It
was great seeing people I hadn't seen in so many years. Like Eddie
Russell (alphabetically behind me in line for graduation) who thought
I was moving too slowly so picked me up by the elbows and carried me
through the ceremony. Or Duffy Oyster who copied every word I wrote
in Mr. Hebert's World History class. I was always surpirsed Duffy
managed to pass the class. Or Bertha Moses (now Bert), voted most
intellegent of our graduating class, who's now a professional poker
player. But it was my friend Elaine who was my main event. We may
only talk on the phone once or twice a year, but we can always start
the conversation where we'd left off the call before.
What
really took my breath away last weekend, though, was when Elaine
handed me a book. It was an old copy of A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by
Betty Smith, and inside, on the flyleaf page was written: “Susan
Rogers, Room 203, Binnion Hall, East Texas State University.”
Elaine had borrowed that book our freshman year in college and
decided to give it back fifty years later. I will cherish that book
for another fifty years, if I'm able. Or maybe just twenty.
