Is it possible? Has it been 35 years since I walked down the hallowed corridors of East Grand Rapids High School? Apparently. When people write about reunions a lot of what gets written seems trite. People are anxious–what will I wear, will people like me, will people even remember me?

Saturday night about 150 people gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a reunion. It had been thirty five years. I agonized what to wear. I went to get my hair and my nails done. I wondered who would be there–and if I would recognize them. I wondered if anyone would recognize me. I worried about whether I should bring my spouse and if others would bring theirs.

None of that mattered. As soon as I got out of the car, which was valet parked, I was hugged and warmly greeted. And hugged and hugged and hugged. People accepted my eccentric, pony-tailed, tie-wearing husband on his terms. People were sad to learn that both my parents are gone. Everybody seemed to know that I am a rabbi–and remember, this is Grand Rapids–what a rabbi is and does. People were genuinely proud of me and happy for me.

So why do reunions matter? They are a benchmark. They give you perspective to answer big questions: Where have I been? Who am I? Where am I going? What am I doing? Do I like myself?

Because for four years, or more, these people shared your history. With some of these people I went to one year of elementary school, two years of middle school and four years of high school. That’s seven years.

They remember stories I had forgotten, like the time it rained so hard and fast that our street flooded and we took the canoe out in the street. They remember track meets and my first Boston Marathon. They remember the construction of the track. They remember Girl Scouts. They remember Confirmation and trips to Israel. They remember lazy, summer days at the beach and winters where East Grand Rapids was the only school in the state not closed for snow. They remember teachers and coaches and counselors. People who made a difference in our lives and who mentored us. They remember those in the class who are no longer with us.

Sometimes when we get older (older, are we really older), our memories fade. Going back to a high school reunion is fraught with emotion. I was not the most popular kid in the school. I seemed to be a bridge between the academic brains the the social butterflies. I was never a football player or a cheerleader. And in Grand Rapids this seemed important at the time, I was not Dutch and I was not blonde!

I did participate. Girl Scouts (all the way through!), choir, French Club, ski club, track, cross-country (founding member of the Girls Cross Country team. Remember when Title IX was new?), Mini-Week, Lumber Jack Days. I did have friends. I still participate. That involvement began right at East Grand Rapids High School. Leadership skills were developed right at East Grand Rapids High School. For this I am grateful.

Going back to high school you learn things. Last time, our 25th, some of the people who were still in Grand Rapids, were thrilled I had “gotten out”. Those who were out, especially Chicago and Detroit, couldn’t wait to get back in, back to better school systems. There was a time where I too longed to be back in East Grand Rapids with those better schools. And yet, I was happy I was where I was–Boston, working in business and studying to be a rabbi. That was an important lesson, to be happy where you are–where ever you are.

This time I took less pictures. I was more in the moment. People seemed even more relaxed and comfortable with themselves making it easier. We are past proving ourselves. We have a common history and even after 35 years we can pick up right where we left off. Or maybe beyond, without some of the high school pettiness. We are who we are and we have turned out pretty damn good.

We stretch from Alaska to Boston, from California to Washington DC. We have classmates who work for NGOs in Africa, lawyers, doctors, politicians, manufacturers, insurance people, computer people, marketing and sales, a Girl Scout professional, training and development, real estate. We have talented actors, musicians and artists. We have a pilot. We have teachers and counselors, people who are paying it forward from our days at East Grand Rapids. And yes, we have one rabbi.

For me it was all good–from the moment I got out of the car. I learned that I am in pretty good shape. In a whole lot of ways. And so is most of my class. Most but not all. And I learned (again), that I have lots of friends. Lots and lots of friends.

So yes, I proudly say, I am from East Grand Rapids. I graduated from East Grand Rapids High School. I had teachers who cared passionately about us as students and people. I had Ms. Cullen. Mr. Froysland. Mr. Wicz. Madame Seger. Ms. Walker. Mr. Norman. Ms. Graham. I had Mrs. Yeagle and Mr. Blakee making sure that we succeeded.

I like where I am going. I love being a rabbi. I maybe working too hard (true story) but I am putting into practice what those teachers and counselors and administrators modeled so clearly for us. And maybe most important, I have learned to like who I am.

So I am grateful to the committee that put it together. It was a lot of work, I know. But for those of us who just enjoyed it was great. Thank you Andrew and Meredith, Mark and Anne, Lori, Dave and Julie, John and Skip and whoever else spent so much time. You done good! East Grand Rapids has done good.