Summer Dream 2006

I forgot to mention that, when I checked in, as soon as I said my name the clerk said “There are people looking for you”. I get so much praise for making these events happen. All I can say is that it took everyone to make it happen Without flying cross country, driving from Milwaukie, getting off work early, each person making a commitment to be in Houghton, there would be no reunion. I thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart. The happiest I have been is sitting in a corner for a few minutes watching everyone enjoying each other. We had a great class. Awesome… words fail me....

Morning brought bodies struggling to consciousness one-by-one. And the stories start early. And the friendship builds over coffee. Today was the HHS Alumi kickoff. Everyone headed south to the new school. And everyone looks so different – these last 5-10 years are perhaps more changing than the previous thirty. But when you make a point to search out folks, the friendships, the talk, the memories explode, like sunrise on the desert. I met so many people today from all classes – words can not describe the feelings, the awe, the joy. Words truly fail.

A diversion from the other activities found me in the bowels of the earth. I have always wanted to tour the Quincy mine, the underground. It was hot and muggy on the surface. The surface tour took forever albeit fascinating, the process of pulling copper ore from the inner regions of the earth, under supposedly harsh and forboding conditions. Then we went underground. Descent in the traditional shaft manner is not in the OSHA approved repertoire so we took a skip down the hillside to level 3 and entered horizontally. Level 3 is 300 feet below the surface. This mine went to level 92. Yes, that’s almost 2 miles deep. And with caution about the temperature and warm gear provided to ward off the chill, entry into level three was at 42 degrees, right from the tunnel entrance. Nothing blows as cold as the chill fingers of a dark mine shaft, running water, a touch of claustrophobia and darkness. The life of a miner would make anyone today study hard in school; any fate on the surface a better life. Yet those bold men and their children brought copper to the surface, made the world turn. About 30 minutes underground one half mile from the entrance, esconsed in solid rock was fascinating. The evolution of technologies that made life in the mines more comfortable and safer over the years a fascinating tribute to the people who make it happen – both on the labor and the management side. And by the way work at level 92 was in the 90 degree range with very high humidity. Penetrating the shell of the earth is an intriguing process.

And the evening program was beyond expectations. People who were not expected to come, came. People who planned to stay only a short time stayed all evening. A group photo by the professional photographer spouse of a classmate. And then back to the hotel for more stories, more friends. Even new faces. How can we have so much to talk about? A half century stores many experiences. And people change. Shy become bold, tough become mellow, the human spirit.

It was a good day.