Sunday Morning Aniversary Party

We were invited to John and Judy McMahon's 45th aniversary celebration which was today...Sunday Morning...at Pumpernil's in Saugatuck. Not sure if I spelled that right or not. We have gone past there forever and I know that Aleene has had lunch there, but I have not been in there. I was driving Wes and Marilyn today...my turn, as it were. It is small, but surprise, it has an upstairs loft which is where the McMahon celebration was. We went up to the order place, gave our order and then they brought it up. There was not a big crowd...maybe 24 people for breakfast...very informal.

There were several people there that were the highlight for me...beyond the bride and groom: Fran Seymore and her husband, Ralph and Mary Ann, Kathie McMahon and her son Michael, and Kelly and her husband and their two kids.

They surved virtually everything in iron skillets, except for sweet rolls and oatmeal. But anything hot was in a skillet, which was cool because the tables were rather formally set with flatware and glasses with red nappies in them, etc.

Fran left teaching either the year I did or the year before...she said twenty years and I was not sure if she was rounding or not. She left when she was 55, so go figure. She still looks great and it was good to see she wasn't smoking...she may go another twenty. She asked about Jeff and Amy and was very interested in the grand kids. I don't think I have seen Fran since school days.

Ralph was Ralph...low key...doing his thing (worked at Toys R Us for six weeks at Christmas to get the discount for the grand kids) and will probably drive a few Dune Schooner rides this summer. He says Linus lets him come and go as he pleases and parties ask for him and he does them, but he doesn't like driving for teen agers. I didn't ask why. That would be another conversation. Their grandkids are into hockey (Matt's boys) which he said is a very expensive hobby/sport. He always invites me down, but somehow we never make it. That is too bad because Ralph was a great friend during FMS days. He was the glue for several years when that staff was truly a great one. He and I chaperoned many, many dances for 7th and 8th graders. I have to say Aleene and I because she always went and even busted some girls for smoking one time.

Kelly really looked great. Her hubby is a principal in the Bloomingdale system and seemed very nice. I met her kids before, but they of course didn't remember. She always makes a big fuss over me being her science teacher. Maybe it was English...I don't remember which it was.

John and Judy got married in January for the same reason we did...semester break. That's what you did back then when you were into a torrid relationship and you wanted to move on with your life...you got married. Today young people just live together, I guess.

Kathy and Michael were very talkative. Kathy is going to look into Rolling Meadows...our place...Marilyn really tried to get her up here for a look. I didn't hear all the conversation, but she asked me about being in a middle unit, etc...so I invited her to stop here too if she wanted to see our place. Mike is a counselor in a drug rehab place in GR. He was very open and reminded me so much of George. Mike is 29.

We hung around the longest because we were too early for church...all told it lasted just over an hour. Judy gave me a phone number for them in AZ to call when we visit there next month.

A nice prelude to church this morning...good to see people hanging tough for 45 years.