Catching Up

I have been catching up with old classmates on Facebook .. it seems that there have been many deaths among those sharing my graduation decade (the 70's) .. it prompted this ..

Catching up

I remember a time, and it seemed like yesterday

We walked the same halls and sat in the same desks

We were trapped in our lives or so we thought

“When I get out of here, I’m gone.”

It would be several times in the several years after

That we would run into old friends from those days

We would ‘catch up’ will our fellow escapees

And bring everyone up to date on all the news

Of course, then, the news consisted of job information

Or college information, or wedding information

We would see who did finally marry who

And who went to which university as planned

There would be the sad news of the rare death

An accident, or a sudden illness, or other cause

Years would pass in our lives and they took shape

And we would visit the old places on home visits

And there we would see the occasional classmate

And we would ‘catch up’

Now, the news would be about a career

Or we would talk about our children

And we would laugh about the old days

And how we never figured our lives

Would have turned out his way

And, oh yeah, did you hear about Steve’s death

“Oh my, no, please tell me what happened.”

Before you know it, you are getting reunion news

“Has it been that long?”

Familiar haunts, memorable faces, recognizable names

We share; we are well into our careers,

And the kids are growing up so fast

We have built a life somewhere else

But it is great to come home and ‘catch up’

We listen and share stories so common

For all our different paths

We are all so much alike

“Where’s Dave, I didn’t think he would miss a reunion.

No, I hadn’t heard. I am so sorry.”

Out of touch for so many years now

More and more ‘catching up’ is sad news

Those that were once just a handful

Now would fill our old school bus

Or maybe even more than one

Every time you hear a statement

That begins with, “Did you hear about ..”

Your heart flinches just a bit

It could be good news

It could bring elation

More and more though

It is the harbinger of sadness

And yet

Here we are

“Catching up.”

Ron Simpson, Jr.

June 5, 2010