This year marks 10 years since I graduated high school, so that means it’s time for a reunion. Mine has been scheduled for sometime this summer, but tonight some of my former classmates are gathering to plan the celebration. I’ve decided to make the drive back home to attend the planning party.
I still have extra envelopes from these announcements and the matching thank-you cards
There were only 5o-some people in my high school class, but even with a class so small we still had our cliques and drama. I wonder how that will affect us 10 years later. I don’t think I was really involved in the drama. I guess it was hard to get involved since I kept my nose in a book or was too busy with sports & clubs. But, that also meant I didn’t have a lot of close friends who knew me well. I think most people considered me a “friendly” person, but I only had a couple of close friends. And, since our graduation a decade ago, I haven’t spoken to, seen or had any contact with most of the people from my class.
Don't you think more people should wear solid gold gowns?!
Needless to say, I’m a little nervous about tonight. Luckily we are meeting at a place that I hear has good beer. That should help take the edge off. Plus it will be entertaining because only two or three of my former classmates have seen me drink or heard/understood my slightly inappropriate sense of humor.
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Over the past year I’ve attended a few too many ceremonies and memorials, most of which I have thought were a waste of time and didn’t come close to capturing Jarrett’s spirit and life. But, this week I had the privilege of attending a ceremony that I enjoyed. It was attended by people who played important roles in Jarrett’s life & mine.
The video below contains the most beautiful speech I’ve heard about Jarrett, given by his advisor/teacher, Marc Edwards. Following the speech, Craig Whittaker sang the song he wrote in honor of Jarrett.
The Bridge Builder
By Will Allen Dromgoole
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
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Friday is Jarrett’s birthday. Being the first one we will celebrate without him, my family & I are headed to the beach for the weekend because Jarrett loved going to the beach. Here is a note my mom put in her community paper, inviting her neighbors to celebrate Jarrett’s birthday:
Jarrett Lane was known and loved by many people in Giles County. Friday, March 28th is his birthday. To celebrate his life, we ask you to join us in remembering him. On Friday, we encourage you to spend time sharing your favorite memories of Jarrett and doing things that Jarrett loved to do – like, spend time with friends, get outside and play, go for a drive and spend the evening watching a movie with family.
Love, the family of Jarrett Lane.
Child of Wonder, Child of God. We remember you.
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I guess Christmas celebrating is in full-swing. On Friday we went downtown to see all Christmas lights and enjoy warm drinks. Yesterday I pulled out our Christmas decorations and put some up, not as much as in past years. No tree. No outside decorations other than the wreath I made for our first Christmas. Our weekends are quickly filling up with holiday parties, already we are having to plan a party-hopping evening. This coming weekend is also the Christmas celebrations in Church Hill.
Like many of you, growing up and moving away from home means having to redefine the Christmas experience. I had to let go of a lot of traditions, which usually left me saying, “it doesn’t feel like Christmas.” Since then, I’ve tried new ways of celebrating each year with various friends and my extended family. These new celebrations were meaningful, enjoyable and usually spent with people I love, but still never felt like the holidays I had fallen in love with as a child at home. I guess this year will be the ultimate “doesn’t feel like Christmas” season. Everything already feels like I’m going through the motions. Which, I feel obligated to do because it is much easier than to explain why I’m not following along, and also, sucking it up and getting it over with won’t bum everyone else out.
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There are things about me that I feel I have lost along the way of life….good things….things that I grieve about. But, when I am with Fawn & Jarrett, I feel those things start to come alive again. Most of all, my want to care for others and the drive to enjoy every moment to the fullest. I know it sounds cheesy…live life to the fullest. But that is what happens when I am with them. The dullest moments, the painful moments, the awkward moments, the joyous moments, the silly moments, the embarrassing moments….everything in life. Everything in life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, is a meaningful opportunity. And, when we are together we choose to explore that for all it is worth. Most of the time we end up in tears or laughing hysterically. This time it was all laughs.
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