We all gathered, initially, next to J Building at the school front to register, a very efficient process with wrist bands so we could come and go at will during the day, and each former student received a badge showing their Name and class year. Then we were free to wander the campus both inside and out.

Most made a bee-line for the "Decades Tent", a circus-tent affair brimming with memories for each decade of M-A's existent - including our very own Peggy McDowell-Cramer Museum of School Clothing! It was wonderful that next to the Class of 1958 display were members of the Class of 1959 playing hot oldies from our years in school!

Outside the tent were an incredible array of classic cars belonging to graduates. Display where souped up re-builds of 30's cars, to the cherriest 1954 Chevy, a T-bird, and many others. Charlie Dahl ('57) was there with a glowing example of tender loving care on a car so beautiful it was indescribable.

There were two outdoor music and entertainment stages with continuous sounds from all the eras over the past 50 years, and large outdoor congregation areas with tables and chairs with umbrellas to escape a very warm day. J Building was full of displays of theatrical and music events over the decades. Groups of alumni were gathered all over the grounds, glued together by memorable years in school. MANY 58-ers were on hand and one could simply stand in front of the 1950's area in the tent and nab classmates as they walked by. And there was a huge chicken, hamburger and hotdog barbecue going on throughout the day, too...which allowed classmates to lunch together and have great chats.

Memorable by their presence: Marshall Moore, retired after 30+ years with the U.S. Bureau of Census in Washington, DC. Ken (Kveseth) Lancaster - still the same funny guy as ever, Doug Hardy down from his aerie in the Mother Lode mountains, Judy Klink Blum, Lindsey King Phillips, Linda Drew Adams, Gary Olson (yes, the long lost - and current - Australian!), Jerry Hattoom, and we could go on. But, hopefully the gang talked Peggy McDowell-Cramer into being the "mom" of the 45th reunion again, next year, time and place to be announced. But make plans because you won't want to miss it. One of the visiting alums said, "You know, we're even more fun now than we were in the 50's!". So true.

The class of 1958 (that's us!) was featured in a video and sound spectacle played continuously in the new library building, put together by Ken (Kveseth) Lancaster: a hilarious history of the now famous Senior Prank - in which messrs. Slack, Sierra, and others put the equally famous horse in the admin office and changed the lock on the door so it became difficult to get in. All the details of this most inventive prank were laid out in the 15-minute presentation backed by the music from Mission Impossible! We did notice many current students observing this video presentation ...and you could see their eyes twinkling with mischief as they thought up variations and possibilities for the near future. The "theatre" show quickly became one of the most popular events of the 50th anniversary.

Our sincerest thanks for this wonderful event go to the officers of the Menlo-Atherton Alumni Association: Bob Beckstrom '60, President; Jim MacKenzie '63, Vice President; Ruth Kaufman Donk '65, Secretary-Treasurer; Kandace Esplund Reevers '65, Bear Tracker Editor; Ray Blouin '57, Class Notes, Bear Tracker; Jeff Lotspiech '67, Webmaster; Ruth Berlin Baker '73, Director, Cathy Stashuk DeRose '68, Director, and Marty Fuller, Founder. Our thanks, too to Eric Hartwig, Principal, for opening the entire school, and for providing wonderful volunteer tour guides, booths, entertainment in J Building, demonstrations and an atmosphere that, on the whole, expressed a huge pride continues in our Alma Mater!

Got pictures of the 50's anniversary celebration? Send 'em to us and we'll post some of them here! Jan Claire 49716 Canoga Drive Oakhurst, California or e-mail