For a while now the Thomas Jefferson High School alumni from the first four classes which graduated from the place (1966-1969) have been discussing a reunion this fall, and it’s now push-comes-to-shove time. I have to decide whether to fly all the way across the Pacific and then all the way across the country to see my old high school classmates, none of whom have I seen since three days after I graduated in 1968. On the face of it that seems to be an expensive indulgence.

On the other hand, since June 2011 I have been the curator of a photo album containing current photos of many of those people. That month one of us had the brilliant idea that we should have a 60th-birthday celebration in the church basement where many a high school dance was held way back then. I think we surprised ourselves by showing up. The total crowd was between 75-100. That also says something about the short distances many of my classmates moved away from their family homes after they graduated. I’m pretty sure that had I gone I’d have won the “Farthest Distance Traveled” award if one had been given; the second farthest came from Los Angeles.

It would be fun to see all the people whose pictures I’ve been placing into that album for five-plus years.

Who’s attended a high school or college reunion after more than a single decade has past? Was it fun?