Gary V. Powell, Author

Gary,

You are at your earthy, irreverent best with this story. It is damn good story telling, and the post is particularly appropriate on the heels of our 40th class reunion. You are right; there is some Leonard and Margie in all of us. After having been immersed with our classmates and reunion activities for better than half of the year, I can say that there are two things that we all have had to face since our high school days, unfulfilled dreams and unconquered demons. Your story speaks to both.

I saw classmates who surfaced after avoiding us for years and others who stayed away for the first time ever. Some came to finally confront the demons they had feared, and others because they had finally stared them down. I saw others who stayed away, not being able to admit to us, but finally admitting to themselves, that their high school dreams would never be reality.

They are the most tragic ones. I could name names, but that would only be an exercise in meanness, they are torturing themselves enough as it is. Your message is most poignant for them, because without knowing what their dreams would have become, they torture themselves over the fantasy that they imagine they might have been. They are a long way from finding, as Leonard did, that a dream is hardest to live once reality is attached.

Gary, at this stage of our lives it is hard to give gifts that are meaningful. Sure, a shared meal, a good bottle of wine are appreciated, but it is awfully hard to give something that is new and fresh and welcomed. I want thank you for the gift of fiction as I never knew it existed before your blog. I look forward to and treasure your stories more than you will ever know. You have given me a gift that I can never hope to repay, but for which I will always be thankful.

Merry Christmas - ‘09

Jeff and Gary, and others who I hope are reading, Kate and I wish you all the best during this holiday season. Sometimes the few of us dominate this blog, and I hope that you all understand. We tend to be verbose. And I hope that you feel free to jump in whenever you are so moved. We need your input. Keep us honest. We value your friendship and interest.

About the reunion, I guess we need to talk more. I hope that we get the chance. I vacated the
Elkhart area to deal with my own hopes, dreams, demons, and other things. It was not easy, but the transition came very naturally. I was ready. It happened, and I blossomed into a new person.

I came back to Elkhart, and was delighted to do so. High school should not have such a hold on us, but it is a snapshot in time that we cannot escape, it seems. For me, it was the most awkward, lousy time of my whole life. I envied those who had the looks, personality, charm, athletic ability, and comfort-level with who they were. I didn't. And it showed, every single day. Yes, I had a few good days. Not many.

Yet the years can be kind. I just needed to wait. Coming back was a watershed, and I felt the difference. A few conversations were very telling. I grew into who I am, and I hope that is true for everyone. Sadly, it may not be the case.

On a slightly discordant note, I felt that some people were annoyed that I was no longer such an easy target. But hey, the years went by, and the balance of things changed. I was lucky. I am grateful for that.

2010 lies ahead. So many things to say. But do they really matter? It will be what it is, and we will be who we are, each of us. I wish you all the best, and I appreciate the sense of community between us that this blog provides.

Gary, thank you -- you have given us a wonderful arena to know each other better. Here's to the future, whatever it brings.