On Class Reunions

 Part of the reason I timed my last trip back to Canada the way I did was to attend my 10 year highschool reunion. It was supposed to be on the Victoria Day long weekend. We arrived in Canada on April 30th, the same day that the reunion committee canceled the reunion due to lack of interest. I ended up organizing a luncheon for the dozen or so of us who were still around and wishing to get together. It was great to see everyone but a bit disappointing that more people weren't game to go.

I went to highschool in a small town in the interior of British Columbia (on the far WEST side of Canada). In most cases, the people I went to highschool with still have family in the town, and many live there themselves - either never having left or having moved back. Of the dozen people who attended the "reunion" - just one lives in the town. She was one of the organizers of the reunion that didn't go ahead, and mentioned that many of the people who lived locally felt that they didn't want to go to the reunion because they were still doing the same thing they were doing in highschool. I found that to be so sad for many reasons. I felt really lucky going into this "reunion" situation - I finished my education, worked in my field for a few years, married Mr. Right, moved abroad, had a cute baby.  I am proud of what I have to show for these ten years. Minus the extra "baby weight" of course ;) (Am I still allowed to call it that? She is 13 months old!) Beyond that, I was excited to see what others had done with their decade, particularly the people whose names had not crossed my mind since "Grad 2000" - I was prepared to be amazed. A dozen of us getting together proved enough to find out who of the hundred students in my class had come out of the closet (1), who'd had kids (many!), who the token doctors and lawyers (1 doctor, 1 lawyer so far) from the class were, and a mass of random other stuff, like, for example, who had become hard-core environmentalists living "off the grid" (so far the count is 2).  

There was also talk about FACEBOOK making reunions redundant. As much as I find facebook, skype and email to be fantastic for keeping me in touch with people back home, there's just no substitute for the real thing, seeing someone in person and connecting with them. 

So, here's to the 20 year reunion... I sure hope it happens. And I hope the next 10 years don't fly by as fast as these have (though time seems to be whipping by faster than ever these days).

Comments

[Louise]

I had my 30-year (gulp!) reunion in 2009. I attended a huge high school in the States. Honestly, I didn't stay in touch with any of the 900+ people in my graduating class, so the whole reunion idea never interested me. When I got the invitation for the 30-year, I was joking with some friends about it because there had obviously been a mistake--I couldn't possibly be that old already! When I said I had no interest in going, my friends told me I absolutely needed to go. They had all been to some of their reunions, and they said it was a wonderful experience. I took their advice, went to the reunion, and discovered what I had missed. It was fantastic! I saw people I knew in school, met others I never knew, heard great stories and learned of classmates' accomplishments, and overall had one of the best times ever!! I am so sorry to hear that yours didn't work out, but I'm glad you at least got to meet up with some of your former classmates. To all those people out there who don't think reunions are for them, my advice is give them a try. I think you might be pleasantly surprised. I know I sure was!

[Emily]

We are heading down to Georgia for my 10-year on June 26. I'm really excited about it, but of my graduating class of 43, I think only about 10 or so are going to show up. Really a shame, since the real "characters" I'd love for Hubby to meet are some of the ones not coming. Granted, for at least 1, that's because he's in jail ... should be a fun, interesting night no doubt though! (One of my friends said she saw no reason for reunions because of Facebook, "I already know if you had a kid, got fat, or married an ugly old guy," she told me. hahahaha)

[Daily Rio Life]

Louise that is so good to hear!
Emily Bahaha ugly old guy comment... sweet. No one ever guesses that when filling out who is the "most likely to..." form pre-graduation.