I was never one of those people who hated high school. I was able to look past any bad memories and focus on the fond ones. Sure, there were a few folks I didn't like, and seeing them at the reunion didn't change my mind about them. I always find comfort in the fact that people really don't change. Class clowns are still class clowns, ambitious go-getters are still out to change the world. Many have done well for themselves.......we have doctors, attorneys, college professors, judges, a photographer who has done family portraits for presidents and the rich & famous, many small business owners, and plenty of people just working to get by. I got choked up when a few people told me they did things like coordinate Make-A-Wish events or ran camps for disabled adults or looked out for abused kids in family court. So proud of their accomplishments.
Although my kids would deny I look like my high school photos, everyone at the reunion commented on how they recognized me right away. I found that people were easily recognizable, once you began talking to them. I loved being able to recall hearing the same distinctive laughs from some of those people, way back when. We even had two teachers attend the reunion, one being my high school french teacher. Shocking that she was only 28 when we graduated, making her just 10 years older than us. Why does everyone seem so old when you're a kid?
All in all, a very enjoyable evening.
I love high school reunions! And I'm with you - I'm sure there were some bad times in there somewhere, but I mostly don't remember 'em.
ReplyDeleteOur class had a 10yr, a 20yr, and a 25yr, but nothing since then. In two years, it'll be time for our 40th (yeesh!); we'll see if anything materializes. . .
Jen won't let me go 'stag' to reunions, and she insists that I come to hers (tho I think she's only gone to her 15yr), because she thinks it sends a wrong message to go without your spouse (she doesn't want me hooking up with one of the dozens of women whose hearts I broke when I married her, I guess. . .)
It's always fun to see how folks are, 30 and 40 years on. My experience would mostly be like yours - personalities don't change all that much, except for a few folks who've been beaten about the head and shoulders by the Universe.
But some of the physical changes are hilarious, especially, I think, with the guys. I recall one guy who came right up to me and started talking to me like we were old friends. We were, of course, except that this guy was upward of 300 lb, and his HS self was 6-2, 140lb. Another guy I only recognized because, having lost all his hair, he looked like his dad. . .
One woman's hair had turned snow white by the time she was in her late 30s. I told her I was a big fan of the silver hair, and I thought she was gonna kiss me right on the spot (so, yeah, maybe Jen has a point. . .)
Anyway, glad you had such a good time. And the photo is pure genius. . .
And as to teachers, I've had similar experiences with a few of my old teachers. One of 'em friended me, and I found out that she's only 8 years older than me. Which felt a lot different when she was 23 and I was 15. . . I think our school system went thru some kind of hiring binge when I was in jr-hi and HS, 'cuz a lot of my old teachers are still just in their 60s. . .
ReplyDeleteCraig - Well, Husband is not the jealous type, even though I can be a bit of a flirt; all innocent, of course! I still remember standing outside for that photo, looking up at the roof of the HS at the photographer!
ReplyDeleteJen really isn't the jealous type, either. She just wants everyone to know that I'm happily married. . . (And my going 'stag' would send a different message than that, I suppose. . .)
ReplyDelete'Course, it's a 4-hour drive from where we live to the town I grew up in, so it's not like just driving across town, either. . .
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I don't think I actively disliked many people at all in HS and can't remember who they were if I did. Mostly, I enjoyed it. I think going on your own makes sense if it's a late night thing and you know your partner wouldn't enjoy it. I took the (then) boyfriend, as you know, but he's the kind who is happy in any social situation.
ReplyDeleteI gave 15 a miss and 20 is coming up next year. Not sure if I'll go or not. My class was not a very tight knit group, and it was relatively small to boot. (Just a little over 100 kids.)
ReplyDeleteIf I find out that a bunch of people that I actually want to see are going to be there, I might make the trip.
I've never attended any of my reunions. In the age of Facebook and other social media, it's much easier to get a quick update on old classmates to find out how they ended up without having to see anybody I didn't like.
ReplyDeleteOh how wonderful!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI went to my 10th, yet nothing after that. They organized a 20th but I had already moved, and I have no idea if they had a 30th.
I LOVED going to my 10 year reunion because I so enjoyed my senior year in HS. It was truly the best year I ever had in school, which is odd because I had moved from the north east to the south right BEFORE my last year.
And even going to the 10th, it's true what you said....the people really didn't change.
"Why does everyone seem so old when you're a kid?"
HA! Isn't that the truth! My HS drama teacher (who was my favorite teacher) was not really that much older than her students, yet at the time she seemed MUCH older than us.
Glad to hear you had a great time!
Reunions aren't s much to me, but then school wasn't either. I didn't do social then or now I guess.
ReplyDeleteMy fav deal, though, was being co team leader at work with my 'old' History teacher about 7 or so years after I graduated .... he kinda hated that. Or was it me?? ;-)
You are so right in that everyone seemed so old back then, now 50 don't look so bad especially since I have passed it now :)
ReplyDeleteHi Bijoux,
ReplyDeleteI never went to any of mine because I was already out of the country.
I am not whining but, HS was tough for me(especially the first 2 years). Then it got better. But, I was not exactly fed the "milk of human kindness" during some of these years.
I can laugh about it now and take the bad and the good. :)
It is so nice that your reunion was a great one!
Craig - We had folks come from all over the country without their spouses. I'm sure they were visiting relatives though, and not just coming for our reunion.
ReplyDeleteAgent - My problem with bringing a spouse is that you have to keep introducing him a gazillion times to people who really don't care. It's boring and a waste of time to me!
Russ - Well, if they are anything like the New Jersey Housewives, I could see where you'd give it a pass.......kidding, Russ, kidding!
GG - I really considered not going for those same reasons. But many of my classmates are still not on FB, so it was good to catch up with those hold outs.
Ron - I'm glad moving turned out well for you! I was so happy to have spent K-12 in the same school district. I always thought it would be hard to start over at a new school, but I suppose it's like anything else in that you make the most of the situation.
X - My kids always tell me I'm wack for having loved school so much. I love to read AND socialize!
ReplyDeleteJimmy - That is a fact! 50 is the new 30, or something like that.
Barb - Thanks. It was a very fun evening.
Funny story - at one of our reunions (I think it was the 10yr), the guy who won the prize for 'Who Came the Farthest' had managed to get himself deported from S. Africa a week before the reunion. And the couple who won the prize for 'Newliest-Wed' showed up at the reunion in their wedding duds, having come straight over from the reception (don't know if Id've done that; well, maybe if the wedding was right there in town) (then again, maybe not. . .)
ReplyDeleteMy high school reunion is this weekend. Three days of activities. THREE DAYS!! Two too many, really. I honestly am not sure yet if I'm going to go to anything. With the influx of Facebook, I've suddenly got most of my old classmates on my friends list and that seems close enough some days!
ReplyDeleteIs now a bad time to say that I was in first grade in 1981?
ReplyDeletesounds like you had a really nice time. good to know. so far i've successfully avoided every single class reunion and i expect to avoid my 25th coming up this fall. not that i hated school...it just wasn't a very happy time and i don't really want to go back. there are about 4 people though that i'd like to know how they are.
ReplyDeleteFADKOG - So, did you go??
ReplyDeleteSFD - Oh, for crying out loud...well, I'm happy to say I could NOT be your mother, although I could have been your foxy teenage babysitter!
Lime - I keep in touch with at least 10 former classmates on a regular basis, so it was fun seeing those I haven't heard from in 30 years.
Saw your post over at Underground Blog--reminded me of one of my favorite novels of the Enlightenment era, Diderot's "Les bijoux indiscrets." Have fun at that reunion.
ReplyDelete