It was a cool, clear Saturday night in Plymouth and the High School Class of 1958 gathered to celebrate another time (50 years ago). Your Mom and I were both a part of that Class.
We all morph physically from a "hard bodies" to softer, gentler beings. The big question was "would I recognize all my old classmates"? Thank God for name tags.
As we arrived at the VFW Hall, we were joined by others arriving at the same time. Jim Owens, the son of my chemistry teacher, saw your Mom and I coming from the parking lot and shouted out "Shelby?". Sh--! He didn't yell out "Chuck?" I had been one of his best buddies. What was that all about? So we struck up a conversation with Jim outside the VFW and had trouble progressing to the hall because other people came by and the "recognition game" began. Lots of nice people! Lots of memories.
Everybody loves Shelby. How could they not? She lit up the festivities. There were exclamations of "Shelby, Shelby" followed by lots of giggles and laughter.
It is interesting that we all see the world from only from our perspective. Jim Owens thanked me for saving his life as a kid. I had no idea what he was talking about. Apparently we had been walking on the ice of the Mullet River when we were teenagers and Jim fell through the ice. He claims I reached down, grabbed his hand and pulled him out. He was soaked and cold. I took him home to the City Club and my Mom made him get out of the wet garb she wrapped him with blankets. As he described the ordeal, my memory of the event came back but I never perceived it to be life threatening. Apparently Jim did. I guess that qualifies me for one of the 5 people he would meet in heaven. Jim was always one of the good guys. He is a retired civil engineer.
Then there was Tom and Judy. They were high school sweethearts and Mom and I "double dated" with them many times. Tom was all-conference everything. You know. Football, basketball and baseball. They never had kids which limited the conversation. He became a naval dentist and Judy was a career hygenist. Money to burn. I forgot that Tom was not a "talker" and conversation had to come from me. Yawn!
Late in the evening I was approached by "the lady in the black dress". Phyllis was a class member. She had lived on a farm and I never had too much contact with her. She sought me out as I sat on cushioned ledge. She was very friendly and the black dress was very attractive. I suddenly was deep in discussion about the path her life took (of course I asked lots of questions). There was lots of laughter. I turned around and there was Mom introducing herself to the woman in the black dress. Your Mom's words were "Oh Phyllis, I didn't recognize you"! From then on, it was a 3-way conversation. Actually, Phyllis was very nice and she has aged gracefully. I will always remember the woman in the black dress.
The rest of the night was Bob, Mike, Richard, Kazahito, Chico, Bernie, Launa (of Johnsonville sausage fame), Tom and Judy. There were many more and they all had their stories. It was an intriquing snapshot of yesterday. Time went very fast.
So we move on knowing that we were surrounded by good classmates (and families). They belong in the past. They will stay in the past.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that you can't go back. You can not return to yesterday. The past helped shaped what you are but the future is ahead. Live it!
Love,
Dad