Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler O/T High School Reunion

Oh my - my high school reunion is this weekend! Did anyone go to theirs? Was it fun? I spent about two hours on classmates.com last night and it was a gas. Any advice?

Advice ? Sure ... Drink heavily.

No kidding. Maintain your stupor at all times.

My twenty year reunion is coming up, and I'll probably go. I went to my ten year reunion, and that was surreal. I went to high school in Albuquerque, but at the time of the reunion I was living in Alabama. I picked up an ex-girlfriend/classmate in Mississippi and we drove across the country to New Mexico. That experience was among the strangest I can recall. All of a sudden I found myself paired with someone with whom I was incredibly close ten years earlier, but we hadn't kept in contact since graduation. It's very disorienting to discover how easy it is to fall into some of the same mannerisms and same ways of interacting that you thought you'd shaken off long ago. And during the drive itself, the geography contributed to a bizarre sense of going back in time. The hills and trees and grass slowly gave way to the open desert, and slowly it's all familiar again and it might as well have been 1987.

The reunion itself was relatively painless, but definitely strange. As Craig so wisely suggested, remain medicated. The experience is far too anxiety-ridden to endure sober.

My recommendation is to go and enjoy yourself as much as possible. Good luck!

Oddly, my class has never had a reunion. But, there have been several events where many of us gathered. I've had nothing but positive experiences. Our school was kinda clickish, and I was hardly a part of the "in crowd." Yet, at every gathering, I was warmly welcomed, and respectfully treated by all.

I've been adopted by the class two years behind mine (there were LOTS of cute girls in that class ), and have attended the Friday night "ice breaker" at each of their reunions, which are now being held every five years. I've been warmly welcomed there as well, even though I was not a member of their class.

At this point in our lives very few us haven't experienced both success and failure. It doesn't seem to matter. What matters in the shared experiences of our youth.

The only advice I would give you is just to go with an open mind. The handsome football star, may have no hair and a pot, while the nerdy loser in glasses is now wearing contacts and is an investment banker. Or, vice versa. Ya just never know. I think you'll have a GREAT time. Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Is this a 5 year reunion? Can't be any longer than that!

I do remember at my 20 year reunion one of the ladies attended with her 30 year OLDER companion. She wore a spaghetti strap dress, low cut of course, and had her name badge stuck to her skin.To read her name, in small print, one was forced to study her, hmm....., new assets.

Craigsub - Oddly, I was thinking of doing exactly the opposite! I figured this was one occasion where I would like to know exactly what I am saying! LOL.

bugbitten - although I also have a sugar daddy, the assests came at birth - so everyone's already checked out the nametag ;-)

dmn23 - that's what I was wondering - do you get all weirded out walking past your locker and seeing an old flame? I've got my best friend from highschool as my 'date' so that might aggravate or soothe the problem - hard to know!

ajax - I'm the one who has gone from head cheerleader (oh, the gladiating days!) to computer nerd, so I'm likely to be very sensitive to that particular issue!! LOL.

I just have this crazy optimistic side I guess - I half-think that everyone will have found their niche in the world and everyone will have great things to say about their lives so far. Fingers crossed! It's probably more likely to be just a ton of baby pictures, but who knows? I will definitely let you know!

dmn23

I too went to school in Albuquerque. I graduated in 1986 from West Mesa. What school did you attend?

Jack's class never had a reunion because of all the confusion when years went from "BC" to "AD" ...

Amie - Trust me. Get loaded. You can deny anything you said anyway. Oh - and bring Ian. There is something about a large husband along which will keep people in line.

I just went to my 20yr reunion back in July, wow I can't believe it has been that long since I roamed the streets in my Camaro

West Mesa, eh? Pretty cool. I went to Manzano for a brief time, but then moved to Sandia Prep. Graduated in '88 and moved to the southeast -- eleven years in Alabama, six years in Nashville.

Do you ever go back? The last time I was in town was for the reunion I wrote about above. It seemed like very little had changed, but that might also have been due to the fact that I was wandering around in an emotional and social timewarp anyway.

There was quite a bit of sprawl, though. We lived in the NE Heights up above Tramway, and back then there really weren't many homes up there, or north of Montgomery. I guess I was a little startled to see how many homes had gone up, but beyond that it really seemed like the same old town. At some point, though, the casinos rolled in. I'm not quite sure when that happened, but based on what I read it seems like there's a lot more going on now.

HA! Memories...

I just had my 20 year in August. Strangely enough, I still hang out w/ most of my friends from that time, since we were all friends since 6th/7th grade. Cool to know that we're still friends (about 10 of us) after 25+ years.

We all did the 10 year. It was somewhat surreal, seeing everyone glom onto their old "clicks", including us. You could see some of the jocks still trying to live their old glory, and the cheerleaders still trying to look hot, some of them still did too. The fringe kids were there, mostly the brainiacs that were in all the AP classes w/ me. I knew them and was friendly w/ them. It was a game to see how fat all of us got, and how bald the guys were. At this point, I'd already given into shaving my head, no reason to delude myself that it was ever coming back... They even had a contest to see who had the most kids. Some couple had 5! Wow, I wasn't even married yet.

Fast forward to the 20 yr. My friend put it together, classmates.com was even used. Some old friends from high school popped out of the closet and we all started emailing each other. Weird since it's true, all the old mannerisms and interactions came back. At the party, people were even heavier and balder than before. One of the HOTTEST cheerleaders provided the biggest shocker by being about 150 lbs heavier from 10 yrs ago. I saw a couple of my classmates that did not age well either. I saw one guy and thought, "Hey our teachers showed up!" Uh oh, that's not a teacher, that's a classmate. Some of the people dressed like they stepped out of 1985, and I don't think that was for a laugh.

Overall, it was still fun to see everyone. I had a great time in high school, no real bad memories except the rejection at high school dances... Amazing, however, how everyone's lives take different turns.

Amie, you are hilarious. This whole thing really brightened my day.

I went to the 10th and had a miserable time - too many people still trying to impress. I went to the 20th and everyone seemed much more comfortable. I did not subject my wonderful wife to these people from my youth, and both of us remain happy with that choice. She boycotted her reunions altogether.

I found that all the women were still very beautiful and all of the men were old and fat and/or balding. I suppose 38 just looks better on women than on men.

It is a rare opportunity, and in the interest of having rich, diverse life experiences, I can recommend it. If my experience is typical, you should just try to enjoy the moments you are there, and not have expectations about rekindling old friendships.

I unequivocally advocate liberal amounts of alcohol.

LOL! When I composed my post above, after I'd made mention of the male transformation one might expect to find at a reunion, I was about to include a female equivalent, but decided I had made my point and it wasn't necessary. I thought of saying "you might find the cheerleader has put on 50 pounds and has 6 kids." Whew! I coulda gotten myself in a lot of trouble with you had I done that. I'm sure glad I didn't. (or did I just do it. DUH!)

And as for you , Craig............

In reply to:

---

And as for you , Craig............

---

Jack, No abuse is too good for you ...

I was quite happy to skip my 10 year. There's only a few people I'd like to see, and I can see them away from all those *&$*(^!s that made my life miserable.

Bitter? Who, me?


Went to my wife's instead. It was kind of nice not being known, but the dinner thing was miserable. Horrid. Can you say "rubber chicken?" The informal BBQ the next day was much better!

In reply to:

---

Jack, No abuse is too good for you ...

---

I'm moved. That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.

yeah, my wife only came cause she knows my friends. but it drives her crazy when all we talk about is old stuff.

I went to her 10 yr college reunion. She went to Harvard and we made a vacation out of it. The only minor highlight was that she graduated w/ the guy who was the first "Bachelor" on ABC. Funny hearing stories that women were not his only interest...

I skipped my 10 year. My wife wants to go to hers, but she'll be bursting at the seams, so to speak, if she hasn't has the baby already. I'll probably go to the 20 year, though. By that time, people will be good and fat and/or bald and won't even bother trying to impress.

YIKES!

You two talking about Albuquerque (in particular Montgomery Blvd) brought back images of running around that part of town with my ex-wife who was from ABQ...think she may have even attended West Mesa...probably '84 or '85...I know she attended church (as well as we got married there) at a church on Montgomery...

I remember the Tramway and spending a couple of Christmases there...Winter in the Sandias for a guy from Central Texas was very cool, literally.

I also remember a really good Mom & Pop Mexican place not far off Montgomery or at least it was in that part of town...it was not real big...but I can't remember the name although it was in Spanish...always frequented there when we came to visit...really good food.

It is amazing what will trigger memories, both good and bad...

Kinda miss the town but not her...be tough to go back there probably...even after all these years.

WhatFurrer

In reply to:

---

I also remember a really good Mom & Pop Mexican place not far off Montgomery

---

Not sure what that would have been, but when I lived there Gardunos was my personal addiction. I understand they've opened a restaurant in Las Vegas, and if the food is anything like it once was then I'm sure they do more business than a crack house.

I've often thought that I'd make a killing in Nashville (or anywhere else outside of New Mexico) by opening a Gardunos. Most people have absolutely no concept of the huge difference between Mexican and New Mexican cuisine. Red or green?

Green.

Gardunos...nope, not the one I was looking for...

It will eventually come to me...

WhatFurrer

I went to 3 different high schools in 2 years in 3 different states. I met a few people I would consider friends and many I would prefer not to meet again. I don't know if I'm bitter about it, but reunions don't seem to mean anything to me. I would rather spend some construction time right here.

I usually only go back to Albuquerque once a year for Spring Break to visit my kids. dmn23, I known what you're talking about with the increased number of homes in the area you lived in. The area where I grew up has quadrupled in size. But, as you said it's the same old city. I sure as hell miss the food, though my wife is one hell of a cook and I always have a supply of green chile in my freezer!

Unbelievable! The men were all fat and bald and the women had gained 50 lbs!!! Who would have guessed? Tee hee. Actually, most people just looked a little softer than their pictures. Reunion was amazing! Got snubbed by an old girlfriend who had married an old boyfriend of mine (that was definitely the most fun reunion moment) and met up with lots of fun people I hadn't seen in the 13 years since I graduated. Everyone I met was having a happy and fulfilling life, which is why you would go to your reunion, I guess. I even got in trouble in my 'decade' room for not participating properly in the message board system. Ah, just like old times. Loved it!

Thanks for the advice though - it was totally surreal in a lot of respects, and I think alcohol was in fact a necessity. My mind was just whirring after talking to so many people who had stayed in my hometown and catching up on old memories. Alcohol also enabled me to do a perfect Molly Ringwald impression during the 80s dance tunes, which I guess I am proud of ? {giggles}

In reply to:

---

Alcohol also enabled me to do a perfect Molly Ringwald impression during the 80s dance tunes

---

I would have paid good money to see that, Amie. Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself!

Alcohol would have probably improved my 10 year reunion, and may have convinced me to go to my 20th 3 years ago. I didn't since I don't communicate with any of those people. I should probably join Classmates if I want to locate old friends.

So glad you enjoyed yourself. It is interesting to contrast those who stay in the same evironment in which they were raised, and those who have moved on and experienced more of the world, isn't it?

I was raised in an upper middle class suburb (Bay Village, OH. - home of the infamous Dr. Sam Sheppard murder case). Andt, while being a GREAT place to grow up, it was NOT the best preparation for life in the real world, which, in most cases, is very different from Bay Village. Those who remained in that environment (and this is a BROAD generality that does not apply to all, or even most) tend to be more insular, and less comfortable with people and things that are different from that to which they are accustomed.

I know it must sound as though I'm contemptuous of their choice. I assure you, I'm not. There are many ways in which I envy them. And the truth is, no matter what path you follow in life, there are rewards, and a price to pay for those rewards.

You must have been "Pretty in Pink." Was Robert Downey there, also?

One challenge I noticed for the people who had stayed in my hometown was that no matter what they became or achieved, there were a group of people who reminded them of the time their pants were pulled down in the cafeteria line up (or whatever). I think remaining in your own town presents its own unique challenges (like that guy is now the loan officer at the major bank . . . oops!) There was culture shock from a lot of different angles, for sure.

In reply to:

---

there were a group of people who reminded them of the time their pants were pulled down in the cafeteria line up (or whatever).

---

What kind of sick things happen up there in Canada?

Or, another thought:

What kind of wild things happen up there in Canada?