Year Sixty-four!

 I'd know them all anywhere.

Put a member of the St. Joseph's High School Class of 1959 anywhere... in a crowd, in a restaurant, on the street... anywhere. I'd know him or her instantly.

Surprising, but not really so much. After all, there were only 64 of us in the class of 1959.

We have celebrated all the milestone anniversaries since we graduated. The last big one, the 60th, made us stop and ponder the wisdom of waiting for five years to pass before gathering again. Already we'd lost 13 of our friends and some were battling serious health concerns. It seemed logical to plan an annual party.

This past Saturday, September 30th, we enjoyed the 64th anniversary of our graduation... all 19 of us, plus assorted spouses and significant others.

I think times like those we experienced at the party remind us of the fact that we are all at least 82, we've all had suffering and sorrow in our lives and some of us may not be here for the 2024 get-together. 

I find it ironic that, back in 1959, I wasn't close friends with more than a couple of the people I now look forward to seeing. To start with, we were divided into academic and commercial classes and were not permitted to cross over for any specific classes. I would have loved to have taken typing, knowing I'd need it in college, but that rule wasn't ever bent, so I had to be self-taught.

The second reason for the division was the fact that our small group from Egg Harbor City didn't meet the St. Joseph's group until 9th grade, whereas the Hammonton kids had gone to school together since kindergarten. They had a head start on friendships and can share memories of their early school years we can't appreciate. Of course, they can't appreciate ours either.

Regardless of the divisions, by the time we'd spent four years together, we were the Class of 1959. We were kids, really, just starting out on the rest of our lives.

By 2023, we weren't constrained by what might have been differences then. We had learned some of life's toughest lessons (and are still doing so). So it was a joy to see the faces of our classmates and hear of the events of the past year, knowing how fleeting our lives can be.

As I said, I would know them anywhere. Silver hair, wrinkles, a few extra (or fewer) pounds... doesn't really matter when the smiles and hugs are the same as we remember. We're fortunate to be able to get together like we do and each party reminds us just how lucky we are.