A Special Breed

From 1978 Class Reunion

There has been nothing like reconnecting with my nursing classmates ~ Class of 1968 as well as the entire Nursing School. These Regina General Hospital Nursing School reunions have been held annually for decades. The only break was during the Covid 19 Pandemic. Tonight the oldest woman there, graduated from the class of 1949. Classes celebrating their every five year reunions had red roses on tehir tables and were the first to be called for the buffet line. Our early alumnae suppers were when few of us had grey hair, our joints were all still working, and we talked about our little children - first days at school, basketball games and early morning hockey practices. In those years, I had wanted to renew that part of my early adult years. So many new friends, new experiences, laughing over student nursing experiences, boyfriends, young marriages and the gift of finally free of high school, and really being grown up. Tonight was another in a string of our annual Alumnae Luncheons. We changed suppers to luncheons as the work of the ages was catching up on us. Now most of us with white hair, some walkers or canes, a daughter accompanying a mother. Now we talk, just as non stop, about grandchildren, school events for them, driving kids to the practices when parents are too busy. The conversation, non-stop, turns to new experiences, travel, laughing over student nursing experiences, husbands and health conditions only if there are funny anecdotes, concerns for classmates that are unable to attend.

We are a special breed of retired nurses who spanned careers from the bedside to university lecture halls; public health nursing and school nurses and many more that I can’t name tonight. Why are we a special breed? Because few nurses educated since the mid 1970’s will have such glorious reunions of their school alumnae. We lived in a residence, had our classes and trained in the same hospital and were together for three years. When we are together with each passing decade, our numbers grow smaller, but we still sing our school song at the end of the night. We are still connected to our past selves - in fact we almost become our past selves even if for just 2 hours. 

“You’re off to great places, today is your day, 

your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.”

~ Dr. Seuss

Author's note: I used large print for those of us that may prefer it.