Subject Class of 1981 Reunion
Sent Mon, 3 Jul 2006 19:33:53 -0400
Dear Sue, Michele, Diane, Anita, et al,

I wanted to take a moment and thank you Susan, Diane, Michele, Anita and all
those who gave so much of themselves to put together such a memorable event.
I truly had a wonderful time reconnecting with friends and acquaintances
from elementary school all the way through High School.   The mastery of the
event was the simple joy of experience.  Sensing the quality of character,
the loving parents and leaders our classmates have become.

While those Amherst High School years may have been full of teenage angst,
and awkward development, they were also an enormous part of who we decided
to be and what path we chose for ourselves as adults. I personally couldn't
wait to get away from here as fast and as far as I could go.   Funny how I
ended up back here.

My family and I enjoyed all of it.  My kids loved being home alone on Friday
night like big kids, and at the picnic on Saturday.   My son Ben became fast
friends with Tom Hazelet’s son, John.  I learned that my daughter, Meredith,
has assisted in teaching Kim Kociencki-Billoni's daughters at Dance Project.
It connected me to people that are in town as well as those who just stopped
by.  I couldn't help but take great pride in still being able to tell
Larry and Lee Goldberg apart.  What great guys they've always been and
turned out to be.

For the people that didn't attend, I hope they'll consider the 30th, because
its not about who you were in High School or all that petty angst we all
felt.  Its about getting some good chicken wings, seeing Bernie Weber decked
out in Rhinestones, watching someone who may have not been so kind once
apologize to someone 25 years later.  See the smile, the forgiveness and
know that both were glad they met again.   Watching the once tough kid,
parent a tough kid of his own. (Paybacks a b****, ain't it.)

I could go on and on, but it’s not about me.  Its about grateful appreciation
for being invited and prodded by Michele to participate.

How often do we truly get to stand around with 80 or more people born in
1962 and 1963.  How often do we get to be among people that have shared so
many of the same childhood memories that we have.  From similar perspectives
and ages.   It will be at least five years before you are again in the room
with a large group of people that remember the Bicentennial, boycotting
Moscow Olympics, and a Peanut Farmer from Georgia running our country, the
same way you remember those events.   Rarely so privileged again to be among
one’s true peers.

Thank you,

David Levy