I still can't believe that it's been 25 years since I graduated from Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Ohio. I really don't feel like I'm 43 years old...at least not in my mind! My body, however, is another story entirely.
I've been looking forward to this reunion weekend for quite a while. There are so many girls that I wanted to see so we could catch up with each other's lives. (For those who are not familiar with my high school, it was and still is an all girls Catholic school.) I wondered how many would come to the reunion. I have already been to two of them and we had a great turnout. I knew I'd see certain women that I'd been talking to on Facebook, and some were traveling long distances to attend our big milestone event. I also knew I would see several people that I hadn't been in contact with, and looked foward to reconnecting.
The reunion was held at the school, and it was fun to meet a few ladies from other graduating years: there were also areas set up for the Class of 1959 all the way through the Class of 2004, in five year increments celebrating everything from five years removed all the way up to Magnificat's first class to celebrate their 50th Reunion. What a great group of ladies!
One of my classmates now works at the school, and she took us around to show us all of the changes that have been made since we'd left our Alma Mater's hallowed halls. There were so many things that each of us remembered as we stopped at familiar spots. Fun and laughter filled the halls as we took lots of pictures for the occasion. Of course there are so many improvements to the school in the last 25 years, and we marveled at all of them. I almost want to go back to school so I can use the new weight room, art studio, and ceramics lab. The campus is so much bigger now, and I was very impressed!
As for my former classmates, most of us have not changed much from our days as the Class of 1984. We were all pretty amazed by that revelation. I had been heavy in school, but was 40 pounds lighter at our 10 year reunion than when I'd graduated. I attended the 20 year event much heavier, and even a few pounds more so this time around. There were some others that had changed in this way as well, but I discovered one wonderful thing: we all still are friends no matter what size we wore to the reunion. We all want to get healthier, but none of us felt anything but love from our classmates.
Today we had Mass in the beautiful school chapel, followed by a picnic lunch held indoors beacuse of the rain. I got to visit with a few of the nuns that I knew during my time there, and introduce them to my family. A group of us are planning to meet every so often for lunch or coffee so that it's not another five years until we see each other again. We are all realizing how much we need to treasure the time we have on earth with each other...who would have thought 25 years ago that we would lose Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson the week of our reunion? We also mourned a few classmates who are sadly no longer with us, and several of us have lost other dear friends lately that were important parts of our lives.
These revelations also make me see how much I need to take control of my health, so I can be around for several more reunions to come. Of course we partied this weekend, so I have a feeling my scale will not be kind to me in the morning. That's OK...I will just pick back up from there and get in shape. I am inspired by quite a few of my fellow alumni who are still in fantastic condition, because they still run, play tennis, golf, and do other forms of exercise to keep it that way. Here's to the Class of 1984...and may we all have good health and happiness for many years to come!
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3 comments:
Marie!
It was sooo great to finally see you again in person! Rich and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with you and Vance. Thank you for meeting us afterwards at The Pub. I have to say I feel just a tad bit guily for odering the fried pickles but they were so tasty! Even though I had a fairly substantial meal at the school, I was pretty hungry by the time we got to the bar. Anyway, I digress. As is often the case with reunions, you can't help but compare what people look like at present with how you remember them in high school. But as you mentioned, it is all about rekindling friendships, and sharing good memories regardless of our current size or shape!! I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect from the night, as I have only been to one other reunion (the 10th, I think). I have to say it was better than I had expected!
We enjoyed going to The Pub with you guys after the reunion. We have to get together more often now! :o)
Very nice post Marie. I felt your warmth shine through. I am glad you had a great experience. Isn't it crazy how sometimes you wish you could go back to school? :)
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