Java in June Celebration

Last weekend we journeyed to Java for the June celebration. Friday afternoon was set aside for class meetings. Bob and the Beachcombers were the Friday night entertainment. Saturday morning's highlight was the parade (unless you participated in the 5K Fun Walk/Run). The afternoon shows were interrupted with an ambulance ride (over-heated/fainting) and later, a severe storm that sent most of us to basements for an hour or so. Another severe storm moved over town Saturday evening causing the large tent poles to dance while sheets of rain ran off the sides of the tent roof. The entertainment played through the storm, but most in the audience were paying more attention to the tall tent poles tugging at the ropes. That storm passed without any damage and certainly did not dampen the spirits of those wanting to party late into the night. That is the condensed version of the weekend.

The Class of '68 has a reunion every 5 to 10 years. We meet often and rarely have everyone attending.  Some classes have never met for a reunion. Java in June was intended to be a gathering of people having a connection to Java, not an all-school reunion. Over 600 people pre-registered for the weekend's events. (Population of Java is listed at 130.)

A wife-carrying contest?

The kuchen walk?

17 of us graduated in 1968

3 of our members (guys) have passed away

1 more was expected at the celebration

(she came on Saturday)

3 did not plan to attend

Friday night under the big tent

Bob and the Beachcombers played 4 sets

and did not repeat a song all night

Good dancing and singing-along music

Lining up for the parade on Saturday morning

Class of '67

"Our bodies may have some dents and nicks

But it's nothing a few drinks won't fix!"

Some members of the Class of '69

Two race cars in the parade

Some new, modern tractors in the parade

My view from the back of the '68 ??? convertible

Some of the little kids collecting candy along the route

Parade viewers at the north end of Main Street

Watching from the shade on the side street

The church is the one Hubby and I

were married in 44 years ago

It is not in use, currently

PeeWee passed away on Friday morning

He planned on attending the celebration

Old tractors in the parade

 Class of '61 & '65 spraying the crowd

with water guns and water balloons

OLD cars in the parade

A calf in the parade

Stubborn horse & buggy

Horses and their riders

One of our rides

I was in this car

The other convertible

Both are owned by members of '68

Kathy wore her letter jacket and had a 

pony tail to complete the look

Some in this class could fit into their

cheerleading uniforms and band uniform

They chanted, "We've got vodka; how about you?"

They were willing to share their yummy concoction.

The sheriff followed the pontoon float and watched

them share their beverage. 

Only in a small town...

He asked if I got his good side

I told him I was posting it as Java's only stop light

My family enjoying the parade and the shade

Afternoon clouds after one storm

and before the second

The water tower was aglow after the 

tent shaking storm

The rainbow in the east

It was a FUN weekend. We visited with people we rarely see. Hubby got to see kids (now adults) from his very first class and the guys he coached and those he played against in high school. I talked to my high school boy friends, both of whom are still married to their first wives. That warms my heart. Visiting with my classmates was revealing as we reminisced about our years together. Some mysteries were solved. There was lots of hugging and laughing. We made plans for our 50th class reunion. 

Many people put in some long hours and hard work to pull it all together. If you are one of those reading this...THANK YOU!