Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Reunion

'Tis the season, isn't it?  High School, College, Family reunions.  I have been to precious few of any of these, actually.  This weekend, by the grace of friends, I traveled to August Cellars Winery in Newberg, OR for a gathering of folks who were all part of the Willamette University Theater Department in the early-mid 1980s.

I was admittedly a little apprehensive:  what would folks be like?  what if old scripts and divisions emerged.  But from the moment I got out of the car I was embraced in joy, and delight.  It was a fantastic experience that has left me glowing, inspired, loving, and feeling very much loved.

As I am beginning work on a Scenic Design for a stage production of Les Miserables (in my other creative life), I couldn't help listening to the dawn this morning, thinking on the time we had on Saturday, and hearing these lyrics in my head....   

"Drink with me to days gone by, to the life that used to be. At the shrine of friendship never say die, let the wine of friendship never run dry. Here's to them, and here's to you..."

1980 Willamette University Theatre Kids with Dr. William Z. Iron (third from the left, front row) at August Cellars Winery in Newberg, OR.  August 3, 2013
 This reflection was inspired by the anticipation of the day, and the joy of it.

Reunion - The Beautiful People
by Judith Cullen  (c)2013

Who did you think you were?
Who did I think I was?
Did we all really think we knew,
Who was who, and what was what?

Were you testing your confidence
As much as I was testing mine?
Airing out your self-esteem
In search of unique identity.

Reunion approaches in ticking hours,
And decades old scripts begin to play.
Will old divisions of "us" and "them"
Reveal themselves unchanged, intractable?

Hope remains that anticipation
To see the people who were,
Does not leave us blind, ignorant
To the people we have become.

As the joy of reconnection embraces us,
Happy alliance, openness, acceptance envelopes.
Each arriving face inspiring cheers:
The source of grin-inducing elation.

Thirty years ago we did not know
All that there was we did not know.
Back then we thought we were the "Beautiful People."
Thirty years later we have earned the title:
                                          ... we finally are.


 


1 comment:

  1. I love that, Judy. Thanks for the reflections. I can't begin to express how great it was to see you. I'm pleased and honored to count you as a friend.

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