“Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.”
The big reunion weekend began last night at the cocktail hour. Good thing we had name tags though some people were easy to recognize as they hadn’t changed much, just gotten older. The biggest shock was a classmate who was the all-American boy in high school with button-down collar shirts and chinos of different colors. Now he has long hair and a beard. I didn’t recognize him.
I had a wonderful evening last night with lots of hugs, memories and laughs. This morning was coffee and pastries then a school tour. I went anyway figuring more time to socialize. Tonight is the dinner, the final event. I expect classmates who haven’t gone to anything else will be at the dinner. I have my name tag ready.
Last night it poured. This morning was sunny but clouds have taken over for the mean time. The sky gets dark then the sun comes back then the clouds reappear. I’m thinking the sun is losing the battle.
It is in the 50’s. This three-day weekend is the last hurrah for the Cape. Many places will close after Monday. Traffic will be lighter, lines shorter and people far less stressed. I can use main roads again.
I have my 8th grade picture. We are sitting or standing in rows in front of a statue on the convent lawn. Father Sexton, the pastor, is sitting in the middle of the first row. The picture is a long one so it is easy to see faces. Some kids I remember. We started in the first grade together, maybe went to Arlington Catholic for high school or marched together in the drill team. We haven’t ever had a reunion. Eighth grades don’t do that. The drill team has had a few small reunions, just my friends at someone’s house, and one large one for anyone who marched. I always go.
My classmates and I have only high school as a common experience. Some classmates I’ve seen here and there while others I haven’t seen since graduation. That didn’t matter last night. The room was filled with people enjoying and catching up with one another. All those years apart dissolved.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: 3 day weekend, 50th class reunion, 8th grade, class picture, cocktail hour, dinner, high school, last hurrah, rain, school tour
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
October 10, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Glad you’re enjoying the weekend. My big reunion was last weekend and the first I’d ever attended. Our events don’t seem to have been as well thought-out as yours. Parade, football game, Hall of Fame luncheon and finally the big dinner/party. I made it to decorating for the dinner and the final soirée. About half the class of 204 showed up. I was shocked to discover that about 25% of the class is now dead in the ground (oddly enough, lots of football players). Like you, I found some people instantly recognizable; others completely different and not always for the better. I guess I’m glad I went, but it was over much too fast and there really wasn’t enough time to do much more than say hi and move along to the next semi-familiar face. My hometown is now about 4 times the size it was when I left and completely unrecognizable except for the court house square. Every big box store but Costco seems to be there. And traffic out the wazoo. The “new” high school is about 8 times as large as the one I went to and covers acres and acres and acres. Looks like the campus of a small college. My, how life changes…
October 10, 2015 at 5:02 pm
im6,
Last night was a great event for mingling. There were quite a few people there. I was surprised. Some came from as far away as Wisconsin and California. I guess it being 50 years was the big draw. I too was amazed at the number who had died though I don’t thin it was as high as 25%. I remembered the first one died a few years after high school of cancer. The worst was a guy who had a heart attack at his daughter’s wedding.
The tour wasn’t as eye opening to me having worked at the high school, but people were amazed at how big the school had gotten. There have been 4 additions to the original building. The school includes the 8th grade which it didn’t when I was there. That is happening all over the state. That’s a good thing. 1000 students go there, really only about 250 more than in my day though the population was as high as 1700 when I was first teaching.
There is golfing tomorrow but I don’t golf so my events end this evening.
I hope it is as fun as last night.
October 10, 2015 at 2:57 pm
I can see that You enjoyed yesterday and I guess tonight will be even better.
We had a ten year reunion once but I think it was too close because most of us knew much about each other still.
A bit chilly indoors today so I lit the first fire in the stove but I have to say I got even warmer when I tried to chop the fire wood 🙂 I was so tired afterwards that I fell asleep in front of the tv 🙂 Tonight feels rather cold so I wouldn’t be surprised if we get frost even if the predictions says otherwise.
Have a great dinner tonight!
Christer.
October 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Christer,
Our last reunion was the 40th, and I went to that-on a boat out of Hyannis harbor. This one so far had been great.
It is chilly right now outside. Gracie’s coat was cold when she came inside just a bit ago.
Looks like we both had a nap!
Thanks on the dinner.
Have a great night!
October 10, 2015 at 11:27 pm
Kat,
My 45th high school reunion is scheduled for next August. I’m getting emails from people I haven’t thought about in those 45 years. How they found me—-I’ve no idea.
I hated high school. It was like being trapped in a cage. Cliques..stifling rules….mostly dumb teachers. The cage door sprung open on graduation day. And off I ran. Free! I’ve no nostalgia for those school years. And certainly don’t want to revisit them.
45 years is a long time though. I have to laugh. Was I really that sassy 18 year old? What a challenge I must have been for everyone!
October 11, 2015 at 1:29 am
Tracey,
Someone else mentioned how much they hated high school. I know that it is the worst of life for some kids. Having worked in high schools for so long, I heard the pain and anger from kids who could never find a place. Sometimes I could help, other times I couldn’t.
I think we are all surprised by the memories others have of us. Maybe that is in some way the only saving grace.
I encountered many a sassy 18 year old. I just kept reminding myself they were still growing, becoming, so I exercised as much patience as I could muster.
October 11, 2015 at 12:36 am
Soooo glad you enjoyed your 50th! I went to our 50th HS reunion last month, Friday happy hour and Saturday golf, but not the Saturday night dinner-dance. I was hesitant, but it was great. I didn’t live here for 30 years, and never went to an HS reunion, so I’d totally lost track. Not many people remembered me, but everybody was so friendly; mingling, indeed! Good souls, all; salt of the earth. There were 12 of my 8th grade class there. Kat, between you and me, didn’t everybody (else) look so old?? Ha!!!
My (Catholic) HS had 2,000 when I was there; down to 350 now, on the verge of closing. We’ve got 70 documented deceased (out of 488 grads). Several of my good friends back then were in the dead-pool, which was a shock. But, ay, few of us had a pristine lifestyle. Many deceased spouses. Lord willing and the river don’t rise, I’ll make my college 50th in 4 years. Looking forward to that!
October 11, 2015 at 1:16 am
Jay,
I had such a fun time at the cocktail party I had high hopes for this night. I wasn’t wrong. Everyone seemed genuinely glad to see everyone else. I was surprised how few peeks I needed at the high school pictures every one was wearing.
I was a chameleon of sorts. I played sports, worked in drama, was a member of the Latin club and was on committees. I guess I just barged my way into a variety of mixes so I wasn’t pigeonholed.
The school had about 800 when I went there and has over a thousand now, but that includes the 8th grade. It is the only school in two towns.
Arlington Catholic was my other school, and I also attended the 50th. That school seems to be on firm ground.
We had more deceased than I remembered. The first died not long after high school but it was not unexpected. The last died at his daughter’s wedding.
I thought we looked good. Even the lady manning the cheese, fruit, dip and the rest table said she expected old people and was surprised how young we looked.
Like you, I’ve my college 50th in 4 years. I haven’t been to any. I think it will be time.