Peru High School Reunion...

After all these years. So many classmates have seen each other over these past years at one reunion or another, some even at all of the reunions. I have not seen anyone in my graduating class since graduation.

I looked forward to this off year reunion, but I was nervous. After all, I had been there only a short time compared to "regular" kids who grew up in Peru and environs. What, after all, did I know about these people and their lives after all the time and space that has passed between all of us?

When we gathered, we were only 16 classmates, three of whom were Milbrats, myself included. I walked in, recognized several people right away, and was recognized by several others. We knew faces sometimes without knowing names, but once we began to talk and share our lives, we felt a bond that can exist only with those with whom you share a generational experience. I am not really even sure that this bond is only with those you know - perhaps you could go to any reunion of that same year and the life experiences and the growth those experiences trigger could help you feel at home.

I had brought pictures I had taken the last few days of our senior year. Several others had brought pictures, and there was a yearbook in residence on the reception table. I think we enjoyed the pictures of past reunions as much as any other pictures. The women who organized the reunion worked very hard to find others in the class and entice them to join us, but it is amazing how many people can't make room in their lives for even one evening with old old friends. We did talk about the reasons some may have, but we missed their company and hope for the gift of their attendance the next time. You know, even if you think there weren't many friends, you would be amazed how time makes friends of old classmates. After all, we were so young then, the world and our lives were unfolding before us, and the magic was yet to happen. Now, we have had bad thing and good things happen, and we have weathered it. I think the celebration is in the "being there." Those classmates whom we have lost were remembered.

There were of course those for whom I had special fondness in that sparkling misty dawn of time so far away. I still feel fondness. There were those whom I had not known as well, but whom I now know better after having joined with the group in the memories and the sharing of just that one special evening on that warm summer night in August.

Support Our Troops...

Our "Support our Troops" yellow magnetic ribbons were stolen by some piece of human excrement.

I didn't notice mine last night when I left the parking lot at the college, but they either disappeared at home in the driveway or in some parking lot. So many people never learned this basic fact of civilized life: IF IT ISN"T YOURS - DON"T TOUCH!

The yellow ribbons are not a political statement. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the magnets is going to the fund for the families of our National Guard members presently deployed to the Middle East. We remember the men and women who serve, and we pray for their safe return. I deplore the deaths and the injuries in this war, as in all others, and as a military family, we know that there are so many lonely separations and times of hardship that affect our community, both military and civilian.

The next thing I attach to my car will stay.

My PBS station scheduling...and global warming

We were enjoying the new episodes in the British series "Foyle's War." But Sunday evening at the usual time, my PBS station had no trace of the third episode, nor was there any sign of the fourth episode in the guide for this month. Now, the guide doesn't include anything after about midnight at all, so imagine my surprise when I emailed the station and the reply was: "Oh, we were going to run it in the overnight hours about 1am, but technical difficulties precluded this. " ? Here we have a new episode of a new series. Something like this doesn't come along very often these days on Public Television. Add that to the fact that I had no way to know they were planning on offering it in the middle of the night. Oh - I am supposed to go to their website and what? Print out the schedule?! I get the guide because I send a yearly pittance to the station, and it would be nice to have the WHOLE broadcasting schedule in the guide.

Now, with the demographics of Public Television showing that the audience is older and pretty small, you would think that a new series would be a headliner event. The OTHER PBS station in the area, from the state across the lake, has the series on in prime time every Sunday night. This week it is preempted for a special, but there it is, in their guide for next week, so my day is happier. I really like the OTHER station and I support them too.

If Public Television is going to grow and keep on getting viewership, they better get some idea of scheduling for more of the masses, both in programming and in timing. Wouldn't Friday night be a nice time for a really good movie in prime time? Even an old B&W classic? For heavens sake, that is not the time I want to see political pundits envelope the planet in hot air. HHmmm...is politics the real cause of global warming?

Reunion...

This weekend is a high school reunion, year unmentioned. It will be interesting to see how everyone has made peace with the world over the years. Unfortunately a couple of my really good friends from that time are not to be found, so they won't be there. Well, many of the people I remember fondly will be there, so I am sure we will enjoy the evening. I haven't been able to attend any of the reunions, in fact didn't know of them since the tenth. The wonder of the web has changed all that. I added my email to the list at the high school alumni site, and there you go.

I was disappointed in Johnny Depp's "The Secret Window." Not very good. Creepy without any redeeming resolution. Johnny must have needed the cash. Looking forward to Juliet Binoche and Jean Reno in "Jet Lag" which is rented and awaits our viewing. I just saw "The Others" over the weekend, and I have to say it is well done and gripping. Nicole Kidman is, as usual, a flawless actress. She was at her peak in "The Hours", a film which I recommend only for the performances, as the story is a bit too long in the telling.

Steve Jobs recovery...

I wish Steve Jobs a speedy recovery. I know that his health is directly related to Apple as a company as well. I read the positive prognosis in the articles regarding his illness, and I certainly hope they are 100% accurate.