Vicki Piper:  

River Trails Class of '74 had 2 reunions in 2009. One in May, and a Christmas one, Dec 12th. Not sure when the next one will be, perhaps in 2011. Please, get in touch with me. I'm on Facebook. YOu can also get me at pipersalley41460 "at" hot mail "dot" com (get the code?) 0r 561 352-8235 or 160 Cove rd west palm beach Fl 33413. Hope to hear from you soon! As for my story - it's not the happiest, but it's not the most tragic either. Let's see. I Went to Bradley & ISU - got a degree in International Bus that I never really used. Too busy with boyfriends, friends and family. Never married - had 3 proposals, and another time I proposed, but no cigar. No kids either. Wasted 20 years of my life being in love with some guy I met at ISU - also from Mt. Prospect. I moved down here in '90 to go after him, BIG MISTAKE, pretty much been paying for it ever since. I moved back and forth between West Palm & Mt. Prospect 3 times - the last was in '96, after my mom and step-dad moved down here - wanted to be closer to Mom (since she had had a heart-attack back in Dec '94). Now, I've been down here caregiving for them fulltime (for the past 9 years), now, just Mom (Lou passed 12-12-09, yup, while I was in Chicago). No local friends or family to speak of, I get very lonely. Mr ISU is only 45 mins away, but married now. I've had years and years to think and think and think. And so I was recalling all the great people who were in my life, all the great friends I had - so many that I've lost touch with and really miss. I try going to local "meet-ups" but it's so hard at this age to make friends and really connect with people. I'd rather invest time and energy trying to reconnect with the really great people of IL who were so present in my life at one time or another, those who meant the world to me but who I managed to neglect so terribly (due to school, boyfriends, and "out of sight out of mind") but those who I've come to really value today. So, I spend a lot of time on the computer, doing just that - reconnecting - it's been great. It's so fullfilling, sharing stories, reminiscing, etc. If I'm not connecting here, I'm having some success on Facebook too. What else? I'm considering going back to school,just can't decide what to study - waiting for something to really grab me. Oh I have had a few great travels in the mix - Europe, Jerusalem, and most recently back home (for reunions). Oh, and there's my nieces, nephews, and their kids now too (just don't see enough of them). Well, that's it. Not the most exciting, but not the most typical either. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// I think I've got it now! Hopefully, this will generate some buzz or response. Infront of any story I have written (way down below) are messages for you "free" members (but everyone can feel free to read them). Please first read the message to all, then see if there's a message for you. (Those who have one presently are: Jane Erickson, Jean Fuchs, Chuck Kennard, Michael Iskierski, Stephen Ohler) HI ALL Hope you don't mind, I'm trying to come up with a way for us to communicate (if you haven't gone GOLD) so I'm communicating with you here, just at first - hopefully you'll crack the code of how to reach me, and we'll continue to communicate there (at my yahoo address). I'm just getting way too frustrated with seeing all these names from the past, and not being able to connect - to at least say "hi" or "remember this" or SOMETHING. So, you free members, look for your name, and if you'd prefer, reply on your bulletin board, or in your story section. I don't think I've written anything that's embarrassing - it's all funny now, right? I'm sincerely trying to use my absolute best judgement here (asking myself "how would I feel?" about this?) but still trying to share with you what comes to my mind when I think of you. It's stuff that happened 30-35 years ago - time to laugh at it, right? Well, here's hoping this works - cause I'm out of options. Best wishes. Vicki For Jane Erickson Hi, "Janie" (can I call you that? Just once?) How are you? Where are you? Wow, ...Expand for more