It’s not just Throw Back Thursday that has me in a reminiscent mood. A rainy, gloomy day is helping. So are recent activities. It seems to be a reoccurring theme these days.
I’ve been planning my high school’s annual Alumni Banquet, and that comes with a bit of repaving memory lane. This morning I spoke to a group of eager, fresh-faced graduates and tried to recall my own final school days. Let’s just say that was several years – and lifetimes – ago. But when I told them we all came from the same place and had the same start in life, the words rang true.
Though the planning process, I have had cause to speak with several older folks. One of the advantages of living in a town like mine is that you have to reach a fairly advanced age to be one of the “older” ones. They were quick to share their memories of school days, and banquets past. This is the 113th such event. It’s a long-held tradition here.
A week ago I had a visit from an old friend. It had been nearly 25 years since we had seen each other. It could have been two weeks. We talked about some old times. We caught up on the years between. We swore to never let it be that long again. We made plans for our final days at the local nursing home together, along with several friends. We fully intend to take our entertainment with us in the form of the entourage we’ve known for most of a lifetime.
This morning I was looking through old files of stories I’ve written, recalling cub reporter days on the news beat. Some seem like only yesterday. Some had escaped the memory capsule. Some were surprisingly well written. Some obviously the product of an inexperienced wordsmith. All shaped the storyteller before you today.
It’s funny how time passes. Forty, fifty years in the blink of an eye. While some single days seem to stretch on for eternity.
We mark the milestones – 10 years in this house, 20 back in Adair County, 15 in the freelance game. My sister celebrated her 60th birthday last week. Next year my daughter will be 30 and I will celebrate my 40th class reunion.
It’s easy to look at the passing time and see the string of people lost. But even easier to see the ones gained. There have been traumas, but even more adventures. And, God willing, so many more yet to come. I’m not nearly done collecting stories to share with the unsuspecting folks at the home when we’re old. (I don’t know why I say they’re unsuspecting. They’ve known me for nearly 60 years, I’m sure they’ll be prepared to turn down their hearing aids and just pretend to listen.)
I ache a bit more when I get out of bed in the morning than I used to, but I still face most days ready for what the world brings. Despite an occasional Thursday and a love of history, I’m still more focused on the future than the past. The numbers of the passing years boggle my mind – and it’s due to the inability to believe that much time has elapsed, not senile dementia.
They’ll be plenty of time for that later. Right now, I’ve got life to live. Work to do. Projects to plan. Old friends to see and new ones to make.
The numbers may say I’ve been around the block a time or two, but the road ahead lies ready to be traveled. Grab your knapsack Pete Newby, we’re goin’ for a ride.