What A Reunion Means
by Albert "Ed" Scaife
Alumni Class of 1979Incredible as it may
seem, twenty-five years have just flown by. You didn't happen to see
where they went, did you?
This summer marks the 25th anniversary of Northwest High School’s 1979
graduating class. Some of you are already forming the word on your lips;
Reunion. At this very moment preparations are being made to celebrate
this event. Like many others before me, I've asked the question, "Why
are high school reunions such a big deal?"
I've been to 3 of my class reunions to date, and it is still a
perplexing question. Why is it that a group of otherwise disconnected
people get together for this traditional event? I know plenty of people
that feel that reunions are just an excuse for the same popular people
to get together while yet another group of classmates finds themselves
on the outside looking in. If nothing changes, then nothing changes. Its
a plausible and sad indictment of something that should be an enduring
bond.
Truth be known, I really couldn't find the significance for my
attendance and yet I couldn't help but be fascinated by this gathering.
Its almost like the crowds that draw together at a crime scene or a
fire. Could it be the spectacle? Well, the banquet room at the Holiday
Inn isn't usually my idea of merriment, but then again, there is the
teriyaki chicken with rice pilaf.
Or is it that after all this time I'm still trying to find the answers
to the questions I haven't asked yet? Life's mystery seems daunting when
you're not actively seeking the clues.
Once upon a time I might have thought that this event merely signified
that we've survived. I'm sure the first conversation at my 10 year
reunion started with, "Did you hear that so-and-so died?" Later the talk
turned to jobs, marriage, children, and divorce. So, at twenty-eight
years old we were finally getting real life experience and that was our
common ground. Previously we could only hold on to the notion that we
had been at the same place at the same time. We grew up together. At
least, that would have held true in a geographic sense. Unfortunately,
each of us has always been at a different place because our lives and
our experience have always been uniquely our own. My thoughts swirled
around this concept and furthered my belief that I had no real
connection by being there. My feeling was that I might have been in the
same room, but at the same time I was a million miles away.
After the 10 year reunion, I planned to change my unconvinced outlook
for the next one. And I did plan on going to the next reunion. I knew
that there must be something concrete that I shared with my classmates
that brought us together in this way. As an alternative plan, I was
going to loosen up and have some fun if nothing else. Unfortunately, I
muddled through the event after the first conversation started with, "I
heard that so-and-so died, I'm so sorry." However this time the
so-and-so was my best friend from high school. For me the evening was
just short of a disaster. I felt no connection whatsoever with anyone. I
couldn't even gather enough emotion to enable me to appreciate the other
friendships that were right there in the room with me. Again I was a
million miles away.
Five years ago we held our 20th reunion. And it was festive. I truly
enjoyed being there. Though I still harbored a small notion that my
relationship with most of these former classmates was distant at best, I
had eroded some of the million miles between us and resigned myself to
be involved in what was being offered. My only expectation that night
was that it was going to happen with or without me. As hard as it may
have seemed to accomplish at previous reunions, suddenly I mingled, I
talked, I listened, I danced and I smiled. I could consciously choose to
not only be in the room, but be a part of something greater than myself.
My understanding became that the reunion wasn't about me, it was about
us. It was another chance for us to not find differences, but instead
embrace similarities. We, as a small group were engaging in a
celebration of our human ability to overcome obstacles to come together.
If only for a short time, we were simply the class of ‘79. And that's
all that mattered that night.
Maybe we started at same place at some time in our lives. Maybe we ended
up someplace different. Maybe even a million miles away. Be assured,
there is comfort in finding friendship and familiarity if you find
yourself in that far away place.
This year's reunion will be held on August 6th and 7th at the
Clarksville Country Club, 334 Fairway Drive. If you would like more
information regarding this reunion, or would like to know whom to
contact, visit the official website at
www.northwesthighschool.com
By the Numbers:
43- My age this year.
430- size of Northwest High School's 1979 graduating class.
43,000- Clarksville's population growth since 1979.
--Albert (Ed) Scaife
Phoenix, AZ