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Melvin (Mel) Theobald
Linda and Mike, with all due respect, I'm totally confused by your comments. I'm going to outline a couple of things about our Class of 1964 reunions and follow up with a few thoughts regarding the present.
1. I've attended most, but not all of the reunions, both the major ones and the mini's. From the first one in 1969 to the most recent, I have never encountered anyone who was judgmental of another's looks, successes or failures. Just the opposite. Everyone wants to know what everyone else has done since leaving BHS.
2. Some of our classmates have done extraordinary things and others have stayed true to their roots and are extraordinary in their own individual ways. In either case, they are not to be singled out as winners or losers. Every person we know or have known could write a memoir. And for each of them, it would be filled with love, beauty, excitement and tragedy none of us could ever have imagined.
3. We do not live in the past, we are the product of many things unexpected, unforeseen and yet real. To not participate in that journey is to miss the awe of where we came from and what is so special about being in the company of those we previously took for granted.
4. When we limit ourselves to the past, we miss the power of what is. From typewriters we have graduated to cyber technologies. Not only has the world changed, so have we.
5. There is nothing to regret, fear or apologize for that is greater than opting to ignore that we are and always have been born of some unique and special origin. That “Go Raiders” thing is not about high school, it is about the thing that molded us and makes us one. We had the same teachers, the same Main Street and the same post-war Baby Boomer origins.
6. It would be impossible to account for all the vital friendships I've made with those I barely knew at BHS since attending these reunions.
When I reencounter those people who share in all those things, I feel rejuvenated, alive and worthy. Their stories are not of the past, but of the present. No, we are not children any longer. We are people of wisdom and experience. We are survivors who know things about each other that no one else can ever know. That dear friends is precious.
We don't need to “get over it,” (no offense intended Linda) we need to bathe ourselves in it. Yes, we have lost many on the way and we will lose others until only one remains. But, when I read “there were so many words I wanted to say,” I wonder why (no offense intended Mike) you didn't you come to the last mini-reunion?
To anyone out there who doubts what I'm saying, join us on Dec. 2nd and you'll find out. We have so much to celebrate and it only works for those who are there. You may not think so, but your presence matters to all of us. See you on Saturday.
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