Class Notes

Time seems to be flying faster and faster, and unfortunately our class news seems to be getting smaller and smaller. If there is a correlation in this, I really don’t want to know. So here goes with what I’ve got.

Charlotte Fisher Klapproth sends a thank you for the reunion pictures I sent.  She thought our group of six looked well for an average age of 82. Our first picture was taken with a group from way back labeled “the golden group,” I believe, and we all had a hysterical moment arranging ourselves on the steps. Murmured in the background was a comment, “looks like a bunch of cats.” That was probably from the beleaguered photographers who were trying to corral the group. Charlotte was looking forward to a visit with her daughter and two dogs at the end of July. This will be followed by recuperation and followed again by another round of doctor visits for her thyroid problem and constant tiredness. Her last comment was “at least we’re on this side of the grass!”

I received a wonderful surprise from Joan Darden. I am going to repeat her e-mail verbatim because I couldn’t write anything better than she did, and thank you Joan for making my day. Joan writes,

“I am obediently reporting that I am alive. Am still kicking the gluteus maximus of some golfers occasionally! Just playing at my club and a few state events…..and it’s still fun!  Also am currently on a bowling team and co-ed pool team. We may not be outstanding, but we are ‘precious’! Of course the guys are not precious, just good looking and fun!  Oh and am still playing duplicate Bridge…doing a few rules seminars on golf at the club…getting up when I please…going to bed when I please…sipping wine when I please…and, oh yes, going to funerals, drat it! So that’s about it.”
Patricia Seitz Hartel relates that she and Art spent a wonderful week in Halifax, Canada, in early September with friends they have gone away with each year since 1962. She is still selling and listing real estate in Wayne, Pennsylvania, with Coldwell Banker Preferred and her husband is still practicing law. They have four grandchildren who live far away, however, they do see them now and again.
I have a list of activities from Joan Kleinknecht which I may or may not have written about before, but bear with me. Either I forgot that I did or better yet you all forgot what you read! I just love getting older. Joan keeps very busy. She is a board member of a local hospital collecting hand-made prayer shawls, a supporter of a special needs school at another hospital, a tutor for young children, and she reads to children ages two to six at her Gaelic American Club.
I received interesting news from Mary Margaret Papstein Carter. The library where she works part-time had a program to celebrate The National Poetry Festival. They knew she had gone to college with Hettie Cohen Jones, and since she and her former husband, LeRoi Jones, were right at the heart of the Beat movement, they asked her to speak about her memories of Hettie.  She placed a call to her, and Hettie shared lots of information with her. She is still working and teaches at the New School in Manhattan and is also working on a new book to come out next fall.  Hettie has two daughters, both graduates of Yale and both on staff at Columbia University. Although she doesn’t have much connection with MWC graduates, she did relate that her suitemate, Linda Johnson, died many years ago. On Mary Margaret’s home-front, her family had a get together of all the family in September, and even their great-granddaughter (just turned one) came from Arizona. Then there were several mini vacations for her and George, the last one to Maine where they enjoyed a lot of seafood.  They were also lucky to spend a weekend in Philadelphia when Pope Francis was there and got a few chances to see him. Even though it was very, very crowded, there was such a sense of pleasure everywhere, and it was definitely something they will always remember.
Well, I am finally out of my business, after spending a lot of time trying to sell the shop and comfort my customers who simply didn’t want me to leave. Both our local newspaper and television station celebrated my 40 years in business, for which I am grateful. At the moment, I am sort of at loose ends but I’m hoping something will come up to keep me as young as “The Dance Shop” did for 40 years. I may look old, but this old gal ain’t done yet! Have a glass of wine for the 55’ers.