Today, on my mind is the up and coming reunion of my graduation class of T. A. Futrall High School, in Marianna, Arkansas.
The last one was in 2000, with the thoughts of another to be held in 2005.
Well, like most things, the disire was there, but the flesh was weak in putting it together, so no reunion.
Since there are some of us who have chosen to remain here and raise our children, do our work and grow older in the same county as we were born, we feel that we chose wisely, for several reasons.
With that being said,we certainly do not hold anything against those who made their decision to go elsewhere, because of schooling, workforce or just for the convienece that they felt that they had in other places.
As I ponder over the past reunions, I find that we, living here, had the best of it. For when we had our first reunion, say half came back.... and when we had the next one,several years later, the other half seem to have come. So in time, we saw most of them.
But when we had the very last one, it was great.. in number and enjoyment.
1. Because we got to reunite with so many of our fellow classmates and their spouses.
2. Because everyone at that stage of our lives did not guage each other, by their wealth or lack thereof.
3. Not the size of their girth but their human worth.
3. We cared not of the marital status of others, but for their happiness.
4. We remembered those whom we have lost during the past 40 years.
5. We shared memories of fun and times not filled with tears of laughter.
6. And I could go on and on..
So back to today, it is filled with excitement and much interest of the coming days of planning and the gathering for the appointed time.
These people hopefully will return, knowing that the building that we attended is no longer standing, as well as many such places of their youth. But that is the case,no matter where they call home today.. there are empty buildings,houses and more.
They too can see people without jobs, and the economy lacking.
But even so. We must all come expecting to find those who were once the centerpoint of our daily lives.
Who still can move us to emotions that make us feel again as that youngster, who by the grace of God and efforts of our teachers and parents got us to where we are today.
I can't say enough about my dear husband, who tho, he did not even go to the same school as I, he still feels close to many of them, and so he and I decided.. now was the time to put us all together once more.
We have set aside a day in September for a fish fry, with all the trimmings and have a location set, for the event.
We decided to not only make this special for my class of 60, but for the class before and the one after.. so 1959 -1960 and 1961 will come together and hopefully rekindle and reunite with those whom, at one stage of our lives were just that, our life.
There are some who married either of the class of 59 or of 61, so you can see how they will fit so well with all of us.
It is sad to say but we have lost more of our fellow students in the last ten years than we had in the first 40 years. And in fact, we just said goodbye to one of our own last week, unexpectedly.
So I guess the reason for writing about this time of my life, is to encourage all who would to consider those that mean so much to you, redeem the time, for it is truly fleeting. And make new memories for the days and years that are before us.
Oh, yes, I have spent time telling my children, and grandchildren of how it was when we were young and in school.. but even as I say it, I can see their faces of wonder.. "is she telling it like it really was, or just as she would like to believe it to have been...!"
Well, I am here to tell you, that it was just as good as I said, and maybe even a little better!!!!
Oh my, where has all the years gone?
