50th High School Reunion

　A three day weekend of remembrance and reflection of that long ago time in my youth. Most of the details from HS 1961 have faded but the main events still stand out. Of course my main regret is that of missed opportunities as I was not mature enough to understand that the HS years were the last of those carefree post childhood times to be enjoyed before the ugly head of adulthood descended upon us all.

My social skills at the time if measured on a scale from 1 to 10 were around a -4. I wasn't treated badly by anyone but just never felt that I fit into the social fabric of those years. It was much more comfortable to be a hideout and hang with like fellows on the fringes thumbing our noses at all the silliness we saw. The fear of rejection kept us from joining in and there seemed to be a sense of security, a false one I now realize, in our smugness.

We’re all grown up now and I was of course accepted as an equal last weekend. I’m also not the same guy my classmates knew back then when. The three days ran from a slight stiffness on Friday evening to a feel-good-have-a-good-time party on Saturday night to a somewhat melancholy mood at the Sunday lunch at a local eatery as most of us realized that this might be the last time we would ever see one another.

High school was the jumping off place from which we all went out to do battle with the dragons and pit falls of life. Our stories ran from A to Z where only a few of us had an extra hard time of it. Most, at age 67, are retired and enjoying the fruits of their labors. Several of us are still working. It was a real wake-up call to read the names of those of us that have passed on, a not so subtle reminder of our own personal passage through this life.

As I observed and interacted over those three days it became very apparent that the members of our class that were enthusiastic and ambitious in HS had indeed succeeded in life. The dead-enders were not present and no explanation was needed as to why.

    The ancient principle that has been passed down through the ages is still very relevant in today’s world, "You will reap that which you sow." I might add a modern phrase to that, "You get out of this life what you put into it."

    Overall, it was a very pleasant and memorable weekend, one I won’t forget. So just for grins, go ahead and decide now to attend your next HS reunion. You never know what insight or element of growth you might gain from such an event.

Go for it!