Party Like it's 1999….er 1986

It is a little over a week away from our 25th Class Reunion.  We hope that you will join us for what promises to be a little sentimental, a little hilarious, and loads of fun catching up with everyone you haven't seen for 25 years.  TWENTY-FIVE years???? How much has changed in 25 years?  How much is the same?  Some have grandkids and some have babies; some have moved far away and some have stuck close to home; some have been married "till death do us part" and some have been married "till I get bored"; some have held their dream job and some have rose each morning and gone to a job they hate.  So much living in 25 years and each of us has a unique story to tell about love, loss, marriage, divorce, birth, and death.  Everyone has done things they are proud of and things they would pay money to forget.  We hope that if you are still unsure about coming, you will please take a chance and join us.  The doors open at 5:30 pm at the Dorhety in Clare. Dinner is $40/person at the door.  We hope to see you there,
Danee, Scott, and John

Still unsure…. look how much these random Class of 1986 members had at their reunions:

Get down!

Hey, that's one of my favorite artists, Jenny Doh!

One step up from an "air" guitar

Who's Who Among The Class of 1986

I'm finding that tracking over a hundred people that I haven't had contact with for 25 years is a long and difficult project with more frustration and disappointment than success.  Thankfully, Kris Ogden is doing more than her share of tracking, stalking, and phoning.  She has sent me many addresses and keeps me on my toes.  I am amazed at the number of classmates living out of the state of Michigan…but then again 25 years is a very long time and a lot of stuff happened in those years, right?  Seems like a long time, a quarter of a century…odd that it went so damn fast!

Ok, so time flies and people scatter.  For obvious, and probably not so obvious reasons, it is difficult for many of those out-of-state classmates to make the trip back to Harrison this summer.  The short notice certainly isn't helping….considering how difficult has been finding everyone, we should have started planning last summer.  But since that isn't possible I have another idea.   I will put together a "where am I now" sort of something to pass out after the reunion.   For those planning on attending the festivities, I will collect your stories at the reunion.   For those who can't make it but want to share their life story I will collect you info either over the email or snail mail.

I'm unsure right now what the final project will look like but some quick thoughts: I could post the info on this blog, type it up as a little booklet and mail or email it, or make a Facebook page for the info with access only to "friends".  No matter what the final form is, I need you to share your story;  the who, what, and where of your life.

If you are interested in sharing your story and hearing from those classmates you secretly admired, crushed or hated- now is the time to let everyone know what your life has been like for the last 25 years.  Send me a an email to harrisonhigh1986@gmail.com telling me where you live (be specific with an actual address or be vague, you choose), marital status (names and ages, how many times (shh.. we won't tell!), Kids (names and ages), grandkids?!?! (names and ages), schooling after HHS,  job(s)/career path, interests, and a short story of how you fit all this living into 25 years.  Let me know if you want your email address shared with the class or kept to myself.   I will make some sort of package with your contact info and the stories you provide.  If you only feel like sharing your contact info, that is fine too.

If you have't already checked the list on my previous blog post, please take a peek and let me know if you have contact info on any of the classmates on the list.

Danee

Milk cartons and Graduates

Ok, so I am having a really hard time finding everyone….. I need help.  Even if you don't think you will come…..EVER…..to a reunion, I would still like your contact information.  I'm hoping to compile a list that we can use in the future.  Please send me an email or comment on this blog or friend me on Facebook and giving me all your information.  If you have ANY information on other grads pass that on as well.

We need contact info on the following grads:

Tammie Abbott
Matt Anderson
Ray Anderson
Craig Atwell
Chuck Bailey
Doug Beck
James Blackburn
Mike Brady
Don Caulkins
Tonya Cannon
David Clark
Don Clark
Ernie Comer
Sandra Corrigan
Lynn Curns
Dan Davis
Jim Davis
Doug Elkins
Patrick Frederick
Robbie Fultz
Steve Gaertig
Daryl Gardner
Dawn Gendron
Jim Gilman
Kriss Harter
Leigh Ann Hathcock
Laura Johnson
Lenna Johnson
Terry Johnson
Julie Kaminski
Kerri Keeler
Barbara Keith
Michelle Kemerer
Richard Kipp
Rodney Kramer
Dean Libby
Dee Lyons
Robert Martin
Jane Mathews
Joe Mathias
Chris Nagy
Bob Norton
Jim O'tool
Tom Pell
Callie Perry
Rita Powell
Teresa Reed
Lee Riddle
Sue Ellen Rumsey
Jane Russell
Rick Signs
Kym Stamper
Lori Starkweather
Ian Swartz
Scott Taylor
Leon Tessman
Denny Thompson
Jay Thompson
Jamie Thornburg
John Trainor
Amy Umphrey
Cathy Wightman
Robert Wyman
Kenny Young
Mary Zilska

Whew, that is a lot of people to find in a short period of time.  Have family in Harrison still?  Show them this list and see if they recognize anybody.
Thanks,
Danee

Where in the World is….?

Where in the world did everybody disappear to?  Twenty five years is enough time to disappear.  As time is rushing forward I have only found a handful of our classmates.  Can you help?  Please forward any information you have on anyone from the class of 1986.  As we get closer to the reunion, I will post individuals names but right now it is a big list.  Even email addresses or FB contact would be helpful as it gives me a place to start from.

25 Years….Seriously? No! Really????

It is hard to believe that we graduated from Harrison High 25-years ago.  Graduation day was beautiful- I recall the sun shining bright over the football field as we assembled in our yellow gowns and hats, excited to be moving on but terrified of what we might find.  In reality it might have been overcast and threatening rain… but I remember sunshine so we are going with it.

I recall thinking I would never get through high school, but of course not only did I get through HS, but a quarter of a century has passed since that day.  Some memories are so vivid it could have been last year and others are so jumbled and distant, I sometimes wonder if they are real or my imagination.  I know that when we graduated on that May day in 1986, I knew every student in our class- some maybe only by name but I knew.  Today, when I look at the yearbook, too many faces I don't remember stare back at me.  Times does that I guess, but I still feel bad about it.

When we started planning this reunion I thought it would be easy to jump on to Facebook and friend my classmates.  What I quickly realized is just because I know someone doesn't mean they graduated with me.  We all know students who gradated before and after 1986 and time has robbed me of these details.
Each of us must work together to track everybody down.  Please be sure the classmates you are still in contact with know about this blog.  Please don't assume we have someone's address.


So, here is what I (we) know right now….
Who: All graduates of Harrison High School Class of 1986 (that is Harrison Michigan not that other Harrison High down state)
What: Our 25-Year Reunion
When: August 6th 2011, 5:30pm-12:00am
Where: The Doherty Hotel, Clare
Dinner: Buffet at around 7:30 pm and tentatively will include beef, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, salad bar, bread, and dessert.  Cash bar will open at 6:00pm
Entertainment: DJ
Prices: $35 per person if purchased before June 1st, 2011
            $40 per person if purchased after June 1st
            $45 per person at the door
Sleepovers: The Doherty is holding a block of rooms for us at a discount if booked before July 6th.  In order to receive the discount just mention you are with the Harrison High School Class of 1986. If you think you will be drinking in celebration of seeing all your old friends (or enemies), please get a room; we don't need any drunk drivers on the road.

Finding everybody is our next project.   We are collecting addresses right now.  I have a lots of emails, thanks to Kris Ogden, that I need to follow up on.  I will be sending invitations through the mail, so I appreciate full contact information.  You can leave your contact here as a "comment" if you don't mind everybody seeing it.  If you want it a little more private you can email it to harrisonhigh1986@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Danee Paullin
Scott Douglas
John Morse