FIFTY YEARS

I have been working for a few months as a member of the committee to plan and produce a 50th reunion for the Jordan High Class of 1959. It has been a lot of fun -- mostly because it has provided an opportunity to re-connect with a few people who have been good friends, but who have not been in my life so directly in recent years. Many of you know that sometimes when I try to say something it just "falls out" in light verse. Some people call it a talent -- I think it might be something like ADD, where my brain chooses to do something with little or no direction from me.

Either way, I have decided to post a little verse here that sort of sums up my thoughts on living 50 years past high school.

FIFTY YEARS HAVE NOT CHANGED ME . . . .

The last fifty years have not changed me.
The same thoughts still roll around in my head.
I still think the same things are funny.
And I still try to be well read.
Inside, I don't feel much different, UNTIL I CATCH A GLIMPSE IN THE MIRROR.

The last fifty years have not changed me.
I still laugh, love, cry, and have fun.
There are plenty of friends and family
To keep me still "on the run."
I am still the very same person, I think, UNTIL I STEP ON THE SCALES.

The last fifty years have not changed me.
The same things still make me afraid.
The same things still make my worry.
And I still wonder if I make the grade.
I think I'm still the same person, UNTIL SOMEONE'S CAMERA SHOOTS MY FACE.

The last fifty years have not changed me.
I still feel young and spry.
I really think I am not that much different.
But then what catches my eye
ARE THE BALD HEADS AND AILMENTS AND WRINKLES OF FORMER CLASSMATES I HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A WHILE.

The last fifty years have not changed me.
My health is as good as can be.
But I take a few more prescriptions
And when I filled out my medical history
I thought I was still the same person, TILL I SAW IT WAS THREE PAGES LONG.

The last fifty years have changed one thing, though.
Even though we remain classmates and friends.
We are getting more frequent reminders
That this life of ours eventually ends.
We read the obituaries and find our classmates memorialized there.

This part has no funny punch line. Together we can take just a moment to acknowledge that some of our class is not here today because they have died. Some very shortly after graduation and in the last year, more and more have passed on. This brings us to the relization that we really have lived much of our lives and it behooves us to take stock, ponder perspective, and count our blessings.