Angi Aymond

Is That Too Narcissistic A Title?

Memories like the corners of my mind, misty water colored memories of the way we were.

Memories, Barbara Streisand

Oh, the way we were. Sometimes better than we are now; other times not.

With two reunions in the same amount of weekends, I’m trying to sort through and navigate lots of memories of my own.

This Friday, there’s a reunion for a group of women with whom I sang 22 years ago. And though the group has been together for 25 years, I was only a member for two years. (At least, that’s the best I recall.)

There are many women who’ve remained with the group for all 25 years! How amazing is that?!

I have some great memories of my short time with the group. Fun times. Funny times. Moments of pure Spirit-filled worship only heaven will match.

As far as vocal quality and performance, it was some of my best days. Equal to, in my mind, a former quarterback remembering his glory days. But days gone by to be sure. Yes. I was better back then.

Now, I’m certain that only a few remember me, and I possibly won’t remember many of the others either. It’s the simple law of proximity, or lack thereof. There’s no fault nor need of remedy.

We’ll all sing together this Friday night in hopes that a bit of heaven comes down once again!

But following the 25-year reunion is my 40th high school reunion. Wait. What?

Yes.

I attended one school from Kindergarten through 12th grade. There were 81 graduates in my class of 1983. Though we did have a few transfers in and out over the years, many, if not most of us, traveled 13 years together.

Since graduation, I have attended the 10th, 20th, and even the 30th year reunions. But I’m won’t be able to make the 40th.

Here’s what I’ve learned through 3 reunions and 40 years removed from high school.

1. Memories. They may be right, but they may be wrong. Altered. Manipulated. Misremembered. There have been facts I knew to be absolutely true. But upon personal investigation, I proved myself wrong. Dates. Times. People. Events.

Did you know? The memories stored in our brains can change for many reasons, such as the passage of time or the context surrounding our memory recall. Some of the events we think we remember may not have even happened in the first place. Crazy. But that’s how sometimes you ‘know you know,’ when in fact you really don’t.

2. Reunions. People tend to talk mostly about the past. You in the past. Them in the past. And I’m not sure about you, but the past me wasn’t the best me; not the best version of me by a long shot.

I was not better back then.

I wasn’t the best version of me forty years ago, nor thirty years ago. Heck, I hardly resemble the me I was even ten years ago!

I hope and believe that I am closer to the version of me that God knew all along I could be. Would be. Right now.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of growing and learning and loving to do. Forgiving and forging on. Still.

So, with all these memories dancing around in my head, accurate or not, I’ve decided I’d dump them. Hit the delete button.

I know what you’re thinking. “You’ve been holding on to hurtful words from high school? Hurtful memories?”

No. Not intentionally. But again, with a lack of proximity, some of those words feel more current than they actually are. No new memories have overridden the old ones. Having moved away 31 years ago, I only have one version of most of my classmates. The old one. And they perhaps have only one version of me. The old one.

But just as I’d hope others might give me much room to change and grow, I need to offer the same to them. Expect that they have grown into the best versions of themselves as well.

Friends, I suppose that’s enough sappiness and vulnerability for a Tuesday.

Here’s to better memories and happy reunions!

I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you^[a] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6