The Lincoln Society of Athens, Ohio, convenes at last

Well, Paula is missing in this photograph, but Katie Roberts is standing in for her. That's Katie, Suzi and Nanell on the left; and front to back on the right are Irene, Mary Ellen, Anne and I, gathered for breakfast at a friendly spot on W. Union Street in Athens.
  It was a lovely day of eating, talking, strolling across the O.U. campus, and then visiting cemeteries in the afternoon as the rain set in. We paid our respects to Anne's parents, to Irene's parents and brother Joe, to Mary Ellen's sister Katie, and to my parents and the Simpkins clan in Millfield.
  Meanwhile, back at the diner, Suzi and I were there when Nanell, Anne, Irene and Mary arrived. Since I was wearing O.U. Bobcat colors and homecoming was approaching on the campus, I casually asked if anyone there remembered the O.U. fight song. Nanell, still standing, began to sing the entire song, never missing a beat or a word; then with perfect aplomb, she segued right into the Athens High School fight song and alma mater. I sat slack-jawed, amazed at this impromptu performance that topped Meg Ryan's famous one at the deli in "When Harry Met Sally." I mean, really, Nanell didn't even attend O.U., and she knew every word! 
  Okay, so you had to have been there to fully appreciate it, but it was one of the highlights, among many, of the girlfriends' get-together last week, which was superb. These women are smart as whips, funny as all get-out, gorgeous and generous and kind-hearted. Ask anyone. Don't take my word for it.
  And speaking of words, here are the lyrics to the Ohio University fight song, just in case you want to belt it out yourself and put it on YouTube! I double-dog-dare you. Rah! Rah! Rah!

"Stand Up and Cheer"

Stand up and cheer,
Cheer loud and long for old Ohio,
For today we raise
The Green and White above the rest.

Our teams are fighting
And they are bound to win the fray.
We've got the team,
We've got the steam,
For this is old Ohio's day!
Rah! Rah! Rah!