Second journey- the past
Aug. 19th, 2012 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
coyotegothLife being what it is, I recently had two major events schedule themselves on top of each other: the wedding of my dear friends Anne and Kai (which will get its own entry), and the Megareunion of my high school, in which all members of the last 50 years' worth of classes were invited back to Potsdam to celebrate. (I grew up in a small town in rural Northern New York, which is why this was at all feasible). At an estimate, there were about 60 people in my graduating class; if one assumes this number as a constant, that would be about 3,000 students over 50 years. (In the event, about 300 people attended the Megareunion- not a bad turnout.)
There were problems, of course: the weather that weekend wound up being severe enough to keep several planes grounded (especially the Cape Air puddle jumpers that were the only planes that service that area). Too, I had been developing a severe ear infection- it came on rather swiftly, and quickly became rather debilitating (hearing loss; pain if I slept with that side of my head on the pillow). By the time I was picked up in Massena by The Sainted Mitch (and that's about all the name checking I'm going to do in this entry: suffice to say, saw many people I miss ferociously; wish some others had made the scene), my ear had become painful enough after the pressure changes of repeated flights that I would up making an unscheduled emergency room stop that rather bollocked quite a few of my social plans. I got to Maxfield's, the main local restaurant, about 15 minutes after 90% of the people I'd most wanted to see had left; I briefly enjoyed the spectacle of 15-year-olds and 50-year-olds partying together in the street, then called it a night.
Plans the next day were vague; there was noise of a kickball game out by the high school (amusingly, I'd attended both of the rival schools at various points). Took Mitch to breakfast, then we headed out; saw many beloved at the game; I didn't feel up to playing, between earfoo and drugfoo, but had a good time cheering people on. Along the way over the weekend, I was further amused to see how we were discussing old crushes, and how some of my own old heartflames glowed more brightly at various points; too, I know of at least two couples who *became* couple about 20 years after knowing each other in high school, which I find immensely touching.
At any rate- the time melted away like snow; far too quickly, I was watching the familiar procession of buildings as we left town, and headed home. (Along the way, we passed Bobbi Bastedo's old home; I can't put into words how closely I felt her presence this weekend, and always.)
There were problems, of course: the weather that weekend wound up being severe enough to keep several planes grounded (especially the Cape Air puddle jumpers that were the only planes that service that area). Too, I had been developing a severe ear infection- it came on rather swiftly, and quickly became rather debilitating (hearing loss; pain if I slept with that side of my head on the pillow). By the time I was picked up in Massena by The Sainted Mitch (and that's about all the name checking I'm going to do in this entry: suffice to say, saw many people I miss ferociously; wish some others had made the scene), my ear had become painful enough after the pressure changes of repeated flights that I would up making an unscheduled emergency room stop that rather bollocked quite a few of my social plans. I got to Maxfield's, the main local restaurant, about 15 minutes after 90% of the people I'd most wanted to see had left; I briefly enjoyed the spectacle of 15-year-olds and 50-year-olds partying together in the street, then called it a night.
Plans the next day were vague; there was noise of a kickball game out by the high school (amusingly, I'd attended both of the rival schools at various points). Took Mitch to breakfast, then we headed out; saw many beloved at the game; I didn't feel up to playing, between earfoo and drugfoo, but had a good time cheering people on. Along the way over the weekend, I was further amused to see how we were discussing old crushes, and how some of my own old heartflames glowed more brightly at various points; too, I know of at least two couples who *became* couple about 20 years after knowing each other in high school, which I find immensely touching.
At any rate- the time melted away like snow; far too quickly, I was watching the familiar procession of buildings as we left town, and headed home. (Along the way, we passed Bobbi Bastedo's old home; I can't put into words how closely I felt her presence this weekend, and always.)
