A funny story I sometimes tell is of how surprised I was to receive a “good night kiss” from my high school prom date fifty years after the event. I failed to kiss her the night of the prom, and instead thanked her for a wonderful evening and shook her hand on her doorstep. Apparently, she never forgot that. After dancing together at our fifty year high school reunion, she knocked my socks off with her unexpected smackaroo, and said, “I waited fifty years for my goodnight kiss!” Who knew?
It was my great fortune to recently attend my fifty-fifth high school reunion. Words can’t express the joy that filled my heart as I shared the day with many beloved classmates from Winter Park’s Class of 1969.
The Saturday event began with a prayer breakfast remembering and honoring those classmates who were no longer with us, and ended with a delightful dinner party filled with laughter, tall tales, hugs, tears of joy, and fun photos. In between, many of us spent the afternoon together, strolling the sidewalks of downtown’s Park Avenue. We shopped for souvenirs, grabbed a beverage and a gourmet lunch al fresco, and enjoyed each other’s company.
It was wonderful to reconnect with old friends, and revisit past experiences. Throughout the day, we spoke of youthful memories and the adventures we shared, the challenges we faced and overcame during our journeys to adulthood, and of our careers and families. It seems that the day disappeared in the blink of an eye…
Seeing and spending time with my old classmates reminded me of the importance of remaining connected with one another. Doing so not only adds years to one’s life, but also adds joy to each day. Why is it, then, that it often takes a special event to remind us of that?
Clearly, life is a journey, not a destination. Don’t wait for some special reason or moment to write a letter to a friend or surprise someone with a small gift. Take a pal to lunch. Call a loved one you’ve not spoken to for some time. Thank a mentor for positively impacting your life. Whatever you choose to do, stay connected.
If anything was missing from my fifty-fifth high school reunion, it was my former prom date, who was unable to attend. But the day was a grand celebration of life-long friendships and lasting connectivity, the memories of which will continue to fill my heart with joy for many years to come.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”
John Donne
