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4th Anniversary: Saigon Kids and American Community School Website

WOW! How time seems to fly by at warp speeds sometimes. It’s hard to believe that it will be 4 years ago tomorrow (Saturday April 21st) that I launched this website for us to enjoy – it seems like just yesterday, in many ways.

The official launch date of the site was April 21, 2008 exactly 49 years to the day after I stepped off the Pan Am flight arriving in Saigon on my 16th birthday in 1959.

Little did I know then what a long and wonderful journey was ahead of me as a soon to be Saigon Kid. WOW! What a ride!

Never in my wildest dreams back then did I even imagine that we’d still be all connected through all the hi tech communications methods available to us today. All this hi tech stuff we take for granted today was just *comic book* fantasy when we were all in Saigon – and, look at us now – LOL.

When I launched this website I never imagined it would grow into what it has become today. Nor, how much it would touch so many people’s lives in so many different ways.

I remember a few months before I launched the site, I’d been hearing all over the Net about Blogging. It seemed to be the latest and greatest thing happening on the Net. So, I sent Roy an email saying, “Hey man, we need a blog for Saigon Kids. It’s the latest graze on the Net.” He replied back with, “I’ve never fiddled with blogs. What are they?” I replied, “Neither have I, but I’ve been checking them out. They’re awesome. I’m gonna make one for Saigon Kids and throw up on the Net. Let’s see what happens!” Roy came back with, “Go for it!” – so I did. And, the rest, as they say is history … 🙂

From the bottom of my heart, I truly hope each and everyone of you has enjoyed the site as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it for you.

I hope it has rekindled old friendships for you and made it possible for you to share many, many wonderful memories of our days in Saigon, while making new memories to cherish in the future.

So, please join me in celebrating the 4th Anniversary of our Saigon Kids and American Community School blog site.

Rock Onnnnn … Saigon Kids – we got a lotta living to do! – 🙂

Bob

PS: It’s really hard to believe that it was 53 years ago I arrived in Saigon. Geez, that’s longer then my parents were old then (they were only in their mid-30’s). Back during Saigon days, I thought anyone over 30 was an old fogy, older then the hills – from Squares-ville – LOL – 🙂

14 comments to 4th Anniversary: Saigon Kids and American Community School Website

  • Kenneth R. Yeager

    Bob, I for one am extremely grateful that you made the effort to put this site together and allow the SKs to re-find each other after all of the intervening years. It has been a great thrill for me to chat on the phone with folks that I knew half a century ago….it has brought back so many wonderful memories. And regrets too in that I lost contact with so many great kids. Life moves on…..but through your efforts, we have had the chance to revisit those times and reestablish friendships, and after family, nothing is more important than friendships.

    Thanks again, Bob.

    OH, Having lunch with Roy on Monday.

    • Ken – Thanks for your kind words! Enjoy lunch with Roy. Amazing how small the world is, isn’t it … I mean like, what are the odds of your cousin’s business being just down the road from Roy. Chance or fate? – LOL – 🙂

      A word of caution: Be careful around Roy, you know what all the parents in Saigon used to say about Clods, “All those Clod boys do is listen to rock’n roll, smoke cigarettes, drink beer and chase girls. Those Clods are nothing but trouble!” – ROFL – 🙂

      Just for old time sake, be sure to order some dry roasted peanuts with Ba Muoi Ba to make it feel just like the old days sitting at the *bright blue* concrete bar at the Olympic Bar in Saigon – LOL – do you remember that joint? It was the only bar in Saigon that served dry roasted peanuts. All the other bars served those soggy wet boiled peanuts.

      Rock Onnn … 🙂

      Bob

  • Suellen Oliver Campbell

    Many congratulations and thanks for the wonderful job you have done conecting us with your website. It has given me so much pleasure hearing from Saigon Kids from the good ol’ days. For so long I have thought of each one and wondered how life has treated them since we left Saigon. What a thrill to know that each found their own wonderful path, have contributed so much and been so successful. I never knew at the time I was associating with such intelligent, ambitious folks. I thought you all were just fun,wild and crazy, which was just fine with me!
    Thank you, Bob for still connecting us today, and for your help in reconnecting us over the past few years with good friends and great memories.
    What a super idea, and it has changed my life.
    Rock Onnn, Bob. To me you’re forever young! Suellen

    P.S. Do we have an update on Dini (Haznam)?

    • S’ellen – Thank you for your kind words. I’m happy you’ve enjoyed all this. Re: Dini, I’ve not heard anymore about her progress. Perhaps Sarah will update us soon.

      Rock Onnn …

      Bob

  • Mike McNally

    Bob, Congrats from a SK wannabe. If you can hang around for another fifty years, they’ll probably be razing the New Eden (which they are now raising) to make way for the Newer Eden. LOL. Thanks to you and all the Saigon Kids…Mike

    • Mike – I’ll be hanging around for another 51 years – LOL – 🙂 – thanks for you kind words. Meet me at the *Newer Eden* in 2063 – LOL.

      Bob

  • Maile Doyle

    Hi Bob and let me add my thanks to the above! This blog has given so much to me as it brought back memories of such a wonderfully special time in my life and the great kids I went to school with. So many American graduates get an opportunity to return to their high school campus for reunions, but you have given us the chance to meet again on this “campus”. Also, it has fostered a page on Facebook. I had the great pleasure of seeing Alice Ahlgren Blackburn again last May (after 50 years!) for a tour of her winery and dinner and the 1963 Gecko! So awesome…might not have happened without you! Bless you and yours…Rock Onnn my friend I never knew!

    • Maile – Thanks for your kind words. It warms my heart to know you have been able to re-connect with your class mates and friends from Saigon and once again are able to enjoy each other and treasured memories, while making new memories. – 🙂

      Rock Onnnn … and let the good times roll … 🙂

      Bob

  • Sarah Rogers

    YOU have done a great job Bob and I have enjoyed it very much. While most of us just read without a response, we really appreciate this treasure of all our memories. Mahalo nui loa.
    I know Dini is home and recuperating but I have not heard for a week or so. Will get an update.

  • Carolyn Cathey Castelli

    Thanks so much for creating this website! Happy 4th anniversary to you and the site!! I am thrilled to have “stumbled” upon it just a few months ago. And I appreciate you sharing my story…I am waiting and hoping someone responds who was there when I was there and with whom I can perhaps re-connect.

    We do have a lot of living to do!

    God bless you!

    • Carolyn – Thank you for your kind words. I’m sure there are many Saigon Kids who were there at the same time as you, who would love to re-connect with you. If you’ve not already done so, you may want to list your contact information in the *Alumni Directory* [ the link to it is at the bottom of the left side menu area).

      Rock Onnnn …
      Bob

  • Ralph Johnston

    Bob, thanks for all you’ve done on this site. It has rekindled many a fond memory and allow me to hear from and contact others from our days in Saigon. You’ve done a great job putting everything together,and I’ve really enjoyed “checking in” and seeing what everyone’s been up to.
    Thanks again – Ralph (REE) Johnston

    • REE – Thank you for your kind words and support of the site. Much appreciated! Glad you are enjoying the site. There is even more to come, that is still on the drawing board. So check in often – 🙂

      Bob

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