8-29-08
First, my thanks to Dave Maloney, a wonderful friend and classmate, for sharing with you – and thus the class – this defining moment in our family’s life that I should have shared months ago. No one in our family will be the same after that incident and driving by the site almost every day (as we must) keeps it constantly in our psyche.
We are now – and forever will be – close friends with the victim and his family (including two very young children) but must reconcile that with the fact that it would be better for all of us had we never met.
Second, I must apologize for the fact that we’ve had many extraordinary experiences – on our own and with classmate and families – that we have failed to share. I always enjoy reading what the rest of the class is up to but was too busy to realize that they might feel the same about us.
So here is a brief penance:
Dave Maloney knows of this incident because he and his youngest daughter came up for a visit two weeks ago. We had a nice barbecue dinner and – of course – we talked for hours of the shared history that brought us to that moment. Dave left but left but left Helen with us for what happened to be the last few days before my daughter Sarah left for college. (I know I’m way behind most of you guys but Maloney and Tintera have the same challenges).
Our children knew each other from earlier meetings but the way they connected and interacted during those few days convinced me of a bond that predated their very existence. They hiked, explored caves, canoed on the Delaware, told stories, and shared friends at a farewell party for Sarah as if they were members of a clan (class?)
We’ve seen similar occurrences over the years with the Kozak children, the Tintera children, the Sirois children, and others. I’m not imagining this.
So I will just add my hope – that I’m sure I share with most of you – that at the 70th reunion of ’70 (which only a few of us are likely to make) – some of our progeny (who might be related by then) will be there to testify to the fact that we were here and that we made a difference.
Thanks & GO 70!!!
Tony Mink
PS: I must mention the 4th of July mini reunion on the National Aquarium pier in Baltimore. The Kozak, Olsen, and Mink couples enjoyed a lovely picnic, camaraderie, and fireworks, in spite of the fact that Peter made us sit in the rain instead of in under the tent.
