Moose Lake Class of 1979

09/17/2024

09/17/2024

Do you ever wonder... like I do...

what parts of me are the same, and which parts have been refined, discarded or transformed with time? Am I the same person was in 1979, simply inhabiting an older body? Or have I fundamentally changed, becoming someone new as my experiences layered over the core of who I am? Like a chameleon, my blood feels like it runs the same—steady, familiar, always coursing through me—but my outward colors have shifted to fit new environments, circumstances, and roles. I’ve adapted, but have I really changed?

Perhaps I’m like a snake, shedding layers of skin over time. Each layer represents an old version of me, left behind as I move forward. I’m not the same as I was, but those old skins are still part of my story, still part of who I’ve been. Or maybe I’m more like a butterfly, once bound inside a chrysalis, undergoing a transformation so profound that when I finally emerged, I was a different creature altogether—still with the same beginning, the same origins, but with a wholly new form.

Growth takes many shapes. Like a river carving its way through the earth, smoothing the rough edges of the rocks over time, maybe I’ve been molded and reshaped, but the river itself—its flow, its purpose—remains unchanged.

Or, perhaps I’m more like Shel Silverstein's Giving Tree, adding rings with each passing year. My roots are deep, my trunk strong, but new branches have grown in directions I couldn’t have predicted, reaching toward the sky.

What parts of me are the same? Which parts have been refined? Which parts are wholly different? And can I ever fully know the answers to these questions, or is the act of growth itself the mystery that keeps unfolding?

09/17/2024

This is us.

08/16/2024

Here’s a list of 20 things that many members of the class of 1979 from Moose Lake, MN might remember:

1. The smell of fresh air on a crisp autumn day – nothing says home like the forests around Moose Lake.
2. Hanging out at the Hamburger Hut, Dairy Queen, Lake Drive in, or HillRose pizza – it was the unofficial meeting spot for everyone.
3. The big rivalry football games against Barnum – those Friday nights under the lights were unforgettable.
4. Bell-bottoms and disco fever – the fashion and music of the late ’70s will always be a part of our high school memories.
5. The Blizzard of ’78 – getting snowed in and school closures that seemed to last forever.
6. The first time you heard “Hotel California” by The Eagles on the radio – and how it became an anthem for so many.
7. Cruising down Highway 61 – windows down, radio blasting, feeling like the world was at your feet.
8. The Moose Lake High School talent shows – where local stars shined and everyone cheered.
9. The iconic yearbook photos – complete with feathered hair and wide collars.
10. The excitement of prom night – from the anticipation of asking someone out to the night of dancing in the decorated gym.
11. Woodshop, Welding, automotive and Home Ec classes – practical skills learned that some still use today.
12. The teachers who inspired us – and those who challenged us to be better.
13. The Moose Lake Fourth of July parades – the community coming together in celebration.
14. Summer days at Moose Lake Park – swimming, the "raft" and the diving board - with mud fights, and making memories with friends.
15. The sound of a fishing reel – early morning trips to the lake with family or friends.
16. The excitement of driving the first time – and the freedom that came with it.
17. Attending the local carnival – with the Ferris wheel, cotton candy, and maybe a few teenage crushes.
18. Hometown pride – Purple and Gold - that never really left, even after moving away.
19. The simple joy of a bonfire anywhere – sharing stories and dreams under a sky plump full of stars.
20. Friendships that stood the test of time – because Moose Lake ties are hard to break.

These memories bring us back, even if just for a moment, to the days when we were young, had fewer cares and responsibilities, and full of hope for the future.

What would you add?

Send a message to learn more

05/06/2024

Moose Lake Class of 1979 check out what the reunion committee has set up for us. September 13 and 14th. Hope to see you there!

05/06/2024

It's been 45 years since we graduated from Moose Lake High School. I know it is a cliche, but I honestly can't believe that those 45 years sailed by so quickly. Especially because I can remember sitting in class on a hot spring afternoon, watching the hands on the clock that TOOK FOREVER TO MOVE.

You and yours are invited to the gathering. Here are the details:

Friday, Sept. 13, we'll meet at 6:00 at the Moose Lake Brewery.

Saturday, Sept. 14, we'll meet at the Moose Lake Golf Course at 4:00 pm for socializing, have our class photo taken at 5:00, and then back in the building for a Taco Bar and more socializing.

ML Golf Course
4:00 Social hour,
5:00 class pic,
5:30 Taco Bar.

04/10/2024

6th month alert for the class of '79. At our age, this connect-the-dots puzzle should be "doable." Print it off, do your best, and upload your solution. Kris Johnson Parker will judge all entries.

04/10/2024

Greetings Moose Lakers class of 1979. Save the date.for our 45th class reunion. Friday September 13, 2024 we will meet at the Moose Lake brewery for a casual meet and greet and Saturday September 14, 2024 will gather at the Moose Lake golf course for a night of socializing and dinner. Please share the.date with class mates not on FB. More details to follow.

04/01/2024

When you hear "I'm bored" or "I don't know what to do with my life" here's a list of wikipedia's unsolved problems. It's worth a lifetime of effort.

03/07/2024

Today is the day that Wayne Peterson, my dad, entered the world. He gave me life and gave me a LIFE. He has ALWAYS been one of my 5.

He taught me to see in full color, he gave me better than he got and taught me to be a kind and gentle man who nurtured the fire in myself and in others.

If you have a second, drop over to his page and wish him a good day. And thank him for changing the whole world within and around so many 5th graders as a teacher, and k-6 graders as an elementary school principal. He was, and remains, the best dad that I could have ever imagined.