Do You Remember Me

Are you kidding? Do you think I can recognize you after all these years.

That was my refrain as I returned to my hometown of Montreal for my Grade 7 (that' s the way they say it in Canada) Jewish Peoples School reunion.

We were 45 students who graduated.6 are no longer with us. One died of cervical cancer;one from breast cancer;one from MS;one from Legionnaires Disease;one committeed siucide at 19;and one was killed in an accident while attending med school in Mexico.

Of the 39, 26 attended the reunion. It was amazing how easily we reconnected after ahem, 45 years.

We reminisced about the teachers who seemed ancient, the empty cardboard milk cartons we used as pucks in the school yard, those ropes we could not climb in the gym.

We looked at the class pictures taken every year around Chanukah or Purim, all decked out in costumes that were refective of the holiday. I also discovered that I was the valedictorian of my Grade 7 class...thanks to the graduation program that someone had saved. And we laughed at the report cards...G for good, VG for very good and comments on our behavior.

Needless to say it was a wonderful weekend.Who knew that after so many years, our bonds of friendship would be reconnected.