I wonder if Marilyn remembers the time we bumped into eachother at the beach when we were in middle school. More about that soon, but I have many fond memories of Marilyn. I was a classmate and friend of Marilyn's at Reavis grade school, grades 1-5.* Marilyn and I were also fellow classmates in catechism at Our Lady of Knock (or St Ann's?). I doubt Marilyn remembers this, but when we were in 2ndd grade, she let me borrow her big red ball during recess. It showed me what a generous person she was. Also, I doubt Marilyn remembers this, but when we were in 7th grade, we met by chance at a beach in Chicago. My parents had taken me there, but I was alone and bored -- until I saw Marilyn there! I want to say it was Avenue E beach, but I'm not sure about that. I was so happy to see a familiar face, and I had a great hour walking along the beach with Marilyn. I will never forget that day, and it may explain why to this day I enjoy walking along the beach. In my mind she really does represent the perfect girl. I did talk to Marilyn once in the 1980's. I had written a letter to her mother asking about her, and I was shocked when Marilyn called me out of the blue one day. By that time she was already married to fellow classmate Don Olsen and had two children, I believe. Anyway, her phone call made my day, and it again showed me just what a sweet person she was.
   Marilyn and I have exchanged email in the past year or so, sharing stories about our aging mothers. My mother has since passed away, but her mother is alive and well. Marilyn currently resides in Iowa with her husband, Don. (Marilyn appears at least three times in the yearbook on pages 40, 45, and page 152 of the yearbook.) Oh, and I met Marilyn again in person at our 45th reunion.That picture is at our reunion page.