(not necessarily in that order)
I would never have imagined that becoming reacquainted, and then sharing brief but intense interactions, with friends from fifty (or more) years ago could alter the landscape of my self-perceptions.
But it has!
The truth is, I have a few core beliefs that are going to require some considerable self-reflection.
Of course I remember that I used to play saxophone (baritone and then alto), but it was a vague, abstract kind of remembering.
I had completely forgotten about competing at this jazz band festival, but seeing these photos brought it all back in a visceral sort of way.
It’s also interesting to remember the full context. This was my senior year but I had spent five weeks of the previous summer traveling throughout Europe with the Blue Saints Honor Jazz Band.
I’m pretty sure I was in a bit of an existential crisis being back at my small high school after having had such bigger and broader experiences.
One thing I hadn’t fully anticipated about attending my 50th high school reunion is the fact that I wasn’t only reconnecting with classmates from high school. There were quite a people there who were in my kindergarten class!
Granted, none of them have been particular friends through all the years and decades, but it still gave me pause.
I was pleasurably surprised to see that the reunion committee had organized a display of memorabilia which included binders of class photos from the four elementary schools that fed first into Thomas Russell Junior High and eventually to Milpitas High School.
Incidentally, it’s hard to see in the class photo, but this is definitely one of my all-time favorite pictures!
We spent the afternoon driving around Milpitas…revisiting old haunts and simply remembering.
The top photo is 1853 Conway Street, our family home starting from when I was five. Fifty years ago it was only one story, there was no brick fence, and the shade tree was much, much smaller.
Our driveway pointed straight up Greathouse Drive (photo below), so this was my view every time I walked out of the house. It was nice to see that it hadn’t changed hardly at all.
It was such an intense week (between recording and multiple trips to town to get the tires replaced) that I really needed to take it slow this morning. Which meant I didn’t leave for Milpitas until early in the afternoon.
It was fine though. There was hardly any traffic heading south and I arrived for the last hour of the “meet & greet” event.
And — oh my goodness — what a trip it was to see so many old friends!
Bobby & Naomi, Billy, Linda, Virginia, Carolyn, Ronnie, Bill, Lloyd, Cindy, Julie, Pam, Michael, Roy, Kathy, Jennifer, Sam, Walter, Marty, Richard, Leonard, Debbie, Roseanne, and the list goes on and on.
Major compliments to the reunion committee for all their hard work which has resulted in this great turnout.
Well, it’s finally here…the 50th high school reunion of the Milpitas High School Patriots!
The photo below shows half of the turnout from my 20–year reunion. My primary memory of that night was the difficulty I felt in trying to reconcile how not old I felt with the fact that so many years had already passed.
I was living in Switzerland in 2004, so there was no question of attending the 30-year reunion.
Which brings me to now…and the fact that tomorrow I drive down to Milpitas to connect and celebrate this interesting landmark with my former classmates.
What a trip.
It took dealing with an unusual number of obstacles, but today I finally managed to get the tires on our car replaced.
Considering that it’s really a rather mundane task, you wouldn’t think I’d feel so excited.
But it took three separate appointments…and I have a drive to the Bay Area coming up in just a few days.
So, yeah. It’s a relief to have it done.
I parked for my appointment this morning at Sierra Family Health Center and did a double-take as I got out of the car.
What I see is a miniature Ent*. What about you?
* Ents are a species of sentient beings in J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy world of Middle-earth who closely resemble trees.
We’re happy to say — in any language — that we are officially finished with all the actual recording required for the Christmas album — whoohoo!
The focus was on filling in the arrangements with instrumental accompaniments — violin, flute, keyboard, and harp.
It took literally all day, from 9:30am until 6:30pm (with a lunch break, of course). Prashad was with us for most of it, but had already left before we took the photo at the very end.
I’m quite certain that we’re going to sleep well tonight.
I had a very enjoyable lunch with Dad and two of my siblings on Saturday.
I’m not the greatest selfie-taker, but (for once!) I actually like how this turned out.