Mickey Haist (Sr. )
I don’t know if this is an appropriate place to post this or not, please feel free to delete it if it’s not.
Class of '72,
Having come across a variety of comments, here-and-there in different forums, I'm feeling inclined to add my own couple of cents concerning our upcoming 50th Class reunion. First I want to thank the, I'm sure underappreciated, work of those involved in the planning and decision making for an event that is providing a celebration and memory that cannot possibly please every individual that it’s being planned for. I’ve seen comments and posts and have personally heard conversations referring to our upcoming reunion that demonstrate the ‘words to live by’ assertion that everybody’s different. From the location/facility, to the prepared back-up location to accommodate a larger crowd if needed, to the general environment of the evening being recommended, and etc, many have questions and some appear simply dissatisfied and suggest changes to what’s been planned for us.
Firstly, I wouldn’t want to be the planning, making decisions, about all this - and no one would want me to be the one planning all this, so again a sincere ‘thank you’ to those doing this grueling work. My own sense of things places me here; our 50th class reunion is special and should be manifested in a special manner - to me that screams simple and real. Snazzy facilities, an extravagant setting, flashing lights, loud music, etc, to me do not at all suggest ‘special’. My own encouragement, please do take it or leave it, is; if you want your 50th class reunion to be special, if you want to leave it with grand memories, then visit with folks. Go over to a table where several people you don’t really know are sitting and visit with them for a bit, then move over to another group and chat awhile. Visit with old friends, make new friends, spend time with folks you currently see regulating and with folks you’ve not seen since school days . . . and with folks you’ve no clue who they are.
Engaging with others, visiting with people, spending time sharing, THAT’S what will make our reunion special - not the location or swirling lights or thunderous music. I know this reunion is going to be a special time for me because I plan on visiting with old friends, old acquaintances, and old people I don’t know . . . I hope, making new friends. If you see me there, please do come over and say ‘hi’. In the end, it’s really up to you, not committee choices, if the night is special for you or not.
Mickey Haist
|