Old friends meet spontaneously in the neighborhood where they grew up. Front: Liz (Erickson) Strain, Patty (Eckel) Nelson, Jodi (Eckel) Stanford, Kristi Erickson. Back: Steve Dockan, Marianne (Leonard) Kauma, Mickey Brazell and Donny Brazell.
I hesitated coming home for my 30th class reunion during Fisherman’s Picnic this year. Fisherman’s Picnic had lost its “lure.” Running into people I hadn’t seen in years and having short polite conversations; “How are you?” and “Where do you live now?” just didn’t appeal to me. However, with a little pressure from my mom, I was encouraged to give it a shot.
Cocktail hour at the Pickled Herring Club at Sven & Ole’s Pizza brought many laughs and quiet, easy conversations. Sure, they started with “How are you?” and “Where are you living?” but turned into a trip down memory lane resulting in beginnings of new relationships as well as refreshed old friendships. I had fun and was beginning to feel glad I had come.
Plans were made to golf at Gunflint Hills with Terry “Mini Squig” Backlund and his wife Lori, which had me looking forward to Saturday. We met at the golf course only to be delayed because the Sjoberg family had taken over the course and they were not done hooting, hollering, laughing and playing golf.
The Cook County Class of 1970 gathered at John Jacobsen’s home in Grand Marais on Saturday, August 7 and then lit up the parade in tie-dye T-shirts and flowered leis. Class spokesperson Kevin Twiest said, “The amount of fun we had must be illegal—but everyone was wellbehaved!” (L-R, front) Jean Bargabus DuRoche, Julie Somnis Aldinger, Jeanne Nelson Koetz, Marcia Allard Schultz, Christal Stone Kelehan, Janet Beirbaum Jadwin. (L-R, second row) Victor Pederson, Kristi Sjoberg Carambula, Loni Garner Gineris, Tamera Berglund Krause, Carol Olsen Thompson, Linda Olsen Durham, Scott Backstrom. (L-R, third row) Linda Shold Bellows, Dale Bockovich, Dave Oswald, Roseanne Bjerkness Hess, Todd Smith. (L-R, back row) John Anderson, Jeff Hoffman, Doug Finn, John Jacobsen, Karen Scheffler Eliasen, Kevin Twiest, Dan Bradley, Steve Leonard.
To my surprise Jimmer “Little Man” or “Rooster” Olson and Dave Parry joined us. I thought, “What, Little Man plays golf? You have got to be kidding.” Thenight before I had noticed his Callaway hat and assumed he had borrowed it from someone. Well, he is a kick ass golfer. He is my Alice Cooper, a rock star and golfer.
A good day on the golf course led to a great night at the Birch Terrace Supper Club, listening to Little Man play with Rod ‘n Real aka Cook County’s
Most Wanted.
I didn’t want to visit. I just sat on the deck with my mom and dad, Bobby and Marlene Leonard, and enjoyed the best music I’ve heard live in years. A little rain cut the concert short and ironically stopped just in time to allow us all to watch the fireworks in the Grand Marais fresh air.
The Cook County High School Class of 1960 celebrated its 50th class reunion at Fisherman’s Picnic. Fifty-six people attended a buffet supper and dance at The Landing on Devil Track Lake, followed by a picnic the next day at the Devil Track Campground. Class spokesperson Sue Hildebrand said, “For those who have not been back to Grand Marais for years, this weekend proved to be a wonderful reuniting of old classmates and renewing of friendships from high school days. Gorgeous North Shore weather provided the best backdrop for Fisherman’s Picnic Parade and the Class of ’60 –’Cook County’s Finest’– proudly rode a huge float, cheering all the way!” Pictured at the Class of 1960’s August 7 gathering at The Landing are (L-R, front) Jerry Linnell, Bobbi Zimmerman, Janice Seglem, Rollie Scott, Susan Toftey, Carol Nelson, Christy Harrison, Marvin Rude. (L-R, second row) Monna Anderson, Janice Toftey, Karen Haavisto, Polly Lehto, Bobbi Johnson, Skip Moyer, Bruce Leng. (L-R, third row) George Springer, Richard MacKenzie, John Tofte, Carole Noyes, Marilyn Stevens. (L-R, fourth row) Larry Thomsen, Bonnie Wonser, Sharon Moe, Glenn Jacobson, Larry Ryden, Butch Schulte. (L-R, back) Bob Jones, Bruce Wishcop, Rick Thompson, Richard Spry, Don Schliep, Abe Lund.
I thought, “Okay, it’s official, this was a great week-end,” but there was more to come.
Another spontaneous get together was arranged by my oldest and dearest friend, Mickey Brazell. A few quick calls and within an hour we were standing on the corner in our old neighborhood. This is where it all began.
This is where our parents raised us, letting us play outside all day long. In the summer we slept outside, played games, built forts and rode bikes. We raided gardens and apple trees, knocked on doors and ran. In the winter we slid down the street or on Birch Mountain. We dug tunnels in the snow banks and played in the street. At dinnertime our moms would simply yell “dinner time!” and we would hurry home, eat quickly, anxious to go back outside. We learned to share, take turns and communicate. Our parents taught us the most valuable lessons of all: trust, respect, integrity and how to be friends. Those were the best years of our lives.
Thatis how we became who we are now, old friends.
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