It’s funny the things you tend to recall when wandering down memory lane. Random tidbits from decades ago suddenly rush to the forefront, crystal clear as if having taken place yesterday; yet, at the time, they served as mere footnotes in a life rushing forward, full speed ahead.

Those who have followed my column are quite familiar with my penchant for nostalgia, whether reflecting upon debut dance recitals, former teachers and beloved mentors who have left indelible impressions, or family traditions and the countless memories they have borne over time.

As the years close in on my 20th high school reunion, another recurring theme has been my time as a proud member of the Lindy High Class of 2000. The year alone was momentous in its own right; the class associated with it earned equal billing.

Our official senior song, its lyrics sketched on the cover of our yearbooks, was “Good Riddance,” by Green Day - an admittedly ironic title, but intended as a fond homage in its message, “I hope you had the time of your life.”

And that we did.

Certainly, each person’s experience was unique, and while some may have counted down the days to graduation with a fervor comparable to a child anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus, by and large, it was a time of reveling in our youth.

All these years later, the words of my valedictory address echo somewhat hauntingly, as I remarked on the unlikelihood that “every student here today will ever be in the same place at the same time again.” It wasn’t too long before the reality of that statement sunk in with the untimely passing of several friends and fellow classmates.

Just last week, yet another member of our class was taken far too soon, a truly beautiful soul who lit up every room she entered. I can’t say that we were extremely close back in school; and yet, in those fleeting memories that race like a mini-movie through the mind, she was a constant presence.

Sitting in front of me in our alphabetical rows in class, passing through the hallway on the way to our lockers, working on homecoming floats after school at the local firehouse - always a sunny smile and a kind word.

Simply put, she stood out in a crowd that could be cruel, during a time that leant itself to the turmoil of the teen years, as someone who was, above all else, genuinely nice.

These last few days, I’ve found myself flipping through the pages of that yearbook - the one with the words etched on the cover, imparting us to “take the photographs and still frames in your mind; hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.”

The faces of those in our class stare back, ageless, frozen in time, the world before each and every one of us; no telling what opportunities lay just around the bend.

Nearly 20 years later, some of those “forks stuck in the road” have revealed themselves, directing us where to go . . . I only wish we were all still here to experience the rest of what life holds in store.

Published: October 25, 2018