Saturday, October 21, 2017
It happened. I attended my 25th high school reunion tonight. And it was AMAZING!... Full disclosure: I arrived with great trepidation and disinterest. In fact, it was the same trepidation and disinterest that swayed my decision to not attend the 10th and 20th reunions. I arrived tonight thinking there really no value in the experience for me, since my dear friend Allison Knobel Sitton would not be present. She passed away from a graceful fight with cancer in 2011, after spending the better part of 29 years pouring into my spirit the ideal of “reconciliation.”
Allison and I couldn’t have been from more disparate experiences; she from an ivy-educated white family, and I from a community college-educated black family; she with crafty clothing that was always appropriate for the season, and I was lucky for the lay-away option to finance my annual wardrobe. Yet, that and more was reconciled over countless breakfasts at Sbisa Dining Hall and two-for-Tuesday hamburgers at Carter’s Burgers as we engaged in deep, rich dialogue that led to cultural understanding. It was she who provided me the vivid details of the 10th reunion. And because of her passing by the time of the 20th reunion (2012), was reason for me (as a bereaved) to avoid that convening. However tonight, I spectacularly-arrived to represent Allison’s legacy of friendship to me; and then report back to her on how the Vikings behaved. Indeed she would be proud of you all. Because as our alma mater reminds, “Vikings who bring us honor, fighting with the fiercest pride, spread thy fame our alma mater through the world both far and wide.”
“And in fact Allison, so many of our classmates are fighting daily for peace, gratification and validation.”
To the Viking football player who is charged with raising “twin kings” in a most uncertain and sometimes hostile society that may not always show them their true value; I pray you impart the integrity we learned from our Bryan elders to last them their whole life’s fight.
To the Viking beauty suffering through depression and confidence issues; I can see to your heart and know there to reside faith and compassion enough to pull you through this. For you and others, remember we are a “resilient” people, shaped by experience, but always in for the fight.
To the “wise” Vikings (sisters, in fact) who always coalesce a radically inclusive cadre of compatriots; you remind us all to be open to variance and hospitable to strangers.
To the Viking introvert who made my spirit chuckle with the tale of “always knowing of the after-party, but always directionally challenged in finding it”; you reminded me how funny it is that high school is a microcosmic-experience that sometimes follows us into adulthood…even 20 years later!
To the Viking darling who relished celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Shy-Annes; though you didn’t join us until the 10th grade (immersing yourself in “our culture”), we celebrate with you the heartbreak of loosing your loved-one and the joy of finding new love. You even provided me secure “covering” at tonight’s event, and then thanked me for sitting next to you.
To the countless other Vikings I had the pleasure to reminisce with tonight: the Missouri farmer, the Ohio social worker, the Georgia free-spirits, and the red-head-blue-eyed (or green?) College Station nurse; you all shocked my spirit and left it rejoicing after each exchange. My gratitude for you will radiate until our next reunion. I think mine and other’s gratitude is best articulated by our impromptu trio-on-the-patio singing of “Thank You Lord.” For the opportunity and blessing of reunion, we say thanks!... “Though we grow and leave thy portals, never will our spirits die. We remain forever faithful, alma mater Bryan High.”
