Without too much planning, I made an effort to attend my School Reunion this year,
With a slow start and a cold shower today (because bits of Ceres was left without power since yesterday afternoon) I was up and ready to leave Ceres early, driving to Worcester to attend my 25-year school reunion. It is still hard for me to appreciate the fact that it has been 25-year since I left school to start a life as an adult. I know that on my “About” page I wrote “after five years at a technical, boarding high school for boys (<- the definition of “FUN” for those who do not know, look it up)” but there were some interesting thoughts that filled my mind on the drive over. Like everything in life, not all is well and good every step of the way. I little voice inside of me still said that we could divert, turn around and leave as I drove through the gate of the school that “shaped” me as a child. It certainly has been a while, and after finding a place to park, I stopped for a minute, sitting under the trees to just exhale and take in the moment, the very heavy moment. Living in the present Phil… or at least trying very hard to with all the memories and emotions that are surfacing from “files” buried deep, deep down below. I pulled my focus and tried to remember what I said yesterday… the fact that “I am sure that each and every one of us are a legend, and hero, and have achieved something spectacular. (me included). I should remember that…” With the hamster in my head ready-ish, and my anxiety back in it’s place, I took my bag and started the walk to the meeting point in front of (my) old school assembly hall. Absolutely surreal. Keep it together Phil.
The small circle of people started to grow and slowly, one by one we started to greet one another and (in some cases) re-introduce ourselves to one another. Wow, somehow, through some miracle (if you ask me), we all grew up, became adults and “legends”. Formalities aside, we started on the tour of the school buildings, workshops and popping in our heads at some of the hostels too. Things have certainly changed around here, lots of (shall I call it) improvement and certainly heaps of progress, keeping up with the times. “Kom binne om te leer”. Instantly I was transported back to the 1990-tees, a small kid in a big school, fighting back emotions and feelings, exposing my senses to something that shaped my past, touching the walls and the trees, taking in the present moment in time. Between lots of chitter and chatter, we strolled through the passages of history and into classrooms like a step back in time, re-experiencing it in slow motion. Hmmm (the thinking emoji). Onto the workshops and afterwards a quick look at the hostels. The buildings have changed little, but the structure and organisation are completely different, with even one of them being a girls boarding house. Keeping up with the world today and stepping into progress for the future.
After the tour, we carried on with lunch in the school assembly hall and after taking “updated” school photo’s we attempted a conference call to include other alumni that could not join us in person today – for whatever reason. Conversation grew and slowly started to seem normal between some of us, old friends, about back in the day and who we all became. Closer to the evening, we met at the “Donkie Republiek” (an alumni club of the school) and the real party started. Their were some fun games and auctions to ensure we raise a little money too with the fires burning in the background and the brandy flowing out of the bar.
I took a glimpse at the sunset, looking out over the sports fields of the schools and embracing the person that I have become. Giving myself a proverbial hug as well as congratulating myself for who I am today, “making” it this far in life. What could the next 25 years of my life possibly have in store? Will I be proud of those and will I still feel like the “a legend, and hero, and have achieved something spectacular”. I purchased Gerhard, our old head boy, a coke and thanked him for organising the whole thing and told him to sit down and enjoy the thing he created. The party started to get wild, so I did what I do best… ducked and dived, calling it a day, a day to remember. To you next 25 years Phil, may they be as interesting as the past 25… only time will tell.
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43.5323 – 172.5567
12 October 2024
FP-275
4 responses to “My 25-year High School Reunion.”
25 years is definitely a very long span – and then to go back – Sjoe ..
I was at my 10 year reunion and that was many many years ago – and even that was a surreal moment in time – also brough back lots of emotions and memories – never had one again though ..
“I am sure that each and every one of us are a legend, and hero, and have achieved something spectacular. (me included). I should remember that…”
You are exactly that and the next 25 will be exactly that and more – I believe .. ‘-)
We should indeed just “remember” ‘-)
ps – “Donkie Republiek” (an alumni club of the school) – hehe – most Afrikaans SA shools have one of these – mine also had a name – just do not remember 😉
Forever a legend… in my own world.
Wow. I find it difficult to put myself in your shoes, but maybe that’s because I am both fascinated and worried about whether I would be able to cope with what you have subjected yourself to in the last couple of months.
To say your mind must be in a state of turmoil is a massive understatement, but like other people in your life I am full of admiration and respect for what you have achieved and how you have done it with the three ‘H’s. Honour, humility and humour. (yes another of my little sayings)
I thought I had a lot to ‘unpack’ (mentally) after my short but busy visit to South Africa, but my goodness where will you start?
I think we both know the answer – on the trail.
You’re a good man Phil and an outstanding friend. “Good on ya” as we say in New Zealand.
Like we all have our own sayings, so do we have our own experiences… and like many of yours, I would find it incredibly difficult to put myself in your shoes too. “Turmoil” is probably a good word to describe things and yes certainly, the Te Araroa Trail is calling. Finish what I have started.