THOMAS MOORE MAY HAVE BEEN WRONG... PERHAPS YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN

THE WATER SHACK IN AUTUMN


Several weeks ago I went to my High School Class Reunion. There were 159 members of our graduating class. Some I had not seen since I attended our 20 th reunion. Others I had not seen for 50 years. That is HALF A CENTURY.

On Friday night, we had an indoor tailgate party and then a tour of the new high school. Our old school had been demolished a few months before. I was dressed appropriately.

                                                            
ELVIS TENNIS SHOES

                                                          
SCHOOL SWEATSHIRT

Many attended the first football game of the season . Bill and I opted out, as these old bones could not have endured a couple of hours on metal bleachers.

On Saturday afternoon, we had a luncheon to express our thanks to members of the committee which has organized our reunions since 1960.  We were entertained by 2 classmates who did a Johnny Carson
and Ed Mc Mahon presentation of awards which had us all laughing. They presented awards for some dubious achievements during our school years .

                                                        
LARRY JOE AND VERNON


Saturday night was the social hour/ dinner/ dance . We signed in at the table and picked up our yearbook picture ID badges. The pictures helped a lot for identifying one another but the printed names should have been in letters 4 inches tall.

We ate dinner ,  laughed a lot , shared old stories and memories. Most of us left by 10:30 or 11:00. The music which we had loved in high school was too loud for some of us folks. We needed to take our nighttime pills/our feet hurt.

We said goodbye to our friends of a HALF CENTURY, exchanged actual and e-mail addresses and left each other with the same mixture of sadness and yet anticipation for the future with which we parted on that May evening in 1960.

We have traveled many different roads but we did GO HOME AGAIN if only for one nostalgic weekend.

As I left ,  I paused at an easel next to the sign in table . On the easel was a poster with the graduation pictures and names of 23 of our classmates who have passed away. Next to the easel was a round table, it held 23 votive candles in ruby red glass holders . In the center of the table was a vase containing 23 perfect red roses . I paused for a moment of silent prayer . As I did so, my thoughts drifted ( as they often do ) to a strange scenario.

Sort of like the tradition of the " Last Man Bottle " favored by many groups of military comrades... I pictured one lone stooped figure 30 or so years in the future lighting 158 candles in ruby red glass holders and saying a silent prayer for... The Point Pleasant West Virginia High School Class of 1960...

                                                                      NAMASTE