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1968 RHS Girls Weekend Reunion
report written by Sara Beckord Swails
On June 11-13, 2010 the girls from the class of 1968
gathered for their “1968 RHS Girls Weekend Reunion” in Iowa City, IA at the
home of Sara Beckord Swails. Attending the weekend celebration were Alice
Rickard Gough, Brenda DeWall Dodge, Debbie Erickson Poppen, Kathleen Rickard
Gentes, Linda Boeckholt Tiernan, Sandy Spencer Behrendsen, Sara Beckord
Swails, and Susan Wilson Whitaker. Barb Trimble Post, Marcia Hansen Marchant,
Ronda Accurso Mattey, and Sue Bintz Pederson were unable to come.
Everyone arrived mid afternoon on June 11 and we were instantly best friends
again after 42 years. There was no cooking and we ate all of our meals at
Iowa City restaurants. We attended the downtown Iowa City Jazz Festival
Friday night after dinner at Givanni’s. On Saturday, we took a guided tour
of Old Capitol, the territorial capitol of Iowa. Sara introduced the group
to her favorite shops in downtown Iowa City at the Ped Mall. And she gave
them a mini tour of the campus. We shopped at the Amanas and had supper at
the Ox Yoke Restaurant. We talked and laughed into the wee hours of the
morning every night. It was one big slumber party all weekend, just like we
used to do growing up. Sandy prepared a memorial for classmate LaNell
Ramsvig Sado who passed away in 2008. We kept a candle lit for her all
weekend. (Written memorial
reflections about LaNell will be posted soon.)
Previous to our weekend we exchanged stories of our lives since graduation
in 1968. And everyone brought pictures of their families and RHS pictures.
Sara plans to put all the stories and pictures on a CD for everyone.
We had so much fun that we’ve decided to do this on an annual basis.
Tentative plans are to do Chicago in 2011, back to Iowa City in 2012, and
then attend the 2013 Rolfe Reunion.
Comments from some of the attendees are:
From Brenda: “It was so good to get together on June 11. There were 8 of us
and I felt like we immediately reconnected and picked up where we left off
42 years ago. It was great to hear what has happened in everyone's lives, to
learn about their families, to see their pictures. I think about our
conversations often! I look forward to our next get together.”
From Sara: “When we met on Friday, it was like we hadn’t been apart for 42
years! It was the greatest weekend and I enjoyed our conversations
immensely. We laughed so hard and recalled funny stories about growing up in
Rolfe. Since the weekend, we email each other often. I am so excited that we
reconnected.”
From Sue: “I had such a great time and can’t wait to continue this tradition
of a Rolfe Girls’ Weekend in the future. I was so tired afterwards I
couldn't even take a nap. I haven't kept those hours for years!”
From Debbie: “Thank you so much for hosting the reunion—1968 Girls Gone Wild
Weekend!”
From Sandy: The weekend was fabulous! Steve and Sara's home was so welcoming
and the Iowa City area unique. All those years gone by had not separated us
at all (and we can still stay up till 3 am). I am already looking forward to
next year, especially hoping the four who couldn't make it this year are
able to join us. The only thing that would have made our gathering perfect
would have been for LaNell to be with us. I'm looking forward to hosting the
2013 sleepover! |
