It wasn't too painful after all. In fact
I’d have to say that my 50th Class Reunion was an enjoyable
experience only mildly laden with angst and just lightly sprinkled with trauma.
There were some changes in the dynamics of the class and there were some things
that hadn't changed at all. Nostalgia was rampant, of course, and there were
some differences of opinion as to the “facts” of our high school history.
First the good stuff. Our graduating
class consisted of one-hundred-forty seven students, as I recall. We had forty
seven in attendance at the reunion. About seventy didn't respond or were not
located when the committee started their search. And about thirty have died. I
guess that last statement wouldn't qualify as “good stuff.” Of course since I’m
not part of the “departed” group it might still count.
Friday night we had a meet and greet
session at a local bar and grill. When I saw all the unfamiliar faces I thought
I’d arrived at the wrong party. But then I recognized a couple of folks and I
had the realization that those unfamiliar faces were just the result of time
and its effects on some people. In time the shock of that realization wore off
and we visited a little bit with many old friends. But we had a nice time and
were fortunate to meet up with a classmate and his wife who, when I was in
school, I had no contact with at all. They are lovely people and were kind
enough to socialize with us as I adjusted to the fact that all the old folks in
the room were pretty close to my age.
Saturday we were also fortunate to join
three other old friends for lunch. Two of these friends had started school in
my class but for various reasons they ended up a year back. The other friend
left our school to go to a nearby parochial high school. Did I mention that one
of these friends was my very first girlfriend? Yep. We “dated” back in fourth
or fifth grade. My wife was very nice to my old flame but I could tell she was
nervous about a rekindling of that fire. Either that or she was disappointed
that her lunch order came out of the kitchen cold. In spite of that we had a
great visit and caught up on many, many years of lost time.
The main event of the weekend happened Saturday
evening at a very old and moderately posh country club. Seeing all of my
classmates wasn't quite as shocking this time. Even when I noticed that several
who had missed the Friday “meet and greet” came in with canes and walkers I wasn't too surprised. During the pre-dinner cocktail hour I had the opportunity
to chat with many nice folks. We sampled the appetizers and had an adult
beverage or two. Pictures were taken and finally the buffet dinner was served.
It was a fairly typical buffet I suppose, but we were a fairly typical bunch of
folks. After the meal a little program was presented by some of the organizers.
Our senior class president also gave a little talk and made a few jokes that
were received in a rather lukewarm way. After all the formalities a pretty good
three piece band played.
Early in the evening everyone was mixing
nicely. But as the night wore on the old cliques started to re-form and the
crowd truly did look like a bunch of (very old) high school kids, each clique
in tight circles, doing their best to be the coolest group in the room. So that
left some of us where we were during those long ago years – standing or sitting
on the edge of the room making funny, but sarcastic, remarks about the people
in their cliques. It was just like old times only with much better jokes.
I’d like to say that we stayed until the
wee hours, dancing and cavorting with the old crowd. But that would be a lie.
No, we left the party at about 9:30. It had been a fun evening and we were very
glad that we made the trip. In fact I’m looking forward to the next reunion,
maybe the sixtieth. I have a theory that through attrition I might even
eventually be considered one of cool kids in the class.
Have a fine day.
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