This piece is dedicated to Burney Dunn, BTW class of 1986.

When I left Tulsa, I knew I could not return.
That was just the price of things that were given.

Looking out over the city I thought I had conquered,
I asked her to come with me.

Years since, I've called out to her many times.

That was before I learned: life is not something you conquer.

And now I'm back.
I'm back where you can say "Booker T" and that's all that needs to be said.

I wanted to come back rich and famous but I can't remember why;
Now all I hope is that my heart is as wild and free as I once vowed it would be;
Now all I want is to live up to what you saw in me.

Twenty years on, you're still my peeps!
You're stuck with me, same as you're stuck with those BTW drums
pounding the hallways
in the way back of your head.

Most of you came here to bust some old school moves,
and you've brought kids who look even better than their photos.
Yes, they have your spirit; yes, they have your eyes;
they probably even swear like we did.

And while I'm proud of what we have accomplished,
that is not the whole story.
There are people in our class
who are lost to us tonight;
Some of us could not be saved.

A few may have found that yearbook fairy tale,
but most of us faced a crossroads and made a choice.
Tonight we make a choice as well.

I have nothing against baby pics and wedding rings and lifestyle bling
as long as no one here thinks less of themselves if they can't say the same
I want to hear of your success;
but I'd be stronger if you told me your fears.

Show me your photos, but then I want to see your scars.
I want to be in your corner again;
Show me who you are when your guard is down.

No! Pull me onto the dance floor!
Take me somewhere words can't find.

Moonwalk your ass across that stage again!
Give me those Thriller zombie poses!
Show me you haven't lost those moves because you have a gut or a butt
less hair, maybe, but more attitude, give me attitude!

Show me the years haven't tamed you!
show me we've found more than the shelter of the comfortable
show me you'd stand up to the wrong war;
just like we used to stand up to Marcum and Mootray and Gooch and Bond!

There were times the last five years when I didn't know if I'd make it here tonight.

I have failed you all more than I wanted.
But while I may have doubted myself,
I never doubted you.

Tonight, I raise my glass to you, the class of '86.
I'm proud of what you've done,
but I think no less of you for things undone.
Thank you for carrying your disappointments with grace;
thank you for carrying me.

If the years have taken something from us,
they have also given something back.
Your scars have only made you more beautiful.
If the nature of that triumph is not yet evident to yourself,
it is to me.
I can see that you accept yourself; just as you accept me;
I can see that I am home.