Tagpuan sa LALALand - July 29, 2000
(Senen Siasoco)

Friday night traffic in Orange County brings back memories of Cubao in the 60's- lotsa goings on,  cars roaming here and there ( no tricycles, though!) , absolutely no parking space ( we had to give up after a half an hour and leave the keys with the valet ).
But all the hassle was worth enduring…it was reunion time again. I  had called Spike the week before, warning him about my arrival , we have relatives in Aliso that we check on periodically. The man's a wonder!  Inspite of working in North Carolina and only coming to LA only on weekends, he was able to get together a whole bunch of classmates for dinner at the Block of Orange.  Sam Manongdo picked a seafood place , of course, per our request. The closest ocean for the  Cheeseheads is a thousand miles away  and steak and potatoes just don't cut it for us anymore.

Dinner at Seafood Market Broiler, Orange, California - July 29, 2000

Jet, Lorna, Joy, Senen, Del, Spike and Sam (page down for more pictures)

We were first to arrive. Thanks to modern cellphone technology, we knew Spike was having the same problems we encountered ( i.e.,parking). The others trickled in as we were being seated.
Si Sammy Manong nagtitina so he looks the same as ten years ago. Brought his lovely spouse, talked about golfing and work and the times he was in Wisconsin ( and never even called me, ang walanghiya).
Jet Saint claims he did not lose his hair,  just that doesn't need as much as before (excuse me, that's Del's quote). The man still has a little one at home so he has to keep chopping away at them computers for a while more. Ang asawa niya at anak  magkaeskwela sa nursing school, so when they both finish, tapos na rin daw siya. I was truly flattered he showed up as he lives in Fresno and has a second home in Northridge (earthquake-city).
 

Lorna M is as sweet and charmin as ever. Husband was unable to make it, they live in a far suburb where she teaches Math in a high school, he preaches.
Joy D  is carbon copy of our HS days. Is our contact person for the upcoming NY shindig. We chatted about her rels Rey Corpus ( and Elsa Padrones) who I would be meeting a few days later at Med School Reun.  This lady is a keeper ( ika nga dito sa Wisconsin, you fishermen know what I mean).
Del and Divina, Del and Divina , what more can I  say?  This lovely couple is the epitome of Christian togetherness ( I have the calling card to prove it too).   I promise to stop by San Diego when I visit next time…I got a taste of  their "Betsy's pandesal" and I'm going through withdrawal right now , tunay na masarap at malinamnam, sana may Star Margarine pampalaman. .Menchu sports the friendship bracelet all the time now, Div, maraming salamat. Free consults anytime…
  Paumanhin if I forgot to mention anyone, the night just whizzed along so fast. After the sumptuous feast and a few brewskis, it was time to walk off the extra calories so we lingered around the mall a bit, finally ending up the local Krispy Kreme shop and I am bound to secrecy as to how many of the glazed ones we each stuffed in ( Del takes the cake, er, Doughnut Cup home to SD but we are training for the rematch).
Before I forget, we had a few offspring with us but they were off in their own world ( we still footed the bill, though). They are all flexing their wings and are ready to fly off soon so all the moments are so precious now. Next year, ayaw na sumama ng ilan diyan so it will be just us hukluban na lang.
 

Sam, Maurie, Lorna, Joy, Menchu, BJ, Senen, Amanda, Spike Fely, Divina, Del and JET(host)

Salamat Spike, Salamat Fely, and most specially to JET who surprised everyone by picking up the whole dinner tab! Sa Uulitin!Can't wait till New York para sa susunod na kabanata….

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Join us all at the UP HIGH '66 Reunion in New York City Summer of 2001