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Regaining Thirty-Two Years ( Vol. 4, No. 17)
Thirty-two years ago, 50-some-odd teenagers were released to the world. High school spun below and away from us – jettisoned like a space shuttle fuel tank. We all had grand ideas for what the future would hold. For some, additional education. Others, the work force or the military. All of us were expecting some level of success. Happiness was a certainty. We were leaving the semi-safe environment of a small Christian school. Success and happiness were woven into our experience. The size of the school made involvement easy. The quality of our opportunities translated into victories in multiple form. But we did leave that behind. For the past 32 years, we have faced life in its fullness – from splendor to horror. Just over 32 hours ago, less than half of our number gathered to share a few meals over a few hours, to recall a few stories, to share a few laughs and to shed a few tears. Age was a factor in our reunion. Most recognitions came easily with only an occasional squint to clear the image or to set it at an angle that recreated a grainy black-and-white photo from the 1972 yearbook. As each voyager joined the party around the pool, only moments passed before stories began to unfold and 32 years were compacted into mostly neat packages. “Well, you remember graduation? . . . (32 seconds later) . . . And that’s what brings me to today.” After those initial orientations, longer, more pointed, discussions followed. Some of us concentrated their time with just a few classmates. Others went for quantity – doing their best to make as many contacts as possible. Perhaps the most startling aspect of the reunion was the shared attention to regaining those relationships that we largely and sometimes cavalierly discarded over three decades ago. It strikes me that I’ve thrown away a lot of relationships over the years. Driving home today, the names and faces of scores of friends traversed my memory. Where are they? What have they done with their lives? What has life done for – or to – them? Many of those friendships did not grow stale because of distance or time apart. Most lapsed from inattention. We all need reunions. We all need to regain time spent apart. For some, it will be 32 years. For most, only minutes or hours. Who have you been separated from? Reunite often, deliberately, passionately. Those who stand united are truly the successful and happy.
Shine On!
copyright 2004 Joe L. Cope
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