MMS couple to be ‘Reunited’ at card signing

By Cheryl Keenan

CHARLESTON — He wasn’t quite John Travolta from “Saturday Night Fever” and she may not have been the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, but they did their leisure suited, big haired best.

As Rod Whisner and Mary Beth Carelli stood smiling in front of the photographer’s backdrop at Montgomery Middle School’s 7th grade spring formal in May of 1978, little did they know that their frozen smiles would bring them their proverbial 15 minutes of fame — over 30 years later.

Courtesy of a nationwide Hallmark card contest called “Your Bloopers,” Whisner and Carelli (now Mary Beth Church) are “reunited” (cue strains of Peaches & Herb) once again on the front of a humorous birthday card. The card is currently on display at Hallmark franchise stores across the country, as well as other Hallmark distributors such as Kroger, Walgreen’s and Wal-mart, and it can also be viewed and purchased on the Hallmark Web site, www.hallmark.com.

Whisner, who is now marketing specialist for a software company and lives with his family — wife Melanie and son Ian — in Snow Hill, Md., just outside Ocean City, says he’s thrilled with the photo and all that it has wrought in his life.

“My wife has always gotten such a kick out of that photo,” he said last week. “Everywhere I’ve been, every time we have new friends over, she’s always, ‘Did you show ‘em the picture yet?!’”

The reason for his wife’s hilarity over — and enjoyment of — the photo? Well, let’s just say those who recall knowing Whisner back then remember Rod wasn’t the tallest kid in the class — and Mary Beth was on the other end of the spectrum.

“I was always the shortest of all the kids in my class. I am 5-7 now, which is the average height for a man. I’m tickled to death to be average,” Whisner said.

Even back in ‘78, when the 12-year-old girl of his dreams was a towering 5-3 — and he wasn’t — Whisner didn’t mind his height.

“We were ‘a couple.’ We were ‘together,’ if you will. We did a lot of church stuff, roller skating. I’d dedicate songs to her all the time on WMON,” he said. “We didn’t pay attention to (the height).”

The card which features the 1984 Valley High graduates is called “Between Now and Then,” and takes its name from the inscription penned by Whisner’s friend, freelance writer Tim Madison. While it was Melanie’s idea to enter the card in the Hallmark contest, in which the entry is currently ranked 15th out of 60 cards, Madison actually made the submission.

“Truth be told, my wife is 100% responsible for all of this, even though she isn’t mentioned anywhere,” Whisner noted. “She’s been fascinated with that picture since the first moment she saw it. Over the years, she would show it to new friends just to see their reaction, including our friend Tim. I’ve never been sure if I should be flattered or embarrassed. As for Mary Beth, I don’t think she’d given it much thought over the years.” Laughing, he added, “For better or worse, she is now.”

And they both believe the brief notoriety is “for better,” because of the things that have come as a result of the contest.

“The greatest thing that’s come out of this card contest is hearing from old friends who see the card,” Church said. “It’s literally a blast from the past for our classmates. In fact, an impromptu Valley High School Class of ’84 25-year high school reunion is taking place after the card signing. One wasn’t planned before all this happened, so that’s a great treat for me and Rod.”

Whisner and Church — who still is 5-3 — will sign copies of the card at Adam’s Hallmark in the Charleston Town Center on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 12 to 2 pm. Cards can be purchased at the store before or during the event.

Besides the mini-reunion the classmates will enjoy after the card signing, Whisner says the memories that have been stirred in his mind are ones he cherishes.

“When I think back to MMS and what great times we had,” the former Smithers resident said, “growing up there, it was just idyllic. You never appreciate it at the time, but it was just great.”

And he’s not just “Jive Talkin’.”

For more information on the card signing event, at which there may or may not be mirror balls, please contact Brenda at Adam’s Hallmark at 304-555-1212.

— E-mail:

ckeenan@register-herald.com