Reunion Part 3 - Dinner Dance

Next on the reunion week schedule was a dinner dance. This was the best-attended event of the week.   The venue was the San Luis Rey Downs golf club and resort . . . one of Southern California's finest.

The turnout was very good, with nearly 150 people attending.  The food was delicious, the band was truly outstanding, and the fellowship was extraordinary.   It was another wonderful time of catching up on each other's lives and renewing old acquaintances.

We're all in our places . . .

The only snafu of the weekend (that we could see, anyway) was that the band arrived and started playing before the dinner was served.  They were supposed to play 5 hours, from after dinner (around 7:00 PM) until midnight.

Instead, as you can see below, they started playing while it was still daylight, and before the dinner was served.  It ended up that they played from 5:00 PM until 10:00 PM.   But their music was so wonderful, nobody complained.  Anyway, we're all a little older now, and perhaps it was best to have an early end to the evening after all.
 

Their music was excellent

There was ample opportunity before the dinner was served for some dancing, and conversations with fellow members of the Class of 1962.

The dancers warm up before dinner

Some one-on-one reminiscing

Coach Herb Meyer (center) with two of his Class of 1962 baseball players

Here's a good looking trio

More smiles all around

Coach Herb with The Wire Mountain Boys

With dinner out of the way, and darkness over the land, it was time to get down to some serious 1960's dancing, albeit on a senior citizen level.

Boogie time in San Luis Rey

Frank was a very popular dance partner

Girls just want to have fun

Setting up for the 'stroll'

It was yet another successful event in the week.
The Class of 1962 knows how to celebrate.

Reunion Part 2 - Golf and Football

The second day of the reunion celebration was a "choose your own event" day.  Several activities were offered by the reunion committee:  a chauffered tour of various wineries, 18 holes of golf on Camp Pendleton, a card-playing tournament, and a shopping trip to Old Town.

You might guess which option Frank chose.

A perfect day for golf

Ready for the 19th hole

Linda did not attend any of the reunion events on this day.  She spent the day visiting friends, shopping for shoes, buying some souvenirs, and checking out yet another local yarn store.

The next day was Friday, which of course means high school football.  A small group from the reunion crowd attended the Homecoming Game at the high school.    Once again, Frank met up with many old acquaintances at the game, and got his field pass from the athletic director.

Field passes for the old coach

The Oceanside football team this year is an absolute powerhouse  . . . top-rated in the county, and unstoppable so far.  Their poor opponent, Ramona, got beat up pretty bad by the Pirates.  It looks like OHS is on its way to another CIF county championship.

More Friday Night Lights in Oceanside

After the game, Frank and Linda went out for dinner with classmate Richard Moon and his wife Cozette.   Vigilucci's has amazing Italian fare, and it was a welcome change from the the guacamole and salsa menus we've been indulging in so much.

Fine Italian dining in Carlsbad, California

There is a background to the restaurant choice, though.  At first, we all decided to go back to Boars Cross'n because we had had such a good time, and good food there, during the Wednesday reunion icebreaker.  Well, we soon found out that the Boars Cross'n is a wholly different place on Friday nights.  It's a wildly popular Friday Night place for the younger crowd  . . .  complete with cover charge, a loud band, and singles everywhere.

We oldsters preferred the quiet ambiance of some late night pasta and wine, and that's how we ended up at Vigilucci's. 

Reunion Part 1 - The Icebreaker

The Reunion was the primary reason for this trip.  The Class of 1962 of Oceanside High School is a remarkable group.  Over the 50 years since their graduation, this group has stayed in touch with one another like few class groups do.  Every 10-year reunion has been well attended, and this 50th promised to be the best of all.

The reunion consisted of various events from Wednesday through Sunday.  There was something for everyone.  Graduates came from as far away as Australia.  Though some of them had not seen each other for years, they seemed to be able to pick up old friendships with ease.

The first event was an "icebreaker" cocktails and buffet dinner at the Boar Cross'n in Carlsbad on Wednesday evening.

Chris (on the right) makes sure everyone gets a name tag

The mingling begins

The crowd thickens

Everyone enjoyed the beverage of their choice on the patio, followed by a buffet of fish tacos, chili beans, chips, guacamole, and salsa.

Enjoying chips and adult beverages before dinner

Larry and Cathie Hatter (facing) enjoy fish tacos with fellow grads

Good friends Pat, Jane, Dave, Gail and Jim

Lynn and Chris are all smiles when Frank takes their picture

Frank is safe with his retired FBI and DEA buddies Billy and Dale

Terrific evening overall, and a good start to the reunion celebration.

California Random Pictures

So we've been in San Diego County for almost a month now and have taken scores of pictures.  Here are a few random pics of the area for our readers to enjoy.

Who said it never rains in Southern California?

Oceanside Pier

Palomar Mountain in the distance

Even a trip to the PO box puts us on a scenic route

Normal freeway congestion

Metered entrances to the freeway, supposed to alleviate above congestion

Example of the regulatory nightmare that is Kalifornia

If we only had a nickel for every time we've been through this intersection

The Top Gun house in Oceanside

Real Mexican food

And we have arrived, finally, at The 50th Reunion of the Class of 1962 of Oceanside High School.  Complete coverage begins with the next post.

Old Friends, New Memories

There is no danger of having nothing to do until The Reunion.
We had lots of friends to visit, and things to see.

First of all, Leslie from Montana had flown back for a visit to San Diego just days before Frank came back.  We all met up for a snack in Mission Valley.

Renewing acquaintances in San Diego attire

What DOES Linda carry in that purse of hers?

On the way back from visiting with Leslie, Frank wanted to see Susie Bruun.  He had been in Montana, remember, when Linda helped Susie with the Falcon gear sales at the TPHS football game.

Pure joy in Solana Beach

We couldn't let Friday night go by without going to the Oceanside High School football game.

Frank loved the brand new stadium . . .

Word soon spread throughout the stands that Frank was at the game, and many people came by to say hello.  Eventually, Frank ended up down on the sidelines with coaches he has known for many years.

Colorful pre-game ceremony on the new field

John Kentera, a local sports radio personality,  (Radio 1090 AM) stopped by, as well.  John and Frank go way back . . .  Frank coached John in baseball at Torrey Pines, and then a few years later, John joined Frank as an assistant coach for the TPHS baseball team.

John was doing the live radio broadcast of tonight's Game Of The Week

We also made time for a visit with our dear friend Gloria, who is recovering from back surgery.

Gloria with granddaughter Amelie, and daughter-in-law Sophie

Linda attended a wool festival in Vista with her good friend, Joyce, on a glorious Saturday afternoon.

Local artisans . . . knitters, spinners, weavers . . . so much to see and touch

Just a fabulous way for any fiber enthusiast to spend a couple of hours

Joyce ponders buying a felted hat

And there was the terrific evening with friends we first met when our boys played T-ball together 20 years ago.

Showing Matt's wedding pictures to Greg and his mom

First grandbaby . . . last time we saw him, he was a newborn

Second grandbaby will probably be here by the time you read this post

We filled every moment until the reunion days with good friends, good fellowship, and making more good memories.