My 20th Vet School Reunion

Alissa had asked about my 20th reunion. It was really interesting. I did enjoy it. I ate dinner with five of my dearest friends from that time. In fact, there were three of us who just happened to sit down in the same order as we were alphabetically arranged during freshman lab. Maybe it was subconscious. There were several spouses in attendance, and while I knew several of them, I did get to meet a couple of "new" ones.
Steve, whom I had not seen since graduation (or shortly thereafter) now is married, has two beautiful girls and practices in the northeast US after growing up in Alabama and practicing in Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. Steve's sense of humor is just as dark and as piercing as it was 20 years ago.
John is one of the partners in a large, multi doctor practice in Virginia. He is married, has two children and is very much the family man.
Mark and his wife, whom he met at Auburn, have one daughter and two practices in Alabama. I have kept up with them pretty much since we graduated, and there was no real change in their lives since the last time I'd seen them.
Fred, very much a country person like myself, and his wife have three beautiful daughters who are going to break many hearts. Their practice is in West Alabama. Other than the gray hair, he looks and sounds just like he did 20 years ago.
Rob, with whom I have kept up off and on since we graduated is now an MD. He practiced for several years and then decided to go to medical school. In the process, his first marriage broke up, then he had several girlfriends and now he is married and doing well. His wife is an absolute delight and we had a great time visiting. They live in central Louisiana. He makes many jokes about the comparison between veterinary medicine and human medicine.
One classmate who was not present is a missionary in Cambodia. He and his beautiful wife and three children live in a rural village there. They work to coordinate other missionaries who come there on trips to assist the natives.
The really nice thing about our reunion was that our friendships went right back to the way they were 20 years ago. In the words of Steve, "It was as if we'd just turned away for a few minutes and then come back into the same conversation." I believe that is one of the signs of a true friend. I hope so.
There were some really sad situations. One of our classmates had a tumor at the base of his brain, it was treated with radiation. Somehow there was too much radiation given and now he is a quadriplegic. Another classmate's spouse died suddenly and unexpectedly. One classmate was killed within a year and a half after graduation in an auto accident, a second died from a brain tumor that returned after his being in remission for many years, and a third died of some other form of cancer.
All in all, it was a good visit. No profound words were spoken, nobody has won a Nobel prize, doubt any of us will ever be in the Bill Gates category. We're just plain old folks who are working, making a living and trying our best to raise families who will be good members of society. When I was in school, I had pictures in my mind of what my life would be like. I don't think any of the pictures came true exactly, but I think I am happier with the reality that I ever would have been with the fantasy I created. I imagine that my classmates had the same visions, but they seemed equally pleased with how life turned out for them. At least I hope so.
It has been an eventful ride so far, and I hope to stay around alot longer to see what happens.