February 4, 2006
Phil and Ida Meringolo hosted our Mini Reunion at their beautiful new home in Poinciana, Florida. Both Phil and Ida retired from Long Island to Disney country in the Orlando area this past December, 2005.
Our day started out as a rare dreary and rainy day when Janet and I left our home in Sarasota but soon the weather improved for the remainder of the two hour drive. We arrived in the Lake Buena Vista area where we would be staying early so a quick visit to Downtown Disney seemed like a good idea... especially the cup of hot choclate with whipped cream at the Ghirardelli Cafe. It was a nice reminder of our wondeful class reunion this past October in San Francisco. What better to warm us up for this Mini Reunion. Then off for a quick check- in at our motel (We ran into Jack Emmer on our way out) and off to Phil and Ida's.
Once there Janet and I were greeted by Jim Hancock and his wife Joyce, Kathy (Kwiatkowski) Madden and Phil and Ida still engaged in preparing snacks for tripple our number. Soon we were joined by Grace (Mille) Logue and her husband Chuck, and the surprise guest... Jack Emmer. Then Ginny (Simonson)and Jerry Bushart and Steve and Jeanine Nephew.
Half of us had seen each other in October but four of us had not seen each other for 43 years so this was a very special reunion for us all. What a wonderful group had come together. I am always impressed with the way we all blend so well and do so easily. It only takes a few minutes to remove the uneasiness and akwardness that attends with so many years appart.
As is normal for us, we chatted unendingly until dinner. Dinner was arranged by Steve Nephew at the community Club House where we regrouped. Although we were sorry to see Jim and Joyce Hancock return to there home to entertain house guests of their own. The rest of us dined and enjoyed each others company until we closed the place hours later. But our visit was not over... We managed to find another hour together Sunday morning at breakfast before we all said are good-byes and headed home.
Now, to share the wonderful time we all had please visit and enjoy our Florida Group Photo Album. Thanks to Kathy (Kwiatkowski) Madden for sending me her pictures so quickly.
I welcome everyone's impressions of the Mini Reunion, just email me and I will include them here.
Next Year's Florida Group Mini Reunion... Just to give everyone a lot of time to plan. Next year it will be held on Florida's West Coast the second weekend in February. So mark down February 10 - 11, 2007. Saturday will be the Mini Reunion Afternoon Reception followed by Dinner and Breakfast gathering Sunday morning... same format as this year. For early arrivals who come over on Friday, February 9 there will be informal cocktails that evening. The Mini Reunion will be hosted in Sarasota, Florida at the Petersen's.
We plan to rotate the Mini Reunion location around the state so The following year, 2008, we need to recruit our Florida Group host from the East Coast!