Surprises during my college reunion

A few months ago, my Head Resident at UC Santa Barbara in California suggested a Zoom reunion to rekindle our dorm friendships from 50 years ago. Since we were all scattered throughout the globe, this was the easiest way to facilitate a gathering.

After so many years, I didn’t know what to expect, so I stalked these people through Facebook and other social media platforms. Online, I could see a glimmer of who these people used to be, giving me a heads-up about what to expect. It was illuminating.

I logged on, and then the Zoom meeting began. Who are all these old people? My peers? Did they think the same thing when they looked at me? I used to have long, blondish brown hair and was sun-kissed from swimming all the time.

I squinted at my computer screen. I rolled back my memories, removing the gray hair and expanding girth evident among most of us. Oh, that’s Bob. Yep, that’s Barbara. Tom? Yep.

There were a few absentees. I heard one person didn’t have a computer. Maybe she was better off not having one. Another one was MIA. Was he in prison? Abducted and living on another planet? Perhaps he just dropped out for whatever reason and didn’t want to be found.

For the most part, the Zoom meeting was well-attended and a sober reminder that although age catches up with us all, a person’s fundamental personality remains relatively unchanged.

He still had a dry wit. She was still overly curious about everyone. Another one was still shy. I was still guilty of talking too much and being a clown.

We had a few PhDs in our gathering. Most of the attendees boasted about their kids and grandkids. But the tragedies of our lives were not discussed, except for one who had fled his home country during an uprising and had lived to tell about it.

We shared many memories of our college days. In the early 70s, there was the Vietnam War, social unrest, free love, and lots of drugs. Now we deal with Medicare, retirement, health, and caring for our loved ones.

I tried to remind everybody that although we’ve all had various challenges over the years, we are still here, navigating the challenges that plague us as we age. Sometimes, it’s not easy.

My motto is to try to find humor in dire situations. We do our best to prepare for uncertainties, but some things are beyond our control. For me, attitude is so important as we age, helping us to be resilient and shoulder the worst.

Many say that laughter is the best medicine. I believe that’s true. After all, George Burns lived into his 90s. Look at Carol Burnett, and Dick Van Dyke.

They must be doing something right.