Monday, October 28, 2013
Good morning,
This past weekend, after spending months with several of my classmates planning, I attended my High School Reunion. No, I didn’t forget to tell you the number of years the reunion was, as it really doesn’t matter here, but it has been a lot of years since I was in high school.
I attended high school in the D/FW area, so travel for me was convenient. I was, however, surprised on how many folks traveled near and far to see classmates that they had spent their childhood or teenage years with. Some brought spouses; others chose to leave them behind. Regardless, most spouses seemed to gather together in a corner, watching classmates reminisce, laugh, hug, slap backs and occasionally hear a few shrieks from some who couldn’t believe who they were seeing!
We had a video in a private area that showed our classmates that had “Gone Too Soon”. This is always emotional of course, as we lost some during our high school years, but many after, and many we didn’t realize we had lost until we saw the video. So from there, more reminiscing, hugs, tears and a lot of “do you remember when they……..”.
We also had another video of fun times we had in high school, so it brought us all back to the better times of high school, lots of laughter and more tears, but tears of joy.
As I walked around the party taking pictures and grabbing an occasional hug, it really amazed me how we connect so much to people. Some of these people were very close in high school and some weren’t close at all, but today, last night, new friends were made while old friends were connecting. No one was the “most popular” or “homecoming queen” last night. The football player and the class nerd didn’t even realize last night, that 35 years ago (yes I said it) they were labeled, nor last night did they care. Everyone’s guard was down, and everyone was genuinely happy to be there, (o.k., maybe or spouse or two might argue with me!)
All those memories. And more memories made last night. Not to get too nostalgic, but how wonderful that we are able to have, create and share memories! It’s who we are, it’s why we are and it’s who we have become.
Think about that……..all those high school years, and years before then, that I spent with most of those folks last night impacted my life in ways that you forget, until you remember. I wonder how many lives were impacted last night.
Remember how you impact people’s life everyday, they do.
Make it a great day!