The 50th reunion of the Ottawa Hills Highschool (Grand Rapids) class of
1959 was held on Saturday, July 18 in the Spinnaker Lounge at the Grand
Rapids Airport Hilton. Space constrains prevent posting all the pictures,
but they will soon be available on DVD, thanks to Kay Millar and all the
people who sent over pictures. A few here give a sense of the mood.
Steve Konkle summed up the night perfectly:
After having a few days to reflect on what just took place at the
Hilton Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I have a few thoughts that
I'd like to share with all of you. As I look back on the evening,
and some of the events preceding and even following the evening, I
am as much struck by what I did not see and experience, as I am by
what I did see and experience.
I hope that all of you did not see and hear the same things that I
did not see and hear. I did not see a Homecoming King or Queen, or
a Jock, or a Wimp, or a Nerd. I did not see a single rich kid, or
bully, or delinquent, and there was nobody there from the wrong side
of the tracks. I certainly never saw a Cheerleader, or anyone that
wished they were a Cheerleader. I did not see anyone with a label
"First String", or "Second String", or "Bench Warmer". And nobody had
a reputation for being a jerk, or a snitch, or even "Hot". And isn't
it odd, that nowhere in the room was the fat kid, or the girl with the
big boobs for us to leer at or snicker about.
What I did see was a whole bunch of warm and wonderful people that
had all made a particular effort to travel back to Grand Rapids,
so that just for a few hours, they could share a moment or two with
people they had known and loved a long time ago, and just wanted to
have a chance to let them know how they felt one more time. What I
did see was instant and spontaneous hugs, and smiles, and even kisses,
and "oh boy am I glad to see you" looks.
What I did see was a room full of people who were "connected" by
time and life's experiences to one another in a way that only they
could appreciate. The warmth, and the friendship, and the love for
one another that transcends all of the things that I did not see.
Because that's the way we all have come to know it is supposed to be,
because that in fact is the true legacy of the OHHS Class of 59.
As for me personally, all I can say to you all is, stay well, stay
happy, thank the Good Lord for your blessings, and if you are faced
with pain and sorrow, my God grant you Serenity to accept the things
you cannot change.
I hope we have the opportunity to get together again soon, so we
can talk and spend time with all of those that we didn't have enough
time to talk and spend time with at this last wonderful event.
Last updated: August 30, 2009