Today I celebrated, with my classmates, the 50th anniversary of our high school graduation. We met at high noon in front of the building where in 1956/57 we were the 'VIIIc' senior class of the Fourth High School for Boys (IV Muška Gimnazija) in Zagreb, Croatia. Out of 27 seniors in our class, 16 made it to the anniversary; we consider that a huge success not only because the maximum could be only 22 (four are deceased and one could not be located) but even more due to the fact that a majority of us had emigrated from Croatia. Currently, our diaspora counts are: USA (4), Germany (2), Canada, Austria, Switzerland and Bosnia&Herzegovina.

Most of us did not see each other for fifty years. During the months of preparation (actually, more than a year) we argued not only over the logistics (who is where and how to reach them) but also the principles of our reunion. Should the invitation leaflet include some personal data for each of us? If so, should it include a short overview of professional and social achievements or address and phone number only? Is it going to be "boys" only meeting or our families are invited also? Shall we go for a deluxe dinner or a modest lunch only? The opinions were diverse, sometimes even conflicting. The most drastic one, I heard over the phone, was: "We should not meet at all - it is better that we remember each other as we were fifty years ago, not as we look today."