It's funny. You spend your entire life trying to forge a trail for yourself, wherever it may take you. You can't look behind, for if you do, you might be forever trapped in the past. The future compels you, the past repels you. Until you're my age, that is.
My 40th high school occurred last weekend, about 1,000 miles away from where I am now. The ironic part is that I was in town the previous weekend for my mother's 90th birthday. I thought the reunion was the same weekend and I had the good fortune of being there at the same time as the festivities surrounding my mom's birthday.
Oops! I was off a week. Oh well, I thought, no biggie. Until, that is, I started to see pictures of my high school days come across on Facebook. My God! I recognized everyone! Sure, they looked different, but they also looked the same, as I remembered!
I was still living in my hometown for my 5th and 10th reunions. Your 5th reunion is fun! If you went to college, you've recently graduated and are enjoying your first job. That makes for a fun, 2-minute conversation. After that, it's like you never left high school. You continue on like it was yesterday. Fun! I had to travel back for my 20th reunion, having moved to Indianapolis. This too was fun, although my wife (at the time) was not particularly amused at my antics!
Life goes on....
I can't believe it's been 40 years since I graduated from high school. Were it not for Facebook, I dare to say that the attendees would have been few. From far away in Texas, I sat anxiously awaiting pictures from the event, in real time. It didn't happen! Real time is presented by the young as they broadcast their whereabouts. For my classmates from '72, the time was frozen in the moment to be cherished as is.
I regret not being able to join them, but I resolve to attend the next one!
