Enka High Reunion '12

It dawned on me while preparing to write about this that our program said "ENKA JETS Class of 1965 47th Class Reunion".  Actually, it was our 10th time getting together since we graduated and I realized that I'm still struggling with the English language!  And, this one included the classes of '64 and '66 as well as a golf outing, both new additions for this wonderful event. 

Charlie G., Myra W.G., Phil T., Terry F., Randy T.

Our host for golf and the evening dinner/dance was classmate Gary Warren, the General Manager at the Country Club of Asheville.  Thanks again, Gary! We are very fortunate that he works there and that he's generous enough to invite us to celebrate this special occasion at such a fine venue.  The course and the weather were both beautiful and far exceeded my golf play.  Lynn and I enjoyed the company of David and Madeline Rickman as well as the fine folks pictured above. 

Classmate Jimmy Bailey inspired us all during the cocktail hour with his splendid piano play.  Somehow I didn't know that he could play like that, though many of my classmates knew.  I'm glad they did and even gladder that he played for us.  Thanks Jimmy!

Jimmy Bailey

A very special guest for our evening was Coach Bill MacElrath.  Although I was never coached by him or in any of his classes, he had a fine reputation as being very good at both.  He later became principal of Enka High. 

Coach MacElrath & Gary O'Kelly

The dinner was excellent (again), with beef, shrimp, chicken cordon blue, grilled vegetables and a nicely spicy purple slaw that was fantastic.  Then there was desert...a chocolate creation that made me moan out loud! 

Brenda Jones O'Kelly, Gail Setzer Cyr, Gary O'Kelly & Myra Wiggins Grant

As is always the case at these gatherings, there were so many people and so little time.  So I spent a little time with a lot of people, and not as much as I wanted to with any of them. 

Charlie Glazener, class of '66, produced a wonderful video program which brought many laughs and some tears to more than a few eyes.  Thanks, Charlie, for a job very well done!  He credits me with steering him toward Air Force ROTC when we were at UNC.  He became a career officer and a pilot. 

My two closest friends from EHS were there, David Rickman and George Holcomb.  We had more good times together than I can count and also shared out heartaches with each other.  Thanks for being there, my friends, both then and now.  They are still two of the finest men I've ever known. 

David, George and me

The Hotties: Brenda Kay &; Pat Gosnell Freeman

And then there were the women.  I got more hugs and kisses than I have in a very long time and enjoyed each and every one.  Little Feat sang a song entitled Old Folks Boogie which said something like you know that you're over the hill when your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill.  Well that was true of me and dancing that night.  I made far more promises than even my younger body could have fulfilled.    I did manage to dance a few before the evening ended and enjoyed them immensely. 

Early in the evening we honored our classmates who have passed on.  Wayne Caldwell read the names from '65 and the list was longer than two years ago.  I know that's to be expected, but I started to wonder whose names would be read next time.  We're all standing in that line and moving toward the front.  That's one reason I come to these.  I want to see folks while I can.  Then there's the reality that my time may come before the next one and my name will be read.  If it does, know that I lived this life to the fullest and loved it.  I  have no regrets.  Bon voyage, my friends!  Oh yeah!