Luba - Reflections

Dear classmates;

Several alumni have written about their interesting life journeys, their impressive accomplishments, who they have become and who they have lost along the way. I've read each with great interest, some sadness and even with pride in their accomplishments, simply because we shared a common social and educational history. I was a bit surprised to find that I felt this vicarious gratification just because I shared four short years with capable, talented and spiritual people, some of whom I never even had a conversation with:-). Then It dawned on me, that in some miniscule way, we have each contributed toward the development of who we are today. In some way, like it or not, we are all connected!

To be honest, when I first received the notice that Marianne was planning our 40th reunion, I was rather indifferent about the whole thing. After all, those were only four short years that took place a long, long time ago. I'm not even the same person! Time has changed us all. Did I really want to spend an afternoon meeting people that I once knew, but don't really know anymore?

In spite of myself, I decided to go. What the heck, I thought, it's not like another 40th reunion will come along again, right? So I decided to go. That day, I dressed in whatever was most slimming:-) applied some make-up (to hide as many years as possible) and off I went.

To my surprise, as I entered the room I felt transformed, as well as transported to a time long passed.

A time when skirts above the knee were prohibited; gym clothes were intentionally hideous; confusion prevailed and the future was still ahead of us. A time when the "British invasion" had everything to do with music and nothing to do with war. Although we never thought it, it's quite possible that we were the last generation to experience an age of innocence. It was innocence that I felt when I entered the reunion room.

First, I noticed an easel displaying photos, perfectly placed at the entrance of the room, and noticed a picture of myself with my friend Joanna. In the picture, we were holding our school books and talking intently. I haven't seen her in 20 years! A tiny tear appeared. Then, as if by magic, she approached me with her open arms and threw them around my shoulders; the flood gates opened. (Ken Buzzi, Marilyn Grecco and Charlene Parisi can attest to that:-)

The rest of the afternoon was what could be described as "a basking in what used to be". I didn't need to know what anyone did, where they lived or how may children or grandchildren they had. I didn't want to share my own personal accomplishments. It was "simply being there" that mattered. I was, for a little while, taken back to a time that's passed, and was given the opportunity of re-experiencing a small part of my history with those who just happened to have been there with me. What a gift!


Luba Shagawat