Champagne Ladies - The Class of 82 Reunites
Last Saturday night I celebrated with my High School graduating class our 30 year reunion. As a blogger, nothing is really sacred in my world, so I apologize in advance for some of the tales I must tell!
My girlfriend, Paige Smith Pierce arrived Thursday from Utah to spend the weekend with me. Paige and my history is as long as we both are tall; I'm nearly 6' in heels and she is 6' naturally.
Picture this, Paige would screech down my dead end road of my childhood family home every a.m. at 7:45, and we would leave dust in our midst as we raced to I-5 North to make the final bell at Blanchet by 8:10 a.m.
The vehicle Paige drove was a Champagne Gold 1976 Lincoln Continental equipped with an 8 track and a CB radio dialed in to truckers for emergencies. This was the 1980's version of road side assistance and Paige would answer to Champagne Lady. Just seeing Paige today as President and CEO of the investment company, RW Smith, she runs the company like she did that car. She works it out!
Paige and I embarked on memory lane and enjoyed breakfast at the popular Capital Hill restaurant, The Kingfish Cafe. After eating, we decided to stop by an old friend, Andy's house to try to rial him into joining us for the reunion. We approached his mother's house guarded, trying to recall if we were at the correct property. We occasionally picked him up when he'd miss the #48 bus. As we drove down the narrow street, we found a man working in the yard. Gray hair mounded his chest, with his dirty overalls and unkempt appearance, I assumed he was a relative, Andy had 6 older brothers or a hired hand. "Excuse me, is this the Kedziorki house?" I belt from my vehicle window. The man nods. "I'm looking for Andy. We were best friends in High School." This strange man answers- "Yes, Dana, I know."
After we all laughed at my major foible of a menopausebarbee moment, we hugged and agreed to all meet back at school later that evening.
My other best girlfriend and keeper of all High School secrets, Jackie was waiting in the parking lot for our arrival. Paige, Jackie and I headed to an Aurora grocery market. We were all thankful that Initiative 1183 had passed and hard alcohol is now available for purchase in grocery stores. We stocked up and headed back to the school music hall, where we decorated the facility, set up with the DJ and caterer, and slide show. It was time for the festivities to begin!
We were also thankful for name tags as often times names, faces and physiques weren't adding up. I even walked up to one woman and greeted her with a hug saying how good it was to see her again and she quipped, great because she had never laid eyes on me before! She was the spouse of one of my classmates. I teasingly said that seeing that I was the only black chick in our class, I was at the disadvantage as everyone remembered the token, ME!
All in all, the majority of our class had not been hit with the Ugly Stick. The women looked by and large great, and the men had fared well. The years have been good. We have some highly successful professionals ranging from an FBI Investigator, former Major League Baseball Player and Wealth Managers. But then... there's always the few who resemble like the Banjo Player from the movie, Deliverance. The best line Paige had was- 'so, you think they been eating any squirrels lately?'
Oh yes, that and Possum Pie!
While DJ Hitman fired up the song list and Duran Duran blared through the sound system, we danced until our feet ached! As my old friends, from Jackie Holmes, Mary Dorcas, Julie Neil and Andy Kedziorski and I boogied down, I realized I had indeed been blessed. Great memories, great times and most of all, we lived to tell! Even with Paige driving Jackie and I to Dick's Drive In to meet Andy on the way home! Old habits, like great friends die hard!
Dana and Paige- Champagne Ladies of the 80's
Yvette Eisenberg enjoyed today's post!
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Smith Pierce Dana Frank - like, like, like! That blog is friggin' hysterical. I couldn't even get through it when I was reading it to Karl! I was laughing so hard. I'm still laughing!
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Beatty I too was laughing so hard! I could see you all hanging out every DANCE of the way! Here's to the fun, happy, hilarious memories of your 30th!
8 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1
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