Reunions?

[wildhawk]

Good thread. I have not attended any of my class reunions (Class of 1974 - whoo hoo!). But that is mainly because the group that organizes and attends these events are the “in-crowd” clique that basically snubbed me in high school. I did not socialize with them then and I can see no reason to now. The friends I had in high school and college that I cared about I have kept in touch with - we are very close. I do feel a pang of curiousity about the others when reunions roll around, but not enough to make me put my life on hold and use vacation time to hear them brag about their lives - some people in my past need to stay there - in the past. Just my two cents worth…

[indysteel]

Indy, FWIW, Silver and I think the world of you where you are because it's clear to us that you are indeed happy with where you are

Also, FWIW, I too went to small Catholic schools and have similar emotions. (Although it's interesting that at Silver's 10 year reunion, it was funny when she leaned over and said that she had more fun at mine)

I don't know about your schools, but at mine, the nuns applauded superficially pious behavior, careers in the arts/sciences/medicine (as opposed to business/law), and were wholly uninspiring to me. Even though I've been successful, I don't fit their ideal of success (although they're persistent in hitting me up for money that will NEVER be offered!)

I didn't go to the 20 year reunion (we were in Venice) and expect that I won't go to 30...maybe by 40, I'll be mellow enough to enjoy it...

What a wonderful compliment. Thank you! I think the world of you guys, too!

And, boy would I rather go to Venice than a reunion!

[uforgot]

Guess I'm in the minority, but I haven't missed a reunion yet. I've enjoyed every one. Our class president is still the funniest guy I know and has missed his calling as a stand up comedian. The opening speech alone is worth the trip. It's the only time I keep up with my classmates as I've moved away, but it's fun to meet and talk to the interesting people they have become.

[Mr. Bloom]

Guess I'm in the minority, but I haven't missed a reunion yet.

That's wonderful!

I think that for me, High School represents an awkward time. I was popular, but not cool; bright, but not self confident. I found my groove in college and never identified with that more awkward time period...

[wildhawk]

Exactly! If I had “fit in” more, I would be inclined to go to the reunions. But high school for me was a very painful time. I not only had a difficult time making friends because I was shy and overweight (still am, although not shy so much anymore!) and my brother was killed in a hit and run in my senior year, so it became a blur after that. The only time the more popular students wanted to include me in any of their activities was when they wanted me to use my art talent to their benefit. I particularly remember one girl (who BTW, always heads up the reunion planning). She lived on a farm and had horses. She asked me to create some hand-painted props for her talent portion of a beauty pageant and promised that in return she would have me come over and go horseback riding with her. I loved horses so much that I agreed and did the work. When I asked her at school when we would get together to go riding, she very loudly made fun of me in front of her friends and said that I was too fat to ride her horses. Everyone laughed at me and of course I was totally humiliated!! I got used over and over again for my art abilities, but was never included in any social activities. So, seeing some of my former classmates brings up some bad memories. I think that if you had a great experience in high school that a reunion would be fun and interesting. But for me, that is not the case.

[indysteel]

Oh, Wildhawk. I'm tearing up over your story. How cruel of that girl. No wonder you don't want to go to your reunions. Here's a very big virtual hug.

[Aint Doody]

Wildhawk, that is so mean. How awful.

I have an amusing reunion story for y'all. One summer I was in Pensacola, FL, at a restaurant that was also the site for a 10-year class reunion for some high school in Pensacola. I enjoyed watching the young women walk in all decked out in their finest. But the one who took the cake was a young woman in a mink coat--in Florida, in the summer!!!!

[sundial]

How many of you would rather eat paste?

LOL! If someone really wants to know what I'm doing, they'll find me.

[tulip]

<snip> What bothers me about this is the strength of my reaction to just the thought of a reunion. I feel like I have some additional work to do to release some old baggage. Doing that work doesn't mean that I'll end up wanting to go to a reunion anymore than I do now; just that thoughts and memories of the past would have less hold on me than they apparently do. I've already done a lot of work in that regard so it was surprising to feel so emotional about it today.

Anyway, thanks for sharing!

No shame in doing some work. When my marriage ended, I realized I had a whole lot of work to do, and I've been doing it and things are much better than they were; in fact, they are much better than they have been in a long, long, time, maybe ever. In my case, my "work" centers around a very unhappy young childhood where always felt like I was in the way...from as early as I can remember. I encourage you to follow your instinct and explore doing that work (I have a great therapist, and that's one way, but there are others, too).