04/17/2026
5-WORD ANSWER
Below is simply offered as food for thought regarding our pending 50-Year Reunion. Hope you’ll chew on it a bit and accept my words in the spirit intended.
First, I think most people, like me, define their ‘childhood’ period as the years K-thru-12. For purposes of my words to follow, let’s agree on this definition!
That said, since I was in my early 20's, whenever I was with a group of people typically not part of my K-thru-12 experience, and the subject of one’s ‘childhood’ would be the focus, inevitably someone always asked me, "What was your childhood like?", and to that question, my answer yesterday, today and tomorrow, remains the same 5-word answer......
"I HAD A CHARMED CHILDHOOD."
Typically, my answer draws smiles, and maybe a bit of doubt hidden by laughter and/or further inquiry for 'specifics' of my answer. Is it so hard to believe that someone had such an experience? Evidently, it is!
Look, I am not naïve enough to think that my answer is the same for everyone, but if it wasn’t, I am sorry, because attending schools in Willard, experiencing what I always refer to as ‘my people’, laughter, freedom, bonds and kindness, has simply defined my life. Those experiences prepared me for life’s challenges, responsibilities, happiness and love.
To this day, when I am fortunate enough to encounter others from that childhood period, the faces, voices, memories and kindness shown to me simply fill me up, and like an old dog on the porch, it is a bone I can chew on for long periods until the next encounter.
So, when I asked our Reunion Team if I could sit in, help or just find a bone to chew with this effort, I was not surprised to be accepted. The thing is, when I sat with this group of 8-10 people each time, looked around the room at each person or listened to them speak, I was taken back to a time that simply fills my heart. Here my people sit, some 50-years later and still helping, laughing, teaching, and worrying about OUR people, and I realized at the first meeting, MY people proved my 5-word answer. What a group!
So, what is the one thing I want to impress upon you with all my banter? It’s this…..
At a meeting a few short weeks ago, the reunion team asked a rhetorical question to help ensure a good turn-out and positive evening. Question being, what is the one thing we want our people to cherish from this reunion event?
Well, as fate would have it, I realized that the collective answer of the team to that question was also a 5-word answer, that being, for each person in attendance to be able to tell anyone that asks them, “how was your reunion?”, their response to that question would be…..“I'M SO GLAD I WENT.”
Food for thought.
