Non Appearances

As news of my possible 'non-appearance' for our high-school reunion dinner this Saturday, I began to receive calls and text messages form the usual suspects. One even asked me to check the growing thread on the organiser's chair person's FB where he casually but specifically mentioned about my non-attendance.
Dang, I was silently anticipating this reaction actually, admittedly more of like an ego boosting trip. Checking on the FB later that night showed even those that I hardly knew or unexpected made pleas for me to reconsider. Thanks guys, and I appreciated the acknowledgements.
The real official cause is clash of schedule due to another event of a rather personal family friend at the same time but few hundred kilometers away. That and also more personal dilemma that I would consider a necessary sacrifice for the sake of the beloved ones.
Nevertheless, among the calls was the MC of the night's request for me to attend the reunion committee final prep in the evening. I had to oblige, especially to preview the presentation materials that includes my contri - my poem.
I arrived just as the committee began to setup the slide projector, and the committee members began to inquire my predicament and made suggestions, some ludicrously possible but I could only smile politely.
As the night went by, few more bright ideas from me were accepted - engage video-man for the event (diligently achieved by making few calls to few well connected and successful ex-high school mates for sponsorship), the presentation will be stretched longer by delaying the timing since it will be during buffet meal, and a more passionate rendition voice over of the poem at the end. The committee made one last attempt to persuade me to attend by requiring my live rendition of the poem instead. Good attempt but tough luck though.
I am sure the event will be a successful one. Last count the numbers confirmed has reached 110 ex-students.
I wished I am courageous enough to make an appearance - who knows, maybe I would.