Cheese ‘n rice, my whole body hurts! Why is it that when I go to a reunion, my brain signals the adrenal gland to pump enough adrenaline into my body so that it acts like it is twenty years old for exactly four days? Then late on Sunday everything stops working - my legs, my mouth, and my brain. I knew my heart was still working, because I could hear it pounding in my ears. It usually takes a full week to pick up the wreckage and re-calibrate my body to function normally, or what passes for normal for me. Perhaps if my mental age was closer to my chronologic age, I wouldn’t have this recovery issue. Nah, that wouldn’t be any fun now would it?
So I flew into Orlando on Thursday afternoon, and found my way to the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, commonly referred to as *hit Creek. Ok, so I made that up. Good lord that place is huge. After a very quick and easy check-in, I dropped my gear off in my room, and stumbled my way to suite 1401, the BHS Class of 1968 hospitality suite. Outside the suite was an awesome poster, designed and produced by Ginger’s son. In the suite I found a whirlwind of activity, with the reunion committee members decorating away. I immediately pitched in by finding a beer, the empanadas, and a seat next to Timmy Lane. For the next four days, suite 1401 would be the heart of our class activities . . . and Timmy’s bedroom. Luckily Timmy didn’t spend much time in his Murphy bed, so the suite was available from about 8am to 3am throughout the weekend.
Fran’s brother in Panama purchased about 1.5 tons of ceviche, and talked Dave B. into being the mule. So Dave carried the ceviche to the states, and around with him for several days where it saw approximate six freezers before arriving at the reunion. There were a few of us who lived on ceviche and empanadas all weekend with no ill effects, other than the constant need for the bathroom. One could graze all day on the various munchies and bebidas available in the suite. And for a little variety, our accommodating CHS ’68 cousins had some great food just across the hall.
As Thursday afternoon turned into Thursday evening, more of the usual BHS ’68 suspects arrived and the supply of Ron Cortez, Ron Abuelo, and even Carta Vieja began to disappear. A few of the younger classes sponsored a dance that night with classic rock music, so a number of us spent some time there, but the pull from our little cocoon was strong and most of us wound up back at the suite talking away until the wee hours. Although many of us had spent a week together back in January on our sojourn to Panama, there seemed to be a genuine desire by the classmates to re-connect and refresh our bonds.
Somehow I arose before noon on Friday, ok – guys in their fifties know why, and I went down to the suite for my breakfast of ceviche and empanadas. Later in the day, Timmy and I bought sandwiches at the hotel’s great deli, and sat out by the pool to take in the sights and sounds of Zonians enjoying themselves. Yes, we were enjoying the sights as well.
Walking from the hotel portion of the resort to the various Panama Canal Society venues at the convention center (vendors, clubhouse, luncheon, etc.) became epic treks, with the need for water bottles filled with Cuba Libres, pitons, compasses, and maps. Well maybe not that extreme, but it was a hike. Does that sound like a whine? Nevertheless, we made several trips to the vendors’ area to buy the requisite Zonian t-shirts and other stuff.
Friday evening the hoards descended upon the suite for a cocktail party. There must have been over 75 people in the room; and the cacophony and blend of English, Spanish, and Bajan made the party feel like we were back home. After the libation hour (or two), we journeyed to the convention center where we had the class picture taken, and moved into a room set up for our class dinner. Arroz con pollo with sweet platanos were prepared and served to perfection. We were treated to a wonderful slide presentation of the pictures and music of our past put together by George Dany with a lot of help from Ginger.
During our dinner we had some fun with people, but also recognized the hard work of the Core Reunion Committee of Fran, Ginger, Lee, and Tammy. I hope everyone personally thanks these wonderful women for the fantastic job they performed in making our reunion such a success. Be careful ladies, Dave B. wanted to personally and individually thank you. Also thanks to Lee’s husband, Jim for the work load he inherited by being related to our General Lee Grant. Ginger, Fran and Tammy arranged to have some beautiful earrings purchased for Lee at the famous Panamanian jewelry store, Reprosa. I had the pleasure and privilege of presenting them to her at the dinner.
After the Friday night dinner, we all jumped on Chris M’s scooter and went back to the suite while waiting for the Panazonian Dance to start. Eventually we worked our way in that direction and soon learned why Ginger and *** were leaving early. Unfortunately, the acoustics in the ball room were not compatible to the kind of music Shorty and Slim were playing. Certainly, there were people dancing, but no where near the numbers we are used to seeing on the dance floor at that dance. However, this did not have an impact on the how much Eduardo and I enjoyed the evening. As we were walking back from the dance to the suite, a 20-something young lady was wriggling through the crowd in the same direction a few feet in front of us. As she approached a group of young men, she exchanged words with one of them, and then as she walked past them she looked back and lifted up the back of her extremely tight and short skirt. Although we may be approaching our sixties and we may not be at the top of our game physically, my eyes did not deceive nor fail me, neither did Eduardo’s. To put an exclamation on the point, our Miss Moon-over-Orlando flashed her bare buns two more times, at which time Eduardo (that’s right, not me) caught up with her, put his arm around her, and thank her for her kindness. After telling the story to a rapt crowd at the suite later that evening, Timmy and Dave organized an old guys posse to seek out and snuff out any further offensive (did I say ‘offensive?’) behavior. Memorable evening, eh Eduardo?
Some of the folks spent Saturday in the pool areas, while others followed Eduardo and me around – not sure what that was all about. Although the empanadas and ceviche in the suite were still plentiful, the supply of Panamanian rum had disappeared – surprise – surprise! So local gal Jeannie J, Becky F, Timmy and I jumped in Jeannie’s car and found the nearest Albertsons to make a “ron run.” Since it was to be frozen daiquiri night at the suite, we also picked up the other necessities. We returned to the suite and made a few test pitchers of strawberry and peach frozen daiquiris. Well, daiquiri night was pushed up to daiquiri afternoon, then daiquiri evening, and eventually daiquiri early morning.
That evening before the Ball, the suite was humming again. Then all of a sudden, ‘he walked into the party like he was walking onto a yacht. His hat strategically dipped below one eye, his scarf it was apricot. He had one eye in the mirror as he watched himself gavotte, and all the girls dreamed that they'd be his partner’ . . . oh wait a second; it was just Tammy’s husband Neal. Neal tried to get us to sing that Carly Simon song all weekend.
Fully fortified and with go-cups in hand, the Class of ’68 Bulldogs charged out of the suite en masse toward the Saturday night Ball. This time the acoustics were just right and the Panamanian beat kept us dancing all night long.
Another reunion is in the books, and again it was great to be a part of it. I am surprised at the continued closeness of classmates who have barely spent any time together of the past 40 years. We learned that some of our classmates, like Herbie and Sandy, have had recent losses in their family, and that Bob P is having serious health issues. I think our gatherings may have helped ever so slightly to ease those pains, for a few days anyway. Other classmate bonds continue to grow stronger as we look forward to future reunions and easing into adulthood, ok, so some of us refuse to grow up.
I have a few more reunion stories yet to tell, but Jody and I are off to Europe and our Baltic cruise tomorrow and I’d like to post this before we go. Hopefully I’ll remember the stories and write about them when we get back. Thanks again to Ginger, Fran, Tammy and Lee with help from Janette, Barbara, Patty and others for putting on an awesome gathering. And thanks to Chris Dishong for being our official photographer. I’m looking forward to seeing those pictures, I think!