As hard as it is to believe, nearly three years have come and gone since our 50th high school reunion. To coin and connect a couple of well-known phrases, “Time marches on and waits for no one.”
The Elyria Catholic High School class of 1971 is no exception. In the ensuing years, I’ve missed out on a number of ongoing mini-reunions. One of these was at my all-time favorite date and miniature golf place, the Midway O-Boy, on Lake Avenue. It was the perfect opportunity for checking in with each other, while checking out if their grilled cheeses sandwiches (don’t ever hold the pickles) were still as tasty as they were before.
I finally got around to putting in my reservations for the gathering at the Foundry in downtown Elyria. Its website opens with a brief history lesson: “Nearly 200 years since Herman Ely settled here near the Black River, Foundry Kitchen and Bar is saluting the proud history of Elyria with our beautifully appointed gastropub situated just off Ely Square in the heart of downtown.”
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In an ode to the great men and women who worked in the many foundries that once flourished here, the Foundry Kitchen & Bar invites patrons to enjoy a decor that boasts a rustic, industrial theme, using metal and wood finishes throughout (in addition to many “found” objects enhancing the space).
Because you “can’t go home again” (at least, without a direction-finder), I made it a point to arrive early. There, I “found” a dozen plus a few more seated at two tables in the back. For the next couple of hours, we reconnected in ways you can’t at a reunion — taking time to talk and listen and relate, then share memories and listen some more.
What I learned (besides that I looked the same except for my beard) and should have known all along, is that the men and women of ECHS who received their diplomas in 1971 are deeply spiritual people, each in their own way.
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A part of this is their character and the diverse ways they have lived, learned, grown and been transformed in their faith. The other part is the staying power of the spiritual training we received from Catholic Brothers and Sisters.
Little did I know at the time that these two essential parts would lead me on a path to pastoral ministry in the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Denominations and training to be a spiritual director.
So I would like to give thanks to God for these long-distance friends and the realization that they have and will continue to remain near and dear to my heart. Before this summer has passed you by, why not reach out to other alumni and arrange an impromptu reunion of your own. If you do, you’ll discover that no matter how many years have elapsed, the connections that remain have grown a lot closer than you think.
Mark Katrick is a pastor and a spiritual guide.
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