Dear Classmates,

I know that we have scattered to the ends of the earth. I may not know what is going on in your lives at this point. I know that we are no longer together, even though I had vainly wished that we still could. Though we are now shuttled off and dropped in worlds of our own, I would like to send a message out into the far empyrean, even if it doesn’t reach your sphere. A “thank you” on wings.

I only remember the good moments because they mean more to me than you know.

Every day was a day of communion with you. It was too good to be true. I thought I didn’t deserve to be placed among companions such as you. For the first time in my life, I felt accepted, respected, and that I belonged. I counted myself blessed to be able to get up each morning, knowing that you would be there. It was more of a fellowship if anything else. Relationships that were built upon shared experience, laughter, and respect. Through
all the paper writing, Latin learning, literature reading, recitation events, morning assemblies, class debates, capture-the-flag games, idle discussions both serious and not, we did it together. When the autumn days come, I am reminded of our homeroom walks through the woods, our chorus of feet rustling and crackling over the fallen leaves, and I smile.

But now we have grown up and gone on to chase our callings and drifted separate ways. Yet, we are still bound by a bond; tied by strings of the past shared, strings that are differently colored and some wearing thin, but that are not yet broken.

Our compasses spin. I shield my eyes to watch your distant shapes trek over the far-off hills of your futures. I wave goodbye. To the north, thank you for your life-giving laughter. To the south, thank you for your kindness and sincerity. To the east, thank you for your conversations, big and small. And to the west, thank you for your Christian fellowship, so generously given. As the sun sets and we travel through the night, allow me to offer up this prayer for you as I have learned to accept our paths diverged:

May the Lord bless your days and keep you under His protective wings. May you look up and search for His guiding light and remember His steadfast love. May the Lord grant you wisdom in all that you do, and may He grant you a heart filled with peace. Amen.

With a grateful heart,

Abbey