Eeek, 40th Class Reunion!

The U of Waterloo Chemical Engineering Class of 1974 held their 40th class reunion in the Waterloo area last weekend.  It was great.

There were 14 or 15 of us there, most with their wives.  My closest study buddies Neal Stretch (from Walkerton, ON), John Jarrell (from Saskatoon) and Mike Laplante (from Toronto) were there.  It was great to see them and reconnect.

Principle organizer Wayne Schlote (Casselman, ON) and his cohorts Gord Pearson (Edmunston, NB) and Don Linkert (Midland, MI) did a great job of organizing.

Friday night we had an informal dinner at the Old Heidelberg Inn in Heidelberg, ON.  Lots of beer, ribs, sourcrout and snitzel.  Professors Peter Douglas (also a class member) and J.J. Byerly (retired) also attended.  Saturday A.M. we played for the Class of '74 golf trophy at the swank Elmira G&CC.  Gord Pearson nudged me out to claim low gross and win it.  I had a great round and conversation with Paul Sigurdson who operates a Cdn Tire franchise in Fort Saskatchewan, AB). Toured the St Jacobs farmers market later that day.

Saturday night was the highlight dinner at the Blue Moon Grill just east of Kitchener.  Much beer, wine and more ribs were consumed.  There were some short speeches and door prize gifts.  We paused to take some group photos and made plans to reconnect again soon.

Sunday we had a parting breakfast and said our goodbyes.  I headed for the U of W campus and walked around for a couple of hours.  It took me quite awhile to find the new chemical engineering building but finally I did.  There are so many changes I hardly recognized parts of the campus.  It has really grown and is very multi-cultural.  Chatted with one chemical engineer who was on assignment here from Saudi Arabia.  It brought tears to my eyes thinking I was in his shoes 40 years ago.

Left with many heartfelt memories of what was and what could have been.  I really enjoyed the weekend.

Don Linkert, Gord Pearson, Wayne Schlote, Paul Sigurdson and me.

St Jacobs Farmers Market

Me, John Jarrell, Mike Laplante, his wife, Neal Stretch

Wall of shame

Mike Laplante with a textbook

Wayne Scholte, organizer emeritus

Mike with Peter Douglas

Paul Sigurdson, Jerry Lerman, Don Linkert

 The study Group 40 years later

U of Waterloo today

The original chemical engineering building

The new chemical engineering building

Class of 1974

The Philip St Co-op residence today

Student died here this fall after lightening hit

The whole group

Nature in our Backyard

It has been quite a spectacular summer for watching nature right in our backyard.  Just yesterday I spotted an Osprey in a tree on the other side of the river,  Suddenly she swooped down and sploosh, dove into the water talons first, emerging with a small fish and flew away with it clutched with her feet!  Sorry no photo.

The herons have been back this year in spades.  One day I saw as many as 3 at the same time in our little cove.  Also spotted a green heron about half the size or less of the great blue.

Lots of ducks, geese, the odd white eagle, beavers, not as many river otters.  A great summer for swimming.  I figure I swam 10 times, 10 laps a time, plus spent more time just floating around in the beautiful Madawaska water.  Last time in was Sept 17 and it was real warm!

Highlight of the summer:  A doe and two fawns climbed the rock embankment right behind our house, emerging they stood not 20 feet away and could not decide to go right or left to escape.  One fawn took the lead and started walking straight ahead between our houses and mom and other soon followed.  Mom took the lead again.  Last I saw them they were walking right down the middle of the street headed back in the direction they had most likely come from.

A related highlight.  One morning a doe walked by in our backyard heading for Mike and Marilyn's garden 4 houses over.  A fawn soon emerged too but saw me through the window 20 ft away.  Startled in turned back and scampered behind Rita's shed.  Soon after I saw the fawn swimming across the inlet where I swim.  It clambered up Gene's bank and ran off in the direction of Mike and Marilyn's knowing exactly where it's mother was likely to be.  Through all this the doe never appeared or seemed alarmed its fawn was not with it.

Of course I have some pics to show you.

Goldeneyes feeding in the Spring:

Geese walking on water (ice):

The swimming fawn:

The neighbourhood escapade:

Herons in spades:

A tiny salad eating diving duck:

This is where I live and swim:

A storm approaches:

Beaver:

Wow, what a day:

A storm arrives:

 I'm back: