Monday, August 23, 2010

Down Memory Lane--45 Years Ago!

I can't believe I haven't posted for so long! I've had things I wanted to share, or at least make a part of this journal, but life has gotten in the way.

Speaking of life, how do you catch up on 45 years of living with 31 other women? We made a valiant attempt, and were actually quite successful.


This past Friday and Saturday my West Sub nursing class met for our 45-year reunion. Apparently we've only had 2 other reunions--one at 5 years and 10 years--and I wasn't able to attend those. So how do you go about meeting and greeting and relating to women you haven't seen in 45 years?

Above are the 2 girls who were my roommate/suite mate our senior year. Judy (in the center) and I were roommates and Mary was in a single room with a shared bathroom between us. Judy and I stayed with Mary, instead of at the hotel, since she lived close, and it gave us a chance to really catch up on families, joys, sorrows, etc.

(We had small groups or "rotations" that went to different areas together. This was my rotation. There were 8 of us, and 7 of us were here. We called ourselves the "great eight"!)

I need not have worried about relating with these women. It was as if we had seen each other yesterday. West Sub was a christian school, affiliated with Wheaton College at the time that we were in school. However, that does not necessarily mean that everyone is a christian.

But as I listened to each of these women speak several things were evident:

1) We had all worked at our nursing careers, some more than others. Many, like me, are retired; more that I would have thought are still working; and some only worked a few years in nursing, because of husband's careers, mission work, etc.

2) We have all had many joys and blessings in our lives--family, grandkids, etc.

3) We have all had heartaches and trials--chronic illness, cancer, death of spouses and/or children, challenges and heartache with our children, etc.

4) BUT, as I listened, every one of them gave God the praise and glory for His love, His grace, His guidance and direction and His faithfulness. It was truly amazing.


We graduated with 63 class members. Six of them are deceased. So out of a possible 57 classmates, 32 of us were there. We felt like it was an amazing turnout. And what a spiritually uplifting and encouraging time it was!

We ended the reunion by singing our class song, which was based on Isaiah 26: 3 You will keep in perfect peace him (her) whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.

9 comments:

Rebecca said...

I would have loved to have heard that parting song! What an emotional experience it might have been!

I went to my 40th M.B.I. reunion last February. I don't think we had as good a % of turnout as you did!

What a time for reflection, thanksgiving and praise a gathering of sisters in Christ brings with it!

Brenda said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I am so glad. That was a great turn-out. I am sure hearing the stories from everyone was a blessing. After all of these years, it is easy to reconnect when you share a relationship through Jesus Christ.

Bernie said...

So happy for you Donna to reconnect with old friends which you have ever so much in common with....how wonderful so many were there....Hugs

Wanda..... said...

I'm sure that was a very moving experience for you, Donna. It's nice to go down memory lane, especially after 45 years!

Becky said...

Donna, I think it is wonderful that your class got together, I would ove to get together with my nursing class. We graduated 14 years ago.

Cindy said...

What a blessing! Thanks for sharing this fun time.

Diana said...

What a fulfilling reunion Donna. I would love to hear some stories from your school days.
Love Di ♥

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna, Just checking in on what you are up to. I have only kept up with one member of my original LPN class. And no one in my RN class. At least I still see some of the original nurses that I work with at ST Joe. It will be 32 years ago that I started in September,(minus the three years spent near Nashville,Tn). Things are a changing at SJ. kathy

Dee said...

What a wonderful reunion...I am sure there was a lot of laughtr and tears and good memories made that day.