Fifty years. I will have been out of high school for fifty years in a couple of months. When you take the time to actually think about it, fifty years is a long darn time. We will be having a fiftieth class reunion in June, and honestly, I am not sure if I am looking forward to it or not.
I haven’t changed much since then, well other than gaining a few pounds and losing my hair. But as for my personality and who I am, I’m still the same. This can be good, or it can be bad. I never had a lot of close friends. Most of them I lost touch with over the years. I’ve never been one to be all that sociable. I guess that would be my biggest regret in life. But as I have said I can’t go back and do it over.
I think the experience will prove to be bittersweet. Just this morning I learned one of my classmates passed away. I know of a few others that are no longer with us as well. I’m hoping it hasn’t been too many. It will also be fun to see what my classmates have made of themselves. Are they successful? Are they happy? Grandchildren? Have they become what they wanted to be in high school?
As for me, I look at it as I am right where I want to be. I’m certainly not where I thought I would be when I graduated. I’m not rich but I am comfortable. That wasn’t always the case as there have been times when I wasn’t sure where the next meal was coming from, but with the help of God, I made it through. It’s funny how when you struggle through really bad times you realize that you don’t need as much as you think. You would be surprised how much joy there is in the little things in life.
I’ve made my choices, I have lived with the consequences and am okay with what I have done. I am comfortable with who I am. Besides I can’t go back and change it now. Maybe I will make some new connections with old friends, who knows.
Update: I wrote this post a few weeks ago but never published it. Since then I did go to my reunion. It was an interesting experience. Some people look the same, others not so much. I reconnected with some of the people who I was close to. It was good to see them. I’m glad I went, but as it can be when you travel, it’s nice to go away but it’s great to be home. I am glad to be home. I realize that I travelled the path that was right for me. Yes, I made some wrong choices, but through it all I’ve made it out in one piece, and I look at it as I am right where I am supposed to be.
