Being at the school in May and walking down the aisle to be handed a
diploma during the official ceremony is of value, but that DOES NOT
APPLY to being in the class or attending our class of '64 reunion.

Being part of the class, experiencing the football, the basketball games
on Friday night, going to club Cherokee dances after the games, dragging
Santa Fe with friends and just hang-out with each other while we were
growing-up... that is what a class reunion is all about.

A class reunion is about seeing first time long gone by friends. It is
a reminder to one another of the love we had for each other and being
afraid to recognize it then, or more likely, not understanding what we
experienced was a form of love. Love that is pure. Love that shares the
same thrills, heartbreak and chemistry class.

A Fellowship of Innocence is probably what a class reunion celebrates. A
realization that in our youth, through our teens, we were innocent of many
things. The reality of life's hardships had not yet beaten us down and
dulled our sensibilities to accept the wrongs and evils that turned us
into the older, depressed, skeptical folks we once thought completely
wrong.

The class reunion is a celebration of the innocence of our acceptance of
one another and enjoying each other for who we are and not where we lived,
what we owed or where we attended college. We were innocent and so
treated one another like kids, forgiving, forgetting and moving on
together to the next event.

In the reunion, we celebrate our youth that we shared together, we
celebrate that we are still able to see the youth where wrinkles now cover
our faces. We celebrate life and the joy of one more day and the pleasure
of each others company, at least one more time.

Don't miss it! Go... be with your long ago, first time friends.

I am pulled between my long ago friends whom I still love and attending my
daughter's wedding June 26th. One is in Salina and the other is in
Houston. A choice but not a choice. My daughter is after all my daughter
whom I helped create and love. Who else could give her away?

So, I am pulled away from Salina and my friends yet again. BUT if time
and circumstance were within my power I would be in both places at once.

When you go to our 40th reunion, say hello and hug everyone you see there
for me!

Your class of '64 peer,

Bob Stalcup
(boborlinda_s@yahoo.com) 281-533-0334