The Reunion

I'm generally not one who dwells on the past all that much. But last week...there it was...my past life... staring me right smack in the face. I had summoned up my courage and with great intrepidation ventured off to a mini reunion of former high school and grade school girl friends. Sixteen of us gathered together at a grand and gracious historic hotel in a picturesque, countryside village for several days of reminiscing, laughing, dining, wining and sharing personal stories.

I will be the first to admit that I was a bit nervous about retreating back to high school years. Sure, I had my fair share of goofy fun way back then but it's never been all that important to me to relive those days. Yet the minute I laid eyes on my old friends...my silly fears and insecurities disappeared.

We hugged. We embraced. We looked into each other's eyes and saw the soul of our youth. In their now grown-up faces, seasoned with wisdom and character lines and grannie glasses, I still recognized the happy-go-lucky, plucky, fresh, fearless, teen-aged, beautiful young ladies I had formed friendships with so many, many years ago.

Back in the day, we listened to music by Trini Lopez, Jan and Dean, Dion, the Beach Boys, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Bobby Vinton and an emerging new group called The Beatles. Jackie Kennedy took us on a TV tour of the White House. Andy Warhol painted a soup can and made us all think we could become famous artists just like him. Gas was 28 cents a gallon...if we were ever lucky enough to get the keys to the family station wagon. A brand new car cost about $3300. Leslie Gore cried that It's My Party. But for many of us it was the Days of Wine and Roses when we were brazen enough to swig our first beers down at the beach and received pink rose corsages on Prom night. Silicone breast implants had just been invented. Who knows if any of the women in our little reunion group might now be sporting them.

Reconnecting with these wonderful women was a sheer delight. Among the group was my very, very best friend from 6th grade onward, whom I had not seen since college days. We're all a lot more mellow now. No drama. No bitchiness. No histrionics. Hell...most of us can't tolerate more than two glasses of wine without nodding off. We've all enjoyed glorious highs and suffered saddening lows, bore lots of children, worked hard, traveled widely and experienced life and love in a multitude of different ways.  Although we're not as wacky as we once were...we still share a kindred spirit and a rollicking enthusiasm for life that bubbles with energy and vitality. We have all become kind and loving human beings. We are still vibrant women. I salute each and every one of the girls. Reuniting with them again has revitalized my soul.

Which one is Boomer Pie?  Back row, 4th from left (white jacket, black blouse)

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