WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT GOLDEN CORRAL IN GREENSBORO!

THE ONLY THING MISSING WAS YOU!

We had a great time at Golden Corral on 10/11/23. All of us have changed over the 58 years since we graduated from Ben L. Smith High School in 1965. What remains constant is the friendship, camaraderie, and the bonds of trust that tie us together. The letter below from Larry Oldham sums it up nicely. We hope to see you next year, and more pictures will come.

Going back to your high school reunion is a chore for many people.  They fear trepidation about seeing their former classmates for many reasons. Maybe it's because they have changed, both physically and mentally.  Physical change can sometimes be controlled by diet or exercise. You can not control the aging process. Thus, your gene pool has a lot to do with it. Most of us are in charge of our mental state, but even so, our minds can play games with us. That sometimes makes our choices irrational.  We dread going because we might not fit in after all these years. We think maybe our classmates won't accept us because we've changed too much. We make no excuse to justify not attending the reunion.

Your life is what you make it. All of your life choices make up the kind of life you live.

My choice has always been to attend the reunions regardless of the circumstances. Each time I attend, I feel the warmth of friendship,  the camaraderie of sincere meaning coming from my former classmates.

It feels like home.

I encourage you to make the effort next time you are invited to your class reunion. Make an effort to show up, then make the effort to reintroduce yourself and listen to your classmates' stories. You will probably make new acquaintances with old friends and learn something about yourself. Retrain your fears and step out of the daily habits that keep us tied down. Experience a renewed feeling of trying something new. After all, we are talking about friends you have known all of your life. Go to the reunion with a new perspective of discovery, a chance to share your life stories, and assimilate with your kindred spirits, and you will probably leave feeling loved after sharing love with your friends and classmates. 

Isn't that what life is all about? 

Larry Oldham

As always,

Don

704-677-3196

dcarr@att.net