“Spray the wheels of your walkers with WD-40, drop another Polident in the glass and make those dentures sparkle. Break out a fresh pair of Depends and let the Preparations H do double duty as a wrinkle cream – Brace yourself, Athens, here we come!”

The advice above was dished out in an e-mail for a group of 50 to 70 Athens College graduates from the late 1960s and early 1970s who will be reuniting next weekend.

Though the group jokingly refers to their impromptu reunion at “Geezerfest 2009,” these seniors would impress many Internet savvy whippersnappers with their Facebook skills.

In fact, Facebook is how they reconnected.

Carl Sivertsen, an Athens College graduate of 1970 and an organizer of the event said his daughter introduced him to Facebook.

“The Facebook thing is kind of funny because none of us are what I would consider computer literate,” Sivertsen said. “But one thing led to another and the lists got longer and we said ‘hey, why don’t we get together down in Athens.’”

Sivertsen, originally from New Jersey now lives in Washington, D.C. He has found past Athens College classmates on Facebook from all across the country whom he would have probably never reconnected with otherwise, he said

The hardest parts are learning to upload photos, and the Facebook jargon, he said.

Sivertsen was a part of the ATO fraternity. He’s looking forward to reconnecting and reminiscing with ATOs and Sigma Kappa sorority members. He wants to check out the downtown merchants and old hangouts like Dub’s Burgers, he said.

“If you went to college, there is a certain relationship you have that no one else can have with them,” he said. “When you look back, I may not have sung the praises of Athens while I was a student there, but as I look back I say what a nice place to live and nice people. You felt like you were part of something bigger than yourself and you felt accepted.”

Being a part of the Facebook community has brought all this back to Sivertsen and many of his classmates.

“It’s a neat vehicle of communication. Not everyone uses it all the time. Most use it more for significant events or pictures of family,” he said. “It keeps you in touch with people you haven’t seen in a long time. It gives you a place to share something in common again, like grandchildren or retiring.”



Schedule for “Geezerfest”

Thursday, Sept. 24:

• Arrival of graduates (Most will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express)

Friday, Sept. 25:

• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Cocktails and hor d’oeurves at the home of Jan (Price) and Jim McMurry in Huntsville.

• 9:30 p.m., The Limestone Tavern in Athens

Saturday, Sept. 26

• 3-4 p.m., Tour of Athens State University with Trish DiLullo, of the Student Activities office

• 7-11 p.m., Dinner at Canebrake County Club in Athens. Dress code for dinner is “business causal”

Paul Metcalfe is coordinating the golfing throughout the weekend. Contact Metcalfe at paulmet@optonline.net.

Athens State University graduates interested in reuniting may email Silvertsen at csivertsen@verizon.net.