June 8, It was thirty-five years ago, on Sunday, June 8th that we all donned our caps and gowns in the gym at Hudson High School and, at two O'Clock, walked out in procession to graduate. We were the one-hundred-and-first class to graduate from Hudson High which had been located in various buildings in Hudson throughout the years.

In the 30's, my mom went to high school at the Felton St school. Our high school was built in the 70's and so we were only the 3rd or 4th class to graduate in that building.

In neat lines, alphabetical order, we walked in, accompanied by the traditional Pomp and Circumstances music which then transitioned into our US National Anthem. We sat down and listened to a variety of speakers expound upon how we should look forward to our future and be good people. (If I only knew then what I know now.)

We also had our own ideas. In our graduation announcement we included and excerpt from Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. Max was an American spiritual writer who was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on September 16, 1872. He studied law and philosophy at Harvard University and practiced in India. He was an obsessive writer known as 'Poet Laureate' of Terre Haute. He died in 1945.

I think it's wonderful that something written so long ago, before we were even born, can touch our hearts and encourage us to seek peace and further ourselves. I think this was a really good choice for our graduation announcement and something to aspire to. I've included it, in full, at the bottom.

I hope everyone has had a good life so far. I didn't really know very many people in high school. Didn't participate in sports or other activities, I was pretty introverted. Each of us was on our own trip through time. We've lost a few classmates and teachers. Patty Kavanagh, Mark Stone and more recently Gary DerMugrditchian. Mr Jamrog died a few years ago, Joe Lezon and Herb Busch.

Several high school sweetheart couples actually married and had children. Several of us share the same birthday. And did you know that about 25% of the class, both male and female have the middle initial "A". ... little silly things like that. I think a lot of us never realized how much we have in common with each other.

Over the last couple of years, Kathy (Shaughnessy) Villanueva, and I have attempted to make our web site THE best class alumni site on the Internet. We try to include news about classmates and a way for folks to find each other and reconnect, both with a Facebook page and our message forum. Kathy started a card and flower fund so that we can send card to those who are experiencing some sort of hardship. We also send cards to the families of our classmates who have passed away.

We welcome ideas for the website, photographs, stories, obituaries, announcements, etc and we hope you will contribute. One idea is to have a page that features our wedding photos. If you got married (and you'd like to remember the occasion) we can post your wedding photo and newspaper announcement on our site.

If you have a business, you get free advertising too, with a link to your website. If you have a personal website, you can get a link to that too.

Just about anything is possible. The message forum and this FB page allow members to add content directly. The website is maintained by a full-time webmaster (web mistress) who will publish things for you.

I don't know if I will make it to the class reunion in October. I'd love to. I would take a whole bunch of photos for the website. In my absence, I hope you guys take a lot of photos and make a lot of memories. (I mean of course, the good kind, not the kind you'd rather forget, like dancing on the tables with a lampshade on your head... .

I look forward to hearing from you. If you know someone who would like to be on the class elist or a member of the class message forum, tell them to send me email (sue@kinzelman.com)

All the best --

Sue (Yuryan) Kinzelman

Peralta, NM

OUR CLASS WEBSITE: http://www.hhsclassof75.org/

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/suekinz?v=app_2309869772#!/group.php?gid=201028256417&ref=ts

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,

they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

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