50 Years — Memories including Tears

I was lucky enough this past weekend to be able to attend my 50th University Reunion — in Madison, Wisconsin. This writing relates to my experiences.

Five years ago I moved from Seattle to Chicago. I (falsely as it turned out) presumed that my friendship with a man I will call H, would be my most meaningful bond in Chicago, besides that with my son and his family. H — indicated — in communication that I read with confusion and disappointment — that as we get older, we pull back from our ties with friends, and only maintain those that are most important to us. My feelings are that as I get older, every year I lose friends from my past, or fear the loss of them, and that keeping up the ties is most important for me!

Though my bonds with college friends is minimal, due to how I’ve been with friendships in general, I was very happy when KV — reached out to me about a month ago and said: “George, are you coming to our 50th Reunion? I’m coming with a new close friend.” I checked with my partner, looked at airfares, and within a few minutes, my trip to Madison and Chicago was On.

A Bucky and me — by the Memorial Union — Looking out at Lake Mendota

I flew from San Francisco to O’Hare — and then took the Van Galder bus to the UW-Madison Campus stop. At O’Hare I was saddened, though not surprised to see the Mexican…