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Photo by Bob Gentry ©2001
Stanyan Entertainment
A Thought for Today
All life is imagery, but imagery is
seldom life. The moral is not to ‘get a life.’ It’s to imagine one for
yourself then make it happen.
Most people find it hard to
believe that anyone would brave their 50th Class Reunion, me too. But fear
has never been a strong enough motive to keep me from anything. You can
call me stupid, but never afraid. So tomorrow I’ll be joining 175 other
brave hearts not just to see how we all turned out, but because – while I
didn’t have much schooling – my senior class was made up of some really
nice people. There were probably some jerks too, but try as I may I can’t
remember them. Of course, I’m not trying very hard.
Do I hope that Stanley Stunning now has a pot belly or that Charlie
Charming is on his fifth wife? And what about that gorgeous, sweet thing I
was wild about who never gave me a second glance? Will I be happy if she’s
now the town drunk?
Naaw.
I hope I have a happy hangover on Sunday morning and you know what, I’m
sure I will.
50th REUNION OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS
Hello
Rod, I know you can't believe that 50 years has passed since you attended
Oakland Tech. Like you, I didn't graduate from Tech but I am interested in
seeing some old friends during the 50th reunion.
If you have already been contacted, please disregard this E-mail. If not,
and you are interested, please drop me a line and I will see that they
send you the information.
I used to see you when you performed and had book signings in Portland,
Oregon. I was in the square dance club with you at Tech and I joined in
when my friends would harass you during your radio DJ program. Ah, those
were the days! You've come a long way, baby!
Hope to hear from you Arlene Wedell Young
Dear Arlene, I’ll be there this coming Saturday night and I’m looking
forward to it, I’ve even written a couple of things especially for the
occasion.
I’ve missed the other reunions through the years so this one will mean a
lot. While I pride myself on a good memory I have a feeling I’ll be
looking at a lot of name tags this weekend. Fifty years brings a lot of
changes.
I remember the razzing I got for my radio show “Rendezvous with Rod,”
especially since its content was pretty steamy. Of course only my
classmates knew I was a teenager, once the show caught on the station
joined me in concealing my age from listeners.
I guess if we were in school today it would be ‘line dancing’ & not the
square dance club. I’m eager to see you again Arlene and catch up on where
your life has taken you. Warmly, Rod
THAT WAS THEN
I was in
your English class a couple of years after you left Tech and we had the
same teacher. She told us you were a pretty good student when she could
get your attention but that you spent most of your time daydreaming and
looking out the window. Kathy Nelson
Dear Kathy, She got that right! Sincerely, Rod
ROD THE JOCK
Dear
Rod, In light of the upcoming 50th a couple of us were reminiscing about
basketball tryouts and how you came in ahead of all the guys who tried
out. But you ended up quitting the team almost before we started. The
coach didn’t appreciate that very much and some of your teammates felt the
same. What was the deal? None of us could figure it out. “You coulda been
a contender.” George Tubin
Dear George, I was more surprised than anyone that I finished first and
was asked to be captain. My secret was that “Big” Don Barksdale worked at
KROW where I did and I played a lot of pick-up games with him. He taught
me everything about basketball and it didn’t hurt my game that he had been
a Bay Area All Star. Then I got an extra gig re-creating games for the
station on Saturday afternoons and that helped too.
Here’s ‘the deal.’ I was never into athletics all that much and in school
my interests went in other directions, basically writing and performing
took over my life which is one of the reasons I quit school before
graduating. That and the fact that I had to earn a living and just working
every day after school didn’t provide enough of an income to support the
family.
While I’ve looked at many a basket in the years between, I haven’t sunk
all that many. Don’t forget to say hello tomorrow night, George . . .but,
no pick up games please. Cheers, Rod
I’LL BE THERE
Rod: Are
you really coming to the reunion Saturday night? I’ll believe it when I
see it! Do you remember Friday’s in detention? Chuck.
Dear Chuck, I do. And not even detention could keep me from this one. Luv,
Rod
TIME CRAWLS
Dear
Rod: has it really been fifty years? Marianne
Yes, Marianne, it only feels like one hundred. Yours, Rod
P.S.
Dear
Rod: Don’t forget to send the check. Jack Hunt
Dear Jack, The check is in the mail. Yours Very Truly, Rod
I’d answer more mail but I got in from Atlanta late (where I regularly
visit on the net) and I have a plane to catch. If I survive I’ll let you
know how it all turned out. Sleep warm.
RM 5/11/2001 Previously
unpublished
It's taken some time but
finally we're delighted to announce the posting of a selection of
photographs from both the Thousand Oaks and Aurora concerts. You can
reach them via the link below.
Concert
Photographs
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