|
As I’ve reflected on Saturday nights reunion I realized I had a hard time leaving. I wondered how come...and reflecting is something I’ve always done, this time, just crazy enough to post it on Facebook (and here on our Kennedy78 site)...so here it goes.
First, I realized that "hard time leaving" didn't mean I pine for the good old days of high school. I surely would not want to go back. I had a decent experience in high school, and I wouldn’t want to go back to any time in my life. The best days are yet to arrive.
What I did realize was that it was so great to be with everyone. Even being with those I don’t know or recognize! And though I spoke to a lot of folks, some not as long as others unfortunately, there were a lot more people I would have loved to have spoken to...even folks I only know by name. I also enjoyed just watching others have a great time with their friends of days gone by. It was a cool night.
With that said I have also come to realize, after many conversations on Saturday night, that we have a lot of impressive and admirable folks in the Bloomington Kennedy Class of ‘78. I imagine we knew that, as we have Kent Hrbek, who many of us were bragging about back in the day (and may still brag about at times) and Lisa Carlson, who did and still does, some amazing work (that we heard on the radio, whether we knew it or not!) in the music business. They represent us well!! And there are quite a few others, as I came to reflect, who are impressive people as well. Not because of some well known accomplishment, but because of who they are as people. Here are just a few folks, who impressed me the other night, and I believe represent the many others of you who are notable people!
Pam Peterson, who works as a psychiatrist (hope I remember that right) in Southern Minnesota. The fact that she also helps with folks much older than us, though we are a lot closer than we used to be, on a regular basis is more than admirable. The smile on her face when she told me she loves working with octogenarians spoke volumes. And Richard Albrecht (first reunion he has attended!!), who like many in our class, has served our country well. And doing it by flying BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS. How cool!! And yet we know that can be more dangerous than it sounds. Thanks Richard, and thank you to ALL the others who served our country or continue to do so.
I ran into Brad Schmidt and he is another inspiring ‘78 grad. He and his bride have been serving people for over 23 years in the beautiful mountains of Washington State. Their hospitality and graciousness as resort owners are second to none! Which leads me to two women who, again, represent so many of us now, or in the future. Julie Olson recently became a first time grandma, and many of us know that joy. I was happy to hear she joined the grandparent crowd, and though that may not seem super admirable, ask her grandchild years from now how much they love her, or ask someone else of the sadness of not ever being a grandparent. They may give you a different answer. Or you can ask Dona Inman about being a GREAT-GRANDMA. That is crazy. :-)
I’ll close this out with one more, of the many I spoke to, remarkable person. I also must admit, speaking to him was the highlight of the night for me (writing this confirms that). Jim Lindgren served Eden Prairie, as a police officer and detective, for 32 years. As he and I spoke, I asked him about some of his most rewarding experiences. He told me the story of a 3 year-old girl, whose life he literally saved (off duty), and now that young girl is in her 20’s and living an exemplary life. To see the look on his face as he finished that story still chokes me up (yeah, I tear up at times, something that never happened during high school or college years) And to put icing on the cake, in my mind, in his retirement he has chosen to help a fellow classmate with his knowledge, wisdom and experience, in a remedial job, when he could be out hitting the links instead. I found this to be more than admirable and would like to believe that I would do something, of the sort, down the road.
Thanks Jim, and all the others that I spoke to, for sharing something that blessed my night. Not for what you’ve done and/or accomplished, but for being an inspirational human being.
So...this is a bit longer than intended, and Mr. Bergen and Kuklish may be happy to see I’m using some of the skills they taught me, it just kept coming to me that I was to write of some of these “ordinary” classmates. What caused me to reflect, let alone make mention of these classmates on a Facebook post? I don’t know for sure. However, it may be in order to encourage each of us, that though we may be another ordinary class graduating from Bloomington Kennedy, we have quite a few extraordinary people! And you’re one of them.
Until next time, thanks for letting me be a bit sappy, forgive me if I embarrassed any of you that I mention, keep enjoying this life’s journey in serving others, and be thankful for Facebook (and this website, that a few people use) so many of us can keep in touch. 
|
RIP Rick.
