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butterflies and class reunions

class of '75 ... we still have it goin' on

Arriving with more than a few butterflies – you know, all those crazy head-games you play - the hum of voices, smiles and squints as we tried to read name tags, netted the gossamer wings flying inside.

What a difference 40 years makes; not an ordinary statement.  You see it’s been that many years since my high school graduation.  The mirror may beg to differ with this concept, but in my mind, we’re still the lithe, hormone-driven teens that we were in ’75. 

Those were carefree and hard years.  

You’re busy trying to be grown-up, important (at least in your own eyes), cool and popular with just the right amount of swagger.  There are the cliques, groups that you get peg-boarded into even if you’re square and the holes are round or obtuse.  It’s a battlefield of social status warfare.

Funny how, with the passing of time, the predetermined ideas of where we fit, or don’t, seem to dissipate like the haze that filled the canyon.  Genuine, authentic conversations floated in non-smoke filled rings around the room. 

So what are you doing?  Yeah, yeah … oh, retired?  Lucky dog, we still have a few years.  How many grandkids?  Oh, my goodness, aren’t they the best?   Sorry, you’ve lost … fill-in the blank here.

Facebook and other social media platforms are always covered with mimes of appreciate what you have; remember to say you care, yada yada.  Some of them just sound hollow and flat when you are in the middle of crap; still as time marches on these sentiments start echoing with such clarity.  We put people and relationships above stuff and things and getting.  Differences are set aside as we realize people are people, no matter what. 

For one who came into Redmond High School Class of 1975 later than some, I often felt like I was peering into an obstructed club.  

Now in retrospect, I’m pretty sure most of my classmates felt the same insecurity.  The cool thing about a 40 year walk is, there could be obstacles, but we can climb over them with only a few grunts and groans from our older, stiffer, not so lithe bodies to be met with hello.

So, go Redmond Panthers fight for victory … over the butterflies!

Missy


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Comments

  1. sewsavyAugust 8, 2015 at 8:20 AM

    I'm guessing this was a 40 year class reunion? Sounds like it all worked out. Never been to one of mine and no one would know who I was anyway. I've always wondered what it would be like to know people you went to school with. Hope you had some fun. Hugs.

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    Replies
    1. Missy AAugust 10, 2015 at 9:14 AM

      Yes, it was our 40 year class reunion. I didn't really think I was that old...just goes to show you how quickly time passes. We've not actually lived near our classmates for a really long time. Moving back to Central Oregon has given us an opportunity to catch up with a few people. It's been nice and time does make differences fade away. And, we had tons of fun!

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