When I took the turn a street too early on the way to the reunion, I wondered if I'd get lost. In Rockmart! Despite it having been about forty years since I'd been on other than a main throughfare through town, I recognized a street name and knew I wan't lost when I passed the mill and could point out where friends had once lived.
The park didn't look the same, and I never remembered part of the park being across the street when we used to go there; across the creek maybe, but not across the street. It was a good thing that other people were gathering and could point out our destination when Glenda and I met up and hunted for our friends. We were both early because we underestimated the length of time it would take to reach Rockmart on today's roads.
I didn't really look at the town, and I didn't stop and make photos as I drove away. I fled to the mountain and was the guest of Becky and Ralph, who gave me my own suite of bed, bath and sitting room and treated me like royalty -- or like family. For two days, I was transported back to another time but acutely in the present. When I had time to myself, I looked at Becky's photo albums and cried over the beauty of their wedding, watched Benjamin grow up and smiled at photos I'd never seen of people in another time. It was hard to leave.
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