Time flies when you’re having fun. Actually, time flies, whether you’re having fun or not. Trust me on that one. 🙂
I can’t believe it’s been a full year since I went to my final class reunion. This weekend last year, I was saying hellos to people I hadn’t seen in years and goodbyes to folks I’ll never see again. We laughed, we cried (damnit) 🙂 and we enjoyed each other’s company.
As you may recall, I almost didn’t go to the reunion at all. I was this close to letting this stupid disease dictate the terms of my day. Fortunately, I refused to let that happen and I went on to enjoy every minute of the weekend.
While some folks have kept in touch both online and in real life (thank you!!), I frequently think of everyone who was there and those who weren’t.
A few weeks after the reunion, as I reflected on the people across those 40 years ago, the lives we’ve lived, the dreams we shared, and what our future holds, I wrote this poem.
My friends and former classmates, I miss all of you, and I thank you for all the joys that you may have brought to my life over the years. This one’s for you.
Youth Would be Served
When all seems left but to count the days,
Aware the life which has passed you by,
Wander do thoughts to years long past,
Of dreams yet to rectify.
Harken back to times of youth,
When the world was ours to take,
Moments in time, days so alive,
Whether they be in laughter or heartbreak.
Memories made and lessons learned,
Be they with friends or with foe,
Eager to start our life journey,
Imagine the places we’d go.
We blazed a path, we forged ahead,
Resolved to make good on our own,
Intent to savor the best of life,
Into a future we could not have known.
Back we must look on those early days,
Our desire that youth would be served,
Imperfect the views through our prism now,
Left doubting if our outcome deserved.
