Random Thoughts from a Random Memory

I recently had lunch with a former classmate who I had not seen for 50 years--Dr. Brenton Long from Clarion. We last met up in Philadelphia, where Brent was going to medical school and I was working as a technical writer. We were both members of the same tennis/racquetball club near City Line Avenue. If Brent and his wife Pat had not come to the reunion dinner, I would not have known him passing on the street. It got me thinking though about other classmates with that same time differential.

Years ago, one ex-classmate I learned was living next door to my sister, Shari, in Eau Claire. If I had not been told so, I may have never realized, Paige Mong (Allen), lived next to my sister. Paige’s husband and my brother-in-law worked at Hunter’s for years. Go figure. Dick and Paige have each passed.

Another elementary classmate I lost track of was Marsha Ginter. I think this little blonde may have departed by second grade. Marsha may have moved to Ohio.

Jeff Bushy moved to Franklin around 4th or 5th grade. I believe he had an older brother.

There also may have been a Stewart involved too at some time, but that’s all my memory allows at this time.

I have asked about but never received a response on a Nancy Crawford. She was with us in senior high school.

We had an interesting lunch as we recalled our pasts along with Mike Rapp and Bill Kunselman, also classmates. We will have another meet as we still have much to discuss. I’m not sure how many lies will come out of the conversation.

I have a million questions about med school and Philly for Brent. I remember once hearing Brent did a turn in Foxburg when it had a medical center I believe above the library.

What did he think of the “big city”? A lot different than Clarion.

I believe my cousin Earla Myers was a patient at one time. I don’t recall any other relatives connecting with him. While living in Grove City, I would run into a mutual acquaintance from time to time. I would hear a story.

Over the years, I would hear a Brenton Long anecdote....someone would spot him in the hallway at Grove City Hospital or at a medical facility. As I covered sports with the Allied News, stories would cross but never paths.

The 50 years is a long spell. Where do we start with the “What have you been up to?”

Brent mentioned something about 1,000 babies. That seems a plausible start. I’m guessing he was some sort of GP, a general practitioner. No matter as we have 50 years to cover, or as the saying goes: a lot of water under the bridge.