Casmir Pulaski Still Reigns

The fiftieth reunion of Milwaukee's Pulaski High School class of 1955 got off to a grand start yesterday. We arrived in town in mid afternoon, settled in at the Airport Best Western, and then drove over to Pulaski. It was innundated by a herd of busses taking students back to various places all over the city. Found a place to park on a side street and strolled on in. Front hall looks pretty much the same except for the console in the center manned by a guard. Several TV monitors for security. Sort of like entering a modern office building. Did not see any metal detectors. Maybe they hide them after everyone gets in. Principal's office still to left on entering, the little cubby to PA announcing was still to the right.

We headed past the security fortress and down a few steps to the library, which also looked pretty much the same except for several tables of computers. Tours were organized from there and we were able to see the gym, the pool, some classrooms, study halls, and the cafeteria.

Back to the library for some chatting and wonder of all wonders some cookies and Leons Frozen Custard. It tasted just the way I remember it.

From there it was out to 51st and Oklahoma to the Serbian Hall for an old fashioned traditional Milwaukee fish fry. More grease in an hour than I have had in the last ten years. But the beer was draft and only a buck and a quarter a glass. Better by far than the five buck quaffs at the Peoria Country Club. The place was jumping. Hundreds of cars--some waiting in drive up lines.
We looked in at the bowling alley. Not sure if the main dining room was the place where we had our post prom party all those years ago. The atmosphere seemed about the same, but unlike the school, Serb Hall seemed bigger than I remember it.

Touched base with a fair number of folks including Terry Rose, Ron Pechauer, Marilyn Webb, Jerry Freitag, Jerry Albert, and others. So far so good. It was nice to ease into this with smaller groups so the big gathering tonite will be a little easier to handle. Fifty years of separate paths--each one a life full of marriages, kids, good times, bad times, travels, victories, defeats, and all those things that move you forward. Lots of puddings here. All of them well stirred. More tomorrow.