Last Friday night I was sitting at Buca di Beppo's with 21 other "girls". I haven't seen them in 38+ years. Two were fellow classmates. The rest were from the classes of '72 through '75.Wow...
I really didn't have the time to go, but I wasn't going to miss this for the world. My son, Mom, and I were leaving for Nashville, TN at 5:30 the next morning. I didn't care--I had to see these old friends. I packed my senior yearbook into the car that morning before I left for work. Leaving from Crane cut off about 20 minutes driving time. I arrived a couple of minutes after the 6:00pm meeting time. There were only two girls there, and I didn't recognize either one of them. That's ok...they didn't recognize me either. But we had a common thread. We were graduates of Center Grove.
Before long, the huge round table was filled with 22 chattering women, all anxious to catch up on the lives of each other. We each took a turn standing, introducing ourselves, and giving a short synopsis of our lives since Center Grove. One had a Phd, one worked at Center Grove, some were retired. I wish I'd written in all down.
Later I asked everyone to go around again, stating the most unusual thing they'd done since graduation. I started, telling the group that I had ridden a camel in the Thar Desert in India. The next two, including the one with the Phd, were "Harley" girls. One of my classmates had ridden in the Goodyear blimp. Another girl was on the verge of producing a children's TV show when 9/11 hit and the plans went south.
Most of us had decided on dessert and coffee, when the waitress brought in a gorgeous cake she said was delivered by a man who requested it be sent to our table. The cake read, "Center Grove Sweeties". We all thought it was the husband of one of the '72 graduates; later we found out that it was a member of the class of '71, and he was "lurking" around to see the reactions. Thanks, Tom!
After cake and coffee, there was an open invitation to Janet's house...but I really needed to get on the road and head back to Loogootee. I think most of them went, and I heard it broke up at 1am. That's almost a slumber party!
Saturday I'm meeting up with my best friend Brenda, and maybe even her folks. I haven't seen her in probably 20-25 years. I can't believe time can go by that quickly. Gosh...I can't wait. I think this is what we both need--a reconnection with the past, and the tearing down of an imaginary wall between us. This blog inspired me to step out and make the effort to find my old friend and my other classmates. Mr. V would be proud to know he was still making a difference in his students' lives.
Above is my class photo from fifth grade--Mr. Stewart's class. My best friend is sitting next to the window behind the tall kid in the plaid shirt. We weren't friends that year, but by 7th grade we were inseparable. If I remember right, this was taken in November. There was snow on the ground. The year was 1963, so this was taken right about the time Kennedy was assassinated...
...46 years ago? Is that really possible?
"Cissy"
