Class '72 Reunion

The class of '72 recently had their reunion in Las Vegas last month (October). Check out the following pictures and see if you can identify them:

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Carmen Calisin wrote on Monday, November 9, 2009:

It started more than a year ago...  Three Aquinian nurse pioneers got together in California and thought about "how wonderful it would be if the rest of our classmates could join us for a class reunion!"  And so it happened... Last October 15 through 18, 2009, some of the "Marthas" in this part of the world (busy, busy, busy serving others) took time out to have a "Mary Heart" (listening to each others' concerns, enjoying each others' company)!!  What a short-lived, memorable four-day reunion it turned out to be!

Zeny Biscocho Afable and Norma Mandane Bootan enticed the rest of us with an almost too-good-of-a-deal offer for accommodations.  DESTINATION: LAS VEGAS!  A few creative stories, cajoling discussions with scheduling coordinators later, TEN of us (100%! of all '72 Aquinian nurses in North America) managed to agree on the dates suggested by Zeny and Norma.

Malou Obligacion Ojeda and Zeny Biscocho Afable escaped from Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Norma Mandane Bootan had to take care of her home health clients first, then she joined us driving from California later.  Edna Regondola Ramos, the ever loyal Johns Hopkins Hospital PACU nurse, flew in from Baltimore, Maryland.  Susan Monforte Matito thought she had taken time out from her Jacksonville, Florida hospital and her PNA responsibilities, only to realize that she had "duties" waiting for her in Las Vegas (ha, ha).  Zorayda Bona (from Harlingen), Celeste Lorena Bona (from Beaumont), and I (from Houston) coordinated our flight schedules from Texas so Susan and Julius Matito could meet us at the airport (turn-around time: one hour).

Pat Buni Marchand was the surprise of the group!  Nobody recognized her.  She has blossomed into a peach of a professional - the Canadian Rockies must have been the answer!  She lives and works in Alberta, Canada.  Our lone representative from Seattle, Washington, Aida Gonzales Villaron so generously fed us for dinner that first night!  I guess it comes naturally from being a supervisor, to take care of her hungry RN's.

Most hours were spent catching up on our personal and professional lives; discussions, plans and goals for the future were in the agenda for the group's futher consideration.  For entertainment, Malou made arrangements to watch the Cirque du Soleil's musical, dance and acrobatics extravaganza, "The Beatles' LOVE".. .what a night!  Excellent choice, guys.

We had some "comedy sessions", starring Zor Bona and Magneta Lee Acuesta, who joined us on the last day (thanks, my Class '73 sis).  Evelyn Mata Rimando of the Class '72 Supplemantal and AUL Clinical Instructor also joined us from Arizona (thanks for your gracious presence, Eve).

Everyone made it to the mass at the cathedral Sunday October 18.  That day included a birthday celebration, a leisurely walk at the Red Bluff Canyon, and an impromtu invitation to the lovely residence of Perry and Tita (Zeny's sister) Thompson. Pat and her husband Gerald provided later for the hungry group. Merci!!

The reunion would not have been memorable were it not for the support of our friends' loved ones.  We are so grateful to Romy and Julius, who both ran errands for the group and drove us around town, not to mention the fact that Romy shared his prized Vegas winnings!!  Gerald and Perry, thanks for the hospitality, the dinner treats, and your patience for putting up with 12 women in one room!!  Julius Matitto, thanks for sharing your time and your talent.  Julius modified the original idea for a t-shirt design for the occasion; his "words of wisdom" (ha, ha) were a reunion hit!!  (See below for t-shirt design.)

Here's a quote from Mother Teresa.."We can do no great things, only small things with great love".  My dear Aquinian friends, you may never make it in the pages of newspapers and magazines for the rich and famous, but your silent philanthropy, your kindness, the love you share with others is as consistent as the rising sun!  You are the unsung heroes of a lot of hearts."

 

Remember the homily for that day in the cathedral?  It was about perceptions... on seeing the glass as half-full, or half-empty.  Sure, it is a tumultuous world sometimes, but we are a hope-filled bunch of people!!

HERE'S TO "JOIE DE VIVRE"!!!!


Carmen Calisin, RN CCRN

(Class '72 pioneer)

Front of Shirt:

Back of Shirt: