The Classmates

I found the chapter "Familiar Strangers" from The Classmates to be very engrossing. It is interesting to see how the reconnecting of old classmates helped the writer to reflect on not only his past at this school, but who he used to be and who he came to become. The emails of his old schoolmates helped to bring back memories of these years he had long since forgotten, and if it hadn't been for this compilation of stories and remembrances, he may never have been able to recall any of them. This is why some find it helpful to keep journals, or even just take pictures. You capture a moment of time as it happens so that you can look back on it later and piece together the snapshots of your life. His classmates were his photographs and journal entries and helped to bring back those times that had faded into the background over the years.

The Classmates..

It has been awhile since I have been as engrossed in a piece of literature as I was in The Classmates. I believe my interest in the text was due to the fact that it was so easy to relate to. Although I have only been away from high school for three years I can already look back and see the different groups that were created, and how people have changed since their graduation. I was struck by how memory is used throughout the reading. It is as though memory is a gift that allows us to reconnect and to remember the past. I don't believe that any of our other texts have been as explicit in discussing how memory has made an impact on their lives. I am sure that all of the authors have discussed this at one point or another, but perhaps this text stood out to me the most because I was able to relate to it the most. Anyway...I really enjoyed it!