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Brad's Musings and Meanderings

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"Hey, I have an idea. Let's not let the box of rats ruin our lives." - Mike, "Friends"

For those of you who may have been concerned – and I know there are many of you – that I was not going to reach an acceptable quota (whatever that may be) of ‘reunions’ with old friends whom I hadn’t seen in five or more years, you obviously had forgotten that this was the 20th anniversary of my graduation from Beavercreek High School. So on Saturday, July 17, 2010 – less than a week after returning from Florida – I headed out for my third high school class reunion being held at the Holiday Inn in Beavercreek.

In fact, the fun began the day before. I had been settling back into somewhat of a lazy lifestyle following the return from my Disney World trip, and Ashleigh was heading out for yet another in a seemingly never-ending string of music festival road trips, this time going with Stephen to New York. On Friday the 16th, I went up to Milano’s Italian restaurant in Beavercreek in hopes of seeing a gathering of fellow graduates hoping to enjoy a pre-show to the reunion that would be following the next night. It was less of a gathering, and more of a smattering.

But no matter, it was still a good time. My good friend Missy Fodor and her husband Paul where there, so that would have made it worthwhile on its own merit. But also on hand were Lisa Beecroft, Shelly Newell (and her husband Rich Eberle, who had graduated in 1989), Dale Wren and his wife, Heather Wassam, Greg Suchy, Becky Black, and Julie Jorgenson. Also coming in a little bit later were Tom Kowalski and Brenda Fielitz, both 1990 grads, now married to each other, and the hosts of the festivities coming the next day.

Swell folks Missy and Paul Raisch

With Missy at Milano’s

Shelly Newell and Julie Jorgenson

So over three Coronas and some chicken tenders, I socialized with this small group for a few hours, with heavy emphasis on chatting with Missy and Paul, Greg, and really getting to know Lisa Beecroft for the first time. I remembered her vaguely from school, and knew that she had gone to the same church with my friends Heidi Maynard and Ashleigh Heath, but I really never knew her well. I’m glad I got to, because she became one of my very favorite people to socialize with at the reunion.

The cake

Lisa Beecroft’s senior picture

Lisa and me

On Saturday, a few of the former students went to a park for a family day with the kids, but I didn’t participate, not having any kids of ‘park-going’ age (and besides, Ash was in New York). But I was primed and ready for the big reunion that night.

Mindy Burger’s senior picture

Mindy, Jana, Alicia, and I are ready to enter the reunion

The decorations were fantastic, with giant wall displays showcasing our class pictures from the yearbook, tasteful black and orange decorations, a giant map where we could mark our current location, an appropriate cake, a giant screen showing both senior pictures and other embarrassing photos. We had a great chicken, potatoes, and green beans dinner at 7pm – with an open bar for the entire evening (except for during mealtime). I had a pleasant blend of amaretto sours, red cabernets, and a Corona – then dipped into the white russians and long island iced teas at the bar after the official reunion had ended. I sat at the dinner table with Lisa Baker and her husband, Missy Fodor and her husband, April Jones and her date, Debra Prestyloski, Shelly Steck, and Kelly Krueger.

Blow-up of our yearbook on the wall

Debra Prystaloski in the second grade. We shared Mrs. Deets’ classroom.

Lisa Baker, me, Tom Kowalski, Missy Fodor, and Debra Prystaloski

Tom did a nice tribute to the fellow students who had passed away since graduation. I was shocked to learn of the most recent one – Karin Lacy, who had died of cancer. There were also awards and prizes given out for a group of superlatives such as most grandchildren (Deborah Hileman), furthest distance traveled to be there (Lisa Beecroft), living closest to the high school (Shelly Newell), most kids (Steve Bergman, Missy Fodor, and Mike Ross & Jennifer Simpson – each with four), and the biggest change (Janice McGinnis). But by far the most illustrious award was the male and female with the best hair in high school. And by ‘best’, they mean most ridiculous. April Jones and I took home the honors. She got a Beavercreek hat and I got a Beavercreek shirt.

With April Jones as we received our awards for ‘Best Hair’ in high school

With our major awards

But of course, the best part was the dizzying haze of circling around the room repeatedly, trying to take it all in…trying to chat, and catch up with, and admire, and brag to, and tell stories, and reminisce, and make fun, and hug, and touch, and be photographed with, and just simply sink into the quicksand of time with as many people as possible.

With my friend Jana Fine

With Missy at the reunion

With Alicia Keeton at the reunion

Senior photo of Kristen Hinrichsen

With Kristen at the reunion

After the official celebration ended, probably a third of the 130 (approximately) people present ended up in the Holiday Inn, closing that down at 2am. Some still hadn’t had enough and moved on to other bars, but I knew when enough had been enough and I didn’t want to taint the memory by crawling all over the city rip-roaring drunk…or making a fool of myself as some were going to be apt to do.

The gathering of graduates at the end of the evening

Kelly Krueger and Shelly Steck commandeer a luggage cart near the end of the reunion

Brian Aleslagle makes friends with the bench outside the hotel

A gathering of very lovely gals at the reunion after-party in the hotel lounge

Overall, it was an amazing night and an unforgettable experience – much superior to the dinner held in the same place in 2000, and the impromptu gathering in 2005. (I missed the first reunion in 1995). Tom and Brenda Kowalski did an amazing job and I was very impressed with how well they did hosting this occasion.

Onward Beavers! ‘Nuff said

2010 will continue

Follow the reunions with the Ankeney Chargers here

Follow the reunions with the Fairbrook Foxes here

Follow the individual reunion postings here

4 Responses to “The Beavercreek Beavers – 20 Years Later”

  1. you are crazy! and handsome. maybe our school crushes might turn into something good:) time will tell

    april

  2. I’ll need to keep track of this site as 2015 rolls around. I didn’t graduate with y’all but moved to Texas between my junior and senior year. I’d like to see if I remember anyone from so long ago. I feel a lot more connected to Beavercreek than where I really graduated from.

    Mike Sellers

  3. Hey…do you know what happened to hilty bauer?

    Matt kennedy

  4. I do not.

    Brad

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