It has been three months since I UNSUBSCRIBED from Classmates' newsletters. But they keep coming to me on a regular basis, albeit I delete them under SPAM. But wait. Not so fast. The latest news says my mates from the class of 1942 at Coshocton, OH High school (GO REDSKINS!) No, I'm not a racist. They want to greet me again! How tender and compassionate.
The last time I saw Class President Ronald McCormick, he was sitting in McCluggage's Malt Shop at a table seating eight, all upper class rich kids. There was one empty chair. When I approached it to sit down, McCormick said, "No, Abel, we're saving this chair for one of our friends." So I sat at the counter and ordered my usual vanilla milk shake with taffy ice cream and a grilled cheese sandwich, pouting of course.
After graduation, McCormick was honored in the CHS Year Book that predicted he would be President of the USA someday. Forty years later, having retired from selling aluminum siding, he was living in a Florida trailer and unable to afford attending the class reunion. But not Stanley Cox, who always sat directly behind me in classes and was called on to recite after me. Stan was quiet, an introvert, predicted in the year book to own his own gas station. Instead, he became Senior Vice-President of the enormous Sheraton Hotel chain.
Classmates newsletter offered me a new low price for three months, six months and two months, with unlimited access to their archives, for only $1.98, $2.98 and $24.50 respectively. Otherwise I would have to look at blurred photos of my classmates from 1942. I just don't go for this kind of "legal extortion."
When I recently asked Buck Henry how his friends were doing, he said, "I visit them every week in the cemetery, and they are doing just fine." Hmmmmmm. That's what I get for asking a personal question.
As an act of kindness, class reunions ended about fourteen years ago. I can remember the last one, peering at name tags to see whom I was talking to. Very embarrassing. I still call Norm Beatty in Jackson Heights, NY and Howard Shaw in San Rafael, CA. Also, Frank Grandle in Hillsborough, CA who has Parkinson's Disease. I urged Frank to seek help from the Ohio State University Medical Research School; they have found a possible cure for his affliction.
Another classmate, Dick Hook, remains in Coshocton. He's still alive and kicks ass! So, Norm, Howard, Frank, and Stan, we ain't dead yet!!! And Classmates News Letter, you can take your blurred photos and sucker trap offers and shove them you know where!!!
Don't ya'll love that song, "I Will Survive?"
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