Mascot, Minister, Man of Steel - the Final Reunion

Book excerpt: A boyhood buddy tried flipping himself into a beanbag chair, became a quadriplegic - and a highly esteemed teacher. June dueled cancer three times - and pointedly told the author never to forget her. Joel was a pubescent blowhard who became a helping hand to many before battling health crises. Pat was a homecoming queen, became a hospice nurse and overcame ambivalence about attending reunions before taking on cancer. During teen years Chris seemed the most self-assured but later revealed she had been "in a fog." DeeDee's husband, an MS victim, urged her to put him in a nursing home to ease her burden. She refused. This loveliest of widows kept on living and loving - and at age 59 still could do cartwheels. Fran proved unstoppable during a daunting journey from college mascot to career success. Poh Hong put aside doubts by family and friends and flew half way around the world to attend a reunion. John was a college football player, became a minister, accepted strangers into his prayer circle and dealt with his own heartaches. Then there was Jim who persuaded the author to attend his first reunion - and later showed remarkable mettle amid dire circumstances. Reunions can be powerful. High school, college and graduate school class reunions as well as one-on-one reconnections in distant locations can whisper strong messages, teach lasting lessons, and tell us much about the resilience of the human spirit.