The Class Reunion

August and September seem to be the prime months for class reunions.

In my city, these are usually the hottest months of the year, and our class reunion organizers inevitably have picked the hottest day of the year in a non-airconditioned venue to hold our infrequent get-togethers. However, this year was different.  The reunion took place in a family backyard on a rather pleasantly warm evening.  Everyone generously contributed food and drink which fueled an evening of much hilarity and talk. I would guess 50 or 60 classmates elected to attend out of a graduating class of over 700 "baby boomers" attending what was then the largest school in the state by student population.

It was a gregarious group gathered at this reunion.  I've noticed over the years at these get-togethers, that most everyone has overcome high school shyness, inhibitions, "hang-ups" and cliques.  At our age it seems the most  important thing has become the celebration of our shared experiences while in high school, and marking the unforgiving passage of time.

My husband has often suggested to me that the only people who attend high school reunions are those who perceive themselves as being successful.  I don't know if his assessment is correct, but our class certainly has more than its fair share of success stories, including noted doctors, lawyers galore, a judge, artists, writers, educators and administrators, businessmen and women, and even a professional athlete of some note. But there are plenty of us who live plain-old ordinary lives, who perhaps because of a common history, feel confident enough at these reunions to share amongst each other the ups and downs of marriages and divorces, raising children and bragging about grandchildren, the ever-increasing struggles with our own health issues, and now, for many of us, caring for ill and aging parents.   

People comfortably chattered about ordinary lives, of classmates who could not attend, and shared so so many memories.  We recalled who did what crazy thing and if they got away with it. We remembered who sat at what lunch table in the cafeteria and who rode the bus and who car-pooled.  We talked about the faculty and administrators who taught us and shaped us.  And each time we get together, we sadly note the passing of a few more classmates and sadly add their names to that ever-growing list.

This year I noticed a few topics of conversation seemed new.  For instance, there was so much more discussion of health concerns and how we are dealing with them, and one topic I noticed being discussed for the first time: how we are choosing to spend our time and fill our days now that many of us have retired. 

For me seeing high school classmates is good.  It "grounds" me. My classmates serve to remind me of where I came from and how that effects where I am now.  My classmates were there with me in some of my  very formative years, and it is somewhat comforting to know that so many are still there for me. I like to think of our high school years and memories as both formative and positive. 

And sometimes my thoughts turn to high school students of today, who it seems too often, can face life or death challenges in the hallways of their schools. And I wonder if they will perceive themselves as successful and what they will reminisce about at those hot August/September class reunions of the future?

Love to my classmates,
Looking forward to seeing you at our 49th and 50th!