"They" say that you learn from your experiences and that experience comes with age. Considering my robust age, I feel that I have learned some rather valuable things in life so far. But the one thing of value that I learned is the importance of time.
Well, here it is folks, this one will at last let the cat out of the bag and answer the big question. How old is Matt Manera? Well, without giving away the exact number, let me put it this way: this past Saturday was my 10-year high school reunion. Bam, I feel it right there, and for those that are left in disbelief...thank you.
Like most, my high school reunion was something that I had thought was so far off in the future that I actually believed I would never have to deal with it. The week before the scheduled date I didn't really consider attending, until I started to digest the actual span of time since I graduated high school and what I have done in between my teen angst-filled days and now, which are still angst-filled days. To be honest, I became really rather intrigued see what some of my old chums have been up to.
The Niagara Wheatfield High School class of 1997 reunion was held at the Pearl Street Brewery in Buffalo. I arrived at 7 p.m., about an hour late so I missed the hors d'oeuvres which boasted a nice selection of cheese and crackers and spreads.
When I climbed the stairs to the reunion area in a fashionably late way I had no idea what to expect. However, I was pleasantly greeted by about half of my graduating class, around 150 people in attendance. We were a pretty big class compared to most schools.
There were circular tables set up in a large room, seating nearly 15 people per table. Basically everyone was invited to sit wherever they felt comfortable, so it was kind of a free for all seating arrangement. It made it pretty easy to find old cronies and move in on a table.
There was no speech given, no awards, and no real organization. But this was everything that the class of 1997 so was all about; we kept it easy and real casual.
Dinner was short-lived and pleasant, roast beef on kimmelwick and bowtie pasta. However, the real gem of this illustrious occasion was the completely open bar from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. which included bottles, drafts, microbrews and top shelf liquor, which made for a memorable night of good conversations, and agreeable occurrences. This element coupled with long time friends was what really made this a great time.
While in careless conversation with a group of chums, an old friend made the comment, "well it looks like Matt and I are the only ones who still have all our hair and didn't get fat." That will always be committed to my memory, but really, for a bunch of 1997 graduates most looked quite healthy. I suppose I had expected more people to look so much different than they had a decade ago, I was wrong.
The night of drinking and reminiscing with some of the people that I had the pleasure of sharing puberty with was one of the most enjoyable social experiences that I had in quite a good bit. Lame or not.
However, my high school reunion really made me think about how much time has passed so quickly. I have accomplished so much in a decade that doesn't even seem to be relevant or even real anymore. It was so long ago that I had actually began my career as a welder, it was another life when I left for boot camp at Paris Island with the Marine Corps., and it was ages ago when I took my first semester at Niagara County Community College. So many experiences left behind that almost seem questionable as if they had even happened. Everything has a precedent purpose and a valid reason at the time.
With my career as a perpetually graduating UB senior nearing an end this semester, it strikes a fear in me, like a knife in my lungs, that I will have to leave this behind as a memory as well, which will surely begin slowly sinking into the vault with the Paris Island and NCCC memories and others before. I'm fearful of losing touch with such extraordinary people that I have had the pleasure of working with here at UB that created these memorable daily occasions.
Catching up with my former high school mates who have long since graduated college, I realized just how important time is, and why it is necessary to take full advantage of the present. An excerpt from a speech given by David Jarka, former Spectrum Sports Desk Editor and possible amateur wrestler, "Carpe diem, seize the day." Jarka more or less sums it up, but ultimately it is important to take advantage of every moment in life, especially college because after this real life begins and it often isn't as fun.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
