I only lived in Minn. for 4 years (9th-12th
grade), so many of you probably won't remember me. However, the 4 years
I lived there were four of the best years of my life, and I loved Minnesota.
I have fond memories of many of you, and even though I moved back to NJ
right after graduation, I wish I would have stayed in touch with people.
I often think and wonder what everyone is doing. Dague Clark sent me
this website after I tracked him down, after 38+ years, and I shocked him
with a phone call.
I've enjoyed looking at all the photos of the 40th
reunion and hope to make one of the next ones. Since leaving Wayzata in '68,
I moved back to NJ; dropped out of college, in Vermont, after one yr.; went
to a broadcasting school in Boston for 4 months (in 1970); worked in
a supermarket ('72-'81, various managerial positions ending at grocery
manager); moved to Saratoga Springs, NY in 1980 (had numerous jobs
between '81-'89); and in April 1989 had a car accident where I broke my
neck, and started my second life.
My second life as a quadriplegic started in '89, when I
moved back to NJ(to be closer to family); was at Kesseler Institute
for rehabilitation, for almost 4 months, and where I met the girl who's
taken care of me for almost 20 years (the only reason we're not married
is insurance reasons, however we have been engaged for 20 yrs. I
haven't looked, but could that be a Guinness book record LOL). After
leaving Kessler, I moved in with Joanna and her two kids; continued
outpatient therapy for almost 9 months; until '92 I was in a manual chair
and very dependent; in '92 I got an electric chair, and believe it or not,
passed my driver's test again; got a handicapped van with hand controls, and
now I drive from my wheelchair, (I'm still dependent on getting showered,
dressed, getting in & out of bed but more independent after I'm in my chair.
I run errands and do all the grocery shopping, because Joanna hates to
shop.); went back to college and graduated with a BA in business
(specialty in accounting) in 2003; tried to pass the CPA exam in 07, but
didn't; and moved to Tennessee in November '08 to be near our two
grandkids.
Well there's a short (lol) synopsis of my last 40
yrs. I would love to hear from all who do or don't remember me, and
please forgive me if I don't remember you. I still have my yearbook,
but it's in NJ at my mother's house, and I haven't looked at it in awhile. I
did enjoy looking at it online today, and I remembered many names and faces.
Also, I was only there 4 yrs., but since I've left, I'm still a diehard
Twins, Vikings, and now Wild fan. I was really pissed when the North
Stars left, because their first season was my last year there, and I went to
half of their home games, and all of their home playoff games that year.
I also remember writing the names of all the players in my notebook, and in
calculus in Mr. Nelson's class, I headed all my homework and tests with Dave
Balon's name (boy was I weird then LOL). Mr. Nelson was one of
the coolest teacher's there, because he put up with it and never told me not
to do it. I still remember seeing him ride his unicycle in the
halls after school. When I lived in Saratoga from 80-89, I drove
to Montreal (3 hr. drive) three different times to see the North
Stars play. The Timberwolves came long after I was gone, and I was a "puckster"
not a "roundballer", but I still root for them just 'cause they're from MN.
You can
contact me.