Graduates, look around the room

In recent years I invited my village of friends, many of whom are actual long-ago classmates of mine, to give sage advice to the new crop of high school graduates and it was an eclectic array of perspectives. One friend, Mary, said this, “Look around this room, across the aisle, in front of you, behind you, next to you. Be grateful for these people because this group, these friends, and foes, will be the ones you meet on the street to share a memory, will see at church, at reunions, on Facebook (or whatever social media becomes 30 years from now) and they are your people ... the ones who ground you and remind you of your roots ... nothing grows strong without healthy roots.”

No truer words could be said, which brings me to the subject of high school reunions. Most people have a love/hate feeling about reuniting a decade or three or four after you’ve said goodbye at graduation time. As someone who’s attended my 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 45th, and 51st here’s my perspective. The 10th and 20th are still a little high school-ish with people wanting their classmates to see them as they were or an improved version of their high school selves. By the 30th and beyond most are empty nesters and decidedly more comfortable in their own skin. A bonus if you attend your reunions is meeting and getting to know people you went to school with but maybe didn’t get to know well or at all.

What I know without a doubt is that Coeur d’Alene High School Class of '70 are my people, reminding me of my roots and sharing a history. I’m sure I didn’t really appreciate the value of those friendships at our 10th reunion or 20th.

So my advice to graduates is to make a vow to attend your reunions, whether you still live in town or life takes you out of the area. Stay connected and make new connections with old friends

These are your people.

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For vintage Vikings who attended Coeur d’Alene High School in 1974 or earlier, the CHS All Class Golden Reunion is coming July 27, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Hayden Lake Eagles. CHS Class of 1969 is hosting for all those who’ve been 50 or more years out of high school.

Don’t wait to be contacted, jump on in and contact one of the organizers for more info or to sign up.

Patricia Richardson, 208-755-9100, Darlene Shriner, 208-660-9055, or Ron Hotchkiss, 208-819-1948. Forms are available on CHS All Class Reunion 2024 on Facebook.

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Post Script: To the parents whose graduating seniors are their youngest child ... it’s not an empty nest until they’ve taken all of their belongings out of the basement.

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Sincere thanks to the overwhelming number of readers who reached out via email, text and Facebook regarding last week's column about the loss of my longtime companion, Miss Annie. So many shared touching stories of their own; I was reminded just how universal and truly special our relationships are with our pets.

My friend, Ruth Pratt, sums it up perfectly, "Isn't it a miracle that there are so many "best dogs ever" in the world giving us the unconditional love we all need so desperately?"

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Happy Main Street birthdays today to Alec Steele, Evelyn Bevacqua Howe, Harold Appleby Jr., Joel Semanko, Helen Elder, Dale Rounsville, Ron Hodge and JaNee Newby. Tomorrow Wendy English, Don Bradway, Dallas Dixon, DeDe Tondee and Kim Norman put on their party hats. Happy birthday Friday to my better half and best friend, Bert Thoreson, along with John Hough, Brad Corkill and Susan Lewis. Tammy Rickard, Courtney Everson, Dustin Pilcher, Jaymie Starr, Emma Hoffman and Dave Haugen blow out the candles Saturday. On Sunday, Carla Allert, Dave Corbeill, Greg Washington, Paul Dekon (80!), James Hart, Don Fisher and Darrell Hull do the birthday dance. Chelsea Hough, Jared Mans, Taylor Gonzales, Lori Kaye Gaboury, Joan Crawford, Tanzi Hanson and Shannon Boston will celebrate Monday. June 11 birthday wishes to Deb Wheeler, Berkley Johnson, Kellie Palm, Sandy Green (80!), Gary Schneidmiller, Colin Evans, Tori Daily, Billy Anderson and Erna Rhinehart.

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Kerri Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher/editor of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears here every Wednesday. She can be contacted at mainstreet@cdapress.com or on Facebook.