'Big Chill' at Smith Mountain Lake

LAURIE EDWARDS | Laker Weekly

Former Virginia Tech students and family have been gathering at Smith Mountain Lake every year since 1985.

Courtesy of Sarah Baumgardner

In 1996, Chris Johnston had T-shirts made for the group of Virginia Tech friends who gather annually at SML for a reunion.

LAURIE EDWARDS | Laker Weekly

Former Virginia Tech students and family gathered Aug. 12-15 at the home of John and Jane Renick on Gills Creek for an annual reunion.

Courtesy of Sarah Baumgardner

Twenty-one people gathered Aug. 12-15 at SML for the 25th annual reunion of Virginia Tech friends. They are (top row, from left) Justin Clothier, Chris Johnston, Ethan Johnston, Nicholas Bundren, Lilia Bundren, Alexa Calligaro, Emma Baumgardner, Frances Maguire, Collin Overacker; (middle row, from left) Mike Maguire, Marcella Maguire, Chris Clothier, Beth Clothier, Chris Bundren, Carla Bundren, Rob Calligaro, Lynne Calligaro (holding Ryan Calligaro), Grant Baumgardner, Sarah Baumgardner; (front row) Todd Baumgardner and Dazzle the dog.

For many, college graduation means saying goodbye to dear friends. As lives unfold to include full-time employment, spouses and children, the ties that bond often are severed.

One group of Virginia Tech graduates, however, has found a way to stay the bonds through an annual reunion at Smith Mountain Lake. Last weekend marked their 25th get-together.

It started in 1985 when six or seven -- no one is quite sure -- freshmen got together at John and Jane Renick's house on Gills Creek. Their daughter, Sarah Baumgardner, brought a few friends to the lake for a weekend getaway.

There wasn't much to do those first few years, said Baumgardner of Roanoke. The lake had seen little development and there was no night life to speak of. The Renicks had a small cabin and a pier where they kept a boat docked.

"We were poor college kids," said Baumgardner. "We would swim and hang out on the dock."

Because they had no incomes, the friends ate mostly macaroni and cheese, applesauce and hamburgers. The past 25 years have been good to their stomachs. Thanks to their jobs and the development of the lake, there's more than mac and cheese on the menu.

"Everybody brings their own breakfast, lunch and snack foods," said Baumgardner.

For dinner, the group decides what to have before taking a quick jaunt to the supermarket for ingredients.

There are many more mouths to feed today than there were in 1985. With the addition of spouses, children and a few friends, the group of six or seven is now 27 when everyone attends. Baumgardner said they're never sure how many will show.

"We don't do formal invites or anything," she said, adding that it's always the second weekend in August. "They just show up. It's very casual."

The old friends arrive at different times and spend the weekend together catching up on the past 12 months. They know little about what has transpired, said Baumgardner, because they don't keep in touch throughout the year.

"Facebook is changing that," said Baumgardner, although she admitted they don't do much outside of checking each other's status updates and looking at posted photos.

Despite the lack of interaction, Baumgardner said it's not difficult to get back into the swing of things. Thanks to photo albums they keep to document the years, the group can sit back and reminisce on days of yore.

A favorite memory is the time one of their boats sunk while they slept. The next morning, only the tip was visible. No one would discuss the details of how they got it out of the water, but, apparently, there was heavy labor involved.

Another favorite memory was from the group's 20th anniversary. Chris and Beth Clothier of Ohio went to Kroger and ordered a cake to read, "20 great years." Maybe it was the Ohio accent, said Baumgardner, but the message didn't translate.

"The lady at the bakery asked them if they were sure that's what they wanted," she said. "When they went back to pick it up, the cake said, '20 gray ears.'"

Baumgardner laughed as she recalled how the baker asked the Clothiers if they raised rabbits.

Baumgardner said when others learn of the annual gatherings, they're in awe of the group's dedication and perseverance. She said the lake is a primary factor.

"It is the perfect place for this," said Baumgardner. "If we had to get together and all be inside together at a hotel, it wouldn't be as much fun."