These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Saturday, November 03, 2012

Another reunion memory

The year was 1962. I was about to graduate. For my 18th birthday in April and graduation, my parents gave me a choice. They would buy me a good used car and give it to me, free and clear, OR they would make the down payment and first installment on a brand new Volkswagen. That would give me enough time to get a job before the second payment was due. I'd decided to not go to college at that time. I wasn't sure what I wanted to study, and I thought it was a waste of their money to send me. I wanted to go, but I knew I was undirected, and I would be with my friends to party, not study. My parents reluctantly had agreed, and thus, the car offer.

It didn't take me long to decide that one. I chose the VW, of course! I chose one with a sunroof, just about the only option on a VW in those days, but it was a dandy. Unlike today's sunroof that barely opens, or even the generation before that, the one that actually opened, but was only about 10-12 inches wide, this one o.p.e.n.e.d! It was about 3 feet across and opened about 2.5 feet from front to back. It was big enough that four of us could pop up through it, and we did!!

I had more fun in that car over the next few years than I can tell you.  It was a great car.

At the reunion, one of my friends was there who had not been to all the reunions. I was fortunate to see him in Las Vegas a few years back. He worked at one of the casinos, so while visiting a friend who lived there, we stopped in to see him. He was very busy, so our visit was short and not the best quality. When I saw him at this reunion, I was really happy that we had time to do some significant talking and catching up.

One of the things that came up as we talked was a mention of my VW. And all the sudden, I remembered that Larry had been one of a small group that ran around in my VW in those last couple months before graduation and the summer that followed. Neither of us could remember exactly what we did, but we both remembered driving around town and laughing and laughing, often until our sides hurt!



 I had as many "guy friends" and I did girl friends back then. Larry was one of the best. He always had something funny to say and made everyone around him laugh. You can see by his grin here, he is a happy, jolly guy!

 Seeing Larry, spending really good quality time with him was one of the highlights of the reunion for me.



I hope you all go to your reunions. They are so much fun!






15 comments:

  1. I went to my 20th reunion and put a lot of ghosts to rest. For all the rest I had timing conflicts. Really glad for that one, though.

    These days, many of us are on Facebook so I still feel somewhat connected.

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    1. FB has done wonders for staying in touch, hasn't it?

      I have to say the 10 year wasn't as great. The cliques were still intact, but by the 20 year, that was mostly dissolved. From then on, it has been a lot of fun.

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  2. I had a red VW (Ruben was his name) Oh the memories. Did you ever come out of HS when it was dark, like after a BB game or other activity and find the senior guys turned it sideways in a parking stall. Once I found it on the sidewalk along side the school We once piled 13 gals in it. Oh gosh, thanks for the memories!

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    1. No, never turned sideways! I think I had the 1st VW to go to that school, so either they hadn't figured it out yet, or something. I certainly knew several who woulda if they'd thought of it!

      We tried the packed VW, too, but I don't remember how many we got in it. The real fun was one night we got, I think, 8 in the back and 2 in the passenger set, and I drove down main street. Yes, we got stopped. The cop walked up, looked inside, shook his head and walked away!

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  3. I wish I had been smart enough to realize I was "undirected" after high school. I did waste a bit of my parents hard earned money and I have regretted ever since.

    Nice to hear about Larry. He was, and I assume is, a nice guy.

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    1. Ah, Jane, I wish you'd been there. I missed you. Yes, Larry is still Larry. I definitely enjoyed catching up with him. Bellmaine and Langston are supposedly planning a 55 year cruise! We'll see if they can pull it off!

      I had the benefit to my foresight of seeing 3 older brothers and a sister who didn't finish school. Later two of them did, but at the time, I thought I was likely to do the same. I still think it would have been a mistake. Once I decided what I wanted as a career (in my mid 30s) I went for it with gusto, and I loved doing the study and the work. It was certainly a good decision for me.

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  4. Happy post! Is that you with Larry? You look fantastic! Energized.
    Vibrant. Joyful. Beautiful. Way to go!

    LC @ www.retirementdaze.com

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    1. LC, it is! Thanks! I'm feeling very good these days. I've felt off-kilter for so long that this feels marvelous!! I think the fact that I've finally really reached a state of general good health and the fabulous good energy that comes with doing the Healing Touch work is what I can thank for it. And I enjoyed the reunion, getting together with all those lovely people. Life is good!

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  5. I never have been to a class reunion. My class was never close and after having a couple of poorly attended reunions we gave up trying. It's sad that we never felt connected. So glad you got to enjoy time with old friends.

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    1. That's sad. I know some classes aren't close. My own kids have been to just a couple (my son) or none (my daughter).

      Our class was fairly large, about 240, but our town was rather small, about 30,000. It was one of those "everybody knows everybody and every thing everybody does" kind of places. There were a few in our class that I didn't know, but not many. As the years passed, the friendships passed by the boundaries of the "groups," and if anything, we became closer. I'm very happy that I've been to each one, because it feels better every time.

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  6. Jenny Wolfe, I accidentally deleted your comment, rather than publishing it! Sorry. My response would be "Yes, great fun!"

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  7. You never mentioned the color of the VW!!! What a fun memory Lyn. I wonder if you have any photos of the old VW? Now that I think about it I have a photo somewhere of my Firebird, my first car. Wish I still had it!
    Love Di ♥

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    1. It was a light moss green. I do have pictures. Somewhere! First cars .... those stick with us, don't they?

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  8. I love the photo of you and Larry. It shows a couple of good friends who still love to share a laugh. Are you sure you went to your 50th reunion??? You look way too young to be out of high school 50 years. Seriously.

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    1. He was definitely one of the best parts of the reunion. And yes, I'm very sure. But thanks!

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!