BJ reunion in Columbus

Report on a BJ mini-reunion in Columbus by Larry Froelich

We had a terrific BJ mini-reunion this past weekend in Columbus. Jim Ricci was the first to suggest the idea and then Mike Cull picked up the ball and helped make it all happen. So Friday, Ricci flew in from L.A., Mike Clary from Miami and I drove up from Lexington. We met Cull and Suse at the Flatiron Bar & Diner over in the Arena Center area and spent the evening reminescing about that period of the '70s when we were all young and having a grand time at the BJ, chasing stories and raising hell.

On Saturday, the four of us went to the Michigan State-Ohio State game, which turned out to be quite a wild affair. Then afterwards we regrouped at Damon's to watch the USC-Notre Dame.

But it was Saturday evening that really made the whole weekend so rewarding. We returned to the Flatiron, and by this time Don Bandy had driven down from Akron, while Bill and Marge Hershey, John and Georgia McDonald, and Jim and Karen Toms had showed up. We spent the next four hours or so telling tall tales (it was impossible to muffle Clary, who had to regale anyone who would listen to stories of his athletic exploits on the fields and hardwood courts of Cuyahoga Falls High and Beloit College), and catching up on everyone there and others they'd remained in contact with over the years.

By evening's end, we all hoped we could "Do it again" in the future. I hadn't seen many of these dear old colleagues since I left the BJ in early '81 so it was a special weekend for me. And I think it was for the others as well.

Blog guy’s comment: Karen Toms shot this great photo. Do all these people look a wee bit older than I remember them? Thanks for the great blog post.