Westbury 1968 Class Reunion

Reunion 2012,  By Keith Bettinger

            I’m going to the Westbury High School Class of 1968 reunion in April 2012.  I will probably be standing there, bewildered, wondering who all the old people are, and figuring they must have been my teachers.

While I’m standing there you might not recognize me.  You see, I’ve grown taller since leaving high school.  I have now grown past my hair.  It no longer sticks out the top of my head.  However, if I could comb my eyebrows back, or part the hair in my ears, I would once again have a nice full head of hair.

I seem to have grown sideways as well.  I’m not fat.  I’m just short for my weight.  I stand 5’ 8”, but according to those charts in the doctor’s office, I should be 7’ 9” tall.

If you talk to me at the reunion and I don’t answer don’t assume I’m ignoring you.  You see, I have a nice pair of discreet hearing aids.   I no longer respond to everything my wife says with non-acceptable answers such as “What?” and “Huh?”  The trick is I have to remember where I left them and then I have to remember to put them in my ears.  The problem is if I’m in a large room with lots of old people who are speaking loud, the noise can overwhelm the hearing aids.  Then again, if you are annoying me, I might just ignore you and blame it on my hearing aids.

There probably won’t be any Camaros, Challengers, Roadrunners or Firebirds in the restaurant parking lot when I arrive.  But, there will probably be the types of cars driven by old people, Cadillacs, Lincolns,  Lexuses, (or is that supposed to be Lexi?) some Chevrolets and Fords.  In my case it will be whatever the rental agency decides to supply me with.

As I was about to enter the working world, two points I decided on was I would not work holidays or wear a tie.  I became a cop.  Those two points went right out the window for twenty five years.  When I talk to my mother via telephone, I constantly hear how neat I used to dress and what great care I took of my dress up clothes.  I won’t be wearing my dress up clothes to the reunion.  I’m retired.  I don’t own dress up clothes. When I need a suit or a sport jacket I go and buy one.  If I can’t go someplace in a pair of Dockers and a Hawaiian shirt, I’m not going.  Tommy Bahama reigns!

At our age comfort is a must, so break out your orthopedic dancing shoes, bring extra batteries for your hearing aids, a snapshot of the person you came with so you remember who is taking you home that night.  But most importantly bring your fond memories and your desire to renew old friendships from so many years past.

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