Sunday, November 26, 2017

10 Year High School Reunion

It's hard to believe it has been 10 years since we all last stepped foot in the halls of Firelands High School. For some of us it was a good part of life, and for others not so much, but I think we can all agree that we had friends there. Some of us still have those friends. Some of us hang out with people that they weren't friends with while in school, and some don't see each other at all.

We have moved on. But no matter how far away we move we will always share the same origin. The building pictured below is that spot. Our jumping off point ten years ago before moving into a much larger world.

We got together last night and it was as though it had never ended. We picked up right where we left off with tales of good times and bad. We laughed, ate, and drank and for a brief moment the echoes of those long forgotten hallways returned. It felt like home.

Firelands High School (Photo Credit: Kevin Wiley)
We had our reunion at Matus Winery in Wakeman.
Mmmm cookies.
(Photo Credit: Kevin Wiley)
Brooke and Jesse. (Photo taken by Daniel Lubinski)
(Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Kane, LeAnne, Kelly and Kelly's husband, Erick. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Paul, Anthony and Anthony's wife, Elizabeth. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
DJ and Carly. (Unknown Photo Credit)
Matt, his fiancee Jessica, and Rachel. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Mason, DJ and Jessica. (Unknown Photo Credit)
Getting some grub. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Mason, Jeremy, me, and Sarah. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Josie, Joe and Zach. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Mason, Sarah, Tiffany, Rebecca, and me. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Ryan, Tiffany, Ian, and Albert. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Megan, Mason, and Rebecca. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Jessica and her boyfriend Vince. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Mason and Megan. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lubinski)
Megan, Rebecca, Mason, me, Sarah, and DJ (Unknown Photo Credit...you'd think I should know)
Ryan, Rebecca, and Sarah.
Sarah and I won a basket!
Me, Rebecca, and Mason.
First off I want to apologize for these pictures being somewhat one sided. I tried to get the ones that DJ and Kevin took as well to add to the collection and I hope to expand this post once more pictures become available.

I don't know about everyone else, but I had a lot of fun last night. The food was good, the drinks were flowin', and revelry was abound. I talked to people I haven't talked to in years and many of them weren't even friends back in school. I guess that goes to show that even though we shared the same "jumping off point" we have all changed to some extent. We have all grown. We've gone to college, gotten jobs, gotten married, had kids, and ended up right back here, even if it was for just one night.

I would be remiss to not mention a classmate that could not return. Someone who was friends with everyone and would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it. 6 years ago we lost Ryan Woodrum in a motorcycle accident. Something that he loved to do. I will be the first to admit I wasn't really close with Ryan, but I guess you didn't have to be. He was a friend to all. Every once in a while I will see someone write something on his Facebook wall and it hits me. He is frozen in time. A memory for most of us of the high school kid who would ride anything, two wheels or four, and would do anything for anybody who asked. His motto was "enjoy it while it lasts" and I think it is a pretty good one to live by.


Rest in peace, Ryan. See you again at the next reunion.

Here's to the next 10 years of our lives. Lets make them good and "enjoy it while it lasts".

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