40th HS Reunion - Epilogue

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Most of this was written under the influence of a single glass of wine. That is all it takes for a short hitter like me. It is now a day later and I am now under the influence of caramel-colored carbonated sugar water. (Coke) Surprisingly, the words still make some sense a day later. With a little judicious editing it may be worthy of posting.

I wondered if my words might strike a chord in others. I wrote the piece because I wondered if others had the same thoughts, or perhaps I was an outlier. (Merriam Webster - a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample) Ann has some of the same thoughts, and Bill says I am full of beans and an outlier. That is why I write the blog; to see if others feel the same way.

Those high school relationships seemed so close at the time, and yet they withered away in no time at all. I think that is interesting. Every time I go back home I am drawn back into that time and place, and the person I was 40 years ago. Every time I relive a high school memory I have to remind and reassure myself, “I am not that person anymore.”

I was struck by some dialogue from the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. The following piece of dialogue, fiction of course, was spoken by Russell Crowe’s character, the captain of the ship, at the funeral for a midshipman, Mr. Hollom. The midshipman took his own life because the crew believed him to be a Jonah, one who brings bad luck to the ship.

The simple truth is, not all of us become the men we once hoped we might be.
But we are all God's creatures.
If there are those among us who thought ill of Mr. Hollom,
          or spoke ill of him,
          or failed him in respect of fellowship,
          then we ask for your forgiveness, Lord,
          and we ask for his.

This statement struck me in a contrasting sort of way; a black/white mirror image kind of contrast. I HAVE become the man I once hoped I might be, and I am happy with who I am, and I have no desire to relive the worst aspects of the teenage creature I once was. How is that for sanctimonious? (My new favorite word) But again, that may be the single glass of wine talking.

I read recently that you should never email under the alfluence of incohol. (Typos intended for humor)

I will post this tomorrow on the blog . . . maybe.