LAS VEGAS M&M REUNION ACCOUNTS

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Luau pic (missing Evita and Elen)		The Zombies

From: Doris Lim
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 8:11 AM
Subject: Congratulations and Merry Christmas!

Hey ladies,

Got back from Manila last week and though I was incommunicado with no links to email, I got wonderful feedback initially from Chichi, Charlie and Bonnie and later from Au, Evita and Elen that the Vegas affair was a huge success--the accommodations, the luau and everything else!
Congratulations to you all for a job well done! They said that everyone had a great time and that it was truly an experience to remember. I wished I was there too. Chichi said the stories were just so hilarious, particularly those of Suzy Q! Bonnie said we should definitely have one like this every year!

Miriam, everyone was raving about the calendar! I haven't seen it yet myself, but knowing it was a labor of love from you and Mackie, I'm sure it is as lovely as everyone claims it to be. Au forgot to bring my copy during our Christmas party last Saturday, so I can't wait to see it when she drops it off by Joseph's office on the 24th.

Jo, we missed you during the Christmas party. It was just a small group--Dada, Elen, Evita, Au and me, with our partners (except Au).
Chichi and Marichi were unable to make it, too, but Chichi said we should all get together after the holidays. I hope you and Fay can make it this time. We'll let you know once Chichi has set the date.

As for my Manila visit, I can't ask for anything more. I was so pampered and so touched by the generosity of family and friends. 5 weeks of no housework and no driving, with lunches and dinners fully booked, and free car/driver and cellphone services left me feeling so spoiled, that when I came back here, I just didn't want to lift a finger (my poor husband had to do everything the first 2 days)! It was also so great seeing classmates after all these years--Ads, Medy, Mad, Charlie, Zelie, Girl, Bonnie, Garnet who were all at Dido's son's wedding. Of course, Tere and husband Holgar were there too (Tere was ninang, as was Garnet), as well as Chichi and husband Mandy. Dido's wedding was truly a social event--Manila's glitterati were all there--and the wedding was just so beautiful. Dido's beach house at Punta Fuego was also unforgettable--you are in a different world, because of the cool, fresh breeze coming from the sea and the gorgeous sunset. Gidget, we missed you and Frederick during the wedding and the Punta overnight--Mandy, Holgar and Frederick could have bonded easily, while us girls (including Leni) would be chatting the time away. Unfortunately, due to a previous commitment, I was unable to attend the get-together at Garnet's which our classmates gave for the visiting M&Ms (Tere, Chichi, Mars and me).

Well, here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! May the Lord grant us all peace, happiness, good fortune and good health in the New Year!

Regards,
doris

Balikbayans at Punta Fuego, December 2003

Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2003 10:23 AM
Subject: Thanksgiving Week Begins

The Vegas Reunion was all we hoped it would be and more. I’ve gotten some wonderful thank you notes and I thought it necessary to remind you all the reunion’s success was truly the result of everyone’s contributions. Because you heard mostly from me in the form of my never-ending insane emails over the last few months, I feel the need to remind you of some behind the scenes contributions.

Doris Umali-Lim was THE ROCK that held the committee together. She was the voice of calm diplomacy… the Anti-Jo – i.e. SANITY. Early on she discovered a conflict in her schedule and tried to back away from the committee. Thank goodness we were able to convince her to stay. She did all the research and links to shows and organized and wrote all the bulletins. She may be missing from all the photos but please don’t forget she was a force behind all planning.

Vangie kept track of everyone’s responses to early questionnaires. If you could have seen her spreadsheets moving people from Maybe to Yes or No, Yes to No, No to Yes... then adding ETA’s/ETD’s, conf. #’s, cell # and tracking roommates – this is one scary woman!! And then we had the nerve to ask her to convert her spreadsheet to a Word.doc.

Yes, Miryan, the most patient person in the world. Miryan created the original E-Vite questionnaire. She took the time to scan all the photos, Xeroxed, collated and assembled all the calendars. She kept track of all the funds and being our contact with Aladdin, kept going back when we’d ask her our final 10,000th question.

In the souvenir program we tried to highlight the various committees and those that we felt warranted “special thanks.” In the end so many more were left unmentioned:

Malu – force behind the Luau and my overall support whether I needed a reminder, a little encouragement, a pat on the back or a kick in the rear

Tess & George – the ultimate hostess and host, not only opening up their house but running over to pick us up and drop us off.

Peeney & Vangie – calendar couriers & donators of smoked salmon & cheese for suite

Emy – bought all the wines, beer, soda, water, chips, napkins, plates, etc, etc, for the hospitality suite

Missy, Myrna, Bonnie, Edna & Charlie – all the goodies carted over from Manila along with all sorts of help put in while fighting off affects of jet-lag. (Dutch and Missy tip toeing in their room and only to have me come along dragging Myrna out of bed and into the shower Sunday night. I just didn’t want you to miss anything!! Now it becomes clear why you locked the door connecting our rooms!!)

Tet – siopao and other goodies from Calif.

Malaine & Miriam – running down for coffee Monday when our Starbuck’s connection failed us.

Missy & Myrna – Luau magical fruit carving

Mars – Luau floral and shell arrangements about the house and on our person

Elen – we always knew you could whip up marvelous baked goodies and now we know you can also crochet. My cell phone is now protected from getting scratched by who knows what is in my bag.

SuzyQ, Au, Evita, Bonnie & Patty – love lives exposed and non-stop entertaining stories

Beth V – those legs were made for dancing

Chichi – ever willing sport in pj & slippers for breakfast and gifting her lovely shawl & luggage (?!- maybe next time!!)…

Chit – great photos

Dutch – Countless pre-reunion scouting trips. Through some tough times you stepped up and over

Gidget – Still working with the funds…

Carol & Beckie – personalizing and filling souvenir bags from Sheba

Help me, whom and what have I missed…

I know we will continue to get together in mass and in small groups. I think there is a Chinese saying that I can’t remember verbatim but in essence says – When young, woman have strong bodies but weak minds. As we enter menopause our bodies become weak but we overcome with strong minds (sorry I massacred the saying!!).

In high school we had strong bodies and small minds, choosing to stay in our little cliques to nourish our insecurities. Now we enter a new phase and are here for each other tearing down those cliques and becoming one. Many of us have not seen each other since high school. It continues to be amazing reconnecting and discovering what wonderful women we've all grown into. We've all taken different roads since high school and without a doubt we've all experienced great triumphs and tribulations. We have so much to learn from each other. From personal experiences we go forward to share and learn from each other thus enriching our body, mind and spirit.

Again, thank you all and have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!!

November 23.
Nicely said, Jo. Truly thank you's aren't enough, but this will have to suffice to all you marvelous women who made it happen. I had the best time and hope that future reunions - mini or major as this one - will not be far in between.

I can still hear Patty's infectious laughter.

I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season!

Love,
Evita

November 26, 2003
evita and elen ~
i missed you, both of you, at the luau ..

needless to say, elen, your trio of sweets were a big hit! especially commented on (in my presence, at least) were your lemon bars! .. please consider making them available by mail-order! a bit of discussion took place about whether yours is a brownie or mine is a brownie .. of course because you had made variations on the theme, no?

evits, i saved your special little box of leonidas chocolates to savor at home .. and how! .. we were around the corner from leonidas in walnut creek when chit and i met bonnie and charlie on the friday that week, at koreana kitchen for lunch and peet's for coffee and dessert .. but too tired, all of us; over-shopped, our manila friends; to make that short trek .. and in the rain, to boot.

i just want to say a special THANK YOU, THANK YOU! to you both. wish we could have shipped some paksiw na lechon to you after ..
~{Malú

Missy and Myrna
i can just imagine your flight home, the two of you chatting away, eating (a good meal, i hope), dozing off, waking and remembering yet another conversation or personality, chatting away again ..

wish i had more time to get to know you two! .. i did try, but 2 days/nites aren't enuf for 29 (28?) people to get intimate, no? .. i hope we'll have another opportunity, in a much smaller group.

thank you for coming all the way here to be such a wonderful chef/sous chef team, and so willing and walang attitude maski we know you have maids back home! .. at ang galing mag-mop ni myrna! .. the paksiw na lechon (both batches) was delicious! .. that 'birthday cake' must have been your doing (i hope there's a close-up photo of it among the many to come), and what creativity that took! .. hangang-hanga ako sa inyo talaga!!

[missy, i know you'll pass this on to myrna .. myrna!, time to get more comfortable with e-mail!]
~{Malú

Nov. 23, 2003
Dear All,

There are not enough words to express how much I enjoyed everyone's company at the Las Vegas reunion.
Myrna and I spent the first half of our flight home talking about it.

Thank you to everyone particularly the members of the various committees for making this reunion such a
great experience. Am looking forward to the next one.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 4:58 PM
Subject: Jetlagging Vegas returnee

Hi Everyone,

I'm back in Manila - exactly a week after our luau, but still with a huge Vegas reunion hangover. On the morning before the large group was going wherever each one was suppose to go, someone asked me how the Vegas reunion compared to the Punta Fuego get-together. I thought for a moment and replied that in both reunions I had found new from friends from old (Medy - the Stations poem is so true), so much fun and laughter as we caught up with each other's lives but the two reunions differed in a big way at parting time.

At Punta Fuego, even while we saying good-bye, there was an up-beat note - we knew we would find time to get together again...even as smaller groups - I was talking more with everyone Garnet, Zelie, Yvonne, Ellen, Mad, Sheba, Medy, etc for one reason or another. We had renewed acquaintances and were getting to know each other better. At the big suite in Vegas, while we were taking the going- away pictures and saying good-byes, I began feeling so bitin (needed more time for old friends) and sooooo sad that we may not see each other again in a long time.

Funny, but after we reached San Francisco (9-hour drive) and slept...the next morning, after brushing my teeth I called Jojo - her husband said she still hadn't arrived from Vegas. He probably was wondering why I was on the phone when we just barely separated.

Suzy Q asked me if she changed - I said yes definitely! I told her that when we were   younger I kept away from her because she seemed to be a bully because she was so tomboyish.  She was such a spoiled brat that everything had to go her way. I told her I liked her infinitely more now and she was a fabulous and hilarious storyteller - she could rival Rex Navarette who is the biggest hit in stand-up comedy.

Peeney asked me also if she changed. I told her that she was so maganda now and demanded to know what she did to herself. Wala pala - she just learned how to fix herself, project her best assets - pero she is definitely very glamorous now. She was generously giving away her beauty kit. The most glamorous golden girls were Peeney, Chichi, Becky and Tet. All of us looked good, but these four had more ooomph than the others.

Si Emy Belen - oh, she looked gorgeous too. Her face has filled up just right - no telltale laughlines ; the more you stare at her gumaganda siya lalo. I wish we had more time, she was such a font of knowledge as we were exchanging stories about my daughter's horrible divorce and her separation.

I am the wannabe balae of Vangie. Her son just started practice as a natural medicine doctor while my doctora is taking her US medical licensure exam. I told her I want to make pamanhikan na. I gave her two pictures of Anda and we have jump-started the process. I am sending Anda to Vancouver this coming weekend to observe in her son's clinic and get some medicne for me. Dolly - if you are reading this it's worth a trip to check it out.

Miryan made wonderful calendars - writing this has made me pick it up and review the dedication and the pictures! It is such a touching souvenir because it is a labor of love ... na sa-sad nananaman ako that I am back to reality.

Miriam has remained sweet and her laughter is still infectious - when she was on the phone running her business, I couldn't help admiring how she could switch on and off being serious and funny.

Carol has her one-liners and she will always be special. My teeny-bopper memories are mostly with Carol, Jojo, Edna and Emy. Kumpleto kami in Vegas.

Malaine was no surprise - I have always told her she was every mother's dream of a daughter - mabait, studious and maalahanin still.

Evita, I love even if she feeds me Costco chicken - and because she shared food baon which Eddie made with everyone.

Gidget also shared food with me which my daughter Anda was craving for - thank you and I   look forward to receiving my CDs which were souvenirs of another reunion.

Dutch - was efficient and in-charge. I wish we had more time to talk, but naku I am sure there will be other times. Missy and Myrna should be invited to every party - madami silang magandang gimmick sa fruits and salads.

Elen gave me the tape of the video Jim took, to share with everyone. Mike will try to transfer this and the one from our video into a disc. Medy will help him of course.

Now Beth V still has rollers on her hair plus a lot of sex appeal. She has funny and funny -sad stories to tell which are food for thought. I enjoyed the ride with her and getting to know her again.

Now Patty - we talked about sex from a golden girl point of view. We will continue to talk, I'm sure...Tucson is a place I would love to visit.

Tess was a generous hostess and driver. It was sooo good to be in a house where we could be as loud and noisy as we all were.

Chit and Malu gave Charlie and me a nice send-off lunch at a Korean restaurant...thank God! because I was craving for Asian food and the shopping after was perfect.

Did I miss anyone? Celine Dion was fantastic - grabe. Also fantastic was the dinner we had at the Crustacean - Au, Chit, Edna, Charlie, myself and my son Michael. It was a fancy place with such good food and so little servings. So we couldn't get enough of their good food that we treated it like a turo-turo - order ng order and in the end the bill was not turo-turo prices. The next day, no one wanted to poo dahil sayang yung kinain namin.

The Manila group - set a time and let's have lunch or dinner here in the house so we can share our videos and loot with you.

All for now,

BONNIE

Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 1:12 PM
Subject: Re: Jetlagging Vegas returnee

That was a great synopsis of what happened during our Las Vegas reunion. Even if I hate going to Las Vegas I was glad I came. It was so great seeing everyone and getting reaquainted with some I have not seen in 35 years. It was like getting to know someone you have known but seeing them in a different way. It was such a great feeling. It just felt so very comfortable to be with everyone. It seems as though the barriers of the different sections just disappeared and we are now just seeing the person. Wow!! Thank you everyone for being there. Each and everyone's presence was what make the reunion so great. So when are we having the next one?
Miriam

Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: Thank You

To express in simple words (with my 53 year old brain, section 3 pa), thank you each and everyone for being there. Your effort and taking some time from your demanding family schedule is enough to show how you have retained your beautiful Maryknoll spirit. Thank you for making me so happy. New York can be a challenge sometimes you know, feeling alone and disconnected, but gatherings such as Vegas sure can be so inspiring and do serve as a reminder that there are friends out there that I truly admire and appreciate. That feeling alone is enough to put a smile on my face when the estrogen count drops. It might have just been 3 nights and 2 days, but every minute of laughter and every hour of catching up and bonding do not only equal 3 nights and 2 days, but instead 35 years of awe and wow. We are all to be congratulated. We not only lived, we survived. For as long as I have your e-mail, I will live, I will survive.

The blue and gold of Maryknoll, will keep our spirits flying high........now let me hear section 2......!!!!!!!!

I love you all! With tears in my eyes pa yan. Alam mo naman ang matanda, iyakin na!

Au

Aurea, inumpisahan mo na naman... nag-wa-water na ang eyes ko...

To everyone, Vegas was just fabulous. I shall always treasure the 3 nites and 4 days I shared with all of you. Your friendship will always be a constant reminder of memorable moments such as this. Thanks for allowing me to re-connect and re-live that "blue n gold" spirit.

Love you all and take care always... Mars

November 14
Email from Carol,
Hi Medy,

How are you? Thanks again for the souvenirs from Manila. The bags with our old uniform was so original (although I don't remember wearing my skirt quite that long, hehe). Those t-shirts and matching plaques were very, very nice.

The reunion went very well. This is my third big reunion in the States (1.Southport- Connecticut, 2.Simi Valley- LA). I should get a price for being the ONLY one who attended all three (layas talaga).

Our original group from grade school (hanggang high school) was complete - Edna, Bonnie, Emy, Jo and myself. WOW. I never expected that to happen. I knew they were in the list of attendees but I was always dreading that one of them would back out at the last minute.

SuzyQ was hilarious as a story teller. She had us in tears with her Imelda Marcos stories. As if that was not enough, we also had Au who was equally hilarious. It took all I could muster not to pee in my pants. Tess Bustamante welcomed us all into her beautiful home (her neighbors must hate her now). You could see in the pictures that we all tried to be in the luau motif.

We had the lechon which was later dissected(with the help of our renowned physician
Charlie) and turned into delicious paksiw. I don't often eat lechon, but the paksiw was excellent thanks to our imported cooks Myrna Zuniga and Missy Ungson. We also had dancing afterwards which helped in reducing some of the calories we consumed at lunch and dinner time and also dispelled the very cold Las Vegas desert wind.

As you can tell, I had a grand old time (I always do at these reunions-that is why I try to attend as many as I can). Each one has been different but one thing they all had in common was the laughter, the nonstop chatter (and more laughter) and of course, the happiness of seeing each other again.
Well, I am still euphoric after all this. I missed you being there especially after seeing Bonnie, Edna and Charlie.

Next time, please be there.

Love,
Carol