July 28, 2004
10 years later
By far the most satisfying times in my life are when things make sense. By this I mean those times when the “whys” have been addressed with clarity. This probably can be traced to an underlying belief in a sovereign Being who has some good idea of what I should be doing on this earth. Nevertheless, sometimes there is disarray, but other times events and people align to spectacular effect and I can stand back and say, “ah…so that’s why”.
I wasn’t looking forward to this reunion. As one-time class president, there was a certain sense of obligation I felt to at least give people the opportunity to get together. I didn’t want to be known as the one who dropped the ball. And of course, if I had any hand in planning it, I would have to attend as well. But the event I envisioned—4 hrs of small talk with people I don’t consider friends and probably wouldn’t see again—was not appealing and seemed like an utter waste. This was wrong, thankfully.
Other than a few extra pounds and more dubious hairlines, most people generally hadn’t changed much. Personalities seemed to be relatively intact, though there were a couple exceptions. Among the surprises: two former wallflowers were now peddling sex and/or related products on the web.
Then there was the guy who we had all written off as beautiful but hopelessly dim, who now seemed set on getting a PhD in philosophy or religion. We had imagined his head full of bong resin and bodybuilding techniques, not existential questions and Christian apologetics. He and I talked for some time about the role of teachers, the essence of the Christian faith, and how we had changed since high school. And we had gone through some similar stages, though on paper we appeared to have nothing in common. I won’t say that the course of my life was permanently altered, but there’s a crucial lesson there that would be reinforced hours later by a sermon on the parable of the sower. It’s true; you never really know where or how the Spirit moves.
The other purpose this evening served was to give a kind of closure to the past. This particular fella had been a friend of mine in elementary school, though we lost touch in our teens. It felt right to be friends as adults. Others I had simply not contacted since graduation, and it felt right to be friends again. There was even this guy, 
who had been a friend in childhood, but who I hadn’t seen in probably 20 years. He’s now engaged to the girl who grew up across the street from me. Small town.
There is something suspect about the way I up and left after high school without looking back. My path out of Warner Robins was littered with a strange mix of pride and shame—proud to move on, but sorry that I had not been better. And in re-entering that mini-society, some peace was made. I don’t regret those years as much, nor do I feel such need to distance myself from those people. I was those people, and we were friends. And maybe I wasn’t a good friend, but this reprisal means I have tomorrow to do better.
All this navel-gazing aside, it was loads o' fun, though I found it hard to relax with aero-killing machines a few feet away. Nothing says "good times with old friends" like a retired SR-71.
Does anyone really need a good reason to leave Warner Robins?
Seriously, though, that was compelling. I love "coming home" stories. The rewards of rediscovery seem great--makes me wish I'd run away.
Is that Tim Thompson and Barry _?_ in the graduation hat pic?
Posted by: leah at July 28, 2004 11:27 AMvincent. and yes, tim thompson. how do you know these folks?
you'll have a 10 year, too. and you'll be surprised, too.
Posted by: abe at July 28, 2004 05:04 PMI think that the guy at the end of the 3rd picture works at Home Depot with me. I should ask him whether that is him or not.
Posted by: crabby at July 28, 2004 06:35 PMcrabby, you are correct. his name is john. small world.
Posted by: abe at July 28, 2004 06:41 PMFrom a mission trip with FBC to the Baptist centers in Houston, Texas. Long, long ago--they look so old! They would not remember me, I'm quite sure.
Well, I was homeschooled in high school, so I won't have one per se, but there has been talk of getting our old homeschool group back together--a hodgepodge of sinners and saints, marrieds and singles, full-time moms and professionals, that would make for a most interesting evening.
But, yeah, the passage of time is surprising, and bittersweet. Everything changes, everything stays the same.
Glad you had a great reunion.
Posted by: leah at July 28, 2004 07:11 PMI couldn't have said it better myself Abe. I'll see you out in the front yard tomorrow morning at 8.
Posted by: Jonathan at July 29, 2004 11:08 AMladies and gentlemen, i give you jonathan childs.
how do you people end up here?
Posted by: abe at July 29, 2004 01:53 PMAmanda told me about it. I promise not to read too much.
Posted by: Jonathan at July 29, 2004 04:43 PMlol, Amanda told EVERYONE about it Saturday night.
Posted by: amy at July 29, 2004 10:58 PMit's not going to be that interesting, but you can read all you want. i've got no secrets, and even if i did, they wouldn't be on the internet. i'm more concerned with those older posts where i made fun of ms. meadows.
Posted by: abe at July 30, 2004 11:46 AMcool. let me go find those.
Posted by: Jonathan at July 30, 2004 01:11 PMhahaha
where's the rest of the reunion pics? yours, Tim's, Dayna's, whoever?
Abe, are you getting together wtih Jeremy from Junkmail for Blankets this weekend? I saw on his blog that he was coming in to see people. I would really, really like to see him, but don't have your number. Please email if you get this at crabb@kepler.covenant.edu
Posted by: crabby at July 30, 2004 05:37 PMYes, yes I told EVERYONE. I even made an announcement at Curiosa just in case I missed anyone. haha I only told the honors kids and Jonathan - that's not everyone. I too was not looking forward to it - in fact was pretty much forced into going. But I'm sooo glad I did. And BTW, I wasn't a wallflower, I just didn't have anything to say to you people. ;) Back then if you weren't goth, don't talk to me. And for clarification to any strangers, I'm not the smut peddler. I'm an ESOL teacher. *muah*
Posted by: amanda at July 30, 2004 10:44 PMhahaha, lol, yes I AM THE SMUT PEDDLER! but i'm still a nice girl, the two are not mutually exclusive! and she's right, Amanda was not a wallflower. but i most definitely was. been working on that, though...
Posted by: amy at July 30, 2004 11:12 PMi can't keep up with this.
amanda, nobody called you a wallflower or a smut-peddler.
amy, i got a few other pics i can send you.
Posted by: abe at July 31, 2004 12:47 AMI'm back to not talking to you abe.
Posted by: amanda at July 31, 2004 03:12 PMwhy is that?
Posted by: abe at July 31, 2004 03:18 PMyay!! send pics!
:oD
send me the pics too if you get a chance.
Posted by: Jonathan at August 2, 2004 02:26 PMWow, I came to this conversation late. Hi guys! Abe, quite a beautiful depiction of the reunion I did not attend and the journey "home" I did not make. Thanks for the pics as well. I hardly recognized Ms. Meadows! And is that bald guy next to Abe in the first pic John Honaker? If so, good lord! And to answer an earlier question, there are a million good reasons to leave Warner Robins.
Posted by: Josh at August 5, 2004 04:52 PMbetter late than never josh. yes that's john hon, and on the row with amy and myself is fred yates and david sexton. in my defense i photograph poorly. (weak laugh)
Posted by: amanda at August 5, 2004 11:39 PMWell, Josh told me I needed to come see this. I have to tell ya, with very few exceptions, everyone still looks 18. Where can I get that youth serum? Ditto, Josh and the million reasons. Mr. Childs, I heard you live but a hop, skip and a jump from me! Amy, a smut peddler? I have never been so proud!
Posted by: Holly at August 11, 2004 10:54 PMheehee, well i'd be prouder, personally, if the site wasn't so pooopie. ;o) and Abraham! where are those pics?? tsk tsk ;oP
OH MY GOODNESS! you all look so goooooood!
i am kind of bummed i couldn't make it to the reunion. glad it was such a positive experience for you abe. anyhoo, just hello. best to all.
tara faircloth
opera director extraordinaire