Reunions

This year has been a year for reunions.  In April, I was reunited with many of my teachers and friends from my elementary/jr, high days at Central Baptist Christian Academy.  That was so amazing seeing so many special people in a very special place. It's also where I attended church for the majority of my childhood and young adult years. The fellowship hall also served as my kindergarten and some of my Junior High classrooms. The one end was a stage used for both church and school. We had youth group in that part of the room also. 

I am so thankful to have had the Christian education to form a great foundation for me to move on to public high school and beyond.  More thoughts on my Chenango Valley reunion later.

On September 30, I was reunited with one of my best college friends, Charlene Martin.  We hadn't seen each other in about 30 years, but kept in touch through Facebook.  We had an amazing time catching up. It was like no time had passed.  We will meet again soon.

I was in town for a reunion for the 75th anniversary of WTVH TV where I interned for two semesters while a student at SUNY Cortland.  Most of my friends who I worked with were able to make it including anchor Lisa , Director Kevin and a few of my videographer friends.  One of my best friends of that era couldn't make it due to illness.  There were a few other friends who could not make it that I missed. I was also able to visit with my friend Matt who I met when I was a senior in high school when he became a reporter/anchor at WBNG TV.  I ended up interning with him too for about a month before he moved back to Syracuse,  He's still there. 

It ended up being the night before the anniversary of the beginning of my journey in becoming an intern at WTVH.  I met a reporter named Keith.  I told him I knew someone there that had just moved up there from WBNG. He was there for my 1990 internship.  Keith told me WTVH needed interns.  I consider it a miracle.  I had made an appointment with my advisor the week before to talk about setting up an internship.  That meeting saved a lot of effort. It was one of the best times of my life.

Two weeks ago, I was reunited with my high school friends for our 35th reunion.  The room was packed with friends.  Some of them I hadn't seen since graduating.  It was nice catching up with everyone there. I still can't believe I've been out of school for so long.

This afternoon was a bittersweet reunion. I had the opportunity to attend the funeral of a dear Godly friend, Dawn LeRoy. I've known her most of my life, but we became closer in the past few years.  She was very loved woman by all.  I'm sad to lose her, but I know she's in heaven and I'll see her and her husband again.  

My parents were there.  I didn't get to talk to them much, but it was nice to have them sitting by me.  I loved hearing my Dad sing the hymns.  I've missed hearing his solos.  I thought about my singing too.  We sang In the Garden today. My mind flashed back to 1982, my 6th grade year.  We had this opportunity to have an adopt a grandparent program with a local nursing home.  My "grandma" was named Mary....just like my Grandma Corwin.  Sadly Mary died a few months after school ended.  My Grandma Corwin lived until 1996.

As I sat there in the sanctuary of Central Baptist Church and Christian Academy, many more memories were jogged of my wonderful pastors, singing, memories of the special friends who were attending the funeral with me and much more.  

I thought about how blessed I am to have such Godly parents who brought me up in such an amazing church. God placed me in many other amazing churches since moving to Elmira in 1996.  I found my Godly husband at one of those churches. That's a great blessing too!

I'm so thankful that I've had so many opporunities to reunite with many people who have influenced my life.  It's amazing!! There are still some friends I'd like to see again. I hope 2024 brings more friends back in my life.