♫ Far away places with strange-soundin’ names / Far away over the sea / Those far away places with the strange-soundin’ names / Are callin’, callin’ me ♫
LOL! I managed to shake off the constant mail from my catholic high school by the time I was 30 or so. (My parents wouldn’t give me up.)
A guy that I went to school with lived in the same neighborhood and was part of the third generation running an Italian grocery store/deli that I frequented.
At least once or twice a year he’d casually mention to me a school drive of some sort(Building fund raisers, old popes home, class reunions) and mention that the letter contained a list of people that graduated in our year that they had lost touch with and that my name was on it. He’d then ask if I wanted him to give them my contact info.
I’d then remind him that I knew where he and all of his family members lived and advise him against telling on me.
It was a running joke between us for 30 years, until his untimely passing. (RIP Paul)
A few years ago, I was gifted with a one week visit to Paris, France. Bear with me, as this little fact will play a part in the present account.
The month before my trip, I attended one of our high school class reunions. It was all around a great experience, reconnecting with old friends and seriously reconciling with old rivals. The most melancholy moment was seeing the memorial display of photos of classmates who had died. In particular, one of my closest friends, one I had lost contact with was honored with a memorial photo. No one at the reunion was able to supply any information of his passing.
A month later, I was in the great cathedral of Notre Dame. I am not Catholic… but have great respect for the church. I saw people lighting candles and dropping donations in a box near the candle display. I impulsively put in a small donation and lit a candle and thought of my friend and how I wished I could speak to him again.
Long story shorter… once back home I got on the internet to try and find out details about him. What I found was that he was in fact not dead and had a fun website online!
We have maintained a connection since then, and I often reflect on the strange experience of mourning a friend and later finding that the report of his demise had been incorrect… and the odd sense that I had lit a candle for him and against all expectation found him to be not only alive and well but amused at my story about a tiny little shout out to the universe for his well-being.
I think I need to make a plan to visit him in Maine… from my present home in Georgia.
About 30 years ago, I sent a check for Zero dollars and 00/100 to my alumni association, with the note: “This is 1000 times the support I received while attending and I’ll gladly give a similar amount every time you contact me.” They actually stopped bugging me.
Since they can afford to mail fat bulging envelopes they don’t need my money, same goes for the “gifts” they send. It gets me how they now ask for your “gift” when it is only friends and family that I GIFT to. Those places are functionally a business so call it a donation and not try to chummy up by calling your contribution a “gift”.
I got one of those last year. How they found my up here in the wilds of Canada I’ll never know. Oh, wait. We were in Vancouver in 2018 and of all the strange things we bumped into two of my old classmates who were up here on vacation. I’ll bet it was them. Wrote a letter to the Homecoming committee. Still getting mail from them.
I got an invitation to my reunion, including a picture of the reunion committee; but they must have made a mistake and put in the wrong picture. I recognized all of the names, but the picture was just a bunch of old people, nobody who could possibly be my age :)
pschearer Premium Member 4 days ago
♫ Far away places with strange-soundin’ names / Far away over the sea / Those far away places with the strange-soundin’ names / Are callin’, callin’ me ♫
joegee 4 days ago
LOL! I managed to shake off the constant mail from my catholic high school by the time I was 30 or so. (My parents wouldn’t give me up.)
A guy that I went to school with lived in the same neighborhood and was part of the third generation running an Italian grocery store/deli that I frequented.
At least once or twice a year he’d casually mention to me a school drive of some sort(Building fund raisers, old popes home, class reunions) and mention that the letter contained a list of people that graduated in our year that they had lost touch with and that my name was on it. He’d then ask if I wanted him to give them my contact info.
I’d then remind him that I knew where he and all of his family members lived and advise him against telling on me.
It was a running joke between us for 30 years, until his untimely passing. (RIP Paul)
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace 4 days ago
Impressive postal service.
Last Rose Of Summer Premium Member 4 days ago
Whatta cute baby….
jimmjonzz Premium Member 4 days ago
A few years ago, I was gifted with a one week visit to Paris, France. Bear with me, as this little fact will play a part in the present account.
The month before my trip, I attended one of our high school class reunions. It was all around a great experience, reconnecting with old friends and seriously reconciling with old rivals. The most melancholy moment was seeing the memorial display of photos of classmates who had died. In particular, one of my closest friends, one I had lost contact with was honored with a memorial photo. No one at the reunion was able to supply any information of his passing.
A month later, I was in the great cathedral of Notre Dame. I am not Catholic… but have great respect for the church. I saw people lighting candles and dropping donations in a box near the candle display. I impulsively put in a small donation and lit a candle and thought of my friend and how I wished I could speak to him again.
Long story shorter… once back home I got on the internet to try and find out details about him. What I found was that he was in fact not dead and had a fun website online!
We have maintained a connection since then, and I often reflect on the strange experience of mourning a friend and later finding that the report of his demise had been incorrect… and the odd sense that I had lit a candle for him and against all expectation found him to be not only alive and well but amused at my story about a tiny little shout out to the universe for his well-being.
I think I need to make a plan to visit him in Maine… from my present home in Georgia.
nosirrom 4 days ago
50 years and my Alma Mater is still wasting money asking me for donations.
crookedwolf Premium Member 4 days ago
I missed my 40th reunion (which was last weekend) because I had already been signed up for a CE conference for work..
Kilrwat Premium Member 4 days ago
May success follow you like your alumni newsletter!
Droptma Styx 4 days ago
That came in the mail along with the offers to buy Medicare Advantage plans
Ellis97 4 days ago
I’ll never attend a class reunion. That’s mainly because all my schools have gotten shut down.
david_42 4 days ago
About 30 years ago, I sent a check for Zero dollars and 00/100 to my alumni association, with the note: “This is 1000 times the support I received while attending and I’ll gladly give a similar amount every time you contact me.” They actually stopped bugging me.
carlosrivers 4 days ago
How about a letter to renew your cars warranty…;)
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray 4 days ago
Since they can afford to mail fat bulging envelopes they don’t need my money, same goes for the “gifts” they send. It gets me how they now ask for your “gift” when it is only friends and family that I GIFT to. Those places are functionally a business so call it a donation and not try to chummy up by calling your contribution a “gift”.
Chris 4 days ago
and yet the post office seems to find him just fine, weird… :\
The Wolf In Your Midst 4 days ago
I got one of those from my high school. I laughed as I threw it in the garbage.
dadlivonia 4 days ago
or renewal of car warranty folks
GaryCooper 4 days ago
Why is that traffic cone smoking?
sueb1863 4 days ago
We’d like to talk to you about extending your car warranty…
Mariah13 4 days ago
My bad… I thought it was going to be “Your car warranty is expiring soon”
Mekoides 4 days ago
Do you think they used Starlink to send this to him?
Maswartz 4 days ago
So yeah his son is literally putting his life in danger with his request to bring him home.
stamps 4 days ago
That and the extended warranty people will always find you.
mousefumanchu Premium Member 3 days ago
I sent the last one back – deceased.
Teto85 Premium Member 3 days ago
I got one of those last year. How they found my up here in the wilds of Canada I’ll never know. Oh, wait. We were in Vancouver in 2018 and of all the strange things we bumped into two of my old classmates who were up here on vacation. I’ll bet it was them. Wrote a letter to the Homecoming committee. Still getting mail from them.
patlaborvi 3 days ago
I haven’t been in contact with anyone from my old high school in over30 years but somehow they managed to track me down and send me a reunion invite.
christelisbetty 3 days ago
It used to be Readers Digest…
ValancyCarmody Premium Member 3 days ago
I got an invitation to my reunion, including a picture of the reunion committee; but they must have made a mistake and put in the wrong picture. I recognized all of the names, but the picture was just a bunch of old people, nobody who could possibly be my age :)
DuskyPaws 3 days ago
What a way to stay fit!
DKHenderson 2 days ago
Does this mean that Carla was in the Shark’s graduating class? (I adore the punch panel in this one!)
calmom75 Premium Member 2 days ago
Surprised it wasn’t about his car warranty expiration…
Dragoncat 2 days ago
High Schools… They always find a way to reach you.
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 1 day ago
Hey,Shark,did you remember to vote?
DanMercer 1 day ago
Me too. Though why your alma mater keeps asking me for donations, I’ll never understand.