The Fun Has Begun . . . .

Disclaimer:  I’m not taking responsibility for unpredictable lapses or punctuality with Slight Detour over the next couple of days.

At long last, it’s 50^th-year reunion time, and my mind will continue to be crammed with details, details and, of course, a lot of other details.

 

First will come the details for making sure all parts of the reunion machine come together.  It’s looking pretty stress-free for today.   

We have no need for technical stuff, except a plug-in for Mike’s time-appropriate '60s era tunes which he has put together for light background music both nights. 

The light background tunes provide one of the numerous indicators that we've reached our "golden years" with hearing difficulties and a strong desire to actually tune in to what people have to say.  

After all, these may be the last conversations we have with our classmates, so we want them to be "quality" visits. 

We also have followed a "KISS" theme with reunion planning.  I might say we've faltered a bit by adding techno to the Friday-night program, but those additions also show that we haven't fallen too far behind as oldsters in the computer/cell phone age.

One of our classmates put together a power point program (yes, I know, power point is "so yesterday.")  We were learning power point before I retired 14 years ago, but still, it's impressive.  

The complicated part is rounding up a screen where more than 100 can see the photos and some speakers for when "light background music" just won't suffice.  

Last night while doing our dry run, Bill and I discovered that the speakers from my desktop computer will work.  So, they will plug into my laptop, which will be plugged into a projector, which will be sitting on a table somewhere among the 100 classmates.  

Bill, who has used all of the above, except the speakers, gets the dubious honor of running the computer and the projector.  

I don't do audio visual in front of crowds, but Bill does, so that's a stress remover, for sure. 

We also found that our singer will be happy to use her cell phone for back-up music. The Western Pleasure family has a paid-nerd on staff, and he has figured out just what cord needs to be available to run from the cell phone to the on-side sound system. So, that's covered, and the nerd will have the pressure in that situation.

Other than that, we've pretty much kept to the Keep It Simple Stupid policy, and we've been blessed by one classmate's spouse who happily crafted all the centerpieces and then added a dozen of her earrings, attractively packaged and each a different style as door prizes. 

Worries will hang on, as they always do for such events, but it looks now as if they're manageable, thanks to a whole lotta help from friends and family. 

When one member of the nametag dispersal team of two found out she had to go to a conference in Spokane today, a classmate spouse AND family outlaw stepped up to the plate and said she sit in for Miss Debbie and help Willie at the check-in table.  Thank you, Judy.  You're a good outlaw!

The fun side of all this has already begun.  Those three ladies above showed up at my place yesterday with Monticolas in hand.  We figured out who one "mystery woman" is who's attending the reunion for the first time in 50 years.  I hate to say that I thought another person was this mystery woman but found out quickly that person had passed away nearly 20 years ago. 

So, the Monticola and another classmate helped sort out the confusion.  Now I do remember the face of the mystery woman and will probably recognize her after all when she steps in the door for our first meeting in 50 years. 

My three classmates and I went into instant gab mode at a rate of at least 65 mph, and the yakking did not slow down through their entire visit, which included a trip out to the big tree in the far pasture to join the Lodgepole Society.  In fact, the words were flying so fast, they may not even remember that they joined the Lodgepole Society AND they were completely sober. 

Lots of stuff from the good ol' days, including references to the Hi-Dee-Ho, the Plantation and the Cowgirl Corral came up----along with just a smidgeon of gossip.  And, if you believe that, you're pretty gullible. 

Fun times and definitely a need for a water bottle tonight cuz I have a feeling my throat is gonna get pretty raw before it's over.  Then, the talking will start all over again tomorrow morning at 9 when we go on our hike, then tour Hickey Farms, then haul stuff to Western Pleasure in the new-old motor home, then go for a wagon ride, then have our picture taken, then put on a program and dine on wonderful Western Pleasure prepared food. 

Could be we might just be stretching the KISS theory a little more than anticipated.  Oh well, it's a lifetime experience, so who cares!  We can relax and get plenty of rest when it's over. 

Happy Thursday.