Hometown Reunion

I grew up in a small town in New Jersey, where neighbors were friendly and everyone’s parents kept an eye on everyone’s kids. If you were doing the wrong thing somewhere in town, your mother knew about it before you got home!

I am still friends with a handful of people I’ve known since Kindergarten, and one since diaper days! About a dozen years ago, I began hosting pool party BBQs at my house for my long term friends, their families, and even our own parents. The kids played and splashed while we caught up. Once I moved, one of the guys started hosting us at his community pool. We all brought food, ordered pizzas and chatted under the pavilion.

These days, the kids are grown and most are out of the house, but we still keep up our annual tradition. This year, we met at a restaurant for lunch and the catch up was fast and furious around the table, as were the jokes and memories. The significant others know most of the stories and the supporting characters, so they don’t feel left out at all.

I am so grateful to have friends that go back over 50 years, people I don’t talk to on a daily basis, but who I know would do anything for anyone in our group if asked. You can’t beat that kind of longevity!