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Stephanie Johnson Cheevers

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Debbie Harte

On the fence about attending the reunion???

Many thoughts come to mind. You may wonder if you will recognize people and they you. (Not to worry….that’s why God created name tags!) And, with all of the typical uncertainties, it may seem easier to follow the path of least resistance, which for some, may be staying home on the couch. Should you fall in that category and still be vacillating or have already decided not to go, I encourage you to reconsider. Your couch will still be there, but this type of event comes along once every five years-if that. One thing’s for sure, we likely have more years behind us than ahead of us and the journey hastens as time marches on. So, with that in mind, why not enjoy the ride-if only for an evening? Cathy’s posting about reconnecting with old friends eloquently says it all.

Initially, I had all kinds of reasons why I couldn’t get there-everything from time, cost, work, to fear of flying (I am a white knuckle flyer- & will be saying multiple novenas and consuming copious amounts of xanax just to board the plane!) and I still decided to attend! Kidding about the xanax-not about the rest of it!! The pleasure of reconnecting with people resulted in many more compelling reasons to attend than not.!! I realized that occasions like this are rare and it’s truly a privilege to be able to reconnect with those who you might otherwise never see again. If you think of it in those terms, you have to ask yourself, how could you miss it?!

I will be the first to concede that it can be somewhat daunting to contemplate a stroll down memory lane like this, particularly if a lot of time has elapsed since you have seen anyone. That said, it's all the more reason to be there! Whether you were president of the class or never present in class, it doesn’t really matter! We would love to see you! So, to the tentative among us, I say that we all share a piece of history and everyone brings something special to the experience. I guarantee you that people will be happy to see you and that your presence, like your absence, will be felt. Please try to join us!

Dawn Keough Schmidt

The 'Fine Art' of Being Human
Reflections on MAUHS Class of '74 Reunion (2009)
Dawn Keough-Schmidt


Let me begin by saying how much we enjoyed (Dawn and Tom) our evening and weekend in Bennington. Also by thanking our wondrful organizers (Kathy, Steph, Kitty and a host of others...) whose tireless efforts made the evening possible.

As an artist I have developed a fairly well-trained eye which has always been honed to 'detect' beauty in my surroundings. As we drove to and from Bennington (a trip I do not make often as my family has relocated), it was with greater appreciation that I noted the true beauty of the area in which we were all raised. Of even greater importance was the evidence of beauty that has come to all of us as we have progressed through life. This is a beauty of spirit that reflects the effect of life's twists and turns and peaks and valleys. Like beach glass develops a beautiful patina as it is churned ad tossed in the waves over time, so we have developed or "earned" our own special beauty over the years.

I said so many times on the 18th that if you do not initially recall a face, focus on the eyes. ("the 'ayes'(eyes) have it") seems an apt expression for this phenomenon. They seem to be the last physical feature to really change with age and yet they depict our souls and spirits so beautifully. Our eyes somehow reflect the collected wisdom that a walk on the path of life has brought us.

As I recall some of the interesting life stories I heard on the 18h I am reminded that no life is not tinged with grief, tragedy or disppointed dreams as well as periods of tremendous joy and fullness. As in art, sometimes we seem to prefer color photography to black and white for its cheery aspect and vibrant 'excited' tones, but I think we must also acknowledge the beauty in a black and white photo that also reveals the subtle grays and blacks our lives also contain. In the faces of those I had the pleasure of reconnecting with (if only briefly) I saw beauty, both physical and internal, that moved me. The beauty of maturing and growing wiser...

It is always with some tredidation that many of us consider attending class reunions. Even our 'selective amnesia'of the past cannot sufficiently 'block out' some of the low points in our teenage years (oooohhhhh... the drama!) Sometimes this mixed bag of memories can be just heavy and uncomfortable enough to prevent us from attending. We become very aware of our own aging and some of the many obstacles which will lie in the path before us as we see loved ones move on, watch parents or spouses pass out of our lives and experience our own inevitable aging issues. For me, being surrounded by the individuals with whom I have spent a great portion of my early years was in many ways comforting as it reminded me that we are still together, all walking the same path and still able to see the sunny patches and bask in them whenever possible.

Thank you to all my friends (many more fall into this category as the years have passed and labels fallen away) who helped me feel that I do still have a family in Bennington and one that I will always feel a strong connection to.

Until next time... Be well, look for the sun (I think it is down south somewhere!!!) and keep laughing!!!!!!

Wow... am I long-winded. Who Knew???

Your Friend,
Dawn Keough-Schmidt (soon to be Chastenay)
email: WLSPRNG@aol.com
PH: 802-985-8638 / 802-233-0231 / 802-734-0499
Address: 436 Olde Orchar Lane
Shelburne, VT. 05482

Debbie Harte

The Party’s Over… or, Is It??

Now that I am home and able say that I survived my first reunion, I thought that I would share some feelings and observations as a postscript to punctuate the experience. The nostalgia was wonderful in almost every respect, but all too brief. Like Mark Pinette, I thought that Carmody’s would be open until the wee hours and that there would be ample opportunity to spend time with everyone. In retrospect, I thought that we really should have had an All Night Party instead-although, had we done that, we would have required naps and that could have been complicated! :)

To me, this reunion is like the gift that keeps on giving-in lots of different ways! There were before-the-party parties, after-the-party parties, breakfasts, lunches, coffees, dinners, e-mails, personal encounters, both planned and by happenstance, funny and touching stories and everything in between. And, this website still provides a wonderful forum for us to continue the journey with one another.

I arrived in Bennington on Thursday-just in time for Midnight Madness-fitting for me! Cathy Skidmore Cardiff, Pam Hollister Ketzner and I all simultaneously bumped into one another on Main Street-on the eve of the reunion festivities. Shortly thereafter, I ran into Kitty Pinsonneault Lewis and Michele Wright Hall-both school friends going all the way back to the first grade at SHS. So, I began reuniting almost as soon as I got off the plane and continued to do so until the day I left.

Being a reunion novice, initially, I didn’t understand the concept of two reunion events, but could quickly see that it was an excellent idea due to the issue of “so many people..so little time”! The Friday night event was a godsend, as I was able to speak with people that I barely saw on Saturday night. Cathy Leonard Mook, Stephanie Johnson Cheevers and Marta Button Parsons Brennan and others had a welcoming presence when we first arrived! Everyone seemed jubilant! Karen Lawton and I also go way back and I immensely enjoyed her sense of humor and she continues to send me e-mails that have me in stitches. At first, I didn’t know John Ottaviano until I saw his award-winning smile…who could ever forget that? Sheila Whalen Cook and I reminisced a bit about skiing at Prospect Mountain, among other things, when we were kids. Didn’t get a chance to say hi to Matt until the next night. And, it was nice to reconnect with Sharon French Buck, who by the way, doesn’t look a day over 25! That Oil of Olay thing that she has going on is definitely working for her! :)

Then, the long anticipated Saturday night came and was filled with highlights. I was especially thrilled to see Jenny Carroll Reittinger, as we were the best of friends at MAUHS. Jenny hasn’t changed a bit. It’s as though time has stood still. And, I have decided that in my next incarnation, I want to come back as Gail Gras Morin who has become the Rachel Ray of Southern Vermont, having catered for the likes of George Clooney (I’m so jealous!!) and other members of the Hollywood elite. Kudos to Gail!! There were several people who were there who I didn’t get to speak with at all and others only in passing. I was hoping to talk with Susie Philputt O'Daniel, but never got to her. I wanted to tell her that I worked with her Dad many years ago and liked him so much. There were only a few minutes to chat with Faye Cross Lillie and Penny Burgess, both of whom I was glad to see though. I did manage to speak with Mark Pinette and was able to share with him that I had his Godfather as a professor in freshman year at St. Mary’s College-something he didn’t know. It’s a small world after all! And, I did connect with Wendy Dunn Moses and Chris Douglass, which was nice, since the three of us live in the Fort Lauderdale area now. Wendy and I are practically neighbors and ended up on the same flight back to Florida! There are no coincidences in life!

Well, if Dawn Keough Schmidt had any concerns about being long winded, I think that I take the prize in that regard with this e-mail. I was touched by each encounter that I had, but can't possibly mention them all. Suffice it to say that I will treasure my memories of our time together. Really love all of the photos! Look forward to seeing more as they are uploaded. I have a couple to send, if I can determine out how the Kodak Photo Gallery works. It’s definitely above my pay grade, but I enjoy a challenge and will figure it out!

Thanks again to Steph, Cathy and Kitty and to ALL for the memories!!

Debbie

Greg Dana

What a fun reunion! Thanks to those who tirelessly and selflessly organized the event. The positive feeling of the weekend was felt in a way that will be with me for a long time to come. Thanks also to all of those with whom I shared the experience – it was way too short a time with you! And to those that I didn’t get to talk with, it is my loss.

One thing that struck me was the strength of the bond of friendship a common past brings to life. I reconnected with some dear friends and made friends with people with whom I hadn’t had much contact in the past. With old friends, it was like we’d never been apart. The ease with which we reconnected made me want to stay better connected; you add so much to my life. I can only hope to do the same for you. With my new friends, I value the opportunity to have you in my life.

Another thing that clearly struck me about Saturday night was the lack of reminiscing with those I spoke with and listened to. It was all about what we’ve been doing in our individual lives in the recent past, who we are now, where we hope to go and what we hope to do in the future. For a group of friends who graduated from high school 35 years ago (I won’t say what ages we are now…) it seems quite remarkable that we are not looking to relive our youth. We are still learning and growing as individuals and as a group, and we are looking to the future more than to the past.

We grew up in a unique time in history. We grew up in a unique community. I believe both shaped who we are as people. We are a unique class; we truly are a unique group of friends. We have a lot to be proud of. We all have done great things with our lives and will continue to do so in the future, making this world a better place.

Thanks again, everyone.

Sharon French Buck

It’s been said you can’t go home again, either because the place you knew as home has changed too much over time, or you yourself have changed due to your life experiences.

My parents sold our family home 22 years ago and moved west to the land of eternal sunshine (Las Vegas), so I hadn’t been back to town more than 4-5 times in the past 25 years, and really didn’t give Bennington much thought. Then I got the phone calls from Steph and Cathy, and they got me thinking about the days gone by and the people who were a part of them. I guess it was time to see if I could go “home”.

As I headed into Bennington from Woodford on Friday afternoon, I was first struck by how little the town had changed. Sure, Main Street was overtaken by a herd of giant decorated moose, and some of the shops and restaurants had new names or were no longer there, but the feel of the town was still the same. I slowly made my way through town and headed to the “flats” to the Hampton Inn to meet Karen Lawton, my roommate for the weekend. I’ve always been more of an observer than a participator, and though I had been looking forward to the reunion, now I was wondering if I’d have anything to say to people I hadn’t seen since graduation. I shouldn’t have worried.

Karen met me in the lobby, and as I settled in we quickly recapped our current lives before heading out to dinner. And who was the first person we ran into – another member of the class of ’74. Sheila Whalen Cook was running across the street in front of me as I was looking for a parking spot. Eagle-eye Karen spotted her right away (though Sheila was very helpful, she hasn’t changed too much)! Come to find out, she and Matt were staying at the same hotel. After dinner we went back to change for our night out at Carmody’s and spotted another alum, Denise Reynolds. The reunion was in full swing!

When we entered Carmody’s Marta Button was the first one I recognized. Then we spotted Walt Parmenter over on the restaurant side having dinner with his wife Connie and his daughter Lacey. I’m sure Lacey thought we were crazy as we barged over to their table to say our hellos. From there the night passed way too quickly. A steady stream of alumni came through the door, and it got so loud in there it was hard to speak and hear one another, but the loss of my voice was worth it to see old friends like Amy Lazarus, who made the trip up from NJ just for Friday night’s get-together, Cathy Leonard Mook, Stephanie Johnson Cheevers, Karen Lawton, and John Ottaviano,

But it seemed most of my time Friday & Saturday was spent talking/listening with those I never knew all that well. Leslie Morris, Dawn Keough Schmidt, Denise Reynolds, Matt Cook, Sheila Whalen Cook, Debbie Harte (thank you for the kind words by the way), Joanne Chenille, Mark Pinette, Norton Kennedy, Doris Cross, Jenny Carroll Rettinger, and Susan Gould. Yes, a very varied group, but as others have said, it was my loss not to have known some of you better.

Saturday afternoon I took a quick walking tour of the downtown area and headed up past my old house and neighborhood. Wow, it’s hard to believe that Kathy Humphreys’ old home was torn down to put in senior housing. In my young eyes their house was a mansion.

This long-winded opening finally brings us to the reunion at Carmody West. The old saying “Time flies when you’re having fun” was never more apropos. As with anything that you look forward to, once it arrives it goes by all too quickly. I felt as if I had too many fleeting conversations with those I could have talked with longer. So thank you to all of those I got a chance to speak with, if only briefly. (And by the way, where did Faye Cross Lillie disappear to? We came in the same car, but I don’t think I ever got a chance to talk with her! )

Greg Dana was correct in saying that we grew up in a unique community, and in many ways this town did help shape who we are. Though I only lived in Bennington for 8 years, the close ties that many of you had from first grade into college is enviable. So, can you go home again? With classmates and old friends to share the trip with, I found that I could. Sharon

PS: To Dawn Keough-Schmidt (soon to be Chastenay), best wishes to you and Tom on your upcoming wedding. I enjoyed the time we spent together. And you are one cool person under pressure :)

Cathy Leonard Mook

As We Ebb and Flow Through Life
Changing Roles
As we bob and weave with the ebb and flow of life our roles change, but our true self remains constant. As spiritual beings having a human experience, we go through many aspects of humanity in one lifetime. Living in the material world of opposites, labels, and classifications, we often identify ourselves by the roles we play, forgetting that these aspects shift and change throughout our lives. But when we anchor ourselves in the truth of our being, that core of spirit within us, we can choose to embrace the new roles as they come, knowing that they give us fresh perspective on life and a greater understanding of the lives of others.

As children, we anticipated role changes eagerly in our rush to grow up. Though fairy tales led us to believe that “happily ever after” was a final destination, the truth is that life is a series of destinations, mere stops on a long journey filled with differing terrain. We may need to move through a feeling of resistance as we shift from spouse to parent, leader to subordinate, caregiver to receiver, or even local to newcomer. It can be helpful to bid a fond farewell to the role that we are leaving before we welcome the new. This is the purpose of ceremonies in cultures throughout the world and across time. We can choose from any in existence or create our own to help us celebrate our life shifts and embrace our new adventures.

Like actors on the stage of the world, our different roles are just costumes that we inhabit and then shed. Each role we play gives us another perspective through which to understand ourselves and the nature of the universe. When we take a moment to see that each change can be an adventure, a celebration, and a chance to play a new part, we may even be able to recapture the joyful anticipation of our youth as we transition from one role to the next.

Cathy Leonard Mook

Happy New Year!

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Clean thoroughly 12 whole months.
Divide into 365 parts; set aside,preparing one part only at a time as follows:
Mix well into each day:
1 part patience
1 part work
1 part courage
Add to each day:
1 part each of hope, faithfulness,generosity and kindness
Blend with:
1 part prayer
1 part meditation
1 part good deed
Season the mixture with a dash of good spirits,a sprinkle of fun,a pinch of play and a cup of good humor.
Pour mixture into vessel of love. Cook over radiant joy,garnish with a smile. Serve with quietness, unselfishness and cheer.
Yield: 1 Happy Year!

Cathy Leonard Mook

I read this quote today, and thought it was a nice thought share on this Valentine’s Day:



“I always consider compassion the key, not only for achieving and maintaining our mental calmness, stability and happiness, but also as something extraordinarily useful for creating a healthy human society. By that I mean a happier and less harmful human society. Therefore – whether it be in individual cases, on a family level, a national level, or an international level – altruism, love and compassion are the basis for success, for happiness and for a happy environment”…. Dalai Lama, from Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection

Julie Lampron Fuller

I HAVE ENJOYED READING THE REPONSES OF MY CLASSMATES AND THE STORIES OF THE LIVES THEY LEAD AND HOPE TO HEAR MORE ,WE ALL HAVE HAD LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR LIVES AND LEARNED FROM THEM AND I HOPE YOU ALL ARE IN A HAPPY PLACE AT THIS MOMENT,STILL ON THE ROAD WITH FEDEXCC LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING A NEW TRUCK.JULIE&RICHARD :)