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Diana M Maul (Halstead)
Friendships – Reunions – Reconnections
Reunions are amazing, aren’t they? We see, we talk, we re-connect…we walk away.
Some of us attend every reunion, re-connecting.
Some of us have yet to attend a reunion to experience the re-connection.
Some of us are still close friends from grade school and before,
Some of us are friends from our time at Alton High,
And some of us gained our friendships from a reunion never knowing the classmate from our school days.
The most important part of what is said above is “…we walk away”
No one calls,
No one texts,
No one emails,
No one communicates.
Sure, many of us watch each other on social media thinking:
“Susie sure is great in the kitchen!”
“Maury, Lynn and Chris love their grands”
“Bill takes great photos!”
“Ruth is in FB jail…again”
“Coleman keeps us politically informed”
“Martha keeps us politically informed…the other way”
“Brenda agrees with Martha”
“Karen has become a beautiful weaver”
“Jeff & Phyllis are real estate moguls”
“Gary is still building huge structures”
“Deby now has that Minnesota accent”
“Ann is loving her North Carolina life”
“Barry can’t wait to get back to Flag”
“David and Bruce love life on the Big Island”
“John loves life on a smaller island”
Here’s the thing about social media,
Sure, you like posts; even comment once in a while…
But…is that a connection? Or just being nice?
You might see my dad’s WW II images on social media,
But what you don’t see is the questions it raises where no answers will ever be found.
You might see the scenic beach vacation she took,
But don’t see the tears she shed spreading her beloved husband’s ashes.
You might see the great craftsmanship that went into his woodworking project,
But you don’t see it was while he was in a wheelchair.
We were classmates and friends.
We have a bond that is unbreakable with each other
(No matter how hard we may try)
Reunions are amazing, but they are short.
Re-connections can be life-altering…if we maintain that connection,
But do we?
Friendships, like marriages and raising children are not easy.
But, friendships, like marriages and raising children make life worth living.
Last year, we lost 16 friends,
Last year, we lost 16 classmates that will never attend another reunion,
Last year, we lost 16 people whose friendships altered our lives; some a little, some a lot.
Our 50th Class Reunion was delayed one year.
Our 51st Class Reunion could also be delayed.
So, I ask, are you going to delay those re-connections?
If you want to talk, then call, text, or email.
If you do not know how to communicate, ask a friend…or ask me.
Our tomorrows are hopes and dreams,
But promised to no one.
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