The 50th reunion
It is ten p.m. on Saturday night at the George Washington Hotel. We committee members are packing up the memorabilia we displayed for our 50th class reunion. We are not hugging goodbye for we will be attending church together on Sunday morning. Our small class had only 75 members, 17 have passed away, but we had 47 at church!
What to say about a reunion? Plenty! First, it is bittersweet to see our old classmates. Many innocent memories and a few shameful events flash through the mind when you
recognize someone you may not have seen for 20, 30, 40 or 50 years. I do wonder how many of the thoughts are accurate. Does the storytelling over the years embellish or omit details? I am guessing some of each.
Our committee of 16 began meeting last spring. We looked at old pictures, told stories, and assigned members to find “lost” classmates. WE DID IT. We found them all spread out all over the country. We did the entire event planning necessary for a gala event weekend. When? Where? Accommodations? Activities? Etc., etc., etc. Got it all done.
I was impressed with the willingness and hours put in. Now we all have a DVD of grades 1-12 with a sound track that includes “Bali Ha’I” from the prom and, of course, “Pomp & Circumstance” for the end.
Some class members have gained over the years (money, weight, ex-spouses); some
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| Some of the reunion jokes do apply. |
others have lost over the years (hair, mainly). Some of the athletes (aka: jocks) don’t look nearly as good as the geeks do now. I have adapted sociological theory based on this.
We know little girls mature faster than boys. The girls read earlier, are more polite, and well behaved. The boys did “stuff,” acted out, and got more attention. Hmmpf! Eighth grade boys-- those few willing to dance at parties-- came about shoulder high to most girls. Girls talked on the phone--a lot--and had sleepovers. The boys were outside--being active. Geeks were essentially ignored. Seems it was not until after high school, that these folks turned into intelligent, interesting, taller people. But we were no longer in the same community when they matured. Seems too bad. We may have ignored some of the really great. No wonder high school angst is so high!
So, here is my unsolicited advice to all our blog readers:
GO to your reunion--whether you want to or not! It will be worth it. We are senior citizens even if we don’t feel like it. When I look in the mirror, I wonder how all years slipped away. We may not see these old classmates or recall the old memories ever again. According to the Bureau of National Health Statistics, our class is right on the actuarial table with 22% gone. That means that we need to embrace our “old” selves now. It is a scary truth, but some of us might not be here for the next reunion. While we may not be exactly the same as we were in high school, this is where we got our start, intellectual seeds were sown, and basic principles learned. So, please, Go! Celebrate life! Give homage to your past. Share your memories.
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| In some cases, we aged better than the photos! |
I found the April 1964 agenda of our class’s senior trip to New York City. We left at 6:45 a.m. and took a bag lunch for the bus. Was there no fast food available? I even have the room assignments. On the trip I went to see “Funny Girl” on Broadway starring Barbra Streisand. She is somewhat of an icon to me still.
As I remember this moment, I think of her song “The Way We Were.”
I believe the words will speak to you, too, as Barbra sings about how “mem’ries, light corners of my mind.”
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