Mascot, Minister, Man of Steel the Final Reunion

A boyhood buddy tried flipping himself into a beanbag chair, became a quadriplegic – and a highly esteemed teacher.  June dueled cancer three times – and pointedly told the author never to forget her.  Joel was a pubescent blowhard who became a helping hand to many before battling health crises.  Pat was a homecoming queen, became a hospice nurse and overcame ambivalence about attending reunions before taking on cancer.  During teen years Chris seemed the most self-assured but later revealed she had been “in a fog.”   DeeDee’s husband, an MS victim, urged her to put him in a nursing home to ease her burden.  She refused.  This loveliest of widows kept on living and loving – and at age 59 still could do cartwheels.  Fran proved unstoppable during a daunting journey from college mascot to career success.  Poh Hong put aside doubts by family and friends and flew half way around the world to attend a reunion.  John was a college football player, became a minister, accepted strangers into his prayer circle and dealt with his own heartaches. Then there was Jim who persuaded the author to attend his first reunion – and later showed remarkable mettle amid dire circumstances.

Reunions can be powerful.  High school, college and graduate school class reunions as well as one-on-one reconnections in distant locations can whisper strong messages, teach lasting lessons, and tell us much about the resilience of the human spirit.