Last year I wrote this on my high school Facebook page.
What prompted this: Someone had previously written that they were reluctant to attend a class reunion, And they mentioned 'memories' and the changes that seemed to happen later in life.
I wanted to say that change was a constant in which we grew up in the 1950s and 1960s in the middle of the USA.
The funny thing about memory and 'the way things were' is that when we were growing up, we all lived in the new areas. Among them Prairie Village and Leawood were brand new burbs after WWII. Meadowlake was up and coming. Ranchmart was way out south. French Market and Glenwood Theater were way out there. To our parents this kind of change was normal. And yet, we saw things as frozen in time. King Louie bowling, Kings Food Host, Smaks, the Athletics playing until Charley O moved them to Oakland, then in 1969 the Royals came. What happened to 22nd and Brooklyn then? My synagogue moved from Meyer and Rockhill out to 104th Street and Metcalf.
We think that things should still be the same, but dear friends, they never were the same. Things remained 'the same' only a short time. Some of us went to Somerset Elementary. Now that's an old folk's home. Some went to Meadowbrook Junior High School. That's gone and it's also a retirement oldie center.
Look out, SME!
I guess what I'm saying is that whatever we had 51 years ago, isn't the same, nor should it be. If we want to succeed in this decade, let's learn from the history we have from the 50s or the 80s or the last month or two, since COVID hit. Let's adjust to what is, enjoy what is, and bring others along with us, and we with them.
Dear classmates, we are in the last half of life, and if we've learned anything, let's live one day at a time, enjoying what's ours, and help another to enjoy their life as a result of our spending time with them. If we have a 55th or 60th (can you even imagine that?) I'll hope travel restrictions are over so I can join you again. But don't wait for 2024 to connect with at least one of us. As some say, FB really helps us hear each other. And to smile. And today, that's not a bad thing.
Much love from Sydney.
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