Lori Lipkind's reflection (My kindergarten girlfriend)

Hi Lori

Remember me ? Your first sweetie! I crack up knowing you were the first girl I kissed. I was talking with Kent Moss last night and remeniscing about the old days..... I'm curious what your memories of those days were? Do you have a picture of you when you were in kindergarten? and now? Come on - let me see it! Cheers, Eric

Hey Eric!

I get so much spam I almost missed your email! Yep, I sure do remember dragging you behind the bookcase and smooching! You were rather reluctant but then you came around nicely! I now have a 3 and a half year old daughter (and a one and a half year old son) and believe it or not my daughter Isabel is a terrible flirt herself. She has a crush at preschool and one across the street. (She comes by it naturally, I guess!)

I have the most wonderful memories of Hilltop school, our class, and the neighborhood. Things were never the same for me after we moved. When we moved to our new neighborhood, I was bullied so terribly it took me forever to get over it. It was only a couple of miles away but what a difference between environments! Hilltop was the warmest, most accepting community and the teachers at Hilltop were so creative. I see Mrs. Baron a few times a year; she belongs to my temple. She looks the same and is so sweet!

I have the best memories of being part of that 13 member class with you, David, Kent, Scott, Heidi & Kelli, (whatever happened to them?) Miriam, Leslie, and Carol. Who am I missing? Oh, right, Paul Brown! Memories? so many I can't possibly write them all down now! What I will tell you is that I really believe that growing up with you guys and in our neighborhood was the best part of my childhood. I didn't appreciate it or realize it at the time, of course, but I think we all had a sense of connectedness at Hilltop?don't you?

Please send Kent and anyone else you're in touch with my email address. Send me your address and I'll send you a picture! I have plenty from back then! (sorry, I'm sortof technologically in the dark ages?still prefer real film, don't have a digital camera, etc.

Well, my daughter is demanding a story, so I've gotta skedaddle. Email me your address and I'll send some pictures that I can scrape up. When you have a moment, send me a few of your own memories of those days; I'd love to read them!

Fondly,Lori

Reunion at Mrs. Baron's house one day!

Just got word that our reunion at Hilltop will be graciously hosted by none other but the Great Mrs. Baron one day. Send me email or of other folks if interested...

Walking my daughter to school

When I was a kid, I lived in Ladue and my mom would drive me to Hilltop everyday unlike most of the kids who lived in the neighborhood and walked to school.

Well I own a house in Santa Barbara right across the street from the Elementary school.  Walking her to school one day, I told her about Hilltop and how I dreamed of living near and walking to school.  Then with a big smile on my face, I told her I was living my dreams vicariously through her.

She smirked and rolled her eyeball up...

Miriam Zoole McCarty!

Hey Eric -

All's well for me. I just separated from my husband of 19 1/2 years. It was my idea and a few years in the making - shit happens you know. I have two girls; Samantha 16 and Leah 10.

Catch up - Sam is a sophomore and is doubling up on science, plays the sax and cello and loves to sing. She will be testing for her black belt in Tae Kwon Do on April 7, 2007 (everyone's invited!). She has a great personality, never excludes anyone at school (her friends range from nerds to goths) and is my tom-boy. She wants to go to Brown University, be a forensic scientist and run her own Tae Kwon Do studio one day.

Leah is my girly girl. She is a purple belt in Tae Kwan Do and is the fastest girl at school during the annual time trials and endurance run (she actually out runs every boy but one or two each year!). She wants to be a fashion designer and go to Stanford.

Me - I just started Cardio Kickboxing and I've been taking Hapkido for 3 months. I'll be double testing on my belt level this winter and will be a purple belt. I am ordained and do about 10-12 weddings a year. Not a lot of money in that - but fun. My "real" job is as a Network Engineer. I don't like it much. I just started as the Executive Editor of Around the World Publications - a start up publishing company (if you have a submission please e-mail a query letter to publisher@worlds-eyes.com) and I'm also in the start up venture of Warrior Marketing. I'm hoping these two new positions will spin up so I can leave the world of Network engineering. The two new positions are actually through my new boyfriend; Bud. We're starting the marketing company together, but the publishing company was already in place as his son published a book at the age of 12; "The World Through A Child's Eyes" (not available on-line or in major stores). Michael edited it himself and when I mentioned some editing mistakest to Bud he said, then you do it. So that's how I got the job. As far as the marketing gig - that was my idea. He's putting up the capital and I'll be getting 30-50% of the income (we need to figure that portion out). He's a fantastic man that loves me very much. That's a really good thing. He's taking me to Homestead Crater in December so I can get my SCUBA diving certificate. We're going to the Bahamas in February, a cruise in late June and for my 40th birthday in March - he's taking me to Rio. Can't beat the generosity, but the love and respect is far greater.

I don't hear from the Hilltop gang. I caught up with Heidi and Kelly in our senior year of high school - they were both going to go to BYU I think . Haven't heard from them since. I see Lori Lipkind every few years. Robin Kanefield died a few years back from the heart condition she had. Remember the time I accidentally racked Paul Brown in 5th grade? I had all the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys try to beat me up. Mr. Schlamb couldn't do anything because it was off school property but he gave me solid advice, don't let your pride get in the way. So I let one of the boys (can't remember who) get a punch in. Now you remember how tough I was right? Well when he hit me I started crying and the boys backed off 'cause they'd never seen me cry before. I took the opportunity to run as fast as I could! I will never forget that day.

Mrs. Martz lives not too far from my mom and Debbie's girls have baby sat for her. Mr. Schlamb is at the high school and I try to see him every once in a while. His twins graduated this year. I saw Mrs. Baron at CRC (reform synagogue) about 3 years back when her daughter Emily went off to college. Mr. B is dead. Mrs. Hertline is dead. Mrs Hess is probably dead. Coach Bruce went on to the high school and got fired for having a relationship with one of the students (so I heard) . Mrs. Giles (art) worked at Old Bonhomme when I transferred there in 6th grade. Mike Poole should be on your list as far as students in our class. Eileen Diggins was also in our k-garten class. I see her every few years when I can get in town and she can get away from work. I'm sure I'll remember a few more. Kindergarten was our largest class at 13 kids. Now classes have 20 - 40 kids!!!

My dad died Dec 1, 2000 of pancreatic cancer. My mom remarried two years ago to my sister Liz's (Beth) husband's dad. Becky will be remarrying this June. Her eldest got married last year (and is now pregnant - I'm going to be a grand-aunt!!!) and her 2d daughter this June. Liz has two kids, Mark has one son from his 1st marriage, Debbie has two girls from her first marriage and a son from her second.

I think that catches you up on the Zooles. I still remember not only the Passovers, but your birthday party where we watched Planet of the Apes. I CANNOT watch that movie without remembering that party.

I have some class pictures that I will try to find, scan and send to you - not sure if I have pictures of the school itself. Oh yeah. I heard Mrs. Devaney died and I heard something about Mrs. Ross but can't remember… (someone in my brother's class hosted a Hilltop reunion a few years ago but couldn't get ahold of many people)

OK - gotta go to work. Thanks for hosting the Hilltop Blog - I always thought Hilltop got the shaft when it came to the Ladue school district; we were on the poor side of town and didn't have a large population.

Take care!
- Miriam

Miriam Zoole McCarty
Network Engineer, ACSI
ELAN Infrastructure, DFAS-DE
303.676.8296, DSN 926.8296

Mark Zoole !

Hey Eric,

I hope you're doing well. Please pass my regards on to your brothers and parents. I don't know if you heard that my father, Jere, died about six years ago. I hope everyone in your family's doing well. I think with surprising frequency and fondness on the Passovers together with you all.

Kindest Regards,

Mark Zoole

2931 Greentop

St. Louis, MO 63119

(314) 963-12087

zoole@sbcglobal.net

Lisa Kelvin (Korenblat) sweet misty watercolor memories

Eric, I’ve known you since you and David began Kindergarten at Hilltop and have continued to see you over the years while you were at UCSD, your wedding, David’s wedding and other times you’ve visited St. Louis. But, I distinctly remember you being very upset when you drove Riva by the familiar lot known as Hilltop School and it was no longer there. Here are some of my fond memories of that beloved school and neighborhood.

We would all walk to school because we lived too close for the buses to drive us and we would all take too long to walk home (especially in the snow) because it was fun just goofing around. One time at recess, Julie Rosen (Feldman), Felicia Wilson (Moss) and I were trying to build a fire behind some bushes on the west side of the playground near Lori Lipkind’s house and we didn’t hear the school bell. When our teacher came out to get us, we were covered in black soot from the friction of the sticks. I remember hearing about my brother, David climbing into a trash can while in kindergarten and falling out on the pavement. He still has a scar on his chin. At recess, our class use to play in the evergreen bushes, we had a girls and boys fort and we wouldn’t let the dudes in ours because back then we could play exclusionary games. I remember dodge ball on the brick wall in the rear of the building. I hated dodge ball, Julie loved it. There was one time on the swings when Felicia revealed to Julie, Leah and I that she did not have a shirt under her hoodie, she was then asked by Mr. Schlamb to remove it and when she refused and told him the reason, she was sent home to change her outfit. I remember that we were all friends even though we were all different. Hilltop was a place where everyone knew each other and knew everyone’s business because it wasn’t just a school it was a neighborhood. All of the kids from all different grade levels and different backgrounds would play kickball, tennis, football and hockey in the streets until the lights came on-Then your parents’ would yell out the door (in your case, call) and tell you it was time for dinner.

When the rumor about Hilltop closing became true, my class was the first one to enter Reed School. What, a place where we had to be fashionable and not wear Sears or JCPenny clothing? A place where the average mean was a six figure income (in the 70’s) and we had to go to school with three classes per grade compared to one. This was unheard of… But, we got use to it and soldiered on…

After moving from my childhood home in the Hilltop neighborhood and various apartments, Kevin (’87 grad) and I moved to Boston for three years and then to NY for one and back to St. Louis four years ago. Believe it or not, we moved to Olivette, 5 minutes from the old neighborhood. My daughter, Jamie is in kindergarten at Reed and my son, Aaron is attending Ladue Early Childhood Center. We love it! I still talk to parents who have children at Old Bonhomme and they say people request Mr. Schlamb. He’s still the favorite and he still has Mr. Davey Bones. My Mom remains at her castle on Arrowhead and Julie’s Mom is also still in the neighborhood. Leah Bernstein (Silberman) bought her Mom’s house on Iroquois and has been rehabbing it ever since, like the rest of us. They are beginning to tear down homes individually and rebuild the community. Even as the new styles come in, we will always remember the old and have a place in our hearts for Hilltop School.