It's now three days after our 25th reunion, and the memories of Saturday night are still fresh in my mind. It was good to see everybody, rekindle old friendships (sorry I didn't recognize you Raybee...the Harry Potter glasses really threw me off), and take advantage of opportunities to build new friendships.

While we were preparing for the reunion, Kay Wright Spencer and I had the opportunity to get to know each other. We grew up together, and even lived very close to each other, yet we didn't know each other. While I don't think I could tell you much about her that most of you don't already know (and vice versa), what I can tell you is that I was amazed at the number of things we have in common. Interests, passions, fears...things which we didn't notice 25 years ago because like the majority of our classmates, we were too pigeon-holed into our little groups. We defined ourselves--and sought our friends--by what we did. That was our comfort zone. I am sure the same phenomenon exists today, but what a pity that teenage minds can't get a broader view of their surroundings. In a way it makes me sad to think of the missed opportunities for friendship "back in the day." On the other hand, though, the joy of new friends is more exciting at our age--an age when hopefully we can welcome new friends into our lives based on WHO we are, and not just WHAT we do.

How about you? How many of our classmates did you not have the chance to get to know during high school? Have you discovered that you have more in common than you thought with some of them?

Yours,

Mike Beckner