THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

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HS plus 50

The daily prompt asks – Describe something you learned in high school.

Now there is a question that is asking me to go back a lot of decades. I went back and looked at the answer I gave to this question 2 years ago in a post called Early Learning, so I thought I’d give an update to that being my reunion was after that post.

We had our 50th HS reunion last year. Here are a few things observed or heard and learned.

I almost didn’t go to my own reunion. One of my closest classmates and friends passed away. Another best friend and some other close ones in those days also weren’t coming because of distance and funds. There were a few neighborhood friends that were going so that was enough for me to say yes.

Wow, people change. Thank goodness for nametags with pictures from our senior year. At the same time some people stay remarkably the same.

Lots of people moved away or stayed for a while and then moved when they retired.

It was nice to see how easy it was to pick up some conversations with the ease we had in high school. But with an adult version. Watching people smile about family and professional updates.

There were laughter and smiles. Hugs and photos. Arnie and Mike stood side by side again (tallest and shortest guys in our class).

People spoke of trips or wishes for trips. There was a slide show and group photo.

Some were still trying to impress. Some had grown into comfortable adults.

Some retired, some working, some unwillingly retired because of health.

Lots of classmates had died. And in the few months right after that we lost 3 more.

It was a pretty good turnout and time for a class that was a bit apathetic. Of course, those were troubled times and a lot of troubled families.

Severn River Sunset. The sun has set on a lot of people. Photo by Mike Hartley


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Goodbye

Yesterday I saw a note about an old high school classmate who passed. It was kind of surprising because I saw her for the first time since high school at our 50th reunion. She looked healthy and was even on the walk the day after the reunion.

I got a chance to talk a little bit with her at the reunion. After the walk around the lake the next morning everyone was going over to Whole Foods for a snack before splitting up again. I ran over to my car and got two pictures I had found in my old HS yearbook. One was her and one was for another old friend who grew up the street from me.

The shot of Helen was from when I did yearbook photography, and it was of her with the homecoming court because she was the Homecoming Queen. She was in her cheerleader uniform because it was halftime at a football game where they were announcing the homecoming court for our senior year.

When I caught up, she was still walking up outside, and I gave her the shot. It was black and white and only 5×7, but she looked deeply at it for a bit, slowing her walk substantially. 50 years ago, is a lot to look back at yourself. She looked up and smiled and said thank you and started to hand it back to me, but I said it was hers. She slowly slid it into her purse, and we joined a number of friends in the food court for lunch.

We talked a little there and went our own ways. I wonder if she was sick then and not sharing it with anyone. She looked good so I didn’t suspect a thing. But a lot of us have been through some trials and face things while looking completely or almost normal. But for some reason her death less than 3 months after seeing and sharing with her startled me a bit.

I’m glad I was able to catch up with her, hopefully the picture gave her a few more smiles. I just downloaded the group shot that was taken at the end of the reunion. I looked at her face and many others. I saw people that day that were very at ease with each other. None of that teenage awkwardness. People introducing spouses, discussing careers and retirement, catching up and sharing names and events with laugher. Hugs and handshakes, goodbye again not thinking we won’t be here tomorrow.

Seems like yesterday we entered high school and then graduated. Seems like yesterday that I retired, went to my high school reunion and remembered.

So thankful for the reminder of how precious each day is and hoping to make the best of it today and tomorrow if I’m granted such a gift. Rest easy Helen.

Marking the years. Photo by Mike Hartley