I am getting ready to head down to my high school reunion in a couple of days. It will be great to see everyone. This is actually my second high school reunion in two years. We decided to make it less formal and thus, easier to put on. In this way, we can see old friends more often than once every 5 or 10 years. Also, if you miss one, there is always another one next year.
At least that is the plan.
When I went last year, I was struck by two things. First of all, everyone got old(er). This should not have been a surprise since I apparently have aged as well. When I look at the world from the inside out, I am still 12 years old (more about that in a minute). When I look in the mirror, a guy with white/gray hair is staring back at me.
Where did he come from?
Here is the second thing that struck me. After I met each of these old people, they began to get young again. It was like being in a Stephen King novel. They became the people I remember. By the end of the night, we were all kids again. I didn't see bald heads and gray hair and wrinkles. I saw the kids I grew up with.
This brings me to the pole, the fence and the boy. When I was 12 years old, I remember thinking very deep thoughts and I wondered if others did the same. I decided to do an experiment. Down the alley, at the end of my street was Mr. Mill's house. He taught me math in junior high. At the back of his yard, he had a fence. Just out side of that fence, about 2 feet away, was a telephone pole.
I stood between the fence and that pole and thought thoughts. I thought about God, about my friends, about the passage of time. I thought about a lot of things that were important to me. At the time, I thought I was different to think such things. Now I think that we all questioned things and thought deep thoughts even when we were 12.
Once the thoughts were "thought," I made a big effort to remember that moment. It would be my reference point. Periodically, I would recall that moment and ask myself, "What has changed in me."
The answer is surprising. The answer is "Nothing."
Today, I am the same person I was 40 years ago.
Sure, the guy in the mirror looks different, but that is not who I really am. I hang out on the inside where I am still a 12 year old boy looking forward to playing with my friends when I see them again at the reunion.
I have a friend, Wes, who reads the morning comics like I do. He is a Charlie Brown fan. In one of the Charlie Brown comics, Lucy says, "Charlie Brown, you are the Charlie Browniest."
This is how I see my friends. Jay Wedel is the Jay Wedel-iest. Middy Wolf is the Middy Wolf-iest. When I see Monya, I am certain she will be the Monya-iest.
As for me, I will still be 12. I will watch as everyone shows up old and then grows young. All of the girls will still scare me to death although I will pretend otherwise. The guys will talk of glory days but I will see the truth in their eyes. I know that old men are looking back from their mirrors as well. They know that the past is gone and yet still part of them. We will talk of glory days, not to relive them, but to just tell the other, "I was there and so were you and I am glad it happened that way."
http://www.worldgratitudelist.com Leave a list. Read a list. Be happy.
j
