Our Huntingdon High School Class of 1953 had another wonderful class reunion this past April 15 and 16, 2005. During that Friday and Saturday, at Paris Landing State Park near Paris, Tn., we celebrated our 52nd year reunion. Our HHS Class of '53 has met every single year - beginning with our 40th year reunion.

The weather cooperated to the fullest ... it was so wonderful - even the temperature was either for short-sleeves or long-sleeves only.

We didn't break any records on attendance but the numbers attending are fairly close - time after time after time. *(See Note #1 in legend re:   record attendance ...) The numbers in attendance are as follows:  

Attendance on Friday night, April 15th:  

       		              5 classmates
				        5 spouses and/or friend
				       10 total

Attending for Saturday night, April 16th:  

     				       21 classmates
				       14 spouses and/or friend
				       35 total

You may click here and see the names of those in attendance on both nights. Also, you may view pictures from the reunion by clicking here. Thanks to Billy Jarrett for the digital camera work and for supplying all of those awesome photos.

Four couples of us spent that Friday night at Paris Landing and enjoyed the next day doing various activities ... while we waited expectantly on the arrival of other classmates. The Saturday arrivals began around noon and many of these were soon greeted by one or more other classmates. Of course, the restaurant was a favorite place to migrate (so we could meet and greet) from the check-in counter, rooms and other areas. (Hehe! I digress:   It seems that we are an "eating bunch", huh? Albeit, perhaps most, or all of us, were just drinking tea and coffee in the restaurant, though. Haha!)

Now as the remainder of any "late arrivals" showed up on Saturday, most all of us began assembling in the same "hospitality room" that was used on Friday. The room came alive with chatter, laughter, hugs, even a few kisses, and just a generally good time beginning to be had.

That afternoon, at six o'clock again, all of us left the "hospitality room" and proceeded to the restaurant where we enjoyed a bountiful meal and wonderful fellowship. You may want to ask Earl Jarrett about one of the more comical moments for the evening. The incident has something to about a waitress who accidentally spilled ice water down the back of his shirt.

After the meal, we all returned to the "hospitality room" for the evening to continue socializing and to conduct "class business". Our president, James "Butch" Reams, presided and the following items were brought to the floor and/or to our attention:  

1) We voted almost unanimously to return to Paris Landing for our 53rd Reunion (in 2006).

2) The Class voted for Larry Williams and yours truly to work as co-chairman on arranging next years accomodations, as far as all detail work (for the location) is concerned.

3) We voted to set the date for our next (53rd year) reunion on the weekend following Easter in 2006, which would be April 21st and 22nd. However, Paris Landing was fully booked for that weekend and it has now been changed to April 28th and 29th, 2006.
(Please Notice:   Paris Landing business office was contacted (the 1st part of the next week - after our reunion) about reserving a block of rooms for us for April 21st and 22nd, 2006. However, I was informed that every room in the hotel was already reserved ... and, therefore, no rooms at all would be available for that weekend. The manager did say, however, the following weekend (the 28th and 29th) was available. Because of this, the classmates who could be contacted via computer were polled regarding whether to change the location or the dates. The results of this polling, via email and message board, was that the vast majority preferred that we move the date to April 28th and 29th - and with these same classmates stating that they preferred to return to Paris Landing, instead of contacting Natchez Trace about April 21st and 22nd, 2006.

4) The Class discussed that some had not received any notice (invitation) about/to this year's Reunion. Therefore some people were not "kept sufficiently up-to-date" about the exact place and dates, especially ... along with any other details of which we all should be informed. Therefore, a motion was unanimously approved that ... in the future, invitations should be sent to all classmates - by our Secretary, Nancy Fullerton. Larry Williams and yours truly should work with Nancy in order for the place and dates to be confirmed - in case there were any last-minute changes that are necessary.

5) Butch brought us all up-to-date on his eldest son, Russell, who was injured in an accident in January of this year - see postings on message board about Russell and his accident. The class made a contribution, through individual donations, to Russell that totaled $215.

Following the discussion of business and other information, everyone sat around in the "hospitality room" and continued to catch up on friendship and personal matters - all "for old time's sake".

The "Witching Hour" came early for some who were not going to spend the night at the Paris Landing hotel. So along about nine o'clock, most of those traveling back to their home began to leave. Soon after that, we all found ourselves heading to our rooms for that "Much Needed" rest for us "Young Folks" ... and pills.

More than a dozen (classmates and spouses) spent the night at the Paris Landing Inn. Most of us who stayed - met together for breakfast the next morning in the restaurant ... Yeahhhhhhhhhh! We ate again. Hehe! So, right there in the restaurant, we continued our laughing and talking and wonderful, marvelous, awesome time together. It seemed that none of us wanted our reunion to end.

However, we had to make our departure that morning of April 17th, 2005 - though bitter-sweet it was. During our departing, there was some sadness ... yet, with all, a lot of marvelous gladness. Any one and all of us ... can look back to that awesome weekend ... knowing that every classmate had recaptured a lot of that "old-time" feeling. Yesssss! We had been touched by an old friend again - Nay! lots of wonderful old friends again ~sigh~ ...

Now - what is that old proverb again? "All good things must end" ...

And yet, "Good Things Always Come and Go ...." Oh,well! That's close to the old cliche anyway ...