It cannot be 50 years!
But there is too much evidence, so it has to be true.
My travels last week took me back to my home base.
South Dakota.
Dell Rapids in fact. The literal home base. I was born in that small city, spent 18 formative years there before heading off to college.
You know from years of reading this column that I landed in Brookings, went to South Dakota State and that was the start of the adventure that got me to Indiana and all the wackiness that has followed.
But Dells is home. It was my destination to see my parents for many trips, and for the trips to lay them to rest.
Last week it was for a reunion. My high school class reunion.
The class that graduated in 1974 …
What, wait a minute. That means I graduated from high school 50 years ago!
Yikes indeed.
So I went back. My class had only done the reunion thing once, and that was 30 years ago, and I missed it (probably had a game to cover …).
It was a really nice trip. I had a great time, and it looked like the classmates that gathered for a couple of events had a good time too.
And in an incredible twist of karma or irony — the hospital that I was born in is now …
A Senior Citizens Center!
Reality check indeed.
There were 29 in my class that year at St. Mary High School. Only one is gone, and we had at one point or another a total of 22 of us former Cardinals at one of the gatherings. We were all very pleased with the turnout.
There were all the regular parts and pieces of a reunion, and having read or been informed by many friends about these things, I was mostly ready for whatever might happen.
As I mentioned, it was a great trip and we had a great time. I was not aware of any rivalries 50 years ago, so there were no long-standing issues hanging over our heads. We were mostly friends then, and everyone seemed happy to be around each other.
Oh sure, the couple guys who were the coolest then were still the coolest, but that didn’t matter. A small few of this group stayed in or around our small town, so they have been in touch regularly. For this guy, however, there were a handful of folks who I had not seen since the May night we graduated.
The word “retire” was heavily used. If it had not happened, it soon will for many. I was asked a handful of times when I planned to retire.
My answer was not right away. As always happens in groups I end up in, some of my work adventures can make ears pop up. There were a couple times when someone would walk up and say “John just told me what you are doing. Is that right?”
Now, John would never lie. Working a Super Bowl (or two) for a television network is an ace card, and dropping names like Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady and Greg Olsen on my crew is pretty much okay.
There were also plenty of grandchildren pictures, and all the grandparents agreed that being a grandparent is way more fun than parenting.
My classmates all went out and did really good things with their careers and lives. Some in business or industry or farming or whatever. There are a lot of good families.
As is always the case, there were successes and tragedies, and the 22 members of this class had some incredible stories to tell.
The best part, though, is that they returned to share them.
The farthest away was from northern Florida, with a close second to Arizona. We had to get the computer out to see. The mileage was close.
Some folks were so easy to recognize, some not so. There were a few wrinkles, lots and lots of gray hair, and a couple of us with no hair. As is always the case when us oldsters gather, there is talk of some medical test or procedure coming up. The spouses that came along were also really nice, and patient as we chatted.
Like I said, it was a really nice weekend and it was great to catch up with folks who were a part of my growing up. I’m really proud and happy that things went so well for so many.
Since this column will be looked at a bit by some of these same classmates, I have to take a couple moments to thank that guy John that I mentioned before.
He and his wife Betty did so much work organizing the reunion. John literally talked a couple folks into coming when they were not, and he even got one to come back for the Saturday night meal when he wasn’t planning to. He and Betty put in a lot of work.
Betty isn’t even a member of our graduating class, so she was doing some incredible community service.
In addition to the thanks to them, and to the others who helped them, I ask you great folks who read this column to take a minute to say a prayer for John. He will probably be reading this column online this morning while at his chemo treatment. His cancer fight is ongoing, but there is no bigger fighter than this guy.
We are with you John …
I had a chance to get caught up with other friends and some family during the trip. Some of the old buds from South Dakota State and from Coast to Coast. I even got a tour of the multi-million-dollar renovation work being done on the basketball arena at SDSU. Very impressive.
I caught up with other folks from my past. My old boss from the farm days, who helped pay for a lot of my college education with the hours he let me work. At 92, Lauren is still one of the smartest guys I’ve every known.
I also had some time with my mom’s last surviving sister. Erm and my mom were best friends throughout their lives, and seeing her is so much like a glimpse back at Mom. She is 91 and still going strong.
The drive out and back was average. I still don’t understand why gas is always so much more expensive here in Crawfordsville than anywhere else. Folks, you don’t have to go very far to find cheaper gas.
I’m going to burn up a little gas going to some of the many Legion baseball games in the area this weekend. Starting today, there are 15 teams involved in the four-day event.
Pool play runs today through noon Saturday and then there is a single elimination tournament for the top eight that will conclude things.
A big portion of the games are at North Montgomery, either the varsity or junior varsity field. There are also games at Southmont. The finals are Sunday at North.
I’ve also got a Fever game Friday. I hear they have a rookie who is doing pretty well.
I hope everyone had a great holiday and kept all their fingers.
Safe travels.
Jeff Nelson is a frequent contributo to the Journal Review and works professionally for Fox Sports working with the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts and many more professional teams.
