40 Years Later: A Reunion to Remember

Going Back in Time

This weekend, I had the rare opportunity to go back in time, courtesy of my high school’s 40th reunion, where my virtual world met the real living, breathing friends who once filled my everyday life. And what I found was truly remarkable: the familiar eyes of old friends whose first “hellos” came in high school, others dating back to junior high, and those “way way way” back friends old enough to have shared afternoon nap times in kindergarten and smiles with missing front teeth. 

No smart phones, Zooms or Webex technology in our modern world today could ever compare to the deep, seemingly endless hugs of the dear friends and acquaintances I hadn’t seen in four decades.

A Room Overflowing with Love

I found an immediate feeling of love walking into the room, my nervous knots morphing into tears of grateful amazement as King Taylor—he would later be crowned unanimously as Reunion King, and very well deserved, I must say—yelled out my name. Classmates cheered with emotion, welcoming me with open arms. Of course I’m thinking, “who me?”—the girl who kept her nose in the books and because she had the strictest mother on the planet (God bless Lillian’s overprotective soul), had to join every activity she could find in school in order to be allowed a little freedom. 

But I wasn’t the only person to receive that greeting because that’s just how the class of ‘85 is—a welcoming bunch of carefree “tonight I’m going to party like it’s 1999”-ers, yesterday’s dreamers, today’s world-changers who care for each other enough to make at least one weekend out of a decade special for everyone who shares the affiliation with and proudly proclaims ownership of being an Atlantic City Viking.

What I found was a room full of folks just happy to see each other after so long, happy to reunify with close friends who remained best-buds throughout the years, happy to rekindle with the best friends who slipped away with time, happy to share laughter with old flames who are just as precious as they were the day you met them. I reconnected with girlfriends who understood that sometimes “life be lifin’”—as our children would say—and unfortunately, good intentions sometimes turn into missed calls, missed birthdays, and missed fill in the blank, ending up with a decade or two between conversations. To those beautiful women: Ladies, you know who you are, and you will always be my heartbeats.

Childhood Echoes and Cheerleader Cheers

Even more meaningful was when I found childhood-like joy, going head over heels when running into best buds from my elementary school, the original West Side School—the tiny school that went from Kindergarten to third grade—the school before it became the Westside Complex, expanding it to six grades and open classroom concept, and before that became the current Martin Luther King Jr. School Complex. Seeing them took me back to Mrs. Collins’ classroom, where guys in the class played with tiny paper footballs using their fingers for the goal post, while arguing who was the greatest quarterback, Terry Bradshaw or Roger Staubach. I even revisited that unforgettable moment, one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, when I kissed a boy for the very first time in a school Christmas play. To this day, more than 50 years later, we still refer to each other affectionately as Mr. and Mrs. Klaus. For my “wonder years” classmates, those Gems if you will, you will forever keep me smiling, for I remember…I remember your first starts, your spoken-out-loud dreams, your hidden talents, your innocence… They make my heart smile.

I found incredible satisfaction remembering my junior high school cheerleading days, and being able to actually remember some of the cheers, repeating at least most of the words with my fellow cheerleaders. I was totally impressed with those who not only knew the words, but knew the moves AND executed them flawlessly FORTY FIVE YEARS LATER!

Now…the kid (meaning me) that’s not my story. Just watching my teammate drop into a perfect split made my knees stiffen and reminded me to break out the ibuprofen and Icy-Hot after my long, long drive home. LOL

Laughs, Memories, and Pure Joy

We shared belly laughs, reminiscing about favorite teachers and being old enough to remember those crazy moments when believe it or not, corporal punishment for students was allowed—thank God, I was never on the receiving end. And I was proud to stand side-by-side with Memory Makers, all of the people in the room, all of our classmates, whose schedules would permit them to have at least “One More Night”—in my Phil Collins voice—of high school fun forty years later.

The venue was absolutely fabulous, offering the perfect setting to a million photos taken, to be shared in our virtual world for our moments to live on.

Only Good Vibes Here

What I didn’t find was people pointing out life’s imperfections (although there are many) or people complaining about whatever in the world went wrong (even though I’m sure things have—I can tell a story or two of my own).

Instead, I found—no, I confirmed—that we were, and still are, an extraordinary group of ordinary people, who will come together, not only in reunions of support when someone passes, but to celebrate our forever kinship, our bond, our memories of glory days, and our Class of ’85 spirit that is second to none.

Although I could only attend one event, having one of those “life be lifin’” experiences, when past and present collide, and dual occasions make for impossible choices, I am sooooo glad I made the trip. Other than breathe, I can count on my right hand the things in my life I’ve done for forty years, which made being a part of this community even more memorable.

A Standing Ovation

To the ACHS Class of ’85 Reunion Committee…Bravo! 

Your labor of love created such a meaningful event that will live in the hearts and minds of your classmates forever; and one that I am certain would have won the approval of our very own, Ambassador of ACHS Vikings, John John Bucci, who I imagine is smiling down on us and giving you the thumbs up.

So here’s to you, folks! My endearing classmates…

I raise my cranberry juice mixed with ginger ale filled champagne flute to the Atlantic City High School Class of ’85, inarguably the best Class in the world (to me)!

Until we meet again, 

Much love and many blessings!

Lola Sofi’