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Opinion: Mega Reunion in Potsdam leaves former resident ‘uplifted’

Posted 8/21/17

To the Editor For me the lure of Potsdam is irresistible, especially in summer. I find myself returning each year to restore myself and immerse myself in sweet memories of family, friends, and …

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Opinion: Mega Reunion in Potsdam leaves former resident ‘uplifted’

Posted

To the Editor

For me the lure of Potsdam is irresistible, especially in summer. I find myself returning each year to restore myself and immerse myself in sweet memories of family, friends, and growing up long ago in a simpler, innocent time.

On August 11 of this year I returned for the much publicized and well-attended PCS Mega Reunion (Stonerstock 2) as the guest of my sister Judy Paige (’70). I was also in search of old buddies from my Congdon Campus School days from over 60 years ago. I was excited but apprehensive—would I recognize any of my old classmates? Would they recognize me? How would I relate to them after all this time?

Unfortunately, I never did connect with any grade school friends. They may have been there, but I did not find them. Still I did not come away disappointed. Instead I came away from the Mega Reunion feeling both uplifted and very much a part of the PCS experience. I grew up in Potsdam and share a love of this special town and a deep appreciation for how it shaped me.

The Mega Reunion was well-organized by a committee of primarily three, one of whom, Phil Demarest, did his share from long distance. No detail was overlooked thanks to his efforts and those of Jo Ann Roberts and Ruth LaCombe who worked tirelessly to make it all come together. It was an action packed weekend with so many activities to choose from, all thoughtfully designed to bring people together around sports, music, dancing, food, and, yes, adult beverages.

At the Saturday night dinner Phil Demarest, the organizer who had traveled all the way from California, was just perfect as the very entertaining (and often hilarious) master of ceremonies who took us on a trip down memory lane.

During the course of the evening we saw former PCS track stars get down on the floor to do their old rigorous workouts for Coach Lewis. Before our eyes middle-aged men became vigorous and flexible again. We were also treated to the sight of former cheerleaders (youthful but no longer young) under the guidance of Mrs. Saunders, transformed into fit and supple young girls again as they cheered and leapt as in years gone by. A much beloved teacher Mr. Ham who came in from Arizona, was one of the stars of the evening, taking the stage and reciting in French some of the language drills he made his former students suffer through.

The Barrington Student Union was filled to capacity that night--not just with bodies, but with a shared history, and a palpable feeling of camaraderie and of loyalty to a treasured school. For one magical weekend time stood still, and we all felt the vigor and anticipation that only high schoolers on the precipice of adulthood can feel.

For a brief time we were light again in body and spirit; any baggage carried was lifted. The crowd was entirely immersed in the moment, reliving the past, and holding on to something illusive that we all know must eventually disappear.

At the conclusion of Saturday’s dinner dance we were told this might be the last Mega Reunion, and that hopefully some other (younger?) PCS grads would step forward to take over the arduous task of organizing this huge event. I only hope that this does happen, so there are future opportunities for PCS grads to come together again en masse to celebrate life and each other.

PCS has something special; it is no ordinary school that brings back students and faculty in such numbers (some from far away places) to reunite and reminisce. This is something we would all like to be part of, and I was proud that weekend to have a place.

Sandra Paige Sorell

Formerly of Potsdam