Are you glad you went to your high school class reunion?

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I went to the 10th. Perhaps that was a mistake, as nobody had any real time to develop into the other people they would become for the rest of their lives.

That said, I graduated with about 1,000 people. I’m not exaggerating. When they have these things, they never take into account families. They don’t take into account that they can now set up virtual reunions, and do a link up with several parts of the country or even world very cheaply, giving classmates the opportunity to attend via streaming. And it’s always the same people who planned the prom plan the reunion! Those who want to do something different are voted out.

So, I skipped the 15th, the 20th, the 25th, and the 100th anniversary of the school. I have had informal reunions with people who really were friends, but otherwise- not my bottle of beer.
 
I went to my 10 year and well, it stunk. Honestly I did not even recognize anyone. All that said, I say go. I think everyone goes to the 20 year. That one is more of a big deal. 🙂
 
Another “not fun but interesting” response here.

My year was not good - even the teachers said it was the worst group they’d ever seen. The one girl I stayed in touch with was my companion in classes where she and I would participate in discussions with the physics and chemistry teacher to a chorus of , “shuddup you stupid ****ing —ches” from the bully boys at the back, just quiet enough that we’d catch it and the teacher wouldn’t. When we opened our mouths in English, we’d get, “whose been hacking at the back of your hair, did you cut it yourself?” and similar from the female equivalent one seat behind. There were good kids and terrific teachers, but more often than not my friend and I were locked in a room with behaviour that wouldn’t be tolerated in a workplace or in the street.

I went to the 10th, much to H’s surprise, but I made myself go as a reality check for many painful memories.

The first person I saw on the footpath was the girl who kissed the entire form on the cheek, saying “thank you for being my friend” at the graduation Mass. After “hello”, she said, “I don’t know why I’m here, there’s no one I want to see.” :rolleyes: The class snob who looked straight through you in the street 10 years ago dressed to display her level of disposable income and looked straight through the same people as before. Ms Who’s-been-hacking-at-your-hair had taken her technique to a breathtaking level of professionalism, far more vicious but very subtle - a class act now, if you could call it that. A few had bounced from one relationship and divorce and live-in set-up to another, some with children along the way. A couple of really nice people were married happily with nice young families, though I was sad to see that a build up of disappointments had turned one happy-go-lucky good-natured friend rather sour and snipe-y. Overall, not much had changed. I did enjoy seeing some of the nice people I’d not had much to do with at school, though, and a couple of the teachers who were among the best I’d ever had.

I succumbed to a moment of vengeful thought when noting that none of the girls who’d spent six years telling me how fat and ugly I was (I was neither, just working hard to learn and get ahead) still had their waistline, while I actually wasn’t looking too bad at all. I’ve never been a girly girl or obsessed with appearance, and many of them had, so that was ironic.

So I left the reunion thinking, yep, on balance my memories were about right. It was delayed closure on a very painful period, and that purpose served, I never went to another. Made myself go, glad I went, never going back again.

H had a pretty good time at school and has gone to a few reunions even though he doesn’t stay in contact with any school friends. it’s no big deal for him, he just goes off and has a pleasant lunch and that’s that.
 
I skipped my 10th (back in '06). I’m still up in the air as to whether or not I should have gone. According to one friend who did go, an old boyfriend of mine was asking her about me and remembered me quite fondly, which was flattering. OTOH, I have no idea how cliquey it was. I was sent a link to a site with photos, and a lot of my old choir and Model UN friends were there. Maybe I’ll go to the next one.

I did meet up with a group of old friends who were in town for the reunion. We met for drinks at a local pub, and it was a blast to see them. We’ve all grown up and become so responsible and cool. 😃
 
i find unless you are connected socially, or in business, or in sport etc. no one really wants to know you
 
Well, I went to my 10 year… What a night. My best friend cancelled on me 2 nights before because she had gained some weight since high school (former homecoming queen). That was okay though, my sister went with me instead (she is my bestest friend)… I absolutely hated High School, so I went mostly out of curiosity. It happened to be 5 days after 9-11 so a lot of people couldn’t make it. I was single at the time and my sister was always keeping her eye open for me. This handsome man walked through the door and my heart skipped a beat.

My sister said “who is that?” in a swooning voice,

I answered “*that is JS *(protecting his name)” in a swooning voice.

That handsome man is now my husband of almost 6 years. I am really glad I went that night, because I don’t if we would have re-met, if not for the reunion. My sister was the best date I could have had too…
 
I was the Senior Class President and still live in the same small town…therefore, organizing each reunion has been a responsibility firmly planted on my shoulders. I had a great time at the 10th reunion and an okay time at the 20th. What I noticed the most between the 10th and the 20th was a definite MATURING. Many who were out to impress at the 10th, had come to realize that there is something really great about this little town and atmosphere for raising a family. Several people said, “You are SOOOO lucky to be living here…if I didn’t have to make a living for my family, I’d move back!” Of course, they fail to realize that there is a trade off for life in a small town and that is usually in the form of a big paycheck.

I have felt some guilt over the extreme satisfaction I took in regards to one of my classmates. He was absolutely hateful to me…especially in gradeschool. He and another classmate came up with a very hurtful nickname regarding my size (I was taller/heavier than everyone in my class until Jr. High) and that nickname stuck for many years. Sooooooo, it was interesting to see his family at the picnic we had. He had a son who was FAR more overweight than I had ever been!! I think God may have had to “help” him learn a little more compassion.

Kathy
 
My 25th high school reunion was last summer on the same weekend as a family reunion in another city 80 miles away. I contemplated leaving the family reunion for the evening and joining my classmates. However, having traveled from Texas to Wisconsin for the reunions, and knowing that many of my family had traveled from around the country to attend the family reunion, I voted against the class reunion. Besides, other than a few Christmas cards, I don’t keep up with anyone from high school anymore and the only motivating force was curiosity.

I am so glad that I chose family over curiosity. I had a wonderful time with my family and it was good for us to see one another somewhere other than a funeral or a wedding. I later learned that the turn out for the class reunion was sparce and many of those with whom I wanted to visit didn’t go either.

God is good. He knew I needed to be with family instead. Maybe the 30th reunion will work out!
 
I “crashed” my 5 year. The organizers’ didn’t have my address so they couldn’t send the invite. Coincidentally, my parents are still living at the same address they’ve been at for over 25 years. (Oh, and I’m also from a very small town.) My dad worked with one of the guys from my class who got ‘volunteered’ to host the party at his home, and my classmate personally invited me to the gathering.

For the 10 year, it was ok. Some of the ‘better than thou’ people took off right after the luncheon, but many of us went to the lake and just spent some time together and grilled out. It was interesting, a very small graduating class (36), but many of us who didn’t hang out together sat around and caught up on each other’s lives. Very interesting to see some of the people who appeared to have it all back then, don’t have very much now; also how much some people have grown-up and realized what’s really important.
 
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