies sat in soggy Playtex's and the men with sweat laden bare chests while we all watched David and Liz sit speechless until they started laughing so hard it brought tears. The wait staff had peeked out to see what was going on and the next thing was they all made a grand entrance into the dining room serving the main course bare chested, wearing only pants and bow ties around their necks. It was one of the funniest scenes I've ever experienced. Had Norman been there, you can bet he would have asked for a 'to-go' bag and beat feet to his studio to capture the memory on canvas.

Possibly someday I'll pick up a paint brush and try creating that birthday visual of some 20 years ago. Or, more likely, it will simply remain a story on paper. I certainly couldn't do the canvas justice. Only Norm himself could pull that one off.

Happy birthday Norman and notable people. Upward and onward.

John the Baptist and the Cha Cha

What do the two have in common? A great deal if you are on the laid back island of Key Biscayne, Florida.

In December, prior to Christmas, I spent a week there where my very special buddy hangs out in the winter. His name is Tom and his company, the island ambiance and Miami skyline are worth every late flight, mechanical difficulty and hunger pain. It was my second visit and after the first, one of my requests was to attend the Sunday mass at the local Latin Catholic Church. Tom discovered it and is a regular. While certainly meaningful, the ceremony of a typical Catholic mass can be a bit dry and predictable, agreed? Not true of this one. For that hour the kids in church were the focus. They gathered around the Father and listened to his message. Intermittently and often the choir sang cool, unsophisticated, upbeat Latino music and truly, it was the best feel good medicine I've found in a long time.

That particular Sunday the children were called to front of the church and sat crossed legged around the Father. They listened to his message about the true meaning of Christmas and John the Baptist. John B. was all about sharing. If you have 2 coats and a man has none, Johns recommendation was to give up your second coat. If you have food and a man has none, share your chicken nuggets and fries....and so on. It was suggested toys should be shared but some were having trouble with that concept.

At the end of his brief sermon, he asked the kids to reiterate with him the lesson. Question: The meaning of Christmas? All little hands went up.....Answer: The celebration of baby Jesus' birth. Question: You have two coats? Answer: Give one to the needy. Question: You have an abundance of food? Answer: Give some to the hungry. Question: You have all the toys? Semi answer: Share with your brother and sister. "Got it?" he asked. The kids nodded yes and then he said, "OK, good, ciao, ciao," and they all scattered back to their parents. Immediately, the 10 person choir began singing their rhythmic latin inspired songs complete with tambourines and maracas. The tune is implanted in my head.....a one, and a two, and a.......hall-elujah, hall-elujah, hallelujah to The Lord..(maracas) Cha Cha Cha. Repeat chorus......

Anyway, like Tom, I'm still somewhat of a kid at heart. We get pleasure watching the energy of youth, embrace the upbeat and just say NO the downbeat. At this stage in life, who needs stuffy pomp and circumstance when we can be reminded of the likes of John the Baptist's teachings in such a simple and entertaining way. The Latinos of Key Biscayne and St. Agnes deliver.....yah mon!

Upward and onward...

Cha Cha Cha!