the bottomline

High School Reunion
Thursday, April 8, 2021 by Dan Allen

I dreamed that it was my 50th High School Reunion and things didn’t go well.

I’m two years away from my 50th reunion and I cannot believe it. Old people celebrate these things. Look at the group photos in the newspaper—everyone with white or gray hair, except for the one lady with blue. Oh, my beard is almost completely white—probably more salt–and–pepper. But the top of my head looks just like it did when I was born . . . it’s bald. I’m certainly not as old as these folks.

So, I walked into the place where the celebration was taking place and went up to the table with the name tags on it. In my dream it looked more like small, old books on the table and you were supposed to take yours which had your name on it. But, there was none with my name on it. Vonnie found hers and she didn’t even attend my school. None for me. This was par for the course—I was a nobody in my High School. I grew–up attending other schools in eastern Pennsylvania and north Jersey in the towns where my dad pastored churches. I started at this school in 9th grade. So, I didn’t grow up with the kids and didn’t know anyone, as well as I was kind of bashful anyway. You’d never know that now or if you were visiting my church youth group back then. At school I quietly sat near the back of most classes unless seats were assigned. Then, because my last name starts with “A,” I was in the front either right or left of the teacher. I carried a Bible on top of my books which may have scared some of the kids away.

At the reunion I’m standing near the front of the venue eating a bowl of chili, or so it seemed, when one of the female organizers walked up asking me why I was there.

I tip my hat to these folks in each class that keep track of the addresses of every graduate. I’m quite sure I was on the “missing” list a time or two when we were moving from place–to–place. Over the years their committee organized various get–togethers to celebrate milestones. Typically, they are held Saturday evenings which has always interfered with my next day of ministry—too far to travel, get home too late, got to preach the next day. Not to mention the fact that the venue–of–choice was often bar–type places . . . not the kind of place for a teetotaler. 

Jokingly, I replied to this person that I just came for the food. She didn’t crack a smile, so I admitted that I was a graduate. She walked away as if she didn’t believe me or know me which is a good possibility. But Vonnie had a name tag. Where is she anyway? Some guy taller than I asked who I was. When I mentioned my name, he gave me a huge hug. I have no idea who he was. I then woke up.

Not sure I’ll go to my 50th. I only know one person from my class and it’s been a lifetime since I’ve seen anyone else. No way would I know anyone and it will probably be held on a Saturday evening and held in a bar.

There is a reunion, however, in which I am greatly looking forward to. It’s the one that will take place when I finally reach those shores of Glory. Oh my! What a wonderful reunion that will be. My dad and mom, my son, aunts and uncles, Christians I’ve admired through the years, will all be there to greet me. No way I’ll miss this reunion. How about you? Will I see you there?


Previous Posts

We vs. I
Dan Allen
2/23/2022

Going to Hell
Dan Allen
12/14/2021

Stay Away from the Meatloaf
Dan Allen
11/6/2021

A Dog Leading the Way
Dan Allen
7/27/2021

The Speed–Breakers of Life
Dan Allen
7/10/2021

High School Reunion
Dan Allen
4/8/2021

"Skin, it's the thing that's in"
Dan Allen
3/13/2021

Emerging from a Covid Cell
Dan Allen
2/20/2021

'Twas The Real Night Before Christmas
Russell T Allen
12/17/2020

Christmas Catalogs
Dan Allen
11/14/2020

Cancel This!
Dan Allen
10/3/2020

Don't Judge By Its Cover
Dan Allen
9/8/2020

Our Plans Trumped by God
Dan Allen
9/5/2020

We Fall Down
Dan Allen
8/5/2020

Battle with a Bug
Dan Allen
7/13/2020

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out
Dan Allen
7/3/2020

Setting the bar too low
Dan Allen
6/25/2020

Good is Evil, Evil is Good
Dan Allen
6/9/2020

Misguided Freedom
Dan Allen
6/4/2020

A Preaching Nightmare
Dan Allen
5/9/2020

Restaurant and/or Church Possible
Dan Allen
5/2/2020

A Good Dose of Cloistering Going On
Dan Allen
4/15/2020

So, Where is God in All of This?
Dan Allen
4/14/2020

I Finally Learned How to Wash My Hands
Dan Allen
4/13/2020

Fire Truck - Glory Train
Dan Allen
4/16/2019

Some Sins Seem to Do More Damage
Dan Allen
4/16/2019

The Canopy is Gone
Dan Allen
12/15/2018

Brushing Teeth with Iced Tea
Dan Allen
11/5/2018

Never in Danger, but Could Have Been
Dan Allen
11/4/2018

Another Festival
Dan Allen
11/3/2018

Cow Town
Dan Allen
11/2/2018

Dressing Down
Dan Allen
11/1/2018

#MeToo
Dan Allen
10/25/2018

All Alone Among 1.35 Billion People
Dan Allen
10/24/2018

Does Anyone Know What Time It Is?
Dan Allen
10/23/2018

Time To Be Spiritual Weather Forecasters
Dan Allen
10/22/2018

Words Change . . . But Someone Gets the Final Word
Dan Allen
9/4/2018

To Cremate or Not to Cremate
Dan Allen
7/15/2018

I Want to Hold Your Hand
Dan Allen
7/4/2018

I Finally Caught a Foul Ball . . . Sort of
Dan Allen
6/8/2018

I Can Only Imagine
Dan Allen
6/1/2018

Do Panhandlers Have Regulars
Dan Allen
4/8/2018

Can't Good Dogs Go To Heaven?
Dan Allen
4/3/2018

At the Taj . . . in pictures only
Dan Allen
1/24/2018

Cold, But Warm Inside
Dan Allen
1/22/2018

Don't Remove the Plastic
Dan Allen
1/12/2018

Put Your Big Boy Pants On
Dan Allen
1/9/2018

In the Spirit . . . or not?
Dan Allen
1/3/2018

You Could Cut It With a Knife
Dan Allen
1/1/2018

Personal Message Boards
Dan Allen
11/24/2017

Men Acting Badly, err Should We Say---Horribly!
Dan Allen
11/18/2017

History of Bible Fellowship Church of Ephrata
Dan Allen
8/29/2017

Large Crowd Diversion
Dan Allen
6/19/2017

Bikes, Bikers, and Trying New Things
Dan Allen
6/18/2017

Lessons from T-Ball for Churches
Dan Allen
6/17/2017

Authenticity of and in Jeans
Dan Allen
5/11/2017

Don't Let Me Fall
Dan Allen
4/22/2017

Have We Lost the "Awe-factor," Wonderment?
Dan Allen
4/21/2017

Bumped - Not Bumbed
Dan Allen
4/13/2017

Go Fly a Kite
Dan Allen
1/18/2017

What's In Your Bag?
Dan Allen
1/17/2017

Cultural Faux Pas
Dan Allen
1/13/2017

The Three Hour Trip Ends Up 23 Hours
Dan Allen
1/12/2017

Walking Headrest Cover
Dan Allen
1/9/2017

The Gift that Keeps Giving
Dan Allen
12/17/2016

Let's Keep Things in Perspective
Dan Allen
8/1/2015

I've Got the Nine
Dan Allen
6/26/2015

God Often Works in Mysterious Ways
Dan Allen
6/5/2015

I'm From Negadelphia
Dan
3/24/2015

Positive Spin
Dan Allen
2/16/2015