Looking back over the past weekend I am really grateful for the time spent in my old hometown. Seeing this wonderful place with the eyes of an adult, made me appreciate it in a way that my teen-aged self never did.
Growing up there, I never would have thought to walk around town just looking at things. We drove. This weekend, I walked. Everywhere. Then I could stop and look at trees I used to climb, lanes I used to ride my bike on, and buildings where I once went to school.
I even stopped at the church where I went to Sunday School, and married husband number one. It’s a beautiful old church, made of stone. I so much wanted to marry Hubby number two there in the chapel, but the minister who was in residence would not marry us. I believe that the reason was, at the time he was going through a very bad divorce and so was prejudice against our union. After all, Henry VIII founded the Angelica Church, and how many wives did he have?
In any case, my grandparents are buried there and I went to their grave. and sort of visited with them.
Their grave site is overlooking a beautiful pond and knowing they are interned together makes me very happy. Grandma and Papa were truly in love. Grandma died in December and Papa followed along six months later. I still miss them very much.
The Reunion was that night and when we arrived this sign was showing for all to see.
The reunion party was super. So many old friends, and new ones as well. I think it is terrific that people that one was not exactly close to during High School, can become a friend after.
The food was terrific at the reunion. We had a Jamaican Grille, and the foods were all delicious. In fact, I cannot think of anything I tried that I did not like, except the collard greens, and I have never liked that.
However this, rice, shrimp in coconut milk sauce, jerk chicken, jalapeno corn bread, and fried plantains. They also had a fried bread and a dessert pudding that I cannot remember the name of, but which was very good. There was a man singing and playing steel drums, and I have to say, this was one of the nicest events I’ve been to in a very long time.
I hope that the next Reunion, in five years is similar to this one. Relaxed, fun and full of laughter. I’ve already volunteered to help with the computer work and mailing lists.
Sounds like it was great. I´ve never been to a reunion, because I didn´t finish high school, but I´m sure it would be interesting to see all those people after such a long time.
I agree with you, when you go back to the past you see everything with other eyes and more like a tourist ! I lived for years in Bonn but had never visited the Beethoven birth place, I did that when I was married, lol !