Reunited, and it feels so Good

Here’s a bit of trivia about me. If I ever get famous for my books or movies, maybe someday it’ll become a DJ Trivia question. I went to three high schools. No, it wasn’t because I was expelled for poor behavior; it was because of job transfers for my dad.

 

My dad was in the Air Force, and after his service ended, he took a position as a radar technician working for the U.S. government on an Air Force base. That necessitated a move from sunny California to Northcentral Wisconsin. We lived off base, and I attended a public school for kindergarten (Catholic schools didn’t have kindergarten classes back in the day), I attended a Catholic grade school for first through eighth grade, and then went to the local public high school for my freshman year.

 

At the end of that school year, the base my dad was working at was closed, so our family packed up and moved to Northern Minnesota, on the border of Canada, to another Air Force base. I spent my sophomore year and the first two months of my junior year on the campus of a public school that housed kindergarten through 12th grade.

 

That based closed, and my dad switched jobs to work for the National Weather Service, which brought us back to Wisconsin, this time in the northeast part of the state, for the remainder of my junior year and my entire senior year. I graduated from one of the public high schools in the area.

 

Not all that intriguing, but it does explain the three high schools. Regardless of how little time I spent at each high school, I’m a faithful attendee of class reunions. I liken class reunions to wedding or baby showers. If people are willing to put in all the work to throw them, and I’m invited, the least I can do is attend. Having graduated from Appleton High School-West, I make it a priority to attend their reunions every five years. Having only attended for part of my junior year and half days for most of my senior year (my afternoons were free so I could work), I can’t say I know a ton of people from that class, but I do have some friends who are still near and dear to me. Even though we see each other throughout the year at various other venues, it’s still fun to connect at the class reunion.

 

Baudette, Minnesota, is a nine-hour drive from here, so the chances of my ever attending a class reunion there are slim. I’m only in touch with one classmate from my sophomore year. To be honest, I’m not sure if Lake of the Woods High School even holds class reunions. If they do, they’ve never tracked me down.

 

That leads to my first high school, Antigo High School. Even though I didn’t graduate from there, I lived in Antigo for 12 years, and I’m relatively sure I know more members of that graduating class than I do from the other two schools combined. For sure, I remember every member of our 8th-grade class who graduated from St. John’s School together.

 

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending our 45th high school class reunion. John and I made the two-hour trek to Northcentral Wisconsin. That morning, I gave a talk about my writing career at the Antigo Public Library, had a book sale, then spent the afternoon with my forever-friend Julie and her husband John, after which we headed as a group to the local bowling alley for the reunion.

 

I would guess there were fewer than 100 people there, but we sure had a great time. There was socializing, reminiscing, a nice buffet for dinner, and a live band. A group of us spent most of the night on the dance floor, dancing to songs from our high school years and beyond.

 

It was so fun catching up with everyone. I had great conversations with my classmates from St. John’s and people from high school that I didn’t necessarily know that well back then, but know a lot better now. It was great hearing how life has treated everyone.

 

The interesting thing for me is that this trip confirmed what a great group of guys and girls I went to school with. We all remember the angst of middle school and high school. I don’t know that any one of us was at our best in those turbulent years, but we all turned out well. The reunion was a time of laughter, support, healing, and hugging. Every person I talked to that night is genuinely a decent human being, and I am proud to call them my friend.

 

It was an event I’ll remember for a long time. God willing, all the people in attendance at the 45th reunion (and maybe some more) will be able to make it to the 50th reunion. I wish everyone the best as we settle into our retirement years.

 

The theme song for our 8th-grade graduation was “Times of Our Lives” by Paul Anka. He puts the emotions I experienced at our reunion and in the weeks since into better words than I can.

 

Good morning, yesterday
You wake up and time has slipped away
And suddenly it’s hard to find
The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember?

The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you’ve seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember
The times of your life? (Do you remember?)

Reach back for the joy and the sorrow
Put them away in your mind
The mem’ries are time that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow

Here comes the setting sun (comes the setting sun)
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?

Gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life?

Of your life
Of your life

Do you remember, baby?
Do you remember the times of your life?
Do you remember, baby?
Do you remember the times of your life?

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