INSPIRASUNS

My husband and I spent the weekend at his high school class reunion. He was born and raised in a small town in Illinois. This year was an anniversary year, his 50th. We’ve been to many of his reunions over the years and I’ve come to know some of his closest childhood friends.

Unfortunately, his high school closed many years ago so the kids in his little hometown attend the larger school about 8 miles up the road in the next town. So no more classes are coming up to carry on the tradition, at some point, the reunions will be no more 😦 . That’s not my focus for this little blog though, it’s just a fact that we discussed last night at dinner.

What is so special about these reunions is that every class is invited back each year, and they come. The first weekend in August hosts the town’s celebration and combines the class reunions. The 25th and 50th-year classes host the reunions, but again all of the years are invited to attend. Saturday evening at the dinner there were over 130 people in attendance from classes 1981 all the way back to 1944! Yes, I said 1944!

The community comes together to remember special times, share fond memories, laugh at the goofy things they did as kids, and pay respect to the traditions they share. It’s small-town living and the bond they all share is still very apparent. The different classes decorate their class floats for the small parade, the town residents line the main street, and just like any parade, the kids are waiting with bags to collect candy tossed from the floats. After the parade, the local community church ladies host lunch, as they have done for many years.

This weekend reminded me of simpler times. Times when you knew your neighbors, heck you knew most of your town. It reminded me of a time when, as kids, we’d leave the house in the morning and be out playing all day until it was time for dinner. As I looked at the old tractors that pulled the floats and drove through the country hills looking at the agriculture, I imagined the vibrant farming communities, many of which are dying away 😦 . Simpler times.

I think getting back to those simpler times isn’t such a bad idea. We didn’t have cell service much of the time where we were this weekend, and you know, had it not been for the tropical storm I was trying to track back home, I don’t think I missed it much. People spent time talking, we took a walk around town, spent time in the town museum and you know what, that was all just fine. Yes, friends maybe we all do need those simpler times.

Well, congratulations to all of those classes that attended this weekend. Special congrats to the 98-year-old cheerleader who helped lead the school fight song at the end of the banquet! She still lives locally and hey, those simpler times, well they have worked well for her 🙂 . Have a great day my friends.

Please continue to include Emily Rea and her family in your daily prayers. The search continues and our prayers continue to bring strength to all involved.

1 Corinthians 10:24
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.