An Ode To Our 40th Reunion
by Linda (Meadows) Hodges
(written in 1998)

It is almost time for our FORTIETH, how did we get so old?
Seems like only yesterday that we were young and bold.
Now we have creaks and groans, and aches and pains to boot.
We’ll soon be getting to the point where we won’t give a hoot.

However, if all goes right, the best is yet to come.
Children up and grown, and no one left at home.
We will have the freedom of our youth, but the wisdom of our age.
What a nice way to enter this stage of life, to turn the coming page.

We know now what is important, what is meaningful and real.
Friends, family, spirituality...these are the needs we fill and feel.
We took those things for granted when we were young, never giving them a
thought.
Now that we are older, we realize what wonders life has brought.

I look into my grandson’s face and see the wonders of His grace.
I baby-sit him for three hours and wonder if I can keep up the pace!
His curiosity is insatiable, his questions never ending.
“Why, Nina?” is his ready response to anything that is pending.

I feel that our grandchildren are a reward for suffering through parenthood.
We are free to have fun, no responsibility, not be the “heavy”, just to be
the “good”.
We deserve some time off for “parental behavior”, it was our hardest job
ever.
For those of us with no children, you have worked hard at other endeavors.

We are at a place where we have survived, we persevered and “carried on”.
No matter what came our way, we struggled through..sometimes pale and wan.
We can now communicate as adults, not as adolescents, selfish and dumb.
We can appreciate our classmates for who they are and who they have become.
Not for how they looked in high school, or how much weight they have gained
or lost
Not how much hair is gone, nor for the wrinkles that have been earned, at
great cost.

We have all matured, that is true....older and wiser we.
We see people in a different light.....the inner self is what we see.
Our class is full of wonderful people....I can’t wait to get to know,
The wonderful things we have done, the accomplishments, the dreams we have
yet to go.

Things financial are all well and good, but that does not make us who we
“are”.
Financial wealth helps us do what we like to do, makes life easier in some
ways, but money does not bar
Times of trouble, poor health, sadness, and failures in areas of our lives.
It really doesn’t help us become more spiritual, more loving people, or
better husbands and/or wives.

The electronic medium is to keep in touch, to learn more about the day to day
activities in our lives.
We can “be there” for each other to share with, sort of like bees in a hive.
Life has been hard, for some it has been harder than for others.
There is no reason why we can’t become a huge extended family, like extra
“sisters” and “brothers”.

As we approach our Fortieth Reunion Day, let us remember those of us who have
died.
We will miss them and remember them on this day when they are unable to be by
our side.
We will be thankful for the blessings in our lives, for the trials and
tribulations too.
For those things that we have endured and survived are what make us the
present “me” and “you”.


**A PERSONAL NOTE: HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE REUNION. I WILL BE THE ONE WHO IS GRAY HAIRED, WRINKLED, AND HAS GAINED SOME WEIGHT! BE SURE TO LOOK PAST THAT, AT MY “INNER” SELF! I AM BETTER THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN, INSIDE.**

.......... Linda (Meadows) Hodges

*******************

Reunions        Home