To those who have passed too soon.

If I may ­ I'm not writing a tribute to one of us who has died, but to any of us...and, maybe, to all of us...?  I dunno.

All I DO know is that tonight I went to the RHS 76 website, scrolled down and saw a number of "deceased"'s.  I didn't know all of these people as friends, but I did know all of the names.  And it was more than a little sobering.  I've dealt with a few friends dying (and it wasn't easy!)  but there is something oddly primal, for lack of a better term ­ about seeing this in one's high school class.

We're aging.  I know that.  I telll myself that -- but this stubborn part of me keeps insisting that I"m still 17...  (If it weren't for the gray hairs, thick waist and debatable skin, I'd give me that!)  And some of us have already died.

As I said, I didn't know all of these people personally.  But they were US. They were Ridgewood.  They walked "uptown," they cut class, they cheated on tests (or didn't!), they smoked in the bathrooms (or didn't!)...well, whatever.  They were US!

And..now they're not here.

Life is so damn fast, isn't it?  Anyway...for those who aren't here?  As I said, I can't speak about any specific person, but I  hope you all can hoist the ol' glass and give a little toast to all of those RHSers who aren't here: "Cheers, pal!  It was fun then, and you're still remembered!!!"

Kathy Petras