Bainbridge High School’s All Class Reunions are always profound, poignant, playful — lighthearted one moment and heavy hitting the next.

They are held only once every five years. This year’s was Saturday, Aug. 8, at Kiana Lodge overlooking Agate Passage and the Island.

Individual classes hold separate reunions. As their numbers begin to dwindle in time, the “All Class” one is special. It is limited to three generations – classes between 1928 and 1980.

In addition to teachers and classmates, attendees may be an old neighbor, babysitter, grocer, barber, hairdresser, fishermen, Bainbridge Review reporter, berry picker, holly harvester, ferry captain’s son, farmer, marine contractor, commuter, developer, acupuncturist, lawyer, carpenter, banker, gardener, writer, grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sibling, spouse, ex-spouse, or the last islander to speak to a loved one before they left for Vietnam.

They were all there and more.

Dress was casual. Physical appearances may have changed, yet folks recognized each other. Though no one pedaled by bicycle or paddled a boat, “Spartans” attending seemed much more fit and trim than our nation’s public.

Some ninety year olds became teenagers again. Chuck Callahan scored a winning run for the home team by wearing his 1951 letterman’s sweater.

For many of the grads before 1950, when the Agate Pass Bridge was built, the whole island population then was not much more than an urban high school today. Folks from islands and small towns are uniquely joined.

It showed. People glowed. There was no formal program: Each attendee was the program — one to the other, some 600 or so.

The energy reminded this former beekeeper of being back in a hive again. The place was abuzz! When noise and chatter overwhelmed, or an encounter demanded some quiet time, there was the sound of wind in the trees and waves on the shore and the sights of colorful flowers, smiling faces and a magnificent rainbow that seemed symbolic of everyone’s interconnectedness.

A committee greeted everyone. Sign-in was easy. Nametags were lassoed around sunburned necks. Food was light – sandwiches, snacks and lots of coffee and beverages of choice. Pianist Glen Hagen tinkled the ivory in a corner. Old photos added to decor. There was lots of parking and shuttle buses for which all were grateful. Everything supported this grand story telling marathon.

More folks could have attended, yet it was impossible to see or learn who all were there as the huge throng spread out among the timber-framed pavilion, historic log cabin, shoreside lawn and gardens. Hopefully we’ll be all together again in another five years!

There will be plenty of stories to share until then.