I’m sure the 60th blast was fun, but probably not as much as Augie’s Big Party in 1973. I think it was shortly after Augie and I went to Keene, New Hampshire to beat the streets for George McGovern for that epic blowout.
Anyways, Augie, myself and Denny Ranalli were renting a 2 BR apt on the 1st floor of a house on Wellesley Avenue, and decided to have a big party. We invited a bunch of our friends and it was looking good.
A few days later I’m walking on Pitt’s Campus and I see a flyer for a party at our place on a telephone pole, then another and another and another all over the campus. I asked Augie: “What were you thinking?” and I’m sure he came back with some witty transcendental response that I can’t remember.
He basically invited the whole student body and other passersby. The day of the party came, and our friends and all of these people we didn’t know show up in this medium-sized apartment until we had them out the door, in the basement, on the porch and in the street.
I remember that my friends from the small town of Neville Island were amazed at the size of the party (about 250 people), that it was a real good time and that Augie was sniffing around TWolf with his tongue hanging out. Also, that our apartment and our stuff came out better than you would think with all those strangers. No thanks to Augie… but he sure was an exciting roomie especially when he come out of the bedroom giggling and staggering after 20 minutes of TM. Quite a sight!
Augie – I’m glad we both made it past 30, and I hope you have many more good ones. I toasted you in advance with a stuffed cabbage or two and an Iron City about 9 pm on your birthday eve at the festival.
Dennis Wierdak
