A(nother) Guest Blogger

Sharon Wolf, Matt's wife, posted an entry about our reunion on her blog. Click here to see a spouse's insights into our event.

I am preparing to leave; tonight we have a Black Tie wedding in North Jersey (another opportunity to wear my red dress!), then tomorrow morning we leave for Palm Beach. I spoke with Marla last night, and we are planning to see each other Monday night. I probably won't get photos up here while I'm on vacation, but I will post up to Facebook from my Blackberry.

Have a great week, and feel free to talk amongst yourselves!

Fran's Photos

I put Fran's photos up in the snapfish album.

Mike and David and I have a wedding Friday night (another opportunity to wear my red dress!) then, we're leaving for Florida Saturday morning. I don't expect to be blogging, though I do expect to see Marla, so, you never do know. Below are a few of Fran's photos.

This is my favorite photo of Fran and Larry taken at lunch on Saturday.

Gloria and Meryl.....

The heartthrobs...Louie, Eliot and Michael

Me and Big Al!

Have a great week!

I'm getting closer to words....

the further we move away from the reunion, the closer I am to finding my voice about it. While you wait, here are a few photos....Fran sent me hers this evening. I'll post the entire batch..um...well, perhaps not the entire batch...up to Snapfish in a day or so.

Louie, me and Steven

Lisa, Gloria, Fern's husband Lou, Fern, Larry and Ann

Louie (looking very much alive), Ellen and Michael


Ann, Jack and Larry

Thinkin' Baseball!

And for my next project....

I had lunch with Meryl today. She was in Long Branch taking care of some business with her mom who is getting ready to head to Florida for the winter. I promised her that I would post up these pictures; two examples of holiday cards my friend Cariellen did for me over the years. She does the photography, and then we generally brainstorm the theme of the card. We did things differently this year; we had an impromptu Facebook chat....like 10 minutes, and in those ten minutes we agreed upon a time, wardrobe, a theme and a concept. Every year I say this is the best year ever (my kid happens to be extremely photogenic, and Cariellen happens to be a genius behind a lens) but this year, really, I do believe, will be our best year yet.

The above was my favorite for a very long time. Cari really captured the essence of David. We modeled the photos on a Gap ad. Inside is a Haiku that I wrote.

This one fast became my all time favorite! It was our first time shooting in Cari's new studio. She and David spent about 15 minutes together. Cari does these as a favor to me, so we never have long elaborate sessions. We work with what she can get in the limited time we have together.

If anyone is interested in looking at Cari's work, or perhaps engaging her for your holiday shoot, check out her website at www.cariellen.com.

Marla checks in...

Many of you asked about Marla the night of the reunion. She wanted to be with us, but the timing just didn't work for her. She'd already planned to visit her sister on the other coast, and didn't return from that trip until the Monday following our reunion.

Marla is living in Florida and I plan to see her next week when we're in Palm Beach. Watch for pictures on my return.

Tentatively....

she dips her toe in, and finds that the waters aren't frigid.....

As I wait for my words to come...

Several of us made an entire weekend of the reunion. Lisa Wagner and Marion Schwartz, Larry Zarra, Ann Lubell, Matt Wolf and his wife Sharon, and Fran and I. Peter Biedermann and his wife Joanna were supposed to be with us, but Peter's dad had been unwell the weeks prior to the reunion, and Peter had to cancel at the last minute to be with him.

We went to dinner Friday night (the Wolf's were not with us, but Al DiBiase did meet up with us) at Biaggio's, a local Italian restaurant. We caught up with each other, had fun, then went back to the hotel. The night was beautiful and we were able to sit outside at the Tiki Bar. We said our good nights about 11:30 or so. Fran and I were sharing a room, and stayed up til the wee hours chatting. It was like any of a number of sleepovers we shared in 8th grade!



The next morning we met for coffee in the lobby (there are pictures of that on Snapfish but I am exercising my editorial rights and not posting no-makeup photos on my blog!) then some of us went for a walk on the Long Branch boardwalk. Later, we met up for another walk to Pier Village, and had lunch at It's Greek to Me. After lunch we headed back to the hotel lobby, where we awaited the arrival of the Saturday gang. Fran and I invited everyone who was assembled in the lobby back to our room (612) for pre-reunion cocktails. Apparently, we had a group back to our room after the reunion for some post-reunion festivities. I have the pictures to prove I was there.

The girls...

I put Meryl's photos up on Snapfish. Take a look: Click Here

We all opted for fabulous shoes...

Thanks to Meryl for these!

Mark and me...the night of....

and the morning after...as I toy with my bb....

Give us this day our daily blogpost

NOTE: I fixed the broken Snapfish link.

Those of you who know me know that if I can write a novella around something I will; that I like to share my thoughts in images.

My thoughts, my feelings, my emotions about the reunion.... I'm still wrestling with them. I haven't found my words yet. They'll come, and when they do, I'll share them..for those of you who were there, and for those of you who weren't.

I will say this for now; although the reunion wasn't the one I'd anticipated, I had a wonderful time and collected great memories.

Mark sent me a few photos. I'll post a couple here, and put the rest up on SnapFish. Remember to continue to hit up Snapfish. As people send me their stuff, I've been adding to the album!

The view from the hotel. It was a spectacular fall day at the Jersey Shore.

Marion Schwartz and Lisa Wagner...looking great the day after

It doesn't get sweeter than this!

That was then.....

And this is now....

Photos are up at Snapfish

Click here for photos

NOTE: You'll need to create a Snapfish account if you don't already have one!

A few more....

I lifted these photos from George Seltzer's Facebook Page.

Here are a few to get you started!

Too, um, tired to blog

The only photos I've seen so far are from the post-reunion party that I apparently attended in my room. Tomorrow I'll get the photos that Elissa took, and I'll post some here, but I plan to put all of them up at Shutterfly.

Someone asked this morning if I could get everyone's photos into one place, so if you took pictures and you'd like to share them, and you know we'd like you to, please get them to me and I'll post them up as well.

I plan to email the Shutterfly account information out to everyone. I've noticed that I'm having emails bounced from a couple addresses that I'd been successful in sending to in the past. If you want access to the photos, please get me an email address that works.

After all the planning...

it's here.

Looking forward to seeing those of you who are on your way now, tonight, and the rest of you tomorrow.

3 days...and counting

I got Steven Kornfeld's check today, so he's a definite, and getting moved on the roster to attending. I forgot to mention yesterday that I'd had a Facebook message from Sherry Hurewitz; I'd been holding out hope that she would be able to make it north, but she sends her regrets and asks for pictures. I'll be moving her to 'Not Attending'.

I believe the roster, as posted below, is now complete.

I have a lingering hope though....that maybe one or two people...will decide at the last minute that he really doesn't want to miss this event and just show up.

The Roster

Here's who is coming, defined by who has actually sent a check:

Fran Cowan, Al DiBiase, Meryl Miller, Lonnie Horwitz, Marty Tarabar, Matthew Wolf, Ann Lubell, Mark Engel, Ellen Aronoff, Louie Baldwin, Gloria Birn, Lisa Wagner, Marion Schwartz, Jeff Komrower, Michael Ringler, Fred Teskin, Fern Ehrlich, Peter Biedermann, Michael Maenza, Bill Boub, Jack Ribiero, Eliot Fried, Chris Strohmenger, Larry Zarra, Paul Goldenberg, Tad Boub, George Seltzer, Natalie, Paul Pomerantz, Leslee Scheckman, Steven Kornfeld and me.

And here's who we've connected with, either by email or by phone, who've told us that they're coming, or that they'd like to attend: John Ficula.

Then there's the group of folks who we've spoken to, but who haven't yet responded, or who have yet to decide:
Michelle Bono, , Gina Geslewitz, Howard Jaffe, Marla Potsdam, Steve Schulz, Florine Korbman, and Debbie Addario.

Next are the people we are fairly certain we have accurate contact information on, but we haven't yet connected with personally. This group includes:

Janice Rozga and Naomi Tauber.

And here's who we have no contact information on, and who we're still looking for:

Carlotta Benevides, Darlene Brezin, *Peggy Davis, David Greenfield,*Doris Jones, Erika Kremlik, George Kris, Lewis Lee, Ruth McGinnes, John Morris, Peggy O'Keefe, and *Ira Weinstock.

I'm adding one last group...those folks who've decided against attending. This list includes:

Sherry Hurewitz, Joey Correia, Michael Austin, Ira Lager, Arlene Gudis and Shelley Rosenbloom.

If you can help us get in touch with any of the folks we're still looking for, or if you can convince any of the fence-sitters to join us on October 10th, please either direct them here, to this blog, or ask that they be in touch with me directly via email (rjamnik@gmail.com)

*getting closer to making a connection!

Another day, another Blob post...

A couple of edits: Pomerantz wasn't referring to the saluting scout photo when he suggested I was blind, but instead to the one of the baby in the buggy. So..the baby in the buggy, definitely Ira Weinstock, and we're stll not certain about the scout next to Al.

Click here for the Born to Run video. You'll see Paul at about 1:35 in.

So I had an email from my dad this morning. He said that he and Elena loved my 'blob', but they wanted to make it clear that they did not meet at a Jewish Singles Site. No...it wasn't a Jewish Singles Site, it was a Jewish Window of Introduction (huh?)and Elena was interested in meeting people who had knowledge of computers and a sense of humor. It was the first time on that 'window' for each of them. Got it? Not a Jewish Singles Site.

I talked to my brother earlier today. Some of you may remember Jack, although he didn't go to Union Avenue. He graduated from Florence Avenue and started high school the first year I was at Union Avenue. Anyway, as you'd expect, we were talking about dad, and during our conversation, I mentioned the reunion. He said to me, I know this is gonna be out there, but was Paul Pomerantz in the front row at Springsteen last week. As it happens, I had only, like 15 minutes earlier had an email from Pomerantz. There's that magic again. So, I emailed Paul back and asked him, and sure enough, it was him. Um...how do you spell magic? According to Paul, there's Youtube video out there (September 30, Born to Run) where you can actually see him.

Some follow up to Al DiBiase's photos: In the birthday party photo, next to Al, in the back. Could that be Steve Schulz? The saluting scout photo? The one I asked if perhaps it was Pomerantz next to Al? Here's Paul's reply to me: "Are you blind! That is definitely Ira on the right. It looks exactly like him." But I don't think so. Still. And we've already confirmed that the Boub in the picnic table photo is Bill.

Paul sent some photos, with instructions for me to get them up, pronto! So, Paul...here ya go;


From the left (back row): Ira Weinstock, Lonnie Horwitz, Sherry Hurewitz, Paul's cousin, Howard Jaffe, Fern Ehrlich, me and Louie Baldwin. In the front, Peggy Davis, Steven Kornfeld, Paul, Mark Engel, Marla Potsdam, Eliot Fried

From the left, Fern, Peggy, Marla, Paul, me, Sherry

Steven Kornfeld, Paul and Mark Engel.


Any idea who the second baby is? Paul is in the carriage on the left. Look at the face of the other baby.... he looks just like he did in my dream.

More Reunion Magic

With just 5 days until the reunion, I really didn't expect any more magic. But this morning, I opened Facebook and I saw that I had a message in my inbox. I literally had the wind knocked out of me when I saw that it was from.....Steven Kornfeld.

Now here's where the magic comes in. I'll let Steven fill everyone in on the details of his life for these past 40 years, but Steven doesn't live at the address that I've been sending mailings to, and doesn't have access to the phone number that I, Mark Engel, Fran Cowan, Louie Baldwin, Lonnie Horwitz...have been leaving messages on. It happens that he was there today and he collected the phone messages and all the mailings that have accumulated over the past six months.

The magic? Why today and not next Monday? It's not mine to question. I'm a firm believer that everything...all things...happen for a reason; nothing is left to chance. I'm just thrilled that Steven was there today and that he will be with us Saturday.

I have a few more photos from Al to post up; I'll get to them later this week.

We found Ira Weinstock...

Well, sort of. Al DiBiase came to see me this morning. We had a lovely time, but the main purpose of his visit was that he had a cd of photos; mostly of his family stuff, but there were a few of Cub Scouts and Little League and even Halloween at Union Avenue School that he wanted to share. Check out the birthday party; that's Ira Weinstock in the back, Michael Maenza and Chris Strohmenger in the front. Can anyone identify the other two boys? The girl is Al's sister.


And check this one out. We're pretty certain that this is Howard Jaffe after a Pie Eating contest.

Not certain on everyone in this one, but definitely Michael Austin on the far right.

We think Michael Austin again, this time of the far left, and there's Al...fourth in from the left. Could that be Pomerantz next to Al?














Check this one out; third boy from the front on the left side. Definitely one of the Boubs. Is it Bill or Tad? And the boy all the way in the back, left side; could that be Jack Ribeiro?

Al, today. With David.>

Odds and Ends

Answers to some questions people are asking:

About Leslee Scheckman. I had an email from her last night. She said she's coming and that her check is in the mail. You know the drill; when I get the check, I'll make the roster change. And speaking of the roster, I do believe it's complete at 39 though Jon Ficula is still out there. I left him another voice mail earlier this week. I hope he comes; I had originally hoped for 40.

About Name Tags. No. I am not doing name tags. My basic philosophy on this event, as I've talked to most of you throughout the planning process, either by phone, email, text or IM, is that we're all pretty much the same person we were when we were in 8th grade. If you don't recognize someone, assume it's a spouse. Or come ask me who it is. I'll be the one with the curly hair and the fabulous shoes.

About how to dress. Several people have recently asked me about the results of the poll on how to dress. People were all over the place with that, so my advice is wear what you want. Fran and I have decided to dress. As in, Up. As in, we both have fabulous shoes. A few of the boys I've spoken to during the planning process have told me that they were wearing suits. Mostly, just be comfortable. We want to see you....not what you're wearing.

About breakfast on Sunday. There will be a group of tables reserved for the Union Avenue Reunion Sunday morning, beginning at 9:30 at OP. They have a brunch for $19/person. They also have an ala carte menu, or you can grab a cup of coffee in the lobby and bring it in. If you're staying, or even if you're not, please do stop in to say your goodbyes. It may be another 10 years before we see each other again.

About circulating a contact list after the event. I'm a bit squeamish about this. During the planning process I had a few slap downs from people who didn't want specific bits of information shared with either anyone or with specific people. I suggest strongly that if you meet up with someone at the reunion that you hope to keep in touch with that you make the necessary overtures to make it happen. Post event, I will do a final snail mail (to include the folks who won't be there) with a questionnaire regarding contact info. I won't make any assumptions about anything. If you want to be included, please be sure to get it back to me. My preference, if you haven't already figured it out is electronic, but I will make the information available on paper as well. I won't be collecting data the night of the reunion.

About Steven Kornfeld. No. I haven't heard from him. I'm holding out this hope that perhaps he'll just show up. More than anything, I'm hoping that he's well.

About my Dad. He read my blog.