Family Focus Perfect for your Dorm Room Available at TRADITION! TRADITION! • Jewish class members: Front row, Michelle Kaufman Mountain of West Bloomfield and Sheila Cohen of Warren; back row, Michael Meyers of Davie, Fla., Michael Saginaw of Dallas, TX, Bob Lutren of Farmington Hills, Carolyn Krieger-Cohen and Rick Hyman, both of West Bloomfield Alicia R. Nelson I (248) 557-0109 www.allthingsjewish.com 1387050 How reuniting after 40 years has impacted these 6th-grade classmates: Robert "Bobby" Lutren, Farmington Hills Dr. Mark Burnstein, Bloomfield Township "There was unconditional acceptance. These "I wish my son could grow up the same way are unconditional friendships. Everyone was I did with no worries walking to school and equal in each other's eyes. No one was keep- such a large group of friends within walk- ing score, discussing money or bragging ing or bike riding distance, but I know it will about financial worth. In fact, it never came never be like this again in any neighbor- up at all. No one cared. It's as if we were all hood." still equals like we felt back in elementary school. I can't wait for the next reunion. We Michelle Kaufman Mountain, West know now we will never lose touch and will Bloomfield continue to reunite again and again." "What made the reunion amazing? Without Sheila Cohen, Warren ficult to put the feelings into words, I think "I was apprehensive about attending at first that 'acceptance' sums it up for me. It didn't but found that we still cared about each matter what you do for a living or how much question, it was the people. While it is dif- OCTOBER 5, 2008 SUNDAY 11:00 AM — 3:0Q PM WEST BLOOMFIELD JCC TREE • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 50 PARTY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ON HAND TO HELP YOU... GET INSPIRED • GET ORGANIZED GET MOTIVATED! OVER R. other from somewhere deep inside. It was money you have; it was about shared experi- extraordinary how we all opened up about ences and finding each other again. Having our lives. Something special started three Carla Rizzie, who I had not seen in 40 years, years ago with our first Simms reunion and it scream, 'Oh my God, it's my Easy Bake Oven continues. I now know I have friends for life buddy!' when she saw me captured the that I can count on." essence of the weekend for me. I know we'll do it again and I can't wait! I feel so fortu- PHOTOGRAPHERS ' PLANNERS • DECORATORS • VENUES • ENTERTAINMENT • CATERING VALET • SOUVENIRS • VIDEOGRAPHERS • LIGHTING • MORE! Michael Meyers, Davie, Fla. nate to have all of the 'Simms kids' back in "My family moved away abruptly in seventh my life!" grade, and I never had the chance to say a VENDOR INFO (24$) 3156-8000 proper goodbye to my neighborhood friends. Dr. Michael Saginaw, Dallas, Texas After 40 years, I finally had the opportunity "I had a little anxiety about going to the WWW.JOECORNELLCOM to rekindle these relationships and explain reunion. I had never attended any of my what happened. It has brought back so many Southfield-Lathrup reunions, but as soon as 91edeed e ~dal, 14,0We Vieradeereirtise 4eaf good memories and feelings. Unlike high I saw the DVD from the last reunion and the school, where small talk usually centers on pictures of the kids I grew up with in our very status and money, these reunions are all middle-class neighborhood, I knew I would about the friendships we had as kids and the regret it if I missed it. The time and distance fun times we shared together." living in Dallas for the past 26 years vanished within minutes of walking into Hartfield's [the Exceptional videotaping for: Weddings, Anniversaries, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Seminars, Speeches, Award Banquets Richard "Ricky" Hyman, West Bloomfield Berkley bowling alley where the gang hung "It is uncanny how so many kids in our out]. I felt very at ease and confident with my small neighborhood grew up experiencing old friends. I have told so many stories and so many unspoken commonalities that they shown the memory book to all my relatives were finally able to safely share when we — they all tear up when they see it! (I think reunited. It has helped a lot of people heal they are envious!) I am very glad I came." old wounds. We feel such a strong connec- tion and genuine warmth for each and every person. People who had spent their lives David Newman 248 539 0800 carrying around old secrets don't feel alone anymore." 1346770 B24 August 14 2008 Ai