It’s the season of reunions. From family reunions to class reunions, some groups are re-connecting after a year lost to COVID, while others still wait for the Delta variant to ease up.
The vast majority of 2020 reunions were canceled due to the pandemic and many classes postponed until this year or next. I can report that the class of 2000 is still holding out to celebrate a 22-year reunion next summer. The class of 2021 was eager and ready to gather in July for their 20th at Bear Creek Golf Course, but delayed due to the smoke. Stay tuned from more updates on reschedules.
Celebrating 50 years, the class of 1971 is scheduled to gather at the old Twisp High School gym (the Methow Valley Community Center) on Sept. 18 at noon. The class of 1971 isn’t limiting it to just their graduates. All classes who attended Twisp High during that era are welcome to come re-connect. Organizer Mike Mauk needs a little more help from classmates who can volunteer to help make the gathering a memorable one. He is looking for people to bring old photos and any school memorabilia to display. Maybe your old letterman’s jacket, band uniform, or report card for a centerpiece?
Those who attend the Class of ’71 reunion should come hungry. Mount Meals has been hired to serve up a feast and donations will be accepted to offset the cost, but the event is free. Mauk is looking forward to a pleasant day catching up with old friends and classmates to spark memories and laughter. For more information call Mike at (509) 449-0605 or email him at skippermike53@gmail.com. The class of ’71 have made it this far and they’d like to make it the next reunion, so please follow public health recommendations and come masked if you are not vaccinated, as is the Community Center policy.
The Community Center has gotten a facelift recently with half of the exterior freshly painted. Also updated inside is new lighting for events, which will allow for better stage spotlights as well as the area in front of the stage for orchestra or stage extensions. Thanks to donors and some grants and the hard work of manager Kirstin Ostlie, the Community Center continues to be well-kept for everyone to enjoy. The gymnasium is currently open for people who need to escape the smoke and want to move around. Masks are required for unvaccinated users and encouraged for everyone regardless vaccination status.
I recently attended a family reunion. Like most reunions, there was a lot of food and beverage consumed throughout the weekend, especially canned bubbly beverages. As I grabbed a can of bubbly water, I tapped on the top two times, out of habit. My cousin’s wife said, “OK, you tapped twice, I do that too. But I don’t even know why. I really don’t think it makes a difference.” Someone else chimed in, “no it doesn’t — I’ve heard you are supposed to tap the sides.”
This led to a great myth-buster discussion as to whether tapping the can at all matters. I will let you experiment with this one at home as it looks like there are more smoky days ahead and that leaves ample time to consume bubbly beverages. It’s an easy experiment you can do with kids: Shake three cans, tap one on top, tap one on the side, don’t tap the last, open them and compare the explosiveness. Sip and enjoy, then report back to me on your tapping success rate.
