And a good time was had by all ...

Well, this photo should say it all ... I think the only people in it who aren't UDHS 77ers are the bartenders. We had about 75 people at the Fireside last night, excellent nibbles, a cozy ambience, and time for catching up with everyone. I guess my old joke about the perfect reunion--an empty hall with a keg and a bag of Frito--wasn't too far off. But the Fireside was certainly a nicer place (thanks, Pete!).

Who can really believe it's been 30 years? Everyone looks great! Most impressive sideburns: John Purshock. Most impressive beard: Don Reese. Most humorous nametag: Jerry (or was that Don?) Lynd. Jeff Sacks came all the way from Florida and Joan Kolarik from Chicago. Eileen Burke brought all her yearbooks, even back to Three Tuns, and Michele Fielder brought a photo album from graduation and the early 80s, so we had fun looking back. Now if you all send your directory info to udhs77@gmail.com (put "Directory Info" in the subject line and read further down in this blog for details on what info to send), we can get an updated directory together and perhaps distributed. Possibly electronically to save costs and trees.

Karen Barr Hilf took many photos, so go sign up for Facebook if you haven't already, befriend her, and check out the pix once she puts them up. Props again to Karen and Paula Bosley for pulling this off in so little time, and thanks to Bob Cerbara (Paula's hubby) and Deanna Bosley (Jack's wife) for helping man the check-in table so Karen and I could get some food and socializing in. By the way, if we want to take over the Fireside next time (that is, have the whole place to ourselves and closed to the public), Pete says we'd need a guaranteed 150 attendees. With a little planning, I think that's possible (we got half that number on short notice). So help us out with classmates' contact info, and let's have an even better bash next time!

Manana!

OK, everyone, I hope you're ready! Please bring exact change if you can; it will speed the line. And we'd prefer cash because then we can pay the Fireside without having to do any banking on Monday, after the fact.

A couple more RSVPs have arrived: Mike Patzuk and wife Josie, and Brett Reedy.

By the way, I have a few mugs left over from the 25th reunion. If you want one, donate a couple bucks to the reunion kitty and you can take one home. These are nice quality mugs from Griffith Pottery in Oreland, and are excellent pencil cups as well as coffee-tea-or-cocoa mugs. jan

Four days to go!

More RSVPs: Gail Sherman, Wendy Addis, Cheryl Arkin, Don and Debbie Zeller Reese, Ray Goettner and wife. We're over 60 now, and the number keeps climbing. Should be a fun time!

Even more RSVPs

Who else you'll be seeing at the Fireside on Saturday night: Rick Schlegel, Cheri Walker Mohr and Bernie Mohr, Anita Waldron Shuttle, Paul Fereshetian and wife, Nick Tino, and possibly Kevin McPoyle.

Be sure to come early or you may have to park at UDHS and walk over! (Well, maybe not that far away.)

OK, just to update everyone--when you arrive, look for Paula, Karen, Marybeth, or me. We'll be the ones brandishing lists and wristbands. After you're paid up, you get a wristband as payment proof and your entree to the nibbles. Remember to bring cash for the bar, too, and of course, don't drink and drive. We want to see you at the next reunion!

More attendees! Don't miss this gathering

Our latest RSVPs are from Jeff Sacks, Randy Pyles, Bill Wolff, and Deb Taplar Rosen. The mini-reunion is less than a week away! Keep spreading the news, and if you can bring exact change if you're paying at the door, that will help immensely. (Less time spent standing in line to get checked in, for one thing.)

If your contact info has changed since the last reunion, please send it to udhs77@gmail.com (please put "directory info" in the subject line. Here's what we're looking for: your name (first, maiden if applicable, last), mailing address, phone number, email address, spouse's name, names and ages of your kids. If you have grandchildren, tell us how many. Feel free to write a little info on what you're doing these days. If we get a formal directory together, we can use it in your bio. In the meantime, we just enjoy reading about what everyone's up to these days. Like, I'm now a band parent (my son's in the middle school marching band), but it doesn't seem like that long ago that I was the band kid and it was my parents up there in the stands cheering and freezing. Circle of life, indeed. jan

Attendance pushing (or maybe past) 50

Hi, everyone! Time to update the blog. Attendance at the mini-reunion is nearing 50 and may be past it as you read this. Anyhow, we've heard from these folks who'll be attending: Eileen Burke and hubby, Betsy Murphy Skaroff, Ellen Pollen Graulich, Terri Komisar, Yvonne Herder Brown, Jack Bosley and wife, Bob McGann, Jeannie Buck, and Patty Hee and hubby.

Remember, you can send payment in advance if you'd like--but remember that next Thursday is a holiday, so if you can't mail it by Monday, best to pay at the door. Scroll down this page to read previous posts. (If you're not familiar with how blogs work, new posts are added at the top, so the first post eventually ends up at the bottom of the page. Sort of works like my inbox at the office, lol.) My mailing address is in the Nov. 5 post. Make your check payable to UDHS Class of 1977.

More RSVPs...keep spreading the word!

The official head count just hit 30. John and Ronda Rossmeisl Owens, Gail McKelvie, Lori Joffe, Jack and Lisa Martosella May, and Paula Bosley's hubby will be at the Fireside. (Mine will be at home, probably watching DVR-ed episodes of "Modern Marvels." I think he's become addicted....).

Keep spreading the word, and be sure to send your email to udhs77@gmail.com so we can add you to the emailing list. Sign up for Facebook so we can stay in touch the 21st-century way and you can impress your kids with your techno-savvy! (idk about u, but i don't want 2 b pwned by my 12-year-old on the computer!)

Start exercising your vocal cords and your glass-holding arm...only 2 weeks to go! jan

Who's attending?

Just in case you were curious, we have 23 RSVPs already...here are the folks who've said they'll be at the Fireside on the 24th: Angelo Arnone and guest, Karen Barr Hilf, Paula Bosley, Jan Corwin Enger, Tim and Debbie Demyan Kemmler, Jamie Hayden and guest, Yvonne Herder Brown and guest, Joan Kolarik, Melanie Kramer Norris and guest, Peter Penna, Linda Pfeifer, John Purshock, Josh Raphaelson and guest, Robin Roznowski Grosso, Marybeth Sabella Paone, and Jim Snyder and guest.

Maybes: David Connor, Tom Cush, Ellen Pollen Graulich, Annette Vyvyan Andree, and Tom Weller.

Send in your RSVP today! If you don't want to be bothered with cash at the door, you can mail a check (payable to UDHS Class of 1977) for $15 per person attending to Jan Corwin Enger at 1227 Lois Road, Maple Glen, Pa. 19002.

Mini-reunion set for November 24

If you’re going to be in the Ambler area on Saturday, Nov. 24, join us from 7-11 p.m. at the Fireside Bar and Restaurant. This is the old Crane’s Tavern near the intersection of Butler & Bethlehem Pikes. Our classmate, Peter Penna, owns this fine place. It’s a great spot though not all that large, and because we haven’t organized a formal reunion, we can’t ask Fireside to close the place to the public. Please plan to arrive early to beat the crowd. Parking is at a premium, available around the restaurant and across the street at the retirement facility.

Spread the word to any classmates you may know, and RSVP ASAP to udhs77@gmail.com. The cost is $15 per person for hors d’oeuvres and finger food with a cash bar. Here we can talk about a more complete, future 30th+ reunion.
Also, because communicating and keeping an accurate contact list for a class of more than 400 is a challenge, we’re working on using the Internet networking tool Facebook as a way to keep us all in contact. Many email spam systems block massive email distribution lists and quite often both email and residential addresses change within 5 years. So, please sign up for Facebook. Use the email address you want the reunion folks to use when contacting you. Facebook is a safe, private way to stay in touch. ou have complete control of what is seen on your profile. Be sure to list Upper Dublin High School and Class of 1977 so that you can search for classmates and we can begin forming our class group. This will be a very efficient way for us to keep in touch.

Hope to see you on the 24th!

Paula Bosley, Karen Barr Hilf, Marybeth Sabella Paone, and Jan Corwin Enger