Dear LPG,

I read what Rudy wrote about ‘Old friends’ (►►►) and I have to say it left me feeling a little sad and a little nostalgic.  I suspect that many people of my age don’t even need to read something as compelling as Rudy’s writings to get them thinking that way but, for me, the adage, ‘actions speak louder than words’ came to mind. I found that reading his words left me lost in thought about some of the friends that I have made and lost touch with over the years, and I have no doubt that I was not the only reader lost in their memories for a while. But it was his mention of a reunion which got me thinking.

I am one of those that I call the ‘Windrushers’; one of those West Indians who, in the 1950s, left the island I was born on and came to Britain for a couple of years which turned into the rest of my life.   Many of us have family members who did the same in America and other places.  I know that families all round the world have used our generation to spread their wings geographically.

My relatively far-flung family, and many families like mine, have indulged in what is becoming a bit of a trend on that side of the Atlantic, where one or two members get together and organise a really big family reunion which includes some sort of formal event as part of a holiday.   Then the whole family come together to relive old memories and catch up on what has been happening to the various members that they don’t keep in touch with as frequently as they should. 

It occurs to me that families do it, Americans do it, and friends should really get to it.  I have found that projects keep us older ones engaged with the rest of the world, and getting in touch with old workmates and school friends cannot be a bad way to start.  It is highly likely that friends have not moved quite as far away as family members do.

So I challenge readers to stop thinking about it and be the friend that organises the reunion.  Take a little time to check those old address books and get the friends you can get in touch with to have a poke through theirs so that you can get the long lost workmates and school mates finding out what happened next.  There may be some searches that result in bitter-sweet outcomes but the memories and chats with others will make remembering worthwhile. 

Use the friends you can catch up with to find the ones you have lost touch with and while the telephone is a useful tool, a group dinner, outing or event where you can all catch up and share your stories is a wonderful excuse for putting on your glad-rags. 

IA, Crofton Park.

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