Planning With Schoolmates

April 19

Letter to Rob — Last night attended a planning meeting for next year’s 50th year class reunion. Chatted with Cabby Berard, Mark Ditch, Dawn Dozier, Talu, and Joyce Tobben. Sat next to Joyce and we kind of cheated off each other’s meeting notes. There was an instant warmth and rapport between us, same as I had remembered from high school and have sometimes doubted. Did the prettiest girl in school really like me as well as I recalled? I think she did. She told me last night, “You were always friendly.” Being a novelistic observer I would say both Tom and Joyce felt flattered by the other’s attention, each feeling like the lucky one. 

It was enjoyable being with these people, being on an instant first-name basis with them, the feeling of friendship very strong even as you’re saying to some of them, “I remember your name, but did we ever know one another?” Surprising to see people remembering me with more detail than I would have expected. Two of them to me: “You used to wear your hair long.” Cabby remembered that I came from across the river. Was curious to hear what my life had been like since school. Dawn was openly pleased that I recognized her—she seemed exactly like a girl who was remembering I had taken her to the movies once in 8th Grade and put my arm around her. Talu followed that moment quickly with, “Do you know who I am?” And I said, “Talu,” with the tone of “How could anyone forget Talu?” And she was pleased, too. One of the ladies, Carol Hassler (had a smokin bod in high school, and still draws your eye in that way, is married to Richard Henrick, the author of Crimson Tide and other thrillers, a Creve Coeur boy. Rick LaPlant is the one who got me to join up as the IT guy. He wasn’t there last night, but I’ll be seeing him in subsequent meetings. I’m still a little dazzled by the star power of Rick, Cabby, Talu, Joyce, even Mark Ditch. Am touched that people remember shy, loner Tom from across the river, that all these town people have welcomed me with that characteristic Washington courtesy. I felt comfortable and brought as much personality to the evening as anyone, but I still feel like the lucky one.