Do all Class of '66 reunions involve wine?

Three amigos
Originally uploaded by Brite Lights photos.

VALOIS, New York - You might think that a wine that goes by the name of Uncle Homer would be, well, not something that would stir the soul of Robert Mondavi, let's say.

But Sunday, Bob and Donna Swanson drove from Jamestown for the day and we visited - and revisited - a large bottle of Uncle Homer's Red during the afternoon.

It's a great wine, from a winery two miles up the road called Rasta Ranch, a place right out of the 60s with posters, tie-dyed shirts and Janis Joplin music playing not-too-softly while you sip.

That last time I saw Bob was at our 25th reunion and we had a lot of good laughs Sunday remembering things like trying to do 'the stroll,' at the Casino on the second night and how we survived the flood at the 20th soiree.

We also lamented the state of public education today, dredged up lots of memories of different teachers we had (it turns out Donna is related to Calvin Hanson), and wondered aloud about how many people might actually show up in Mayville next summer for the 40th reunion.

Between the list of people signed up for the Yahoo! discussion group that Allan Winger put together and the number of regular hits on this website, my guess as of today would be maybe 100 people (50 from the Class of '66 and their spouses).

Maybe we can get the whole event sponsored by Rasta Ranch Winery or Poplar Ridge, another Valois outfit. Poplar Ridge is a favorite of Bob & Donna's. It's owner, Dave Bagley, is a local legend, not just for his wines, but for sitting at the tasting bar sipping Coors light while people sample his selections.

In the meantime, I'm going to have some Uncle Homer's Red wine shipped to California to offer to some wine snobs I know. And I think I better brush up on how to do 'the stroll.'

With my knee still on the injured list seven weeks after an epic lake party here, it's likely I'll sit out dances with names that include The Twist.

So I say today, anyway. Enough Uncle Homer and who can predict?

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Today's song, of course, is a stroll, the one stroll song I remember from high school dance class (or was it junior high dance class?). What I remember most, is getting my feet tangled while dancing with Sally Smith and, it seemed, the entire world watching.

I Want to Walk You Home

by Fats Domino

I want to walk you home
Please let me walk you home
I want to walk you home
Please let me walk you home

You look so pretty, babe, ooh-ooh-wee
I wish I was the lucky guy
Who could walk you right on down the aisle

I love the way you walk
I love to hear you talk
I love the way you walk
I love to hear you talk

I'm not trying to be smart
I'm not trying to break your heart
But if I ask you for a date
Will you tell me that I'm not too late

I want to hold your hand
Please let me hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
Please let me hold your hand

You look so pretty, babe, ooh-ooh-wee
I saw you walkin' all alone
That's why I want to walk you home

So let me walk you home
Please let me walk you home
I want to walk you home
Please let me walk you home

You look so pretty, babe, ooh-ooh-wee
I saw you walkin' all alone
That's why I want to walk you home
That's why I want to walk you home
FADE:
That's why I want to walk you home
That's why I want to walk you home