Chapter 33 - The Last Time I Saw You

As I mentioned last week, we had traveled to attend a high school reunion. I grew up in a great small town - Towson, Maryland. It is about 13 miles northeast of Baltimore City. While the city was close enough to visit, the real hive of activity was in this suburb. Growing up there we could walk to many places - department stores, grocery stores, the library (one of my favorite spots), and restaurants. Now, with progress, so many things have changed.

The weekend started out with dinner with my friends who I have known and loved since junior high or before. Then because we have the daughter of one of my friends getting married in November, we spent the next morning treating her and her mom to massages and manicures. We had lunch out, more dinner and, of course wine, in the evening. The day of the reunion event started with a tour of the high school and a sneak peek of the renovations being done. This was a terrific idea because we got to see friends and catch up as we were exclaiming over changes that the school is going through. Many of us could not remember that our school had so many steps in the four floors where most of our classes were.

The Saturday night event was at a local country club and the food, drinks, and conversation were wonderful. I got to talk to old friends I sometimes just see on Facebook. Soon the talk turned to books and, no surprise, I was recommending books left and right (it is a reflex I have)! Anyway after all that I started to think about some books about friends and reunions and here are some I've definitely enjoyed.

The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard - In this 1996 novel the Cappadora family goes to a school reunion and the worst thing a family can think of happens - their middle child Ben disappears. The story evolves to show the impact of this event on all the characters. While it is an older book it actually does stand the test of time.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner - Meeting as 9 year olds, Addie and Valerie assumed they'd be best friends forever. A betrayal in their teenage years led to Valerie being the popular girl in school and Addie as the friend left behind. Years later Valerie finds success and Addie is still in her parent's home caring for her brother when a knock on the door finds Valerie standing there with blood on her sleeve asking for help. It is a book full of humor, secrets, tragedy, and ultimately the ties of friendship.

Camino Beach by Amanda Callendrier - Sarah had no reason to go to her high school reunion. Almost forty, divorced, and living in Nashville she feels her life has been less than impressive. Sarah's best friend, Kristen, won't take no for an answer and is even more determined to include their wayward friend Roxanne who disappeared a few weeks before graduation. As the two women and a male friend, Jack, try to hunt Roxanne down, they embark on a road trip that teaches them all a lot.

The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg - To each person who attends, the reunion means something different. To some it is the time to say things they've never said, to others it is a chance to find friends before it is too late. As the main characters converge, 40 years melt away and desires and personalities from their youth emerge, some discoveries are made, and a few people find that dreams can really come true.

Your Perfect Life by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke - So this is sort of like a Freaky Friday but for two friends. Two friends wake up after their 20 year high school reunion and find they've switched bodies. Rachel finds herself living Casey's life of celebrity and Casey realizes why she is alone and how difficult juggling a family really is for Rachel.

I have also come across a new book called Reunions by David Adams Cleveland which is about four women attending their 40th Princeton University reunion. At the reunion they meet the son of one of their classmates and he seems to know more about any of them than they think he really should. Who is he, what is he? You can bet I'm going to read this one!

Any book suggestions for me? Let me know!