DONALD WROTE THIS AFTER OUR FIRST REUNION. UNFORTUNATELY, A FEW YEARS LATER HE WAS TAKEN SUDDEN ON A CRUISE WITH HIS WIFE.
BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO COME OR NOT TO COME TO THE REUNION - READ HIS WONDERFUL WORDS AND DO COME HOME AGAIN. WE WANT TO SEE YOU
YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN
I just returned from my high school reunion … and I’m already counting the weeks until the next one. You see, you can go home again.
I live in a retirement community now … new friends, good friends. And I was sympathetic when the mother of one passed away – but only sorry for him. At the reunion, when a classmate told me his dad was gone, it felt different. I knew his dad. We played touch football in the street, he drove us to the bowling alley … and it got me thinking. About community … about family.
When was the last time any one said to you, “you look just like your Dad?” Or you said “you’re as pretty as your Mom?”
All parents were our parents. The women led our Cub Scout pack, drove us home when it started to rain, washed and bandaged the scraped knees. The men coached our Little League team, picked us up from the movies, made us feel safe when the ‘big’ kids came around on Halloween. We obeyed them like our own folks … probably more so. We’re moved by their passing.
So we’re not just being polite when we ask someone to say “hello” to their aging mother who sits in assisted living. We knew her years ago … we remember when she brought cupcakes to the school library bake sale. She was family.
The brothers and sisters ... we feel pride when we learn of their accomplishments and sorrow for the hard times they suffered. They looked to us as if we were their own siblings. And our family grew.
Upon first sight we barely recognize our first boyfriend or girlfriend. Heck, it was more than fifty years ago. Then we smile, hug and trade pictures of spouses and children … reminisce and laugh. The years don’t erase the memories and the good times.
The office manager describes the business he operates and you remember when he struggled with Algebra. The retired pediatrician recaps her career and you can’t help but tease, recalling her hesitation while dissecting a frog in Biology.
Times are different now. We’re a less stable society – children live in three or four communities during their school careers … we were lucky … we stayed in one. Go back and look around. The town seems smaller, the school looks run down, the old neighborhood is strange … but our friends – maybe with a few extra pounds and gray hair – they’ll never change. The old familiarity is still there and we somehow remember everything about them. We are forever connected in a powerful way.
So we savor our minutes together … we don’t know what the next five years will bring. The memorial for lost classmates touches us deeply and we understand how fragile life is. The scholar, the actress, the athlete, the girl you’ve always regretted not asking out – taken before their time. Taken before our time. I want to see you all next time … hang in there, do your best to stay healthy … I will too.
Because, even if just for a short time, you can go home again.
Thanks for saving the note from Donnie and then having the thought of sharing it again now. I remember getting it just after the last reunion and thinking that it was a little "corny" but filled with nice sentiments. I even called him and told him so. It was the last time we spoke. Seeing it now makes me very sad. I guess I thought that I would always get a chance to shake his hand again and kid him about it. His words ring so true. His note is the most eloquent invitation to this 50th reunion that I could imagine.
Looking forward to seeing you-and a lot of others in Sept.
Alana....thank you for sharing that very poignant letter from Don Ellenberg. My last recollection of him was chatting at the 45th reunion. It never even crossed my mind that one of us might not be around for the 50th. Unfortunately, we lost Don too soon and I will be unable to attend this years reunion.
But I will be thinking of you all and hoping it is as good a time as the last one....Please keep in touch...I do value all of the memories with the Class of 1964!!
I just saw Don's note. It was so touching. It seems like we were kids just yesterday. I hope he is looking down on us smiling. He was always a sweet guy. He was taken too soon. We will all miss him!
Don was my first boyfriend. My first kiss. It was wonderful rekindling our friendship after many years, and I was so happy that we stayed in touch. Then suddenly I stopped hearing from him. I was devastated when I heard the news. I know how much he was looking forward to his 50th high school reunion. Re-reading his poignant letter (posted above) made me cry.
Don, you will be missed at our reunion, but you will be in our hearts and in our memories.
Alana Krantz (Hayden)
DONALD WROTE THIS AFTER OUR FIRST REUNION. UNFORTUNATELY, A FEW YEARS LATER HE WAS TAKEN SUDDEN ON A CRUISE WITH HIS WIFE.
BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO COME OR NOT TO COME TO THE REUNION - READ HIS WONDERFUL WORDS AND DO COME HOME AGAIN. WE WANT TO SEE YOU
YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN
I just returned from my high school reunion … and I’m already counting the weeks until the next one. You see, you can go home again.
I live in a retirement community now … new friends, good friends. And I was sympathetic when the mother of one passed away – but only sorry for him. At the reunion, when a classmate told me his dad was gone, it felt different. I knew his dad. We played touch football in the street, he drove us to the bowling alley … and it got me thinking. About community … about family.
When was the last time any one said to you, “you look just like your Dad?” Or you said “you’re as pretty as your Mom?”
All parents were our parents. The women led our Cub Scout pack, drove us home when it started to rain, washed and bandaged the scraped knees. The men coached our Little League team, picked us up from the movies, made us feel safe when the ‘big’ kids came around on Halloween. We obeyed them like our own folks … probably more so. We’re moved by their passing.
So we’re not just being polite when we ask someone to say “hello” to their aging mother who sits in assisted living. We knew her years ago … we remember when she brought cupcakes to the school library bake sale. She was family.
The brothers and sisters ... we feel pride when we learn of their accomplishments and sorrow for the hard times they suffered. They looked to us as if we were their own siblings. And our family grew.
Upon first sight we barely recognize our first boyfriend or girlfriend. Heck, it was more than fifty years ago. Then we smile, hug and trade pictures of spouses and children … reminisce and laugh. The years don’t erase the memories and the good times.
The office manager describes the business he operates and you remember when he struggled with Algebra. The retired pediatrician recaps her career and you can’t help but tease, recalling her hesitation while dissecting a frog in Biology.
Times are different now. We’re a less stable society – children live in three or four communities during their school careers … we were lucky … we stayed in one. Go back and look around. The town seems smaller, the school looks run down, the old neighborhood is strange … but our friends – maybe with a few extra pounds and gray hair – they’ll never change. The old familiarity is still there and we somehow remember everything about them. We are forever connected in a powerful way.
So we savor our minutes together … we don’t know what the next five years will bring. The memorial for lost classmates touches us deeply and we understand how fragile life is. The scholar, the actress, the athlete, the girl you’ve always regretted not asking out – taken before their time. Taken before our time. I want to see you all next time … hang in there, do your best to stay healthy … I will too.
Because, even if just for a short time, you can go home again.
Donad Ellenberg
Susan Hiester
alana
thank you for your tender post from donald. a classmate wrote to me after some reunion
ago that he had a crush on me in highschool. he just sweetly wanted me to know what it was like then and was happy remembering. i think
but am not sure that it was Donald. ?
hi alana. hope you are going strong. love suzi
Lloyd Gordon
Alana
Thanks for saving the note from Donnie and then having the thought of sharing it again now. I remember getting it just after the last reunion and thinking that it was a little "corny" but filled with nice sentiments. I even called him and told him so. It was the last time we spoke. Seeing it now makes me very sad. I guess I thought that I would always get a chance to shake his hand again and kid him about it. His words ring so true. His note is the most eloquent invitation to this 50th reunion that I could imagine.
Looking forward to seeing you-and a lot of others in Sept.
Lloyd
Lynn Johnson (Herbst)
Alana....thank you for sharing that very poignant letter from Don Ellenberg. My last recollection of him was chatting at the 45th reunion. It never even crossed my mind that one of us might not be around for the 50th. Unfortunately, we lost Don too soon and I will be unable to attend this years reunion.
But I will be thinking of you all and hoping it is as good a time as the last one....Please keep in touch...I do value all of the memories with the Class of 1964!!
Lynn (Johnson) Herbst
Rochelle Allman (Askinazi)
I just saw Don's note. It was so touching. It seems like we were kids just yesterday. I hope he is looking down on us smiling. He was always a sweet guy. He was taken too soon. We will all miss him!
Jessica Rosenn
Don was my first boyfriend. My first kiss. It was wonderful rekindling our friendship after many years, and I was so happy that we stayed in touch. Then suddenly I stopped hearing from him. I was devastated when I heard the news. I know how much he was looking forward to his 50th high school reunion. Re-reading his poignant letter (posted above) made me cry.
Don, you will be missed at our reunion, but you will be in our hearts and in our memories.