Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Growing older, growing up.

Hodak's is the best little OLD chicken restaurant in town, so famous they scoff at advertising because there's usually a waiting line. It's a neighborhood icon in South St. Louis city. You never know who you will see when you go there.

Five couples: Pat & Phil, and also Ron & Betty were high school sweethearts who are still married after all these years. Bill & I are happy in our almost 20 year marriage; Ray & Jeri, and Chuck & Linda are in committed relationships.

We gathered for food, fun and fellowship. Those guys are sure showing their age, but we gals haven't changed a bit since high school.

As we rehashed old stories, we unearthed our histories. The longer we sat there laughing and sharing... the adults we are today became the high school kids we used to be in 1963. There was Chuck walking down the hallowed halls bucking authority with shoulder length hair. Ray the wise mouth, Phil the funny guy, Ron the party animal. Then there was  my poor hubby and Jeri who were outsiders trying to fit in. We girls had teased or flipped hair back then, and we had to have the lastest shoes and fashions. Prom queens and everything in between...we have evolved. We are comfortable in our own skin, wrinkled as it may be, and we wear comfortable shoes and fashions now.

Such talent and creativity at our table of ten: a famous woman artist, two successful musicians, a writer, someone who is making unique coffee tables that sell for thousand$, and a woman who was on the Price is Right recently and won a green Ninja motorcycle. It was delivered to her door in a Hollywood truck. Every single person in our group has made contributions to this world, their families, their work place. A few of us still work, while others prefer retirement.

More famous than we realize, our greatest accomplishments, cultivated in youth, attained as we grew older, are merely the things that make others awe. In our own families, we are all held in high etseem because of the simple things that make us unique to our loved ones: hugs, kind words and the advice and love we dispense across the generations, because some of us are still sandwiched.

As we swapped stories, I looked at each of us and realized that we are all stars, especially in the eyes of our next generation of little patience-testers. Some of my classmates yearn for grandchildren they probably will never have. Some of us worry enedlessly about the ones we do have.
As we hugged good-bye, we vowed to do it again, soon.

Growing older happens no matter how we try to stop the hands of time.

Growing up...sometimes it takes a lifetime.

We are getting there.

10 comments:

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Before my mother passed away I was fortunate to attend her 45th high school reunion with her. Her high school BFF met us at the hotel ahead of the reunion and I was amazed to see those 45 years slip away from both women. They hugged and cried and laughed, and picked up right where they left off decades ago. Friends of the heart never leave us, I guess. And that is a very good thing.

Connie said...

It is such a joy to spend time with old friends--those who have known you for years. Sounds like you shared a good meal and lots of memories.

Bookie said...

Linda, this was wonderful. Enjoyed how you captured what we all feel. Close to home for me. Will be glad to see my own teapot.

Debora said...

It's amazing how the simple things become the most important (they really always were) as we age. I stood in line behind a gal I thought I knew the other day. We attended the same high school. She said she'd just had her 40th class reunion. I thought 40...dang that's old. Then I did the math, my 40th is next year!

Val said...

My mom gets together with her old school cronies every few months. They encourage the men to pursue other interests, rather than hang around like lost puppies or top dogs. Sometimes, gals just wanna be gals.

Pat Wahler said...

Seems like the older we get the more we appreciate friends of many years.

Pat
Critter Alley

River said...

How long does growing up take anyway? I'm 61 and still pretty childish, my kids are more grown up than me.

Sioux Roslawski said...

Thank goodness you and Bill are both childlike in many ways. (There's a huge difference between "childlike" and "childish.") You both are not afraid to enjoy life as it comes...

Tammy said...

One thing I love about Facebook is that so many friends from high school are on it. But to get together in person? You said it. Beautifully.

Susan said...

Hi Linda...How nice you got together with old friends and had FUN! Susan p.s. Thanks for all the visits!