Reunion

June 21st, 2008 Posted in writing

At my 45th high school reunion a few weeks ago, I discovered that I wasn’t there only to see friends and classmates from almost half a century ago and tell stories about the old days. I was there to let them remind me of who I was when we were all in high school

Their reminiscences about the four years we’d spent together reintroduced me to the various persons I’d been then: an awkward fifteen year old riding the city bus to school, an excited sixteen year old with his new driver’s license, a nervous seventeen year old double-dating to the senior prom with my friend and his date, and that was just the start.

I tend to believe that I’ve stayed much the same through life. Maybe most of us believe that. But we are always a mix of past and present, then and now, and I found it nice to meet the younger me again, if only for a weekend.

  1. No Responses to “Reunion”

  2. By Erik on Jun 24, 2008

    Hey Fr. Majka! Blog-tastic! Good work on converting the website!!!

    -Erik

  3. By Mike on Jun 30, 2008

    Frank;
    I thought I would post a comment and respond to your e-mail. Someday I may return to Prep for a reunion. I prefered the reunion at Holy Cross becuase it is still a part of my life through the activities of of my mom.

    As to your reflection on your past as it expresses itself in your present: “I tend to believe that I’ve stayed much the same through life. Maybe most of us believe that. But we are always a mix of past and present, then and now, and I found it nice to meet the younger me again, if only for a weekend.”
    I agree because, like you, when I return to where I started, whether Omaha or U of Detroit, I can see the beginning of me. Today, I stand before you as a
    • Man, with all that wiring implies
    • Husband and lover of Anne for 36 years, with all that those feelings embodies
    • Spiritual and Religious person, with the faith and ritual comforts
    • Employer and employee, with all the responsibility and vision that engenders
    • Industry leader, with all of the recognition and the ability to explain the career I have chosen to others
    • Father, Grandfather, Son, Brother, Uncle, Son-in-law, Cousin, with what families bring, including over 400 years of the Irish clan of Martin
    • American, with the sense of Independence and responsibility of those freedoms we count in blood
    • Veteran, with the experience of sharing a common goal in a close personnel setting.
    • Learner, with all the joy and excitement that new ideas and places gives me
    • Middle income, with the freedom and obligations that the rewards of work provide.

    All of these attributes do not act on me or people I am with at any one time but they do come to bear at some point. I love to share my vision of what can be. Not just the possibility of that the world holds for me, but for all of me. All o fwhich started in Nebraska.

  4. By Thurder F on Jun 30, 2008

    Majka, you’re a genius. Great WeBlog, great interviews & commentary and great visit to Omaha for the reunion.

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