Let Sleeping Schools Lie

I drove by my old high school the other day. I actually drive by it almost every time I go to my parents' house. They still live in the same home since about 1970.

As I drove by the school, I thought that maybe I should go in and take a look around, try to see if I can resurrect some of the old memories. I figure that if someone asks me who I am and what I'm doing there, I'll simply respond that I graduated from there in 1978.

I'm only 51, but it occurred to me that 1978 sounds like ancient history. I know it does to kids today, especially my own. It wasn't that long ago, though, relatively speaking - only 33 years. In that time period a lot has happened, which really isn't saying anything profound. A lot can happen in one day. I'm not so sure, however, that everything that's taken place since I graduated wholly contributes to the sense of antiquity here.

There are additions to the school, both in the front and back which has changed parking lot access. But the building's structure and overall look remain pretty close to the same as it was when I was there. Dow's Woods, across the street from the school where students used to go smoke pot, has had a fair amount of development take place. The small recreation building in an adjacent parking lot has been totally redone and expanded to now include a municipal swimming pool.

The tennis courts, football field, oval track and other sports venues around the school appear to be unchanged. The neighborhood surrounding the school is no different, really.

Of course, I've changed, no longer being a slim, energetic youth with hair.

None of this explains it all, though.

I have a tendency to believe that when the century turned the corner in 2001, it made everything prior to it slip back into a more historical dimension perceptually speaking. One day, on Facebook, I posted that I missed the 80s. Someone else agreed with me.

See, even saying the 80s seems like ancient history as well.

This is all really a non-issue and probably not even worth mentioning. But suffice to say, I didn't stop in and see the high school.

It just seemed too weird a thing to do. After all, that was a very long time ago, and the time for some things does eventually pass.