Thanks, Steve.

I just developed these photos. There’s a great one of Steve. Look at that beautiful family.

Had you actually graduated from Wayland High School, Steve (and not just Loker, and WJHS) you’d know there’s a tradition of public school letter jackets. They were warm wool coats, designed for Metro West’s unforgiving weather, black as night, with orange accents that blinded non-Wayland residents. Folks like Flip, and Mike Short got their jackets by the end of Freshman year (or was it the end of eighth grade) and there were others, as active, as productive, but less sporty, who would eventually be rewarded with a new merit system. There were pins for the arts. (Unfortunately there was little recognition for Seth’s Y-Be-Fit achievements or Tim’s inventive airbrushing elective.)

There wasn’t a superlative for Most Class Spirit While Attending Another School nor for Class Webmaster, since there was no real internet in 1986. So, since there are no awards given out after high school we have to write longs posts like this.

Steve, thanks for keeping the class spirit alive. (Sorry there’s no pin.) I am sure Kerry, Kristin Richardi, Deb, Mark, and Sue Self would agree, what started out as a tireless effort by those humble visionaries has continued with you.

Happy Holidays.

Tim, Gary and the precious Hot Dog Trees of the northwest

They may not like to brag about it, but Tim Clemmey and Gary Gray are passionate about wood. These two pals from The ‘Pit still go to the forests of the great northwest every year to help protect that rarest of our national resources: our precious Hot Dog Trees:

Clem’s the one in the “HTT” shirt (Hotdog Tree Team), and Gary is wearing the official light-purple Polo all hearty lumberjacks wear these days. (This is camoflague in case the boys suddenly find themselves in a backwoods Yale James Joyce study group.) Here in the north woods, only the trained eye can spot a ripe hot dog, and it’s up to men like Gary and Clem to make sure our weiners can roam free in the wild.

John Secor & family donate new Wayland Historic District signs

Let’s hear it for John Secor who, along with his family, donated five new markers for the Wayland Center Historical District. The Secors donated the signs in memory of John’s mother, Shirley, who passed away in 2000. According to the Crier, Mrs. Secor served on the Historic District Commission and was active in the Wayland Historical Society. From the article:

 After her death, her family began to seek an appropriate way to memorialize her life.
“We approached the (Historic District Commission) with a donation,” her son John said, “and asked the commissioners to present ideas for how the funds could be used. Both Chris Hagger, who was head of the group at that time, and George Lewis, unofficial town historian, put some ideas together, and it was agreed that markers outlining the Wayland Center Historic District would be of great benefit.”

John (far left, green jacket) and a pretty cool way to remember and honor Mom.

(Photo from The Crier, uncredited.)

Help Brad make a difference

Help rebuild New Orleans with Brad.

http://www.makeitrightnola.org

Brannifer, 1981

Jennifer King and Brad Akerman. Jan. 3, 1981.

Aw yeah.