Hey gang, 

     OK, you survived Y2K, but have you given any thought to where you will be in the year 2010, or 2020?  Dave, Russ, and I have some ideas ... read on ... 

     First, it looks like we will have record attendance on next summer's 30th reunion back pack trip...just about everyone who has ever been on one of these expeditions will be there.  So this is the trip no one will want to miss. 

     Second, this will be a very special trip because we will finally raft to and claim our very own island in Thousand Island Lake.  You will want to be there for the christening of Île des Pétomanes.  Even more importantly, Dave has proposed that we bury a carefully constructed and preserved TIME CAPSULE on our island!  It will stay safely buried until our grand recovery trip...perhaps 10 years hence, or 20?  (We will need to decide on this.) 

     Finally, when we recover the time capsule in 2010 or 2020, you will want to remember being there for the historic event that happened way back at the turn of the (21st) century.  And what better incentive to keep body and soul in shape than the desire to be ready for the recovery trip, which will also be our (are you ready?) 40th ... or 50th ... reunion?  (You will get around to doing an age calculation in a few seconds.  Better sit down first.) 

     So think about what you might want to contribute to the capsule.  Maybe a memento from an earlier trip?  Or from high school?  Or even before?  A surprise for your comrades?  Or perhaps some kind of structured contributions ... Maybe we would each want to write something to be read in the future around a much-anticipated campfire?  Or maybe we want to insert a few sealed predictions for the future ... for ourselves? ... for the world?  So many possibilities to consider... 

     And Karl is already planning for the millennial T-shirt!  You'll definitely want an extra one to save for the return trip.  (Pessimists will order in two sizes...) 

     Formal invitations will come out in the spring.  We will need RSVPs by May 20 and time capsule contributions by mid-June to allow time for Russ (our time capsule guru) to assemble and factory-seal the capsule in preparation for the trip.  It will have to survive the rigors of winters at 10,000'! 

     I would particularly like your thoughts on 

     * How long should we plan to keep our capsule buried? 
       10 years?  15?  20?  Terry tells me that I'd better start 
       getting up early to exercise with her in the morning 
       if we go for 20.  Maybe that's not such a bad idea... 

     * What might make good themes for structured (coordinated) 
       contributions?  Remember that our contributions, whether 
       individual or coordinated, can either be made common 
       knowledge or kept secret until the recovery. 

So send an email to me, or to the whole group, with your ideas.  Also any address changes so I can keep the contact list on www.petomanes.org up-to-date.  We'll need a little extra advance planning in anticipation of our most memorable trip ever next July 19-23! 

Jay