2005 Recollections
Gerry Pearce 92
Great
seeing everyone in Vail, as usual.
Such a great time. Thanks again for organizing,
Bobo. Not fun being back at work. Pete, hope the shoulder is feeling better -
get the surgery soon!!
Bra, Chief and Ruoss - congratulations on being named
to the "All Tourney" team - an enormous honor...
Am sending this note as a bunch of people were looking for e-mail addresses to
swap pictures, etc. I think I have just about everyone from the masters
team on this list, other than Chad and Dave Z and El Sid and MJ
Thinking ahead to next year - I am all over Charlie Whinery
(cc'd him on this note to turn up the heat) He is
already working on Stu, Kocaj,
Sam Martini, and the rest of the guys from that class. I also got an
e-mail that Bill Rexford, the
Peter Steinle 92
A personal thanks for all that you do to make the Vail
experience what it is. What a great time!! The Steinle
family will participate for years to come hopefully after shoulder surgery, I
will actually be able to make an impact.
Ian McCray 92
Likewise
guys. I had a blast and
look forward to expanding the circle to include my lovely bride next year (no
offense Roomies). I am still alittle sore but
boy, jogging seems just a little easier at sea level.
Pete, nurse that shoulder back to health so we can see you out there next
year.
Let's all start now to encourage all those eligible to turn out.
Next year I am shooting for the "All Red Lion" team.
Matt Thompson 92
Fellas, looks like our friend, the Dome, is headed to
Bobo, please confirm as of today, June 30, 2005, that Brad "The Dome"
McKee will be attending the Vail Shootout in '06. Brad, make sure you
renew your membership with US Lacrosse and send Bobo a check for $75.00 ASAP.
WOW!!
Bob Bumpo Harris 77
I just wanted to say thank
you to Bobo and the rest of the Midd Lax community who made my son Ben and I so
welcome at the recent Vail tournament. We had a great time, and
enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones. I wish I had come sooner, as I
am about to turn 50 and don't know how many years I can continue to limp along
as a middling middie, and haven't grasped the skills
of an attackmen or defenseman yet. True
confession time: the main reason I hadn't come earlier was due to a chronic
lung ailment that has afflicted me for 10 plus years (it is a rare condition,
if you want to know more you have to ask Dr. Bobo or me). It had slowly
progressed to the point, over the years, where I could not sprint or run hard
anymore. For someone who was a little-skilled but conditioned middie runner in his prime (think of a slimmer, less-slick
version of Jon Peterson without the longstick or
horse liniment), this was disheartening, to say the least. I could no
longer play soccer, lax, etc. without getting extremely winded..
Then, I started an investigational drug this past fall, and the ailment
regressed to the point where I could do those things once again. So, my trip to
Vail, among other things, was a test to see if I could hold up with my
Supermasters teammates. I was encouraged by the results, certainly not on
the fitness scale with the bionic man aka Heff, but on a par with other mere human beings. Plus the
oxygen helped, thanks, Jon. I am very encouraged with my rehab, and look forward
to seeing you again in near future. Perhaps not in 2006
(due to a World Cup conflict at the same time), but probably in 2007.
Again, thank you all for your kindness and camaraderie, and thank you,
generous, anonymous alumnus/friend, who took care of dinner Tuesday nite.
John Atherton 93
Blakely and I are still recovering from the
pains associated with "re-entry" into daily life after Vail/2005.
Our symptoms are not new,
in fact they are quite typical and are likely shared by everybody: getting back
to the rigors of working life, getting the bills paid, shuttling the kids to
school, etc. But there is one in particular that we want to call out, it's called "Vail Withdrawal". You see, we
are still telling stories about yet another great family vacation (this is our
third to Vail). We miss the camaraderie and company,
the BBQs and cocktail hours, the beautiful scenery, the energy. It's painful!
We didn't want it to stop, and we need to be back there ASAP.
Oh, we suppose the lacrosse part is
important and relevant. But is it in the big picture? I mean, if we all came
into the area for a second-rate ping-pong tournament we'd STILL do it. The
chance to see our friends again, especially those that live long distances
away, is the key. Even better, we get to meet new folks and their kids. So, don't
get me wrong: it's a huge pleasure to see the living legends in action (Roy Heffernan among others). But, at least for us, it's the
time off the field that really matters-- and what we really miss the most now
that we are back home.
Bobo, thank you once again for making this
happen. Your unending dedication and energy is unmatched. The Vail Experience
is one that all Midd lacrosse players need to plug into. Please mark The Athertons down for next year, and the year after that, and
the year after that
Roy Giarrusso 83
Vail was great! I truly regret that I
let work get in the way for nine years. The tenth year is already a lock
in the calendar. My boys loved`every minute
(screaming from the sidelines) and plan on showing up again next year (I have
to rent them the same car). Glad I could play with some of my old
teammates and with my new ones. Jon Peterson, thank you for the oxygen.