A possible topic for discussion would be the different places people have lived since '76. As someone who never ventured farther than ~68 miles from Milwaukee (not counting vacations and business trips) it's interesting to see where people ended up and how they got there.
It seems like many people are still in the Milwaukee area and in Shorewood (not that there's anything wrong with that, for many of us Shorewood was a good home) but we've heard from people in Europe, GA, MI, MA, FL, CA, MT ... how'd you end up there and where else did you live up until now. School ... jobs ... spouses ... potential spouses ... what took you there, and maybe what drove you away? (that's pretty personal, sorry, share only what you wish to)
This may be good conversation for the future reunion but it would be hard to get around the room and see everyone or tell the story 50 times .... besides, July is a long way off and at our advanced age we may forget what we read here and have to ask again anyways.
David M
It seems like many people are still in the Milwaukee area and in Shorewood (not that there's anything wrong with that, for many of us Shorewood was a good home) but we've heard from people in Europe, GA, MI, MA, FL, CA, MT ... how'd you end up there and where else did you live up until now. School ... jobs ... spouses ... potential spouses ... what took you there, and maybe what drove you away? (that's pretty personal, sorry, share only what you wish to)
This may be good conversation for the future reunion but it would be hard to get around the room and see everyone or tell the story 50 times .... besides, July is a long way off and at our advanced age we may forget what we read here and have to ask again anyways.
David M
22 comments:
I would LOVE to hear everyone's story. I'll be back tomorrow to tell mine. Too busy today!
Who (as the saying goes) will start us off?
OK, I have a few minutes to kill. I moved to California 28 years ago. I came for a party in1978, a toga party! My 3 brothers had already moved here. For some reason I aways knew I would move to CA, so after the party I decided I was moving! Went back to Milwaukee and packed up. When I went back for the 20th reunion, I had forgotten how beautiful it really is, I do miss the 4 seasons. I worked in financing at a car dealership and then sold Mercedes. I met my husband on a blind date, married him 21 years ago and we have 3 children. Life is good!
Laurel, what a wonderful life!
Anita, will you share some of your stories with us? I know I would like to hear it as would all of the rest of us slackers!
I lived in Milwaukee until I was 29 (except for that one year in San Diego five years earlier--doesn't everyone live in CA at least once?). In 1988 I graduated from UW-M. Earlier that year during spring break I met a really cute guy on a bike trip to South Carolina. Turns out he was from Germany and his visa was expiring in August. We planned that I would spend two weeks with him in Frankfurt after he went home. On my second day there he said, "Do you want to move here and live with me?" And I said, "OK." So I went back home, cancelled plans to go to PA school in Madison, sold almost all of my stuff, and bought a one-way ticket to my new life. We ended up living there for two years, where we were married and our first daughter was born.
We came back to Milwaukee for six months after Markus finished graduate school since I was dying to go to PA school after all. I was accepted at St Louis University where we ended up living for six years. Our second daughter was born there.
In the meantime, Markus started working on his PhD and the lab he was working in packed up and moved to the University of Iowa. So here we've been ever since, for the past 9 years. No more children, but we have had three dogs (our beloved Lars had cancer this summer and we had to put him down), five hamsters, and three rabbits.
Never thought I'd find myself in such a small town (the Amana Colonies have about 1700 people which is actually large compared to many Iowa towns) having previously lived in cities with a metropolitan population equalling the whole state of Iowa. But somehow it fits our lives now. If there's anything you've ever really wondered about corn but were afraid to ask, now's the time.
:)
what are the Amana Colonies?
Rebecca can elaborate but the Amanas were a "religous commune" founded by some German (?) settlers before the civil war ... now it's more of a historic-artsy-touristy area. Probably a cool place to live. It's also known for the appliance's that were made there.
Rebecca, I recall one day in the late 70's or so when I broke a finger playing basketball (Jimmy or Mitch probably did it, can't remember for sure)and you helped to ice it and wrap it up at Columbia. Did you work there or was it a dream?
What was St. Louis like? My daughter wants to go to school in St. Louis and I just read it was named the most dangerous city in America!
Dave
Rebecca,
Been a long time. Last I saw you were living on the corner of Menlo and Maryland, down the block from my house. I'm checking out Hartford Ave school soon and will post/send something on that. Got an e-mail address? Duh, of course. geez...
Anyway. On rabbits, ever own a Flemish Giant? I may purchase one this summer. I need someone to show my toy poodle who's boss.
Take care, Andy
Well I haven't lived anywhere but Shorewood, Milwaukee and Waukesha. My wife Nancy is a Shorewood '78 graduate. Families still here. Always loved the area. Traveled extensively but always returned. I Live close enough to the country in Waukesha to see the turkeys, deer, and occasional opossum run through my yard... got fireflies too! Thought about living in California, almost picked up a job in Napa last year. Guess I'm like an oak tree. Deep roots. Oh yeah, look like one as well. Arghh.
Well, the Amana Colonies were settled by Germans around 1870 who were seeking religious freedom. They actually lived communally--shared financial resources, communal kitchens, went to church 11 times a week--until 1932, which around here is called The Great Change.
These days there are plenty of "outsiders" here, myself included. But there are still many older people who grew up speaking German and who didn't learn english until they went to kindergarten. The Amana Church is going strong. Women sit on one side, men on the other. Many women still wear the black bonnets, shawls, and aprons like there ancestors.
Anyway, it's about equal distance between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City (where the university is) so if you don't mind driving a half hour, there is plenty to do.
Hey Dave--
We liked St Louis when we lived there. St Louis University, like many Jesuit institutions, is right in the middle of a downtrodden urban area. But the campus is beautiful and is constantly being added to and upgraded. When I went to school there, our building was literally one block away from what we assumed were crack houses. If you parked more than a block away you might have your car broken into. But I never had any problems with that. Although there was that one time during a rotation at the VA where $20 was stolen from my on-call room....
If your daughter goes to school in St Louis, I'm sure she'll get a good education. Parts of the city are beautiful and there is a lot to do, great restaurants, etc. Just stay away from north St Louis. That's really the "ghetto" and where most of the violence takes place.
Which school is she looking at?
I love Milwaukee, was the sixth generation in my family, to live there. BUT got engaged & moved here to Massachusetts.
I spent a semester in Europe during college @ UW-SP. yet came back to Milw to work for 3 years. I met Al on a beach in the Virgin Islands, (no comments please)! We had a long distance relationship/engagment, until I blinked & moved here. He had an established business here, so it was the most practical solution. I first lived in Marblehead with my cousin, and practically lived on her sailboat, until we got married in'84, and moved down here to the Southcoast of Mass. None of my immediate family live in Milw anymore, it is sad, but I do like to come visit, as I still have tons of friends who live there. I dragged my sons back in '03, for a tour of my old haunts. We visited everywhere including SHS, Miller Park, Lake Michigan, Door Cty, the ER, (long story), Dells, Lambeau Field. etc. Their funniest comment was that the name of the street "Downer" was the worst name they could imagin of a street!!?? HA ?
Hey Andy--
(tried to post this earlier...hope it doesn't show up twice)
Yeah, we used to live on the corner of Menlo and Maryland during high school. I loved that house. I remember a party we had when David Casey started windmilling raw eggs at cars driving by...luckily my mom didn't find out about that one!
As a matter of fact, I've had two Flemish giants. They're a nice breed to have since that can usually stay outside during the winter. My first one, Monique, was a biter, but Larry was great. He always thumped his foot if I didn't stop to give him a scratch when I was outside.
We have a lot of wildlife around here, too. Right now the bald eagles are back. They're amazing.
Hope you're well!
Rebecca: Great to see your interesting and eloquent posts. Equally cool: the Bald Eagles. Where do you live again? Best wishes, Daniel
Andy: Wish you had taken the job in Napa! -- as you would have been a skip and jump from where I/we live in Marin Co. Did you interview out here?
They didn't sauce you up with some Pinot or Merlot?
Ask you how big your wine collection is....?
Or did they ask if you drank Ripple quarts in high school because that's all we could afford?!
Regards! Daniel
Hi Daniel--
We live in eastern Iowa, just north of I-80 (a big landmark here) along the Iowa River. We actually see bald eagles year round but there are more in the winter. There's a three acre lake at the end of our street and they often feed off the fish in the lake. You usually see them perched on the muskrat houses, in the trees around the lake, or just flying.
I've learned a lot about identifying birds since living here. Sounds like you do that for a living. A great job, I'd think.
I was in SF for a conference in May and Markus and I spent a day in Sonoma county. My favorite spot was the Korbel winery. Either I really liked it or I liked it a lot because it was our third tasting. Beautiful part of the country!
Hi Rebecca,
Looks like you have what it takes to get the boys out! Even Claudia bearing leg and Martine blogging topless couldn't do it!!
I was looking at some class pics of Hartford Ave and saw you and Andy. I am going to try and scan them - try being the key word.
Sounds like you have had a good and interesting life...will you make it to the reunion?
I really wanted to get in here to post today but it just wasn't going to happen. I am on my way out of town and have been rushing around all day. I just want to say how amazingly powerful all your well wishes (and counsel)were for my talk. It went pretty well (from all reports)and guess what I wasn't nervous!! So weird!
THANK YOU SO MUCH. Very hard to express how much you all mean to me and how I feel about being back in contact with you again, but it's pretty darned good.
lc!
Hi Peggy--
I'd love to see the picture from Hartford. I went there from K-3. Do you remember Claire Burkhart (sp)? I read somewhere that she is an artist working with Asian women in India, maybe?
Sure, I'll probably be able to make it to the reunion next summer. I'm usually up there visiting family at least once.
I do remember Claire - she was my best friends for a few days. She is also in the picture along with Jane Cross, Julie Ross -- oh, I'll have to post it.
Peggy, can you send to me e-mail as well? Thanks !
Andy,
I will try and do it today.
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