“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” Also, much is to be learned from octogenarians.

Our 1956 class reunion was held this past weekend (April 20-21) with 239 class members, 94 deceased. With our common birth year, 1938, offering observations of life’s little nuances and happier times. Surprisingly, this group arrived with enthusiasm.

Several out-of-town classmates toured the “ready for use” sports and utility building at the high school with comments of “Wow, how did this happen in Moultrie?” We entered the area via the unmanned, open gate and drove to the facility and were able to view inside a fantastic football field covered with artificial turf. If we had had the presence of mind we could have arranged a proper tour, I’m sure. But that’s how 80-year-old people handle issues: Brilliantly, after the fact. Sometimes great wisdom emerges from old folks despite the handicap of a sound memory. I like to think of this situation as a damaged or faulty micro-chip.

My wife, Gay Rogers, spent much time with an Alzheimer’s classmate Saturday. She had such a wonderfully brave spirit and was a pleasure to be in her company. Gay asked her where her home was. She replied, “I don’t know.”

Another classmate noticed my persistent attention to an itch on my forearm. “Try applying alcohol and hand cream. It works for us.”

We anxiously await our next reunion in Year 2020 — where we may see things more clearly. Pun intended.

Tom Rogers

Moultrie