This was a fun weekend.
On Friday, I drove up to where I grew up for a relaxing couple of days, where I had the opportunity to reconnect with some people who I have not seen in 40 years. It was the 40th reunion for the Onteora Central School Class of 1984…..this was my brother’s class, but I was invited to crash, as I crashed their 25th reunion as well.
It was great to see so many familiar faces, as even though I was a freshman when this class was graduating, I have more of a connection to this class than I do to my own. There were a lot of musicians in the Class of ‘84 that I looked up to, and it was great to have the chance to reminisce.
Friday night was an informal gathering in Woodstock, and on Saturday night they had the reunion dinner. In between, I got an AMAZING massage and facial on Saturday morning, I caught up with one of my classmates in Kingston in the morning, and another classmate in Saugerties in the afternoon. I even made time to go to the ham dinner at my brother’s church before the reunion dinner!
The weather was FANTASTIC! It had to have been the peak weekend for the fall foliage, as the colors on the trees were tremendous. I drove up through the Pocono Mountains on Friday, and between those mountains and the Catskill Mountains, I’ve never seen the area look so vibrant with fall colors!
The thing that I truly enjoyed was how everyone was so incredibly genuine at the reunion….it wasn’t about comparing careers or successes – it was about people asking how others were doing, and being very engaged with each other. There were no cliques dominating the room, which only confirms that with age comes maturity.
I’m hoping to get back up that way during the holidays, and I hope to catch up with other school friends when I do. This was an incredible weekend of laughter, great conversation, and reconnection. For this, I’m truly thankful.
To the 1984 OCS alumni who so graciously welcomed me to be a part of their celebration, you all are PURE CLASS.
Lane's Back Nine - my online diary as a 55-year old 