Shoot, where did the time go?

Once we were teenagers ready for the next adventure, whether it was college, work, the service or whatever. Like us, the world was a-changing. It was 1968. Vietnam. LBJ then Tricky Dick. The counterculture and all of its trappings. Today’s technology was only found in fiction then.

Fifty years later, a great number of Fairhaven High School’s Class of ’68 reunited this past weekend. Yeah, I was there too.

Many live in the Fairhaven, Massachusetts area. Many came from other states. The award for long-distance traveler definitely goes to Tosh, an exchange student from Japan, who came with his wife.

Sadly, we’ve lost a number of classmates.

People were warm, friendly, and happy to see each other. Lots of hugs. Lots of catching up. Some people were easier to recognize than others. (Name tags at our big party on the second night came in handy.)

The class has held earlier reunions. I made it to the 21st — yeah, we held one that year instead of the 20th.

I will admit I am the type of person who moves on when an adventure is done. But that wasn’t the case for many, who kept in touch or maintained their close friendships still. It was admirable. The best I do is follow them on Facebook although I hope to do better.

On Friday, many of us met at our former high school — a historic building financed in 1905 by town benefactor Henry Huttleston Rogers  — for a flag raising and a performance by an alumni chorus. Sitting in the auditorium, I recalled how creatively inclined many of my fellow students were in some form of the arts. They still are.

Events that weekend included an informal get-together at a classmate’s restaurant, an in-depth tour of the high school, a dinner and dance the second night, and a breakfast on Sunday morning. The committee did a great job putting it all together.

I especially enjoyed seeing the people who meant the most to me in high school and earlier. You know who you are. Alas, there wasn’t enough time to go into depth with them and others, but it was enough to know they are doing well and are still the good people I knew way back when.

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE: My name tag for the reunion. That’s my yearbook photo and, yes, Medeiros was my original last name.