Check-it out, check-it out, check-it out:
A very interesting thing happened on the way to the beach last night. Got an email. From a long lost classmate. Most of you will remember his name, perhaps his face, but not a lot else about him. He kinda flew under the radar in high school. There was something unusual about him. You’d notice him, then you wouldn’t. Quiet, mellow, yet outgoing. Somber, serious, yet upbeat. Studious, bookish, but still made time for the party circuit. There, yet not there...
He hasn’t been to any of our ReUnions thus far. Seems that life took him in some unexpected directions since good old Panas. Yet, when one thinks about it, and about him, the following is not that surprising, not entirely unexpected.
Turns out he went on to an ivy-league college, east-coast, very nice place, international student body, semi-elite, not too pretentious. Met a girl there. Nice girl. Quiet, unassuming, sweet-natured. They stayed together through their four undergraduate years, and after.
Turns out his girl was minor—..ummm, maybe not so minor—Royalty. Think old, old money, way older than this nouveau phenomenon known as the United States. Think the Habsburgs, the Rothschild’s, and the Napoleonic Wars. Well, it’s way older than that.
Think Charles the Second, and Louis the Sun King, and Rene Descartes. Well, it’s way older than that.
Think the Dutch East India Company, and the Spanish Armada, and the Battle of Lepanto. Well, it’s way older than that.
Get my drift?
Anyway, this guy, this kid who we all knew, and yet didn’t know, he wants to throw that unique ReUnion party I was referring to earlier, down below. You know, my little pipe-dream: some beachy-place, kinda-cool locale, laid-back vibe, change things up a bit for the 40th?
Well, it’s all of that, except better.
Listen up. Here’s the play:
Our old classmate now has houses, villas, manors, all over the world. Think Porto Cervo, Sardinia; think Cote D’Azur, France; think Basel, Switzerland; think Edinburgh, Scotland; think St. Bart’s in the Caribbean. The list goes on, and on.
He is willing to do the following for you, the Class of 1978, Walter Panas High…are you ready?
We will have full use of his family’s ancient manor house on the coast of Brittany, France. 192 private acres of wild, un-spoilt, extremely pretty country. Older than eld. Original ruins date from the 12th century. Plundered and burned in 1348. Re-built in 1451. Burned down in the 16th century. Rebuilt again. Lather, rinse, repeat. Think of the history, think of the events this place has witnessed…it even has a couple of proprietary ghosts.
Right on the water, facing the beautiful Bay of Biscay. Moors, cliffs, sandy lanes, monoliths, cobblestone streets. Stables, horses, groomsmen. Private golf course (Yeah, Matty M!). Vines de Grape as thick as a man's thigh, pressed and bottled for onsite consumption only (Yeah, Dre! Yeah, KD! Yeah, Nate!). Five-star, full-time, live-in chef (Yeah, Pauly D.!). Butlers, chambermaids, gardeners. Heated pools (indoor and outdoor).
It’s on for the weekend of October 6-8, 2018.
Here’s what else he is willing to do (he wishes to remain anonymous until the night of — can you imagine?!?): the first 100 respondents to an upcoming email will be flown-out, on his dime(!!). Two U.S. points of departure, major hubs, east coast and west. Each of us is allowed one guest. Wife, kid, best friend, whatever. One suitcase each. Everything is taken care of: all food, all travel, all accommodation, all…everything.
The only stipulation is that you must be a graduate of the Class of 1978, Walter Panas High School, Cortlandt Manor, NY.
Pretty cool, huh? I sure am glad I sent out that little “what do y’all want to do for a 40th ReUnion?” email two weeks ago. Who’d a thunk?
Sounds pretty good, hey?!? Too good to be true, right?
Well, it is. Too good. To be true.
But I had you there for a minute, right? Admit it.
Sorry. Didn’t mean to get your hopes up. Just felt like playin’ for a bit…hey, I’m on vacation here…it’s raining…I got a little bored….
Here’s the real deal: after much careful deliberation and research by your ever faithful reunion committee we are pleased to announce the following:
WPHS Class of '78 40th ReUnion
Saturday October 06, 2018
The Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, New York
More details to come.
(And if you’re out there Mr. Brittany, please call me at your earliest possible convenience). |
