Leslie Kemp:  

Tonight is our 35th class reunion. I thought about heading to California to attend. Well, for about a minute and a half. Then I thought, "Why?" When I couldn't come up with one good reason, I tossed that idea right out the window. Actually, since I started getting all these e-mails from Classmates.com I started thinking about how much I've changed since high school. I no longer have anything in common with my old California life. I live a small life, in a small town in Illinois. My idea of fun is scrap booking, crafting (any kind), reading, gardening, Cardinal baseball, going to Karaoke with my husband, and having our family over for BBQ's and swimming, or any time spent with our Grandson, Colin. We are empty nesters, and we love it! Our Beagle Betty is our baby - and the neighborhood annoyance. A day doesn't go by that one of our neighbors doesn't have to get out of their car to move her out of the street (she thinks she owns it, and just stands out in the middle of the road). She "crashes" all the neighborhood BBQ's (without us) and they cook for her. She would have been road kill at my old house in California! The local volunteer fire department earns extra money standing on the corner holding a boot for donations (we only pay $10 a year for their services). The high school hockey team does the same thing, as do the Shriners, the VFW, and pretty much anyone in need. If you have a lot of errands, you could go broke going in and out of the subdivision! It seems like there is a Tavern (aka bar) on almost every corner. If there is no tavern, there is a church. Drink and repent, drink and repent. It's the Midwest way of life. In the winter, if the weather reaches fifty degrees, everyone comments on the "beautiful weather." We don our shorts. No tan, no worries! Everyone is out enjoying the beautiful day - not looking at your body. When we have ice storms and trees are downed, men walk around the neighborhood with chainsaws, helping each other clear driveways and roads. When it snows, we come home from work and like a miracle, our driveway has been plowed by any number of helpful family or friends. I love my life here! I have wonderful friends and family. We don't go ANYWHERE without seeing someone we know. My husband says there's no need for a high school reunion. All you have to do is leave your house on a Saturday night. We go "up town" for chili cook-offs, art fair in the square, or any number of street festivals that our town (Belleville) puts on. Halloween is amazing! You have multiple generations of families living in the same neighborhood. Everyone is out, no matter how cold the weather. We've had snowy Halloweens where in addition to candy, we pass out cups of hot chili, or cocoa (with Baileys Irish cream for the adults). On warmer Halloweens, the adults take th...Expand for more