I suppose for some it wasn't an altogether nice experience - especially if you moved around a lot. For me though it was 7 years with generally the same kids and it was a blast! I certainly (embarrassingly) wasn't the best student around and had my "nerd" years but I managed, and stayed with my class. Its funny how one can go back to this school (or really anywhere you have memories) and suddenly you're remembering things that you thought you forgot - its like ghosts from the past.
Standing there on the playground at Glen recently with my wife Caryn, my daughter Jennie and my son Ricky was both weird and very cool. The images of all of my classmates were so vivid to me. I find it challenging to try and locate or find out the fates of "us" and that's probably a part of my wanting to do this - the search, the investigating. I did it for my uncle Bill Rhode who was an 8th Air Force gunner in WW II - I located members of his crew and even found out the fates of his B-17 and B-24 bombers. It is work but is so much fun and can be very rewarding. I hope you can share your memories - good or bad - so we can tell the story of life in that wonderful neighborhood of 30 odd streets.
I was thrilled to learn over the past year that I was not alone in this weird craving for memories of Glen School. The Class of 1969 (Margaret Silvers, Doug Terhune, Scott Yates and so many other familiar names) definitely gave me the inspiration. The HoHokus Class of 71 (K-8th grade) actually found out the fates or their custodians, teachers and most of the kids. Even though every one of us was different - together we were quite a group. Even if we did go our separate ways after 1967, the affection I have for everybody - particularly my Class of 1967, has never left. So many of us have had wonderful experiences and great careers and wonderful families but the simplicity of our life at Glen School really rings true. It doesn't matter if its 1967 or 2007, the innocence - if you're lucky to experience it - is priceless. You obviously can't go back - there have been too many other worthy experiences in our lives but its fun to peek at the past - and hopefully it makes you feel good. While I realize some classmates don't want to bother and others don't want to be found I do hope you at least sneak peeks at the blog and remember something that was special.
Great idea for a blog.
ReplyDeletePlease come and post at
http:// rhs1977.blogspot.com
I think we could all do something of durable significance, in terms of remembering a simpler, less compicated time.
I think we could also contribute to the current education of Ridgewood students. I think of the words of Dylan Thomas in this respect:
DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
You are spot on in realizing that we are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that the people who knew us when we were young are precisely the people we will want to be in touch with when we are old. In other words, we are all in this together.
Best,
Paul McCubbin, 1977