Reunion ’22 — Fredericksburg, VA
Photos by Mary Ellen, Walt, and Suzie
Monday: Gathering
Tuesday: Garden Day and Orofino’s
Wednesday: Ferry Farm and Kenmore Inn Dinner
Thursday: Lake Anna/Shopping and Zoom
Despite the lingering pandemic,
we gathered for Reunion ’22 in Fredericksburg!
Attendees included
Class of ’65: Jenny & Walt
Class of ’66: Crackey, Pat, Suzie, Ellie & Ed, Jill & Hank
Class of ’67: Marianna & Ron, MaryAnn, Kay, Paulette
Class of ’68: Mary Ellen, Ruth & George
Our reunion was overdue, and we were ready! From April 25–29, we stayed at the Kenmore Inn across from Mary Ellen’s home.
On Monday, twelve sisters and five husbands gathered in Mary Ellen’s historic house, filled with art, artifacts, and historic family memorabilia. We enjoyed sharing our first meal in such lovely surroundings. When the evening ended, we crossed the street to the beautiful Kenmore Inn. Having booked all nine guest rooms, we relaxed in comfort, staying in our pjs as long as we liked — the perfect accommodation!
At breakfast on Tuesday, we asked the staff to rearrange the too-far-apart dining tables closer for our communal gabfest that lasted for hours each morning. Then we headed for Garden Day, a walking tour of Fredericksburg which featured five restored historic properties with stunning landscaping and floral displays. Dinner that evening was a multi-course Italian feast at Orofino’s. It was superb!
On Wednesday, several of us went to Ferry Farm, George Washington’s childhood home, where we soaked up more U.S. history on our guided tour. Others visited the Libertytown Arts Workshop gallery. Back at the Kenmore Inn, we enjoyed a fine catered feast in their banquet room. It was Jenny’s birthday, so after cake and a champagne toast (thank you, Walt), we sang to Jenny and made her Skip Around the Room, just like on Comstock Avenue.
Our Thursday plans included a choice: lunch and a pontoon boat ride on Lake Anna or relaxing and exploring Fredericksburg’s lovely shops. When everyone returned, our “techies” ( Marianna, Ron, and Paulette) arranged a ZOOM meeting with those sisters who were unable to to join us. It was wonderful to see, smile at, and send our love to Mim, Julie, Lucille, and Barbara & Tom, and tell them how much they were missed! Dinner was casual and cozy in Kenmore’s dining room (thank you, Pat, Paulette, and Kay). We were so pleased that the tables remained close together throughout our stay, the staff having quickly realized that “distancing” didn’t work for us.
Continuous chatter, laughter, reminiscing, and sharing filled the days of our Reunion. We agreed that strenuous activities are less important now; getting together in comfy surroundings is what we value most (plus an elevator!).
At our plan-ahead meeting, we all expressed hope that Reunions take place every 1 to 2 years. We’ll discuss West Coast possibilities at our zoom meetings, so please plan to be there — and stay tuned!
Heartfelt appreciation goes to our gracious hostess and organizer Mary Ellen, as well as to Paulette and Barbara, for planning and orchestrating a magnificent experience for us all.
A Note from Marianna ...
Our last reunion in Fredericksburg was so special. I love that we have shared experiences as we’ve gone through all of life’s stages which brought us to this point. Still being friends and still being in touch is an exceptional achievement and a true gift.
We never thought when we left SU and AGD that this was in our future. All of us have made this happen. Love and Loyalty really came to pass.
Tidbits from Pat ...
Monday: My knees are cold. It’s because I rushed over to join in the fun instead of changing into the well-coordinated outfit I had planned to wear, I am still in my travel shorts and top. I don’t want to go inside because I am having too much fun talking to Walt, Suzie and Ron. Someone brings me a shawl. I stay there until it’s time to clean up. I bring things to the kitchen for the clean-up crew. Marianna announces, “I’ll stay, I love to do dishes.” In Seattle, I remember staying to do the dishes with Linda MacIver Conklin as everyone else went to the Fifty’s diner. I am thankful that Marianna loves to do dishes, as I am exhausted. I grab MaryAnn, my travel partner, and head across the street to the B&B.
I fall asleep to the sound of friends laughing and talking downstairs and wake up in the morning to friends laughing and talking outside my room. This is my favorite part of the reunion. If I get up, I know they’ll say, “Hey Pat, come and sit here.” I am so lucky to be part of this group.
Tuesday: We have rearranged the dining room in the B&B. The staff made a rule for our group: we can move the chairs but not the tables. We want to sit in large groups not at tables for 2 or 4. So they set up two areas with tables in the middle and chairs around the outside. People come and go and the groups change, but everyone is welcome. The food and service are excellent.
We head out to the garden tour. It is excellent but the lines are long. So Crackey, MaryAnn and I head back to the B&B’s little sitting room next to my room. Crackey and I catch up. MaryAnn joins us and we all chat for a while.
A group is going out in search of lunch. I am invited but prefer to rest. Ellie says she’ll bring something back for me. Some time later, they call to say there is food for me in the dining room.
It’s Italian restaurant night, so we walk to the restaurant. Juiie calls. She can’t come, still recovering from her surgery. Several of us chip in to say, “HI.” We are so disappointed that she won’t be here.
The food at the restaurant is excellent and abundant. We all get carryout bags.
Wednesday: We have another group breakfast, laughing and talking all the time. MaryAnn and Crackey, who share a room, arrive in identical outfits without noticing it until we point it out (see photos).
As we head for Ferry Farm, I tell everyone, “Just follow your GPS.” Walt invites me to sit up front since I’ve been there before. My GPS sends us in circles; so does the car GPS and Suzie’s GPS. Everyone else follows the signs. They are texting and calling, “Where are you?” We are laughing so hard, we can’t answer. Eventually, I spot the place; the entrance had been moved…. It’s a good tour.
The catered dinner at the Kenmore is delicious. The evening is highlighted by Suzie leading birthday girls Jenny and Crackey to a loop of “Skip around the room.”
Thursday: Some of us drive out to Lake Anna for a boat ride and seafood lunch. The weather is just warm enough; the boat is spacious; and the captain and crew (Paulette) are wonderful.
Our last group event is a zoom session with the sisters who weren’t able to join us. It’s great to all be together, if only on zoom.
At every reunion, someone new — well, not really — joins in. (Do you remember her? Will she fit in? And, of course, every time she does.) This time, it’s Ruth Golts Silins and her husband George. I have so much fun chatting with them.
Melon was the quintessential gracious host. Everything was well planned and executed. We had many activities but still plenty of time to laugh and talk. The food was, of course, excellent. We now know what a “fork dinner” is (food you can eat with only a fork) and it was delicious!
We’ve already started planning our next reunion. Where and when? Honestly, the sooner the better and I don’t care where we go. I just go to enjoy laughing and talking with my alphagamalpha friends.