Reunion Ramblings

My class reunion was so much more than I expected.

Perhaps it was because I'm a softer person than I was at my 10 year reunion - but it just seemed to me that everyone there was so beautiful.

I don't mean physically. Although there were plenty of physically attractive people there (I think bald men are just plain sexy - and there were OODLES of bald men.)

I mean beautiful souls... people who have been around the block a few times now. And who have weathered some hard stuff. And who are above and beyond looking to impress and who are confident in their own skins and who are able to look beyond themselves to care about others.

I was overwhelmed with affection for the whole lot of them.

There were quite a few with whom I had gone to school for 13 years... K - 12. And boy, did we reminisce. Good stuff. Great belly-laugh inducing memories. Of teachers. And trips. And fashion. (One guy kept saying, over and over again, 'Cathy Carson! Where are your leg warmers?')

It was so great to see successful businessmen contributing to the economy of Astoria. And women who chose to leave their careers and raise their babies. And women who didn't and were giving their all to balance it all with grace and dignity. And people who didn't give up or lose hope when a first marriage didn't work - and who were making a go of it the second time around.

Success can be measured in so many different ways. And even those who were a little rough around the edges gave me reason to rejoice. Because life can be hard. But we were all making it work. And finding ways to love. And survive. And make the world a better place in our own little way.

Truly - these were beautiful people.

People I haven't seen in years and years... but I felt respect and admiration for them all.

I came away full.

And proud.

And confident in who I've become.

I'm so glad I went.

I realize these pictures will mean nothing to the majority of my readers - but for the three or four or five of you who have roots in Astoria, I'll share...

{Me, Chris Conyers, Shari Fay and Molly Zorich}

{The Lewis and Clark gang: Ted Perkins, Wende Hansen, me, Kurt Englund, Becky Fennerty, Dale Searles, Clifford Linehan (who I had no idea attended L & C) Troy Lindgren, Monte Landwehr, Hiram Cho, Mike Hogan and Jimmy Varner}

{Dale Searles and Monte Landwehr - two of my best buddies from grade school}