A MINI-REUNION IN MONTREAT, NORTH CAROLINA

An amazing event occurred on Saturday night, June 25, 2005. I was scheduled to go with 8 other people to a music retreat at Montreat, North Carolina for my Church. The conference started on the 26th and ended on July 2nd. At a meeting at my church on Sunday, June 19th, it was determined that someone would have to go and pick up a key for the house that the church had rented in Montreat for the conference. The house, known as Montisellars, would sleep up to ten people. I was to spend the night alone there Saturday night, and the others would arrive Sunday afternoon. I decided to see if I could get the Wachters to come over from Charlotte, about 130 miles, the McLendons from Greenville, SC, about 65 miles, and the Tindalls from Cosby, TN, about 65 miles, to have dinner with me in Asheville, that Saturday night. So, I emailed them on Tuesday, June 21st and suggested the meeting. I got prompt replies from the Wachters and the Tindalls. But Sandra and R.E. were in Helena looking after Mrs. McLendon. Sophie responded that they would come over for dinner, but that they would get a motel and spend the night, and not drive back to Charlotte that same night. Realizing that I was spending the night in a house that slept 10, I decided to invite them to come spend the night in Montisellars with me. I invited all the others as well.

By Thursday everyone had accepted. Needing one more couple to round out the 10 sleeping spaces, I contacted Jim and Cookie Word, in Ashland City, TN. They were more like 330 miles away, a good 5 hour drive. Surprisingly they also accepted within a day of the invitation.
So by Saturday evening we were all gathered on the expansive front porch of Montisellars, having a great visit. Here you see left to right Margaret Tindall's head, Fran Wachter, Jim Petersen, R.E. McLendon, Sandra McLendon, Bill Tindall and Cookie Word, telling stories stories (some true) from high school days.








To the right you see Jim Petersen, R.E.McLendon, Sandra McLendon and Bill Tindall.









Joining in were Sophie and Fran Wachter.






















Here is a good shot of a thoughtful Bill Tindall.


















Ann Petersen was teaching a summer statistics course at Columbia State Community College. She was giving tests on Monday June 27th and Tuesday June 28th and final exams on Wednesday the 29th. She decided that she could not make the trip. But early Saturday morning I told her she still had time to throw some things together.
The good news is that she made it through the next week just fine after driving down with me Saturday the 25th and back home on Sunday the 26th.












More good news was that Cooke Word, seen on the right, is proficient with computers, so she was able to pick up all the messages and accept the invitation.











Great news was that by Thursday the 23rd, Sophie and Sandra were in touch with each other planning the menu for Saturday night. The Tindalls had already volunteered to provide breakfast for Saturday morning.
To the left you see Sophie in the kitchen. She prepared a fantastic meal of pulled pork, North Carolina style, that was unbelievably delicious.























Here I am sitting on the porch being entertained by great stories from R.E. and Jim Word, and waiting for great food being prepared by others. What a Deal!!! I don't even have to pay for dinner, or breakfast.







TWO HOT BABES!!!
Sandra provided a delicious pound cake and a chocalate pan dessert. These were both family recipes and they were exceptionally good. She also brought a potato salad that was out of this world.
Sandra provided the apron you see Sophie wearing. (Wouldn't you know it!!)



















The next morning after a terrific breakfast prepared by the Tindalls, the class members gathered on the porch for this photo. You see left to right Bill Tindall, Sandra (Porter) McLendon, Jim Petersen, Sophie (Harris) Wachter, and Jim Word.











We then took photos of each couple on the porch. Here are Ann and Jim Petersen
















R. E. and Sandra McLendon

















Sophie and Fran Wachter



















Bill and Margaret Tindall
















Cookie and Jim Word



















Here is Margaret Tindall in the kitchen on Sunday morning. (I think Bill is out on the front porch.)
p.s. for all the "corrections" to this report. BILL DID HELP MARGARET!!!















After breakfast there was some casual time on the wonderful front porch of Montisellars viewing the serene mountain scenery. Here is R.E. McLendon, Fran Wachter, Jim Word and Bill Tindall.












Fran Wachter, Cookie Word and R.E. McLendon enjoying the beauty of the mountains. My minister, and my choir director, both say that someone will have to go get the key a day early every year. So, just maybe, this may become an annual event.