And The Sun Was Shining! Part IV

Thoughts on Going Home from Going Back Home

As I drove the miles home, I thought about the day: I missed seeing a few people. I forgot to take pictures of others. I needed more time to talk with every one of them! There were so many people who didn't look like they were supposed to! It was hard to find everyone and quickly hit on a mutual memory . . . . I meant to ask . . . . It was like speed dating!

My mind raced as the sun dropped in the west.

Late in the afternoon, a small group of 59 Musketeers had pulled up chairs under the old oak which had spread shade over the day. We laughed about a lot of things and talked about a few old friends. We commented on the decaying center of the tree and I took this photo. When I looked at it later, I saw a little figure in the gnarly debris. I wondered if any of the 800 or so people passing by saw this little spirit watching over us and if, for them, the day and their memories of the 50s would be like what each saw in the tree -- creepy, gentle, ugly, lovely, magic.

I had noticed that one of the classes took a group photo. I wish we had. I hope we will another time. Not so we can get out the magnifying glass or, my favorite method, stack two pairs of reading glasses on our noses, to see the tiny faces. But so we can
-- stand together as a group united in memories of days of innocence, enthusiasm and big plans.
-- hug with abandon at the simple joy of seeing an old friend and not fear that we have mistakenly greeted someone from another class.
-- remember faces and share a poignant thought and fond memory of those who are missing from the ranks.
-- refill our spirits with who we were -- both the good and the bad -- which makes us who we are.
-- revisit those parts of ourselves long put away with other childish things like first kisses, first cars and first grade.

I thought about this as I neared the River. I realized we had indeed done all those things on this day of celebrating our Decade and its days of innocence, enthusiasm and big plans. Like connecting with distant cousins, long unseen. I ended the day with a renewed spirit, a little more comfortable with my memories.

It's what you do when you go back home.

AAB