Solvay High School Class of 64

TO THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's.......

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no internet or internet chat rooms.........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones a nd teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live in us forever.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little league had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

And YOU are one of them. CONGRATULATIONS! Please pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow up as kids. . . .

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

Dear Paula, Russ and Dan, I'm glad to hear that you are updating [class records]. Thank you for putting forth the time and effort from your busy lives to keep our group together. I am the only one of my friends who is lucky enough to still have this kind of contact with my high school class. I'm sorry to say I will not be able to attend the reunion, but I'm hoping to still be around for the next one. Hopefully it will not be scheduled on a major holiday. My best to all, Janis

Well, let me tell you - from very personal experience - a death is not an easy thing to accept - especially one as quick as Paul's or my sons- in an instant - one phone call - if it be from here or from 900 miles away can change your life.

So, my friends - enjoy your children, grandchildren (if you are fortunate to have them) and your family - because someday, sometime you may not get to say I Love you or a final goodbye until it is too late---

I went to the calling hours last night as well. I talked with Paula and Noz and Rick Kosakowski. I also saw Moose Maestri who said he's coming to the dinner with his bride...Thank God for our health and state of mind as no one knows what tomorrow will bring. [A little clip of the serious side of Todisco.]

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