All,

Well, Andy pulled it off.   Hold it ... "pulled it off" may not be
the best of expressions, given the spartan nature of the weekend.
For that matter, neither is "hold it".

But pull it off he did, and Andystock was a great success.

Mostly for the benefit of the few who could not be there ... or those
too hung over to remember some of the details ... I will offer a reprisal
of sorts.

Gabes, Andy, Terry, and I drive in from O'Hare late Wed night.  Gabes
insists on a champagne flight overriding Alls caution and DWI experience
(you'll get bagged one day!).  The back roads leading to the lake take
you through nowhere, and Gabes u-turns in front of onrushing trailers
prove to be exciting.  But we arrive safely, commiserate w/ Fox over
his wrist, and wake up that lazy shit Willo who doesn't even have the
deceny to wait up for us.  The Lovefest has begun.

Up to Blackthorn in So. Bend Thur am. Gorgeous golf course ... well,
the first six holes were.  By then, we are drenched, and the skies
are unrelenting.  Welcome back to South Bend, boys.  Andy, in his
zeal to grab another expense chit to cheat the government, has put
the $265 greens fees on his charge card.  He is now the proud holder
of 5 rain checks for a golf course 500 miles from his home.   Try to
bring a customer next time your out there, Ange.

By Thur evening, everyone arrives at the cottage ... and I mean
EVERYONE.  Well, maybe there were one or two other people from
the unemployment lines in Wilkes Barre that Billy McDermott
didn't bring, but I guess he was just being sensitive to the fact
that his group of four brought the total to FOURTEEN, which was
probably a bit much for a place w/ six beds and one shower.

Ange, don't those guys have a life?  Jobs?  A family?  Can four grown
men just pick themselves up, load a chest w/ beer and ice, and take
to the road visiting Universities that they didn't attend to be near
a game to which they do not have tickets?  Mr. Agosta, there is much
to study there.

My trip to campus Fri am with the Willo was a treat.  Got some photos
from Sacred Heart for you, Willo ... forward your mailing address.
In fact, all please do so ... there was a group shot outside of Zahm
which I will send to all.  Fox, you'll soon find your picture in
your scivvies hiding behind a pillow on the internet under www.foxy.com.

Weather clears a bit in the pm, and the golf match is on.  Andy is
crushed by Tom Pearson, Pat Connelly halves Terry, Hans comes back
from one down w/ three to play to beat me one up (with a lot of help
from me on the last two holes, I am embarassed to admit!), and Willo
fights off a Gabes charge.  So our team wins the singles 2.5 to 1.5,
and sweeps 2 points each on low ball and aggregate (Mr.  Pearson's
crushing of Andy resonates through those matches), and we win 6.5
to 1.5.

Great seeing the O'Briens on Sat am ... especially Johnny's sisters.
The Mass was "snappy" (30 minutes, as Gabes had requested), and Andy
is smart enough to remember Fr. King's message at the sermon ...
"Nothing is impossible".  That becomes our rallying cry as we commit
$5,000 to Zahm needs in Johnny's name, and send Fr.  King on his way
to shake down some old priests in Corby Hall for 5 tickets.  It works.
Its great to have juice.

The game better left unremembered. OSU kicks our butts, but the
boys kept playing hard.  The punt return w/ 3:30 left would have been
fun maybe get the ball back one more time and write a chapter in
ND lore never to be forgotten but not to be.

Joe's Tavern was fun after the game. Free roast pig  ... or so I thought.
I never saw such honest lawyers ... you are a discredit to your profession,
boys.

Did Andy ever look any more at home as he did leaning up against that
bar at Joels? I think someone nailed him to it ... there was no moving
him.  Just like 1:00 in the am at the Library 25 years ago- Some
things never change.

Get away day on Sunday was the nicest weather day of all ... some
leisurely time in the am, some fun playing about 14 holes of golf
before heading up to O'Hare.  Highlight of the champagne flight up
to O'Hare ... after some beers, Andy and Gabes are arguing over who
should get the change from Terry's $20 after we stopped at McDonald's.
By the time its over, Andy throws a $1 out the window in defiance,
only to be trumped by Gabes who lets a $5 go flying.

Andy has put me in charge of next year's reunion.  I'm tired of
football games in Northern Indiana rain.  Keep those golf clubs
clean, and those fishing poles hooked, and stay tuned for AlbertStock.

Peace,
Albert