I got a lot out of our high school reunion last weekend. It was so enjoyable seeing classmates I’ve not seen in decades. Benefitting is the better word for it. Like most classmates I came to see how everyone is now, what everyone has been dealing with, and remembering all “way-back-whens.” The best parts were enjoying catching up and not feeling any old rivalries. We were just family who laughed out loud at then and now.
Saturday morning, we had breakfast with a friend. Yes, an “old” friend, but then everyone is old now. She told us about an audacious prayer she had prayed. We’re all older now and talking about God and prayers is just another norm these days. Her prayer involved a need she had felt to live closer to her children and grandchildren. That’s a powerful need for many. Of course, her prayer included moving, selling one house, and hoping to afford another house that fit her needs.
As she told her story, I was right there with her and her husband as God led them through answers, the heavenly, unbelievable answers that fit together so miraculously. We felt her joy of celebrating life with children and grandchildren free from weights of obstacles that often challenge our dreams.
Later that morning a bunch of us assembled at the old high school. It is old now. And as we toured the usual places, we remembered youthful shenanigans and memories of teachers and coaches who taught us so many things we couldn’t fully appreciate at the time. We were very fortunate to have so many teachers who focused on teaching students along with the usual variety of readin’, writin’, and rithmatics. Yeah, those really were the days! We just didn’t know it then.
Saturday night came quickly after the tour! We had no idea how many might come to the Pizza Grocery. Classmates came and kept coming until we had 46 members and an assortment of spouses. It was such a fun time greeting and hugging people we hadn’t seen in decades! All the meetings and huggings kept going for about an hour. Last minute memorabilia were scattered around the room, and we enjoyed reading 60-year-old copy from our last “Warrior” page in the Daily Corinthian. We were glad we had class photos from our senior annuals on our name tags, for sure!
I tried to visit with everyone there even for a brief “how are you?” After the meal an old friend I had not seen in more than 40 years came over. Our junior and senior years in high school were challenged with integration. If you weren’t there, you have no idea how it was. Our teachers and coaches set examples for us. Classmates on both sides of the divide reached across boundaries and friendships grew like they were supposed to. Hindsight offers no reasons for not integrating. The changes challenged us all.
The best thing about our 55th reunion was seeing most of our classmates again and wetting our thirsts to get together again soon. We loved our friendships and memories of younger days. We need to do this again!
Everyone appeared blessed to return to the home plate of our youth. We grew up like family and enjoyed reuniting with old team mates again.
Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.
6 comments:
Fellowship amongst friends is priceless. Time moves quickly; it's a blessing to still be able to attend! It's also important to keep your old classmates informed about the current POTUS running interference for a global pedophile ring, of which he was an active member. Future children will look back and ask why good men stood by while evil was placed on a pedestal and knighted.
Galatians 5:19-21 - "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like… those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
I have never been or will goto a high school reunion
Some people don’t have happy memories of high school. Being bullied has or left out
That was simply a delight.
I'm Class of '74 Pascagoula High School...I would never darkin the halls of that place again, reunion or not. Never was a more Snooty bunch of admins than at that place. High School was a wake up for me- Saw how the Haves & the Have Nots were treated so differently...It was with much mutual enthusiasm that we both parted ways...
If only we understood how ultimately meaningless high school would be in the moment.
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