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Was Robert Fulghum right? Did everything we need to know we learn in Kindergarten?

The last time all 500+ gathered together, was graduation; the final time we would be together. Most of us had seen each other through our early education years—much longer that the three years of high school; we grew up together.  The 60’s and 70’s was its own turbulent time; a nationwide rebellion of sorts.  The smaller neighborhood elementary schools merged into two larger middle schools which became Bellevue High. Not just the  traditional Friday night football games where the stands usually filled or other athletic and school events, but since elementary school—in fact, since the beginning first day of our formal education.  Kindergarten.  We are connected.

It seems almost surreal when some of your classmates are unrecognizable and others you know in an instant.  I wondered, why do some choose to go to the reunion—and others never return—disconnected and ‘lost’ within the mix and energy of life. Or just busy and distracted by family and work? Why?  Is this a reflection of how we live our lives?

Some are no longer with us—on the other side of the veil.  Their call announced a different way.  Could they have been  wandering energetically, unannounced and invisible, among us in their new changed form? Others, no-shows, angry, or disappointed at how life dashed their visions, dreams and expectations; of how life was supposed to be?  Have they somehow judged themselves? Not recognizing the magnificence of their being? Not good enough perhaps? Or was it just those childhood pranks and games that kids ‘played’, the body of students—not realizing a bigger issue under the surface lay hiding? I ask today,  was this the expression of issues behind closed doors and no-tell secrets of disfunction held within family walls?  Were they crying out for help? Or, were all these lessons for us used to grow strong? The spring boards of childhood? A testing ground for bigger things to come? And, is this what shows up “today” —present moment; that baggage still carried? Those memes placed upon us, early, which shackled our belief systems and kept us in the box of what is—gripping and holding tight even today? Can we let go and be free of what was?

Some of us have been called across the country or across the world; Paris, Brazil, Florida, Atlanta, Arizona are a few. The graduation milestone of 40 years seems to have passed  quickly.  Where has the time gone?  Where are the youthful faces and brunette hair? So quickly replaced by wrinkles and gray locks—the noticeable part of how time has marched on. A peek in the circle of time; both directions of past and present.  Present in a mire of software engineers, real estate brokers, teachers, business entrepreneurs, attorneys, insurance brokers, and all those who make the infrastructure of professions and the world called for reasons unknown to them, but making a difference by all those they touch.  Do they realize their worth?  Did they follow their passion?

The personalities of each “Kid’ we passed in the hallway on our way to and fro, up and down the hall—to class, our lockers, the parking lot, the gym.  Have we really changed, or just blossomed into our souls eternal nature; some living our truths—others frustrated by others’ expectations of the journey we were supposed to live?  How little we knew when we rented those caps and gowns.  Our true lessons and the tests of life coming from our children, our marriages, our divorces, our hardships, our affairs, our health challenges, the passings, our triumphs—our self-realizations.  Hard fought for some—easier for others—we are who we are, but who is that?

The Saturday evening event on August 8th was a huge success for all who attended.  One quipped, ‘If I set the bar really low, I won’t be disappointed’  . . . a viewpoint on life?  One broken hip and one DWI, everyone seemed to have a good evening; formal group portrait to mark the occasion.  All brought their own expectations, exchanging pleasantries and catching up with the most important events four decades brings; some stayed the evening—others only a short time.

For those who missed the BHS ’75 reunion—I send you our compassion.  I send out love and I send out understanding.  It’s time to tell yourself a new story. You were missed; we are family.  Mark your Intention for August 2020. Rumor has it that it’s going to be at Juanita Beach.  It’s Chris Robertson’s contribution.  The judgements must be dismissed, and swords to rest,  we have all grown up just a bit.   We must drop the energy of the past—and move forward to create a new experience.  It is a milestone.  Life is always what you choose to make it.  See the bigger picture.  Re-write your story. Isn’t it time to build bridges—not walls?

As Robert Fulghum so astutely put it: “You may never have proof of your importance, but you are more important than you think. There are always those who couldn’t do without you. The rub is that you don’t always know who.” 

I include his list below. I like the last three: 14, 15 and 16—what about you?  See you on Juanita Beach in 5 years—bring something to share!  Gratitude goes to the few who put it all together. Thank you! And so it goes . . .

“Inspired Wellness Within”

 Cathy Silver, HC AADP (Van Pelt)

CathySilverHealth@gmail.com 

Biological Decoding, Family Constellations, Hypnosis, Nutrition, Grief Counseling 

Reunion picture – 40 years later!

“These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):

1. Share everything.

2. Play fair.

3. Don’t hit people.

4. Put things back where you found them.

5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.

6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.

7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.

8. Wash your hands before you eat.

9. Flush.

10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

11. Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.

12. Take a nap every afternoon.

13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

15. Goldfish and hamster and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.

16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.” 

― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

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