Connecting with High School Classmates

I recently connected with a bunch of high school classmates who were eager to plan and organize ahead of our 45th anniversary in 2010. I agreed to do what I can to locate other classmates we have lost contact with these past 43 years. I found one classmate - Dr. Eddie Uy - who I have not seen or talked to since he served as a secondary sponsor in my wedding to Lee almost 42 years ago. My contact with Eddie provoked memories which led to a truly profound spiritual experience. Let me share with you the note I sent to my classmates after I spoke with Eddie, and the note I sent directly to Eddie.

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Dear SBC HS65 brethren,

After 41 long years, I finally reconnected with our beloved classmate and friend Eddie Uy. He is now Dr. Eddie Uy, a general practitioner in Fontana, California. That's in San Bernardino County, Southern California. I've copied Eddie with this email, so I will let him give you a brief update about himself.

I have many fond memories of Eddie and our youthful adventures, which we usually embarked on in the company of Joseph Li and George King. For now, what I'd like to share with you is what Eddie did for me during a very important time of my life.

I was probably the second member of our class who got married. The first was the late Alex Buencamino. I met my future wife Lydia (nickname: Lee) at the first day of school in UP Baguio in 1965. Soon enough, we fell in love, but her parents did not want to have any part of me. Just before our sophomore year, we eloped. A month later, we were married at the Lourdes Church in QC. Eddie, Joseph, George and Ogie (Pasicolan) were among our secondary sponsors.

The day before the wedding, I drove down from Baguio to Manila. In my haste, I forgot to bring a white long sleeves shirt with me. I found this out only as I was getting ready for the wedding ceremony. There was no time to go to a store, so I called Eddie for help. Gracious as always, Eddie came to the rescue. He drove over to lend me his shirt. I got married wearing Eddie's shirt!

The story does not end there.

Eddie's neckline was about one inch shorter than mine. Throughout the wedding ceremony, I felt like passing out from asphyxiation. Those who saw me then thought that I was nervous. (That was true too. Lee and I were both 17!) Fortunately, I had the good sense to unbutton the neckline and loosen my tie. I made it to the end of the ceremony.

Almost 42 years later, I am still married to Lee. Not a single day during all these years did I feel like passing out or asphyxiating. We have 6 children, 3 of whom are married. We have 9 grandchildren.

We have many reasons to be thankful for these precious blessings. Eddie is one such reason. Better yet, three reasons: Eddie, his friendship and his shirt.

Eddie, we missed you! But now we rejoice for we have found you!

Brothers, let us welcome back Eddie!

God bless,
Richard
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Hi, Eddie!

Thank you for your sharing.

I realize that when one shares what is in his heart and mind, he is really giving what is truly precious: himself. And who would give himself to others but a friend?

I've began to recognize the grace in what Dennis has started. The contacts he initiated with our classmates and the consequent communication exchanges provoked in me a gush of memories, a tinge of mixed feelings, and a wellspring of thankfulness for the blessings God has heaped on all of us.

There is so much good that happened in my youth that time and adult experiences have obscured in my mind. You reminded me that you and George once visited our house in Baguio. In my early youth, that was home to me and my family- every day during summer and on most weekends during the school year. I attended UP Baguio after our HS graduation to be "home". Somehow, I felt that a part of me was lost when the house burned down in the late 60s, so I immaturely shut if off from my mind. Even when my Dad rebuilt it (and later sold it), it did not feel like home anymore. Now, I am once again in touch with it- for good. I have come to accept the baggages that came with it, and are now gone. All the good memories it brings me make me feel whole.

I am not surprised that you did not remember the white shirt. An act of kindness given that is too small to remember may be an act of kindness received that is too significant to forget. It may have been just a shirt to you, but it meant a once in a lifetime wedding for me.

You also remind me of the Lord's teaching on the judgment of the nations in Matthew 25:35-40. "For I was hungry and you gave me food.....naked and you clothed me...." "Then the righteous will answer Him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you......naked and clothe you?'...." My friend, you are like the righteous the Lord referred to in said Scripture passage-- who is not conscious of the good that they do, but whose goodness is not hidden from God.

There is much to share but I do not want to be overly sentimental. So..... did I ever return your shirt?

By the way, Arthur Jimenez, Bert Arellano, Joe Castillo and I will have a reunion in Joe's Ewing, NJ home on April 19. I hope you can be there but I realize distance and schedule will make that difficult. Please do send a picture and a message to the group.

I will send you a scanned copy of your picture with George and Ogie at my wedding almost 42 years ago- hopefully sometime tomorrow.

God bless,
Richard