The kids couldn’t stand the idea of a photo being taken without them in it. Even this head shot of us had Pete standing on a chair right next to me.

Pat and Jenny.

Bob and Gina.

I realize that many women who read this blog are, like me, Catholic homeschool mothers of many. At the risk of offending you by stereotyping, conjure in your mind an image of what a Catholic homeschool mother of many looks like. The first adjective that springs to my mind is dowdy. I see glasses, long hair pulled back, long skirt or jumper (denim, of course), and sensible flats. And, except for the jumper (which Bill has strictly forbidden), I think I’m looking in a mirror! So I tried hard to not look that part. Check out that skirt: you can see my calves! Whoa! That’s practically a mini! And those shoes? Can you tell? They’re flimsy little strappy ones. A reflection of my inner wild child, I tell you!

I must have done a good job of projecting a more polished image than usual; most people were suitably shocked when we said we had 5 kids and homeschooled. Keep in mind that my husband attended a Catholic high school. I don’t think anyone else there had more than three kids. Sad.

I think Bill had a good time. Too late, but in preparation for the 25th, Jenny and I plotted amusing scenarios such as pretending to be someone from the class (or better yet, maybe a younger classmate) or suggesting that we come to the reunion with each other’s spouses and then leave with our own (in an attempt to create scandal). It sounds funny…but maybe next time, Jenny and I will stay home while the boys go. I don’t mind that Bill wants to attend, but I have serious doubts about ever attending one of my own. I just don’t know if I want to open up all those doors to safely locked memories…

Tomorrow morning the kids and I are heading to Pennsylvania to visit with a good friend. I’m excited because the last dozen times I’ve seen her, it seemed I would have a hasty cup of coffee and then run out to take care of my rental property while she babysat my kids. Then I’d come back to her house, grab a quick meal, gather the kids and leave. Not much fun (for either of us!). Thank goodness, she is a real true good friend who doesn’t mind too much being abused like that. And her kids are good friends with my kids, so they had fun.

This time, we’re sleeping at her house, and there’s no rushing around to other places. At some point, surely, the kids will all be sleeping, and we might enjoy an hour of uninterrupted conversation. Surely.

Saturday morning, we’ll head out and pick Bill up at the train station. We do have to take care of some rental property business, but hopefully this won’t take too long. We’ll go over to Bill’s parents’ house and visit for a bit. Bill’s parents will watch the kids while we get together with friends at a bar in New Jersey. Then we’ll all head over to Bill’s and his buddies’ 20th high school reunion.

Bill and I went to his 10th reunion. We had been married just over a year and had no kids. It will be interesting to see if anyone has changed as much as we have! The reunion is just a buffet reception at a local hotel, but the best part will surely be the pre-reunion private party with old friends. I really like the one friend’s wife, and I’ll get to meet the other friend’s girlfriend.

A few days ago, we also received information about Bill’s 15th college reunion.

{I’ll interrupt myself quickly to explain that Bill did not begin college immediately upon graduation from high school. He procrastinated drifted aimlessly took his time and made a deliberate and thoughtful college selection. It’s a good thing too, because had he started college when he was 18, I’m certain some other intelligent, attractive young co-ed would have scooped him up before I found him.}

Our college hosts all the reunions at the same time. Each different class has their own private parties, but lots of activities are done all together. For example, there is a big reunion parade for all alumni and their families through the small town where the college is located. Afterward, there are various activities on the campus with each class doing their own thing. The reunion letter highlighted pong as one of the fun events for the Class of 1992. Just in case you didn’t attend a big party school, pong is ping pong but with beer and the object being to get as drunk as possible.

I suggested to Bill that we wait until his 20th reunion to see if perhaps his classmates had grown up any by then. We laugh at our quarterly alumni newsletter where classmates announce the happy news of their engagement or marriage or perhaps the birth of their first child. We’re so far removed from those “new beginnings” days. I seriously think it may be another decade before we and these peers can meet on similar ground.

It certainly will be interesting to find out.