This past weekend John and I drove out to the home of one of my high school friends in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, located right on the border between Wisconsin and Illinois. Pat hosted a reunion picnic for several of our mutual high school friends, the first time in 40 years that I have seen these women—Pat, Linda, Debbie and Bev—and the first time I met their spouses or significant others. I don’t enjoy large crowds, so this was the perfect-sized gathering for all of us to get caught up on each other’s lives.
Even the men did some bonding over a shared interest in a Corvette, and we all took turns imagining we owned it.
Pat, who is a talented artist, gifted each one of her friends with one of her paintings, a wonderful way to share a little bit of herself.
Later in the evening, we enjoyed a fish fry with Pat at The Tropics located at Winthrop Harbor. Did you know the harbor is the largest marina on the Great Lakes? Before we left town Sunday morning, we also had breakfast with Pat and Jeff at Emily’s Pancake House.
You’d think that there could be problems picking up your friendships decades later, but it was the easiest thing in the world to reminisce, share family news and find things to laugh about. Next year, hopefully, we’ll repeat our get-together, possibly in Burlington, Wisconsin. Thanks, Pat and Jeff, for a lovely summer picnic!
© 2014 Judy Nolan. All rights reserved.
How wonderful! Looks like you all had a great time 🙂
Last February I met up with a few of my school friends I hadn’t seen in over 20 years.
It’s true, we didn’t find it awkward to communicate. It was like slipping back into my old high-school self and we kind of picked up where we left off 😉
Sounds like a wonderful get together! I have a couple friends like that. It doesn’t matter how much time passes between visits, we pick right back up and are chatting away in no time 🙂
Glad to you got to see these ladies again and I hope next year works out as well!
Dear Judy, I was so happy that I had an e-mail sent of the reunion. I had the pleasure to have a mini reunion with Pat while she still lived on Gary St. in Milwaukee. I totally agree that getting together is a wonderful idea. I would need a lot more notice because I live in California. I would also host a coastal weekend should everyone care for an adventure. My sister owns a vacation rental just north of Bodega Bay on the ocean. It is very nice with lots of beach walks. Not like Southern California were it is crowded but open country. I hope that I get better at e-mail. Ask Pat – I am a lousy writer, but I sure did enjoy the pictures you all look great! Hope to hear from you. Pat Chang
Pat, please re-send your email address to me at judynolan@aol.com. The email address you provided is not working. Could there be a typo? — Judy