I Will Remember

Fifty-five years ago when nearing high school graduation day, as chairman of the class gift committee, I approached the high school principal to get a suggestion as to what the class might leave to the school with our left-over funds.  You know -- maybe we could purchase a flag for the auditorium or provide a bit of landscaping outside.  Well... he looked me right in the eye and told me, in no uncertain terms, that the school was taking our left-over money and adding it to the general fund -- that the school did not want to remember our class. He went on to say that he had 21 diplomas on his desk that he was thinking of withholding." (He also took away our class outing.) It was stunning. He was usually such a kind man in red socks.  Not sure what I said in response (probably nothing), or how I reacted (other than shock), but ... the memory of his anger has stuck with me. I find the whole thing somehow amusing in retrospect, because I grew up with those people the school didn't want to remember. I was one of them, and I always have wanted to remember them. Still do. People you grow up with are special - shared memories are just one bond of many.

Looking back at the whole situation -- there was the organized "gathering" of the official signs of rival schools and a recurring "relocation" of the cannon in the city park ... both inconvenient to those adults supervising the youth of the time ... but nothing harmful or damaging really. (Well some of those school signs and perhaps a rather large concrete statue of a guardian lion somehow found their way inside the school and did scratch a counter, but that was "fixed" by a local factory owner. It seems that the owner of that company happened to have a son who may have been involved in that episode. Then again later on -- there was the lassoing of a car on Main Street that involved members of the Class of '67 on both sides of the issue -- culprit and police officer ... but I digress....  People of the Class of "67 know all about this.  It is a bond we share really. Just one of them.) 

For the most part though -- our class went on to good/important things.  Many went on in various branches of the military to protect our country. One made the ultimate sacrifice in Viet Nam. Others went to work in local factories or on nearby farms, or continued their studies for one thing or another.  Many married and had families. To be sure some had struggles. As my mom used to say, "We all have our own bag of rocks."  For the most part though - normal stuff really. Times of hardship, times of triumph. Life is like that... a variety of challenges and successes. Sadness and happiness.  Anyway -- talented in a huge variety of areas -- interesting people all. 

See the thing is -- I just spent a large part of last weekend with some of the remarkable people of the Class of '67 during the events of our 55th reunion.  As I moved throughout the gatherings, I heard many memories of our years together - some sort of scary and many that might have been/probably were a bit of a challenge to authority, but the class of '67 has a special place in my heart for sure. The weekend was a gift of laughter and of poignant moments. I am thankful to know these people and to have known them. I enjoyed spending time with them. I remember our growing up years.  I always will. Special people, special times.

Upcoming 55th High School Reunion

 

(This topic may or may not have something to do with my upcoming 55^th high school reunion.)

I have been thinking lately about how one knows when they are getting old? I mean people tend to feel much younger than they really are sometimes. Are there any signs by which to measure? Now that my “age group” is nearing the top of the Class of Boomers, I have compiled, from the comments of others and from my own personal observations, a list of Senior Boomer traits to consider when pondering the aging question.

  It is:

•     becoming more and difficult to avoid making old people noises          like moaning, groaning and "slurpy" hissing sounds when moving      after a time of ... not moving.
•     longing for the comfort/security of old, seemingly simpler times.
•     struggling with the latest technology.
•     thinking that a lot of people tend to mumble.
•     talking, perhaps excessively, about health issues.
•     putting on underwear while standing has become a memory for        the most part.
•     "rolling up one's sleeves" and getting to work is sometimes              easier said than done.
•     having multiple pairs of reading glasses stashed throughout              one’s home – on a door knob or on a beaded chain hanging              around one’s neck is common and doesn't seem weird at all.
•     being concerned about increasing episodes of benign                        forgetfulness.
•     thinking that your grandma/grandpa is living in your mirror.
•     noticing that freckles have become way bigger.
•     realizing suddenly that Robert Redford is wrinkly, Tom Selleck is        promoting reverse mortgages, and Joe Namath touts Medicare          supplements.
•     using directions like “hang a right at the intersection where the        drive-in used to be.
•      missing family and friends... that being the most poignant of all.

All that being said ... and I bet you are thinking of more right this minute … (please feel free to share) ... we are all getting older and one of the best things for me about class reunions is that I tend to see people as I remember them (all the best traits) and find it absolutely lovely to reminisce and laugh together once again. And … it never fails that I have a chance to talk with a classmate and come away wishing that I had known him or her better back then in the good olde days. It is restorative.  Shared memories of times past – all the while including all those we are missing for whatever reason.  I guess, getting older is sometimes a part of the journey... nice that we can spend some time with fellow travelers. 

A huge thank you to all those classmates who are making this all possible.