I’m back from a joyous visit to Cle Elum where ten people came (some from a long way away!) to share a few hours laughing and reminiscing.
The winners for the longest distance traveled to attend the gathering were Patty Walsh (sorry, I don’t know Patty’s married last name: I’m going by her maiden name here) who had to ride a ferry into Seattle from Indianola (on the Olympic Peninsula) and then travel over Snoqualmie Pass; Val Barrett (nee Chase), who drove from Seattle; and me (from Tacoma). Everyone else who came was pretty much from Cle Elum, South Cle Elum and environs, but some had lived away for decades and only recently returned to the area (Chris Bator among them).
I was sandwiched in between Liz Cox and Chris Bator and across from Val Barrett and Becky Montgomery, so most of what I heard came from them until individuals came to me toward the end of our visit so we could embrace a final time and say “until next time”! It was fun getting updates from my closest tablemates, and we’ve already promised to attend the 55th high school reunion next year. I hope we can get together before then a time or two, too! Three hours was NOT enough time. We laughed so much, so many times, recalling incidents from our school years. I wish I could remember them all! We could have taken some of those remiscences on the road!!!
ROAD TRIP WITHIN A ROAD TRIP
I left for Cle Elum earlier than I had to, because I wanted to be able to drive around town for an hour or so and take some images of some of the few remaining iconic buildings that continue to exist there. Many of the buildings have been repurposed, of course, because times have changed in the past 54 years. There’s even a marijuana business there now, which would have been not only “scandalous” back in my day but it would have been illegal, raided, and closed down in a heartbeat.
Below are some of the images I took today
Tonight upon returning home, I made the mistake of pulling out my four “1965 to 1969” Redskin yearbooks, and rediscovered gems that I haven’t read in decades. Turns out that many of the ladies who attended today wrote me heartfelt notes in each of them, mentioning specific events that I had long since forgotten until I read them again. It was like beaming back to those days and it was truly poignant. I have scanned and published below some of messages from Mrs. Rossetti and others, but there are scads more. Mentioned most often in them are my bubbly, funny, kind personality and my acting and writing abilities, so I won’t reprint every message because there are scores of them. But I will include a few things because they really touched or tickled me.
An image taken from Nelson Siding Road, the road I lived next to in Cle Elum
Another image taken from Nelson Siding Road of the other side of the valley
The final resting place of Stormy and her filly Sandstorm. I paid my respects…
The house we built and lived in after tearing down the old two-story stagecoach stop
Another image taken along Nelson Siding Road
Image of Peoh Point taken from First Street (looking south) in Cle Elum
From left to right on the back bench: Patty Walsh, Randine Glondo (nee Starkovitch), Lynda Lien (nee Colclasure), Val Barrett (nee Chase), Becky Montgomery (nee Scott)
From left to right on the front seats: Sue Daniel (nee Thompson), Gwen McGuire (nee Clutcher), Chris Bator, me (Kris Smith), and Elizabeth Cox (nee Marotich).
P.S. To Sue: I will mail your puffy vest (the one I brought home with me, thinking it belonged to Patty so it would be closer to her than Cle Elum!) back to you real soon!
Becky paid for my lunch (THANK YOU, DEAR!!!) and after our meeting she piloted me to Randine’s since, at first, we thought maybe the puffy vest was hers, until we figured out it was probably Patty’s (wrong!), and then she led me to Mrs. Rossetti’s home on Second Street so I could take images of the Rossetti family’s abode all these years later. I remember going there once during the 10th aniversary reunion to see Mrs. Rossetti, but I couldn’t remember exactly which house it was. Turns out I was just one house off! As soon as Becky pointed it out, I recalled the address (801 1/2) and thought “Bingo!”
It’s 8:30 now and I’m bushed.
If I can recall anything else specific to today’s get-together, I will add it later. But for now, enjoy what follows!
Cle Elum Park
Iconic Mike’s Tavern
(Mike Rossetti was the Mayor of Cle Elum and Susan Rossetti’s father: Mrs. Rossetti was my junior high English teacher)
Iconic Cottage Cafe
The Old Vogue Theater (now abandoned) where I learned to love movies
The iconic Sunset Cafe
The Rossetti Home
Above: From the 1965 yearbook
Above: From the 1966 yearbook
Above: From the 1968 yearbook
Above: From the 1968 yearbook
Above: From the 1968 yearbook
Above: From the 1969 Yearboook
Above: From the 1969 yearbook
My grade, junior and high school in Cle Elum 1962-1969 (now converted to condo units)
And yes… I had to buy a couple souvenirs… of course!!!
(Not shown: a hot/hold mug holder with Cle Elum inscribed on it.)
