EASTER MEMORIES & PLANNING FOR A REUNION

Seven years ago today, I played the organ for the last time for the Easter high mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in New York City (W. 16th & 6th Ave). I was a member of this church and had asked to play for my 50th anniversary as an organist in February that year, having played my first mass as the grade-school organist in 1962 at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, Michigan.

Following that celebration, I was asked to come back and accompany the choir for Easter which I did that year and for the next two. Health issues had me moving to Atlanta to help my sister, so I delayed the move until just after Easter to honor my commitment for the last time. I was reminded of playing the church’s magnificent 52-rank pipe organ listening to this piece today by Franz Liszt which I used as a prelude. For two years we did Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus as the recessional. Here is the link to the 2013 video recorded by my friend Angela Liu. Thank you again, Angela!

I’m still hoping to access the newly renovated historic pipe organ in my village church. But we’re maybe two years out from it being returned. These things take time.

As I’ve written before, music funded my education beginning with high school tuition. I will always be grateful for the opportunities provided to me to make it all possible.

From Our Lady of Good Counsel’s grade school, I went to Detroit Catholic Central High School run by the Basilian priests from Toronto, Ontario. I have often said one of the best decisions I ever made was to attend this school. An all-boys school, its focus is summarized in the school’s motto “Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge.” Academics were a priority, but so was morality and a well-rounded individual. It wasn’t a wealthy school, but the priests did what they could to meet the needs of the students. And excellent role models they were and remain. I profited from an excellent education and a strong foundation on which to build my life.

The new school was completed 15 years ago and 90% of its funding came from alumni – which tells you something about the gratitude we all share. Recently it was noted as one of the top 10 Catholic high schools in the US. For good reason. When one leaves “CC” as it is nicknamed, there is deep realization and appreciation for all that has been given. Not just an excellent education, but much, much more.

So two years ago I returned to the US (and, as it happens, my last trip to the US given the pandemic) for my 50th reunion. It was powerful and surreal. Life had taken its course. We lost a few along the way and we had all become gray and wizened. The shocking reality was that 50 years had passed and, oh, how quickly!

We stay in touch via a Facebook group and one of my classmates offhandedly proposed a few weeks ago that our 55th reunion be here in France. With an enthusiastic response from others, I decided to compose a brief survey to evaluate the consensus. With a 25% response rate, about 80% agree that this is something they’d like to do.

We have three years to plan so that is to our benefit. And with epidemiologists suggesting we will not be liberated from the COVID virus and its variants for 2-3 years, the timing is probably optimal.

I’ve led several groups of family and friends around France over the years so can lend this experience to the planning. Aside from personal travel, I also spent a few years in the incentive travel industry between my first two degrees and have a good deal of global planning and operational experience.

The survey revealed that about half of my classmates are interested in spending time in Paris. About a third prefer to focus elsewhere. Ultimately I plan the reunion activities here in the south. What I will offer is assistance to plan whatever it is they want to do.

Years ago, I wrote a summary document for friends on Paris that provided information on how to navigate from the airport, where to (and where not to) stay, what to see and do, etc. It has always been my belief that Paris is the kind of city one needs to personalize for one’s self. You can do the basic bus tour to see the highlights, then focus on whatever catches your eye. Or you can simply walk the city and take it all in. It is easy enough to get around via the Métro to make anything possible. Armed with this information, they can make an informed choice.

Leaving Paris, all my group trips have included renting vans to accommodate 6-8 passengers. Train travel is an option but provides less flexibility.

The possibilities, of course, are endless. For one friend I created a two-week itinerary that begins and ends in Paris traveling to Pierrefonds, Chantilly, Amiens & Rouen cathedrals before reaching Mont St. Michel and the Normandy Beaches, the Jules Verne-inspired park in Nantes, the Loire Valley, Versailles, Chartres, Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Aggressive, but comprehensive making the most of two weeks without being overly tiresome.

One could also add the champagne country and the great Reims cathedral (my favorite in all of France) or maybe even Giverny. It just depends upon priorities. So individuals could group and decide what they want to do prior to heading south. En route, they could make stops in Rocamadour and Sarlat or other points in the Dordogne then Toulouse.

We’ll convene in Carcassonne, an hour from Toulouse, for the reunion activities then I plan to organize a number of activities here including a reception and dinner at one of my favorite wineries, a former priory.

Long story short, there are many possibilities and hopefully everyone will get what they desire making this trip. With 80% of respondents supporting independence with a pre-planned itinerary, it seems ideal.

The last question of my survey was open for comment. There are a lot of questions that I will answer but what I realized is that, probably like with any population, there are some who are bold and adventurous and others less so. I am hoping I can offset anxiety by addressing the questions and formulating a plan they find comfortable and appealing.

For those whose threat is the French language, I will provide basic guides on language and navigating in the French environment. As drivers, probably the most important thing to know is that the French give priorité à droit (priority to the right). It can be confusing at times and grounds for failing the driving exam if overlooked.

As I sit here at my desk watching the sunset on the Pyrenées and the fields of rapeseed in full bloom on what has been a beautiful sunny day in the mid-60s, I can’t wait to share this region with my classmates. It’s something to which I look forward.