Cruising through time

Last weekend I yet again boarded plane. This time to head to my 60th class reunion in North Dakota. It was a happy/sad event in so many ways. Out of a class of thirty-four, nine of us are gone. It hardly seems possible. And a few couldn't make it for various reasons, but we still had fourteen who attended. And I had a really nice time.

The Washburn High School Class of 1966

I make that last statement because I have mixed feelings about going home. While others had fond memories of their "glory days' in high school, I had very few. As a country kid, I lived almost fifteen miles out of town. I had a father who had no interest in school affairs and a mother who didn't drive. Therefore, extracurricular activities were nonexistent. I was left out of all of the things that drew the rest of the kids together---sports, attending games, proms, homecoming activities, school plays. It wasn't anybody's fault; it's just the way it was.

And my mom, bless her heart, was so aware of what she perceived as her lowly status in the community because we didn't have electricity for a long while, no indoor plumbing or telephone. Looking back, I don't think those things mattered to other people, but they did to her.

Thus, I grew up thinking all those kids in my class were better than I was in so many ways. Now, I can look back and see that probably wasn't true. It took 60 years, but I think I've grown up and out of that...almost. Even though I've led an interesting life and succeeded on many levels, sometimes those "old" feelings can rear their ugly head.

This time, those feelings didn't win the battle I fight with insecurity. I have discovered over a lifetime that insecurity is something we all battle. Perhaps because I am closer to the end than the beginning of life, things of worth have risen to the top. Now I know life isn't about things, or what I've accomplished, it's about people. I don't care what you wear, or if you live in a tent, but I would find it fascinating to know you as a person.

Sadly, we had but a few hours to reconnect. Not nearly enough time to really listen to life stories or share what we've learned over the years. I wanted more one-on-one time with everyone. I write. It's my way of sharing myself with the world---whether it's a book, a blog, a newspaper column, or magazine article. Part of me is laid bare on those pages.

Let's do that! Let's get reacquainted before we can't do it anymore. Write a note, a Christmas card, an e-mail, pick up the phone.....it will be fun to really know each other after 60 years.

Anybody game?