Sunday, April 17, 2005
History and The Present
Last Monday morning I awoke at 5:00 and realized I had just had a dream about Ross Reeder, a Palace Playhouse (Box Elder High School) classmate. I had last seen Ross more than two years ago at my 25 year Class Reunion. I don't know what may have triggered my dream about him.
I took the kids to school that morning and when I returned home Lynne said I had received a call...from a guy named Ross Reeder! It made my hair stand up. I called him back immediately. He told me Mrs M. (Messervy) had died, at the age of 85, and she wanted a few of her past Theater students to act as pallbearers. I was honored to be considered and accepted. The funeral was to be held on Saturday in Ogden where Mrs. M had lived for the past 25 years since her retirement.
I went to Brigham City on Friday to spend a little extra time and maybe see some old friends, if possible. I was talking to Dave Layton on the way to BC and asked about Rhonda Bickmore, my buddy from the Palace and Jackson Hole Playhouse. He said she was a teacher at the same Junior High we all went to and that his daughter had her as a teacher.
I drove to the school as soon as I got to town and went to the office to ask if they would call Rhonda and tell her an old friend wanted to see her. She didn't know who I was at first. The whole scene seemed so out of place. We last saw each other in August 1977. She and I visited for an hour in her classroom.
Later, Dave and I drove to Ogden for the viewing. We ran into Alesa Hobson and then Ross Reeder. We went in to see Mrs. M together and meet her family. They had three giant scrapbooks documenting her unbelieveably productive, 38 year career. Of course, we mostly looked at the pictures and stories about us. Then we spent an hour or so reminiscing and catching up. Everybody wanted a report on Max.
Later that night, at the Laytons, Mark Poleman happened to show up on his way home (N. Ogden) and we got to catch up, as well. He wanted to know about Ellie and the folks.
On Saturday, we did the funeral. Ross, Alesha, John Bigler, Nanette Perry, Julie Maddox, Cheryl Keller and Chad Carr all showed. Several of us spoke at the graveside (ad lib, of course) and we went to Denny's afterward to catch up and tell stories. It was terrific fun!
The Palace Playhouse was such an intense and all consuming experience for everyone involved. It set a direction and a foundation for me. And after seeing these folks I believe it did the same for them, as well. We decided to hold an informal Palace Reunion during Peach Days to gather more folks. Maybe sometimes you can go home again.
One additional observation: When I got home and told Luke about seeing my old friends he asked if they had changed, if their personalities were different. I told him no. Not that I could see. Although, we may have many experiences, tradgedies, successes and travels it seems to me we are essentially who we always were. To me there is great comfort in that. Charley
I took the kids to school that morning and when I returned home Lynne said I had received a call...from a guy named Ross Reeder! It made my hair stand up. I called him back immediately. He told me Mrs M. (Messervy) had died, at the age of 85, and she wanted a few of her past Theater students to act as pallbearers. I was honored to be considered and accepted. The funeral was to be held on Saturday in Ogden where Mrs. M had lived for the past 25 years since her retirement.
I went to Brigham City on Friday to spend a little extra time and maybe see some old friends, if possible. I was talking to Dave Layton on the way to BC and asked about Rhonda Bickmore, my buddy from the Palace and Jackson Hole Playhouse. He said she was a teacher at the same Junior High we all went to and that his daughter had her as a teacher.
I drove to the school as soon as I got to town and went to the office to ask if they would call Rhonda and tell her an old friend wanted to see her. She didn't know who I was at first. The whole scene seemed so out of place. We last saw each other in August 1977. She and I visited for an hour in her classroom.
Later, Dave and I drove to Ogden for the viewing. We ran into Alesa Hobson and then Ross Reeder. We went in to see Mrs. M together and meet her family. They had three giant scrapbooks documenting her unbelieveably productive, 38 year career. Of course, we mostly looked at the pictures and stories about us. Then we spent an hour or so reminiscing and catching up. Everybody wanted a report on Max.
Later that night, at the Laytons, Mark Poleman happened to show up on his way home (N. Ogden) and we got to catch up, as well. He wanted to know about Ellie and the folks.
On Saturday, we did the funeral. Ross, Alesha, John Bigler, Nanette Perry, Julie Maddox, Cheryl Keller and Chad Carr all showed. Several of us spoke at the graveside (ad lib, of course) and we went to Denny's afterward to catch up and tell stories. It was terrific fun!
The Palace Playhouse was such an intense and all consuming experience for everyone involved. It set a direction and a foundation for me. And after seeing these folks I believe it did the same for them, as well. We decided to hold an informal Palace Reunion during Peach Days to gather more folks. Maybe sometimes you can go home again.
One additional observation: When I got home and told Luke about seeing my old friends he asked if they had changed, if their personalities were different. I told him no. Not that I could see. Although, we may have many experiences, tradgedies, successes and travels it seems to me we are essentially who we always were. To me there is great comfort in that. Charley
// posted by Anonymous @ 8:30 PM 
