Through An 'Old Timer's' Eyes
By Howard 'Mac' McDonald

Summer time and the living is easy, the fish are jumping and the corn is high. Summer time and there is a multitude of things that we can do.

Summer time seems to breed family reunions and for my wife's family that was no exception to the rule. July 22, 2006 found us on the road to Donora, Pennsylvania, where the clan settled in Palmer Park.

There are probably only three times when relatives seem to get together and that is when there is a wedding, a funeral and last but not least, family reunions. I prefer the reunion over the other two occasions because it seems to be more festive. We all know that funerals are sad and some time weddings can be too.

Family reunions usually generate a menu that offers food that is in a category all by itself. One of my wife's cousins asked me if I had tried some of Uncle Alfreds stuffed yellow Hungarian hot peppers. He didn't tell me that they were stuffed with Jalapeno peppers. I was suppose to have my tonsils out, but Uncle Alfred's stuffed peppers took care of that.

Several games and contests were held and I won a prize for spitting a watermelon seed the farthest. This seed spitting just about got me in trouble as it landed in Aunt Rose's koolaid. Her son saved the day as he told her the flavor of her koolaid was watermelon and that explanation seemed to satisfy her. She said, "why isn't that just ducky, a real seed to enhance the flavor". That statement sort of proves the old saying of, "you can pick your friends, but not your relatives."

There are all kinds of reunions, high school, college, military, lodges, and even the old neighborhood. In 1998, I went to my 50th high school class reunion. There were thirty eight class mates there.

We still had seventy people alive and I was surprised to see that most of them that were there were close friends. Most of the people were from other states as it seems that the people who stayed in that area didn't care to come and break bread with their old classmates. Seems to be the rule of thumb.

One of the most satisfying things about that class reunion was that our old high school principal was there. His name is Gordon Nevin and he was ninety one years old. I asked him if he remembered me and his answer was, "yes, quite well". I was not the perfect student and I had been in his office a few times. I told him I was probably the only person at the reunion that had this distinction. Gordon ask me, "what was that"?

Corporal punishment was still being used to install discipline in the class room. When I was in the fourth grade, Gordon's mother was my fourth grade teacher and a couple of times she applied the Hickory to my back side. I stepped out of line in high school and Gordon used the same method as his mother did. Today they would both be in the clinker. The class of 48 does not have a reunion every five years or more. We have a luncheon every year and I will be going in September.

Military reunions usually last three or more days. I have been out of the Air Force for thirty five years and have only been to one. In 1985, the 20th Military Air Lift Squadron had a reunion in Charleston, S.C. The Squadron is still an active duty unit and most of the arrangements were made by the active duty troops. It was held at the Holiday Inn just off Charleston AFB and believe me they did it up real good.

I got to my friends house at about 10 a.m. Friday morning. My friend told me to put my bag in his car as his wife was going to drive us to the Holiday Inn. She drove up in front of that big hotel, dumped us out and said, "I will pick you up here at ten Monday morning". Being good upstanding NCO's , we headed straight to the hospitality room.

As you entered the door, you showed them your paid up invitation and they stuck a name tag on you. You were given a program of all the events and were told that you were on your own.

At the big dinner on Saturday night I remember this one old Sergeant telling how in WWII he went to Europe by rail. Some one ask him how did he go by rail and his answer was that he was seasick the first five minutes of that voyage and he hung over the rail throwing up all the way over. Monday morning I was sure glad to see that lady drive up and take us home.

Its really great to go to a reunion and see old friends, and family members. Addresses, phone numbers and old stories are exchanged. You should look around and ask your self, I wonder who will be gone from our ranks next year. What is really a jolt is then you realize that it might be you. That is the reason you should really live it up and have a good time.

One of the big problems at a reunion is trying to remember names. Name tags really help to defuse the situation but you always run into someone before the name tags are given out. I have a standard procedure that I use and it goes like this. If I meet a man and I can't remember his name, I just call him handsome. A lady I call Sweet Pea. Works everytime for me. Have a good time at your next reunion.