ElderChicks

I grew up in NYC and attended our neighborhood Catholic school. The school had grades 1-12, so for many of us, we knew everyone and their parents and their siblings as well. Others only attended the high school, and that was great too…new friends from nearby neighborhoods. In 2018, I attended my 50th high school reunion. Afterwards, some of us kept in touch via email or maybe had lunch if we were local. All of that changed when the pandemic hit in 2020. Suddenly ZOOM calls were a thing and a way to see friends and stay connected. During this time my friends from high school and the old neighborhood decided to meet regularly through ZOOM. My reunion is now into its 4th year!! On ZOOM, we talk and reminisce about playing jacks, riding our bikes and sledding in the local park. We recently started a book club that meets at different times than our class calls. We are all the same age, retired or depending upon careers still working, part time.

We have all agreed that in some ways we have more in common at 71 than we did at 17 and that we still are all basically the same kid just now with a few wrinkles or graying hair. During these hour ZOOMS we laugh, we cry and we simply enjoy each other’s company. Sometimes there are 3 or 4 of us other times a dozen, but each call brings us back to when we were young. So while ZOOMING is not really playing, it does provide a chance for some of us to remember when we played in local Jacks contests, ate penny candy and just played until it was time for bed. Now we enjoy a glass of wine, while we remember the days of our youth, and laugh until we fall into bed. Life is good!