SATURDAY, MY WIFE BARBARA AND I WERE HONORED TO ATTEND THE 5OTH REUNION OF THE 1961 HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF ALDERSON HIGH SCHOOL. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN SUCH INTENSE CLOSENESS AS THOSE CLASS MEMBERS DISPLAY. THERE IS ENORMOUS AFFECTION AND GREAT LOYALTY AMONG AND BETWEEN THE CLASSMATES. A FEW PEOPLE, TWO IN MY CASE, I HAVE KEPT VERY CLOSE, AND THEY ARE MY BEST LIFE FRIENDS, BUT THE REST, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT SEEN SOME IN 50 YEARS, I FEEL OR EXPERIENCE A BOND OF CLOSENESS THAT CAN NEVER BE BROKEN. THOSE WHO COULD NOT ATTEND, IT IS WITH EXTREME SADNESS THAT WE COULD NOT SEE EACH OTHER, THOSE WHO HAVE GONE THE WAY WE ALL WILL EVENTUALLY GO, IT IS WITH PROFOUND PAIN AND ANGUISH THAT WE MISS YOU. THE COMMITTEE HEADED BY AL, JUDY, SUSIE, JOYCE AND I FORGET, MAYBE SAM, I KNOW IT WAS NOT ME, DID A WONDERFUL TASK, A JOB BEYOND WORDS, IN PLANNING AND PREPARING OUR REUNION MEETING. WE RELEASED A BALLOON IN HONOR OF OUR DEPARTED CLASSMATES, WHOM WE ALL DEEPLY RESPECT  AND MISS. THIS WAS A LIFE MOVING EXPERIENCE AND I AM DEEPLY OVERJOYED AND APPRECIATIVE OF BEING A MEMBER OF THAT INCOMPARABLE CLASS. A NOTE OF OPTIMISM FOR LONGEVITY, I HOPE AND PRAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET EVERY TEN YEARS INTO THE FAR DISTANT FUTURE AND ENJOY IT WITH AS MUCH VIGOR AS WE DID THIS TIME. WITH RESPECT, AFFECTION AND PLEASURE/ RICK HUGHES.