This weekend I spent at/in what is 
called reunion. It has been a bit more than 40 years since, at 18, I graduated high school and moved into the bigger world. I was then considered an adult and was expected to make my way, one way or another, in a gigantic world full of choice and opportunity. It was assumed that I had been given the tools by my familial upbringing and my public school education to build a happy and successful “rest of my life.” And for the most part I believe that I have done just that.
It has not been a straight line from Point BC (Bethlehem Central) to Point S (success). I seem to recall that some folks might have tried to instill the idea that following the E(effort) + DTRT(doing the right thing) = S(success) formula was a guarantee to S. They may have even believed it themselves (my church leaders come to mind). But being one who has never been able to draw a straight line, even with a ruler, my life line has taken many detours. One has only to look at my palm to see the hills and dales, bumps and divots, dead ends and U-turns blending with callus’, scars and arthritic fingers that have made up my life.
This reunion, like Face Book, has given all that attended a glimpse into each others journey. And, like FB, the brief encounter showed only the straight lines. Palms were not exposed to reveal the miss directions, road blocks, and detours that many or most of us have traversed to become the persons we carry today. But the 25% of our 1976 class that was present at the event carried the journey well.
Whether this was a result of E + DTRT = S or simply just putting the best foot forward I don’t know. I believe that I have reached Point S although not necessarily by way of E + DTRT. Or, has it always been DTRT for me?
swansroost 