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Going back to 50th high school Reunion - Andrea Dietrich's Blog

About Andrea Dietrich

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Andrea Dietrich grew up in Iowa and now resides in Utah with a spouse and two cats. She has two grown children and six grandchildren. Having graduated BYU with a Spanish major/ESL minor, she has spent most of her adult life teaching. It wasn't until 2000 that she began writing in earnest and discovering her "niche" as a writer of lyrical poetry. The internet opened up a new world for her, and she has spent two decades now participating in poetry clubs, acting as a judge of poetry contests for various magazines, for the website Shadow Poetry, and for Poetry Soup.

Ms. Dietrich has won numerous awards, as well as the title Poet of the Year 2008, from the Yahoo group, Poetry For Thought. In addition, she has won prizes from the magazines Lucidity, Bell's Letters, Art with Words, Poets at Work and SP Quill, the magazine for which she wrote grammar and poetry articles as well as movie reviews and for which she acted as poetry editor for the head editor Marie Summers for six years. Many of her poems appeared in Shadows Ink, a yearly published series of chapbooks of award winning poetry as well as in numerous other anthologies. Her short stories appeared in many issues of SP Quill and much of her poetry was published in eight chapbooks (no longer sold online).

Since coming to Poetry Soup, Ms. Dietrich has been both contest sponsor and winner of numerous contests. In 2010, her poem "Cinder Girl" was first place winner of Soup's International contest (these contests are no longer held). A song was created from her lyrics "Honeymoon Serenade" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDWxc4cpHDc) and two movies have been made featuring the poetry of Andrea Dietrich: "A Tale of Fire and Ice" (a 4 min. Z-Film Fest Project, 2014) and the full length movie "Six Days of Sistine" in which 20 poems of Ms. Dietrichs serve as the thoughts of two characters played by Jamie Campbell Bower and Elarica Johnson (directed by Richard J. Perry, 2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7710360/

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Going back to 50th high school Reunion

Blog Posted:9/13/2023 11:57:00 PM

I don't know if I can make many comments while I am away, but it's only for four days and then I hope to come back and start my contest for September. Just want my friends to know why I may not be commenting. Thanks to all contest sponsors for inspiring me to write poetry and to all my friends here who read and comment to my poems. My left leg doesn't seem to be working right, so I am requesting wheelchair service. Boy am I getting old! Wish me luck and have a great weekend coming up!

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Bill
Baker

Date: 9/27/2023 4:17:00 PM

I read this before you left and thought I commented and wished you a good experience at your reunion, Andrea... I don't see my comment here, sorry for whatever reason it's not here. Glad you got to go, most people don't make the effort. A poet friend in Texas, Bill

Malabika
Ray Choudhury

Date: 9/21/2023 5:21:00 PM

Sorry, Andrea, I am late in reading your blog - but I know you have enjoyed the reunion (that must have been so exciting), and spent some time with your loving Mom and sisters. Very happy for you. Hope your leg is not bothering you any more. Love and hugs ~ Mala

Quoth
Theraven

Date: 9/17/2023 8:20:00 PM

Andrea, Your 50th H.S. reunion travel blog has been an inspiration to me, probably others too. Especially those memorialized classmates you mentioned in comments. Would love to see photographs down the road. Welcome home. -Richard

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/19/2023 11:47:00 PM

Find me on FB. I posted my pics there!

Joe
Maverick

Date: 9/17/2023 12:13:00 PM

Hi Andrea, may all be well with you.' I was thinking you were a bit quiet of late.' The code now is ( SEP ?)

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/17/2023 5:16:00 PM

I'm on my way home now. It was fun wow this Dallas airport is huge. Can't wait to be home. They sent me to Dallas before salt lake. Crazy!!

Lin
Lane

Date: 9/17/2023 7:54:00 AM

Make new friends with old acquaintances. Just have a great visit and enjoy being back home.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/17/2023 5:17:00 PM

I just mostly talked to five people I had hung around with or appreciated in high school. Nothing grand but it's always nice to go home again

Robert
Lindley

Date: 9/17/2023 7:30:00 AM

My friend, I hope you have a great time with old friends. I did when I went to my 20th high school reunion back in 1992. I had a blast meeting and talking with most of them that I had not seen in 20 years. The 30th and 40th reunions I declined to go. Most of my closest friends had already passed away. I saw no reason to go. God bless you my friend.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/17/2023 5:19:00 PM

It's very sad . Out of maybe 375 of us, around 70 have died. They showed their pictures. A few I really liked had recently passed away. For some strange reason, many died in 2015. At age 60. So sad

Constance
La France

Date: 9/16/2023 7:57:00 AM

Andrea, hope you are having fun, always great to see old friends, it amazes me to see how they have changed in looks and often in personality. The wheelchair thing is a bit concerning. Love.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/16/2023 11:10:00 PM

So glad I went back. But sad to see the memorial for around 70 of our class who passed away. We were less than 400 . I am shocked that at least 1/5 of us have left the world. One of them died just a few months ago, a girl I recall as so lovely.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/16/2023 8:23:00 AM

Thanks, Dear Heart. It was a great relief to me how good the airlines was letting me use a wheelchair. I must do yet another doctor visit to find out why my leg is being painful now. I am having a nice time mostly just being in my home city. The high school people are meaningless. Only one of my true friends appeared at the bar last night. Tonight I hope others will show up to the big fancy dinner.

Linda Alice
Fowler

Date: 9/16/2023 6:55:00 AM

Do have fun Andrea and enjoy the camaraderie. Keep smiling!!! :)

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/16/2023 8:23:00 AM

Thanks, Linda

Sandra
Haight

Date: 9/15/2023 10:12:00 AM

Have a great time, Andrea, and enjoy interacting with old friends- it is exciting! My 50th was the last for our class- September 2007! Hugs, Sandra

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/16/2023 8:29:00 AM

It has been fun so far. But I did not have tons of friends in high school and last night was bar night where I recognized mostly names but not faces. Hopefully I see my besties at tonight's big fancy dinner!

Unseeking
Seeker

Date: 9/15/2023 1:43:00 AM

Time to plunge into warm embrace with childhood friends! Enjoy

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/16/2023 8:30:00 AM

Yes. Thanks!

Beata
Agustin

Date: 9/14/2023 7:59:00 PM

Enjoy such wonderful gathering. God bless you...

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/16/2023 8:30:00 AM

Thanks, Beata

Jan
Allison

Date: 9/14/2023 5:10:00 PM

have an awesome time away Andrea:-) hugs jan xx

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/16/2023 8:32:00 AM

Thanks, dear friend ; one thing for sure. I always sleep better in my hometown

Andy
Chunn

Date: 9/14/2023 3:41:00 PM

Have a great time Andrea. It's good to see how all those "other" people have changed. Be safe!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/14/2023 4:52:00 PM

Yes that would be interesting. My last one was the 25th and even then the changes were incredible. Thanks, Andy

Edward
Ibeh

Date: 9/14/2023 3:01:00 PM

Have a whale of a time, Andrea:-) What an experience to cherish!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/14/2023 4:50:00 PM

Thanks

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/14/2023 4:50:00 PM

Yes. These moments never come around agsin

Kim
Rodrigues

Date: 9/14/2023 11:40:00 AM

Have a great time, Andrea!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/14/2023 4:50:00 PM

Thanks, Kim

Vijay
Pandit

Date: 9/14/2023 4:11:00 AM

Have a wonderful time, Andrea.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/14/2023 4:47:00 PM

Thanks, Vijay

Ink
Empress

Date: 9/14/2023 3:45:00 AM

Thats so exciting to have a reunion, dont worry about comments, its important to enjoy little moments away from social media and screens, although i will miss your poems. wishing you a safe journey, and stay blessed.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/14/2023 4:48:00 PM

Well I am getting in what I can during waiting times while traveling. Thanks, Empress

Anitha
Jayasankar

Date: 9/14/2023 1:46:00 AM

Have a great time Ria. Happy and safe journey. Can't wait to see your 50th reunion photos. Big Hugs... ~ Ani

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/14/2023 4:49:00 PM

Oh boy I didn't think about photos. I wonder how many of the 350 of us will show up

My Past Blog Posts


Foodie Pleiades Contest Finalized Date Posted: 4/28/2025 12:15:00 PM
My Contest Finally Judged Date Posted: 3/22/2025 3:59:00 PM
That's Life! GREAT JOB, Contestants Date Posted: 3/2/2025 1:21:00 PM
Congrats to Winners of my Second Chance Pleiades Challenge Date Posted: 1/1/2025 8:28:00 PM
Happy Birthday to a New Year Baby Date Posted: 12/31/2024 12:33:00 PM
About my Current Contest Date Posted: 12/23/2024 11:41:00 PM
Alouette Me - Finally judged - Congrats to ALL my Winners Date Posted: 12/2/2024 4:41:00 PM
Regarding my Pleiades Contest - Please Read if you are a Contestant Date Posted: 11/1/2024 4:14:00 PM
WORD CRIMES - Short, fun music video on common grammar mistakes Date Posted: 10/14/2024 12:04:00 PM
Thanks & Congrats to Published Poets: A Special thanks to Emile Pinet Date Posted: 10/7/2024 4:03:00 PM
MISSING SOUPERS Date Posted: 9/15/2024 10:17:00 AM
Been Away/ Hope to get contest placements up by weekend Date Posted: 8/29/2024 1:15:00 PM
Is anyone else having problems entering any contests? Date Posted: 8/5/2024 12:28:00 AM
Is it true...? Date Posted: 8/1/2024 1:03:00 PM
Tankacrostic examples for those having difficulties understanding how it goes Date Posted: 7/10/2024 1:37:00 PM
As I Wait for my Contest Results to Post Date Posted: 6/30/2024 4:43:00 PM
Is anyone having these problems? Date Posted: 6/20/2024 1:11:00 PM
Contestants - Poofread your Andaree Date Posted: 4/29/2024 12:14:00 AM
Please EDIT before I judge my contest: ONE LINE ONLY Date Posted: 2/25/2024 2:51:00 PM
Congrats, Sijo Winners Date Posted: 2/4/2024 11:28:00 AM
In Need of Clarification on putting info underneath poems Date Posted: 2/4/2024 9:09:00 AM
Note to Those who entered my Sijo Contest - blog slightly revised Date Posted: 2/3/2024 12:52:00 PM
About Sijo Date Posted: 1/14/2024 1:44:00 PM
Finally judging/ my Grinchy Rules/ A Gremlin in my Soup Date Posted: 12/22/2023 12:13:00 PM
Example of Ninette For Those Who Want To Try One for my Contest Date Posted: 11/7/2023 1:20:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
5/9/2025	Emotional Shrapnel	Free verse	abuse,
5/8/2025	honey bee hiku	Haiku	flower,
5/7/2025	a summer hiku	Haiku	summer,
5/7/2025	Road Trip	Verse	travel,
5/6/2025	On Ecclesiastes 9:10	Rhyme	bible,
5/5/2025	The Three Primary Colors	Quintain (English)	color,
5/4/2025	Behind the Clown’s Big Smile	Rhyme	angst,
5/3/2025	peak hiku	Haiku	nature,
5/2/2025	Casualty of Your Cruelty	Etheree	hurt,
5/2/2025	An Interview with the Color Purple	Narrative	color,
5/1/2025	PET	Acrostic	pets,
5/1/2025	Our Spirits Sing	Rhyme	music,
4/29/2025	Leaf	Verse	death,flying,
4/29/2025	Deprived	Etheree	lost love,
4/28/2025	Dear Sweet Lucy Loo	Sonnet	dog,
4/27/2025	Runner	Narrative	race,
4/27/2025	spring hiku	Haiku	flower,
4/26/2025	a hiku for spring	Haiku	april,spring,
4/24/2025	A hiku	Haiku	flower,
4/23/2025	When Summer Comes Along	Rhyme	summer,
4/22/2025	meadow haiku	Haiku	green,
4/22/2025	Popcorn: My go - to Snack	Epulaeryu	food,
4/22/2025	Plagued by Memories	Etheree	health,
4/21/2025	God's Radiant Light	Rhyme	god,
4/21/2025	Johann Sebastian Bach	Clerihew	music,
4/20/2025	An Easter Poem	Rhyme	easter,
4/19/2025	Your Life Review	Rhyme	life,
4/18/2025	Oh, Mother	Rhyme	mother daughter,
4/17/2025	Once Visited by Death	Rhyme	dream,pain,
4/17/2025	a hiku	Haiku	world,
4/16/2025	My Chocolate Easter Tradition	Rhyme	easter,
4/16/2025	Mozart Clerihew	Clerihew	music,
4/15/2025	Arrival of a Goddess	Free verse	morning,
4/14/2025	graveyard hiku	Haiku	moon,
4/14/2025	In Playground of Imagination	Rhyme	imagination,
4/13/2025	Surrendering to the Cold Embrace of Death	Etheree	death,
4/13/2025	A Red Hots Footle Tale	Footle	candy,
4/12/2025	Oh Gentle Gust	Etheree	wind,
4/11/2025	The Now Continuum	Sonnet	life,
4/10/2025	All You Beautiful Poets	Quintain (Sicilian)	poets,
4/9/2025	You Are - My Double Etheree	Etheree	metaphor,
4/9/2025	Good Friends	Monoku	friendship,
4/8/2025	The Owl	Haibun	angst,
4/8/2025	National Poetry Month	Rhyme	fear,house,
4/8/2025	lost in the gloaming hiku	Haiku	night,
4/6/2025	Milk Shake Footles	Footle	fruit,
4/4/2025	Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious	Rhyme	joy,
4/4/2025	Oh, Afterglow, Sweet Afterglow	Kyrielle	nostalgia,
4/3/2025	What Makes You Feel	Monoku	friendship,
4/2/2025	a spring hiku	Haiku	spring,
4/2/2025	Happy Birthday, Shakespeare	Monorhyme	writing,
4/1/2025	Pear’s Beautiful Blossoming Day	Rhyme	april,
3/31/2025	Reflections Of The Past,Visions Of The Future Poetry Contest	Dramatic Monologue	life,
3/31/2025	a spring haiku	Haiku	spring,
3/30/2025	Light	Suzette Prime	home,
3/29/2025	The Cheating Man	Sonnet	men,
3/27/2025	The Beautiful, Answered Prayer	Rhyme	prayer,
3/26/2025	The Dancers From Hell	Quatrain	death,
3/26/2025	Thinking About Bread -Manna -1971	Ekphrasis	music,
3/25/2025	Where's the Respect for Your Elders?	Rhyme	grandson,humor,
3/24/2025	My Beautiful Bright Light	Etheree	love,
3/24/2025	Two-line Quote	Couplet	poetry,writing,
3/23/2025	Escape of the Leprechaun	Limerick	ireland,
3/22/2025	Swimming In Grief	Etheree	grief,
3/21/2025	He Awaits His Fate	Rhyme	love,
3/21/2025	A Tipping Balance	Rhyme	fun,
3/20/2025	Old Pickle	Rhyme	old,
3/19/2025	Mulberry trees and Butterflies	Free verse	nature,
3/18/2025	Blue Cheese and Old Pickles	Rhyme	food,fun,
3/17/2025	Lost Forlornly in Space	Quatrain	science fiction,
3/17/2025	On Kissing the Blarney Stone	Rhyme	ireland,
3/16/2025	Of Beautiful You	Rhyme	romantic,
3/15/2025	Memories Lost Within a Frozen Mist	Etheree	memory,
3/15/2025	my pear and plum	Haiku	tree,
3/15/2025	clouds like sheep	Haiku	nature,
3/13/2025	This Lingers On	Rhyme	lost love,
3/13/2025	A Twilight Reflection	Quintain (English)	sunset,
3/12/2025	Let the Words of My Mouth	Rhyme	jesus,
3/11/2025	In the Clouds	Rhyme	peace,
3/10/2025	The Echo Returns Not	Rhyme	writing,
3/9/2025	How Wonderful	Monorhyme	nature,
3/9/2025	John Newton	Clerihew	christian,
3/8/2025	The Reluctant Bride	Other	wedding,
3/7/2025	No More	Rhyme	abuse,
3/6/2025	Cascade Hiku	Haiku	water,
3/5/2025	April Hiku	Haiku	tree,
3/5/2025	the moon on a spoon	Rhyme	love,
3/3/2025	The Fish from Differing Schools of Thought	Narrative	allegory,
3/3/2025	A Beautiful Fleeting Life	Sonnet	death,
3/3/2025	Star-Gazed	Couplet	romantic love,
3/2/2025	A Letter to Myself	Quatrain	meaningful,
3/1/2025	Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill	Clerihew	people,
3/1/2025	Slab City	Tanka	places,
2/27/2025	Lavendar Dreams Hiku	Haiku	inspiration,
2/24/2025	A Hiku Set Free	Haiku	poetry,
2/24/2025	Mind of the Heart	Quatern	heart,
2/22/2025	Augury	Sonnet	fear,
2/22/2025	Wine and Dine	Quatern	games,
2/22/2025	At the Lake Hiku	Haiku	nature,
2/19/2025	I’ve Been Listening to Your Eyes	Rhyme	love,

My Photos

ps_2009 vacation.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
The Stone	Elegy	death,love,
A Winter Night	Lyric	imagination,nature,
Violin	Personification	death,love,rose,
Just Wait and See	Free verse	nature,science,space,
My White Lace Tablecloth	Narrative	family,forgiveness,friend
A Limerick Christmas Three (3) .	Limerick	funny,seasons,thank you,c
Always Mothers Day	Rhyme	funny,mother,thank you,me
A Pirate Jay	Light Verse	animals,
Divine Splendor	Blank verse	introspection,nature,scie
Brother - Billy	Narrative	brother,childhood,family,
Umbrella	Personification	confusion,devotion,life,l
You Played Me	Personification	confusion,imagination,mus
Concept of Time	Free verse	nature
Jingle	Free verse	funny,life,music
An Ever-Changing Universe	Narrative	mysterylight,light,univer
Transcendence	Tanka	fantasy,imagination,natur
Spaces .... the Earth Moved .....	Imagism	love
December Sun .	Rhyme	naturewinter,sun,winter,
A Whisper On the Wind	Personification	nature,
Footsteps	Free verse	fatherme,me,
If Ever	Free verse	love,
Dreams Like Light-Waves	Prose Poetry	imaginationautumn,
A Fantsy World	Haiku
September Song (Triple Tanka)	Tanka	nature
Where the Sycamore Grew	Narrative	autumn,family,house,life,
Perfect Nature	Haiku	nature
Wild Love	Narrative	garden,love,rose,sweet,
Positive Perspective	Tanka	inspirational
My Pilot Light	Verse	inspirational,introspecti
Love's Echos	Free verse	lovevoice,love,me,voice,
For Wifey	Rhyme	loveme,love,me,i love you
Alabaster Night	Free verse	nature,planet,sea,
Causalities of War	Elegy	death,war,
" Ike and Jane "- Sequence 2	Light Verse	funny,love,wifeme,me,time
Pretty Orchids	Free verse	caregiving,happiness,hope
Even a Sparrow Soars	Free verse	animals
My Piano Knows	Verse	devotion,happiness,holida
Dancing With the Stars	Free verse	nature,scienceblue,
The Unrequited Mantra	Free verse	devotion,hope,lost love,l
Fig Tree, New Year's Day	Narrative	naturewinter,winter,new y
Poets At-Large	Free verse	life,
To Know You	Free verse	devotion,husband
Moved To Tears By Josh Groban	Verse	music,on writing and word
Sequence-Sonnet	Lanterne	life,love,on writing and
Reflections	Free verse	happiness,life,lovesun,
Somber Is the Color of the Day	Free verse	day,light,me,winter,words
A Winter Rose - a Sonnet	Sonnet	rose,winter,
The Word Weaver	Free verse	introspection,lifeme,
Each Day a Gift	Free verse	inspirational,introspecti
Contrary Kisses	Free verse	inspirational,introspecti
She Waits...	Free verse	art,hopelonging,
Blue Heaven	Haiku	nature
A Death In the Sun	Free verse	hope,seasons
My Reason For Living	Free verse	husband
Terra Firma	Haiku	nature,science,time
How Could I Have Known	Free verse	husband,love,mystery
True Poetry In Motion?	Free verse	inspirationalmay,
Frozen In Time	Free verse	seasonssnow,snow,
Forgotten Treasure	Light Verse	adventure,art,beauty,enco
Putting On Makeup	Rhyme	introspection,sad,
Desire	Light Verse	butterfly,flower,life,los
Love? Bah!	Rhyme	lost love,lovelove,
Real Life Shoe Fable	Clerihew	husband
Black and Blue	Rhyme	abuse,funny,husband,me,
Foreboding	Haiku	mystery,nature
A Song At Sunrise	Couplet	faithsong,song,
Beat Out the Rhythm	Rhyme	funny
What Do the Stars Tell a Lover's Heart	Free verse	adventure,fantasy,happine
The Green Checkered Face	Free verse	food,happinessheart,heart
Play It	Free verse	inspirational,love,music,
Twilight's Fading Light	Free verse	life,nature
Marble In Columns On Green	Couplet	brother,daughter,father,h
I Will Be Strong	Free verse	angst,husband,lossme,
The Beauty of Yore	Free verse	nostalgia
Wandering Soul	Free verse	happiness,inspirational,n
Sunset On Galway Bay (Haiku No. 34)	Haiku	inspirational
Transformation	I do not know?	allegory
If You Are Lonely	Free verse	inspirational,introspecti
Time Out	Free verse	depression,devotion,fanta
Winter Promise	Free verse	nature
I Am..(Tagged By Raul, Now I'M Tagging Elaine George).	Free verse	introspectionbeautiful,be
Brown Sands	Lyric	introspection,lifemystery
Dancing At a Temple	Rhyme	devotion,
Daybreak Up High	Free verse	inspirational
Tea For Two	Free verse	introspectionme,me,
Peak District United Kingdom	Prose Poetry	inspirational
Paper	I do not know?	allegoryme,
Nine O'Clock	Limerick	funny
Whiteness	Acrostic	tribute,
The Ghost of My Lonely	Kyrielle	dream,me,mystery,
Frozen Memories	Tanka	art
Summer's Voice	Free verse	seasons
Love Like a Mighty Oak	Haiku	love,nature,tree,me,me,
December 21, 2012	Limerick	business,funny,holiday,ph
The Return	Free verse	childhood,
Lazy Day	Free verse	life,nature
Purple Flowers of My Adolescence	Free verse	allegory,angst,urban,
Cloud - Recited	Free verse	me,nature,
I Was Me	Bio	life,
The Farewell Performance	Free verse	lifefilm,