As the weekend of 9/23 approaches, it is time to show our hand for the Shawnee Mission North Class of 1971 40th Anniversary (low dough) Class Reunion. It is a full weekend and hopefully, some of our friends from out of town will be able to join us. This is your official notice so feel free to spread it through as many social media as you can. There are many still on our missing list that we know you are in touch with. With that said, please pass this on.

We kickoff our homecoming weekend, Friday 9/23, at the Lucky Brewgrille located at 5401 Johnson Drive in Mission, Kansas. The school bell will ring at 5pm but it is okay to be late to class this time. If you come hungry, happy hour will continue until 6pm. For those who got their permission slips signed, there will be a field trip to SMN for the homecoming game which starts at 7pm. For the rest of us, an open study hall will continue until game end and our friends return. Keep in mind, the game is free after half time. Live music at the grille starts at 9pm. There is no cover charge for the groove lounge downstairs. At this time, the band is unannounced but you can keep watch at their website at http://www.luckybrewgrille.com/. You can also check out the happy hour and drink specials for Friday. I am kinda picky about what I can tolerate as live music and may split for some ice cream, call it a night and await our continuation on Saturday evening.

Saturday night, 9/24, we are moving outside under the stars. If the weather is anything like what we had this weekend, it will be a beautiful, but cool, evening. Head to the back row and join us for a row party at the Boulevard Drive-In Theater located at 1051 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kansas. Gates open at 7pm. Show starts at dark. We have permission to set up tables. The original concept was to have a pot luck dinner but with so little time between 7pm and dark, we are making it just a pot luck dessert. Please bring and share your favorite dessert and come as early as possible so we can get as much socializing in before the sugar high and the movie begins. The movies for that evening will be…oh who cares. IT IS A ROW PARTY. But you can check it out at http://www.boulevarddrivein.com/. We have to blame or give credit to Jim Pumphrey for this one. Because this is an outdoor event and they have not yet found a way to control or predict the weather, we do have a backup plan we hope not to have to use but would be a hoot and a half if you have never been there. $8 per person at the gate. Please don’t hide anyone in the trunk this time.

Just as you thought it was safe to go back home, we decided to add one more event for Sunday, 9/25. After you have finished your lunch, come down to the site of many lost brain cells, the Cowtown Ballroom, now the site of the Cowtown Mallroom. (what else would you call it.) Located at 3101 Gillham Rd in Kansas City, Missouri and open from 11am to 4pm, the ballroom is now a swap and shop with a stage and live music starting at 3pm. Believe me, if you were ever there for a concert, this will be an incredible experience. On my first pilgrimage back, I had tears welling in my eyes as I climbed those stairs for the first time in 37 years. As I stepped into the hall, I had a flashback not caused by any drug I may have ever taken. No smoke filled hall. No second hand high. The ballroom has been well preserved. The balcony, the arches, the wood floor, and wait till you get a look at the voice of the theater sound system on the stage. We will stake out our spot in front of the stage at 2:30pm but come early. You will definitely want to check out all the groovy (did I say that?) stuff for sale. This one is 100% free unless you found something you just can not live without. No concessions so bring your own drinks and snacks.

It’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. I failed to check with Lucky’s to see if they could accommodate our group on Friday the 23rd. Right after I sent out the email announcement, I called them to see if they could tell me what the entertainment would be for that evening. When they heard I was bringing a group of people, they informed me they already had 2 other reunions scheduled for that night and it would not be in their best interests. Thank you very much but you weren’t my first choice either. But I didn’t have a clue if or what was in my choice spot.

Last evening, I drove through Merriam, Mission, and Fairway looking for another spot for food and drinks that might be able to play host for us on a Friday night without slamming them. I found several, but across the street from Lucky’s was the site of my number one draft pick. Remember, reunions are about memories and I was glad to see that this one was still around. If you never had a drink at SOP’s (Some Other Place) now is your chance. It’s been through many owners and name changes since our day and is now Sully's Pub. It is still a bar and grill. They have a pool table, foosball table, several dart boards, enough tv’s with sports on them to make you forget about the game down the street, a private deck in back, and a digital juke box upon which I know we can find something besides Lady Gaga. None of which was available across the street at Lucky’s. But most of all, they will welcome us with open arms and open hearts … as long as we’re buying. So check out the new SOP at http://sullyskc.com/mission.php at 5411 Johnson Dr. in Mission and make your plans to join us there after 5 on Friday, September 23. Yes, we’re still planning to send a group to the game at half time when it becomes free.

I am happy for this change because we now have the perfect trifecta reunion: SOP’s, Boulevard Drive-in, and Cowtown Ballroom. Oh yeah, and a homecoming football game at SMN. I know there will be plenty of us that will not recognize each other but we will recognize these 4 places. And we may raid Ruthie's Keyhole on the way back to SOP's after the game just to say we did.

Welcome home, it’s all for you.

Keep passing this on. Out of 600 classmates, we only have 186 email addresses. I continue to hear from people who we have not been able to contact because you are passing it on. A quick reply would be nice so we can get a feel for who is maybe coming. if there are any other changes/updates, we will let you know. Thank you.