Together Again by Alison Henderson

If you read my post last month, you know OG and I recently traveled to Kansas City for his 50th high school reunion. Since this was such a momentous event, I thought I'd share some of my observations with you.

First, the trip itself. I've traveled several times since we moved to California, but OG hadn't flown in nearly four years. He was dreading it, and I was dreading it with him. Travel is always easier for me when I don't have to worry about how someone else is doing. I also wasn't exactly at my best. 

The morning we left, I had to get up at 3:30 a.m., so I didn't sleep at all. The night before, I had awakened at 3:05 and never gone back to sleep. The first night in the hotel, the air conditioner in the room came on every 20 minutes with the roar of a freight train, so--you guessed it--I didn't sleep at all again! By the following night, after the first party of the weekend, I had been awake for 70 hours straight. I was getting shaky and a little loopy. That night, I slept and returned to normal--or at least as normal as I ever get. The next couple of days were fine. I went to the art museum with my mother, spoke about indie publishing to a couple dozen of her friends, and met my sister's two new little dogs. However, the weekend wasn't about me. 

OG had been anxious about going for weeks. Two days before we left, he said he wished he'd never agreed to attend. He hadn't seen or spoken to anyone in his class in more than thirty years and wasn't sure he would remember anyone or they would remember him. I think his main worry, though, was how to explain himself and his life. Men in particular tend to define themselves by their careers, and he felt his was a disappointment. My feeling is, it isn't necessary to spill your guts to everyone you encounter at an event like this, but somehow he seemed to think people would be able to tell just by looking at him. 

Fortunately, a few months ago, his best friend from high school managed to track him down through my author FB page (of all things!) They've been emailing ever since, and we've gotten together with him and his wife twice--it turned out they only live a couple of hours away. They're wonderful people, and spending time with them made the whole weekend easier and much more fun for both of us.

From the first minutes of the first event, OG's fears turned out to be unfounded. I watched with great pleasure as he reconnected with former neighbors and his old football teammates. Everyone was happy to see him, and he obviously felt the same. People were genuinely curious about each other's lives, but without judgement, as far as I could tell. By age 68, they seemed to have gained the wisdom to simply accept and enjoy each other. I couldn't have asked for more.

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com 

The Big Reunion by Alison Henderson

As you read this, OG and I are in Kansas City for his fiftieth (yes, FIFTIETH!) high school reunion. A momentous occasion, if there ever was one. He's a little nervous--uncertain if he'll recognize anyone. He has only seen one member of his class in the past thirty years, and this is his first-ever reunion. I'm going along as moral support and eye-candy. LOL

Interestingly, this whole thing came about through my author Facebook page. One woman on the reunion committee exhibited super-duper cyber-detective skills by somehow managing to make a connection between OG and my page. I'll never know how she did it, because Henderson is a common surname, and I don't mention him by name anywhere on my personal or author page. OG likes to maintain a VERY low (i.e. non-existent) online presence, which is why I never mention him by name anywhere. 

At any rate, the committeewoman gave my author page info to OG's best friend from high school, who happens to live a couple of hours north of us. They had lost touch many years ago, but he contacted me through my page, asking if my husband was the same _____ Henderson who graduated from _____ High School in Kansas City in 1967. After checking with OG, I sent his contact info. To my great pleasure, the two of them have been in frequent contact ever since. OG's friend and his wife have visited us in Carmel, and we had lunch with them (along with PO&O) when we were in the Bay Area on vacation last month. OG has really enjoyed renewing this friendship, and I'm thrilled to have played a small part in the serendipity.

While we're in Kansas City, I'll also have an opportunity to see my mother and sister, who still live in town. A couple of weeks ago, my mother asked if I'd like to chat with my fans. I laughed and said I don't have any fans, but she assured me I do. Apparently, many of her friends in the retirement home where she lives have read my books! As a result, this afternoon, I'll be giving a talk there on self-publishing to anyone who's interested. I doubt many of the eighty-somethings want to take up fiction writing, but some are very interested in writing and publishing memoirs for their families. I plan to do my best to help them get started.

Some of you followed the saga of my search for a dress to wear to the main reunion event on Facebook, and cheered with me when I found the perfect little black dress. To my dismay, OG later received an email indicating that the party was to be "business casual." I was concerned that my dress would be too formal, but everyone encouraged me to wear it anyway. I took your collective advice and changed accessories to dress it down a bit. For those who were curious, here's the final outfit. You can't see the fun neckline, but maybe the room will get so warm I'll take off the sweater. The party is tomorrow night, so send good thoughts my way!

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com