Reelin’ in the years

This last weekend I had TWO mini-reunions – one for high school and one for college.  These were the best kind of reunions because we didn’t meet at a hotel ballroom or a restaurant banquet room.  We didn’t wear nametags with our graduation picture on them.  We didn’t recognize the prom queen and king or who was named “most likely to be in prison before they reached 25.”

Nope, these little get-togethers were at my house.  Because I’m living in the same house I grew up in, it was nostalgic in more ways than one because everybody remembered exactly how to get there and even had a memory or two from my kitchen table!  The only things missing were the bright orange light fixture hanging above the table and my mom’s chocolate chip cookies.  Sniff.

I had so much fun putting together a playlist of many of the songs we listened to on the radio in the 70’s – James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Three Dog Night, Chicago, Loggins & Messina and Average White Band.  Now of course I can't get “B-b-b-baby you just ain’t seen nothin’ yet” and “Strummin my fate with his fingers” out of my head.  And as it turns out, we were talking so much we really couldn’t hear the music anyway!

So the morning was for high school – six friends, most who still live close-by, came for a potluck brunch. 

I love these women!  We laughed and shared and ate and talked about our kids and pointed at funny, yellowing snapshots, laughed and remembered and didn’t remember and laughed some more.  I have history with these ladies going back to elementary school in some cases – shared lockers, summer camps, sleepovers, school projects, weird teachers, Young Life, church youth group, adolescent angst and shoulders to cry on.  And we were all Beaverton High School Class of 1974! 

Our 40 year reunion is only two years away – don’t tell anyone.

When everyone finally, reluctantly gathered their photo albums and yearbooks and headed home, it was time to get ready for the next phase of my life…

I love these women!  You might recognize a couple of repeats in this photo. We laughed and shared and ate and talked about our kids and pointed at funny, yellowing snapshots, laughed and remembered and didn’t remember and laughed some more. I have history with these ladies too – typing class notes on a manual typewriter in a blue color-coordinated dorm room, late night talks in bean bag chairs, air-popped popcorn and donuts made in hot pots, Bring-A-Friend bible studies, creative dates, weekend camps, YL leadership, walking to the Pig for groceries and ice cream from the UC that never melted.  We all, with the exception of one, went to Pacific Lutheran University together in 1974-75 and many of us graduated from there together.

One of the things I prayed for and wanted most for these times together was that they would be encouraging – and I can honestly say that it was SO encouraging to hear about how faithful God has been in each person’s life. It was wonderful.  Thank you Julie, Cindy, Karen, Sharon, Mary, Nancy C, Liane, Karen and Nancy B!  Remember, all you have to do is call – you’ve got a friend!

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