Fifty years ago, in 1959,

fifty-nine of us (although I heard much later that one did not get a diploma) graduated from St. Charles High. Many of us gathered this past Sat. night to talk over old times and old friends, along with new aches and pains. Can't believe it started to break up about 9:30 p.m. Was a day when that was a time to be starting a gathering. Was good to see all who attended. Why do we let life get in the way of staying in touch?

The last few weeks (probably brought on by news of the class reunion) I've been very nostalgic, not only about St. Charles, but about Caro, too. On my walks I notice where special trees once stood that have been cut down--the maple where the racoons lived for a couple of summers, the ones where I watched a mother squirrel teach her babies to jump from one to the other, the pine underneath which we found a bunny nest complete with naked little bunnies, the largest most lovely semetrical Weeping Willow I've ever seen.

Then there are the homes. Within just a block from our house, are the places where Jerry, Jean, Isobel, Helen, Pat, and Gerald lived. These were all friends that my dogs and I would visit with while on our walks. They are all gone from the Earth now.

Animals, took, come to mind. McDuff, Boomer and Gypsy, all Scottie-type dogs; Chico, the Chihuahua and Muffin, the long-haired Chihuahua; Sylvester, the dignified elderly Tuxedo cat, Oreo, old, but tiny as a kitten, black with only a layer of white frosting her chest, Muffin and Maggie, elegant miniature poodles. Oh there are so many more. Animals just don't live long enough for those of us who love them. On the other hand some of those who live with uncaring, unknowing, unkind and, yes, inhumane people probably wish their lives were not as long as they are.

Must be getting time for a cemetery trip. Will probably have to wallow in missing people, places and pets for a while to make more room for the happy memories. Some of us have to check out where we've come from before we can figure out where we're going. Guess I'm ready for a tune-up, so I'll be ready to start rolling up the miles again. Look out world, I'm not done rolling yet.