Went to my 50th a couple of years ago. First reunion I had ever attended as something always came up for previous reunions to prevent my going.
Had to ask who some of the people were as they had changed so much. Others I knew right away even though time had wrinkled and greyed them. Myself included.
Became good friends with someone I hardly knew in school. He played trombone in the band and I was the quintessential jock. We shared a common liking for IPA and I had brought some along for the party that my wife and I had home brewed. The evening before the reunion, some of us met at a local restaurant totally by accident. The couple hosting the reunion were there and insisted that everyone come to their house for a nightcap. Somehow it got to be 3 o’clock in the morning. Tired and drunk, my wife and I returned to our hotel. Awoke the next morning to find that my new, old friend and his wife, a cheerleader, were across the hall from our room.
With hangovers we proceeded to a restaurant and had breakfast. Returned to our rooms and slept some more until time for the reunion to start.
I had copies of the football programs from every game in four years of high school and shared them with others in attendance who were interested. My Dad saved every one of them from my high school days through college. The programs featured individual pictures of the football team, cheerleaders and band. New, old friend and his wife were in them. Biggest hit was each player’s height and weight listed in the programs. WOW! One guy had lost 100 pounds and another had gained the same amount of weight.
Best thing was that everyone who had had my mother as an English teacher, complemented her tough teaching style that allowed them to breeze through college classes, write outstanding letters and reports in their chosen field of work. Those who had gone on to become teachers said that they had copied her style of teaching and were rewarded by their former students thanking them in later life. This was especially gratifying as quite a few of them had hated her, and by extension me, while in school. My brother, who has never been to a class reunion, suffered the same disdain and hatred in his school days and cites that as his reason for never going back.
In short, the friends, old and new, out numbered the a$$holes and made it a worthwhile time. My wife and I danced, laughed and had a nice weekend.
At my 50th the women looked pretty good and most of the guys were unrecognizable. The guy I had a major crush on was hideous and married to a major plain Jane.
At my husband’s 50 the women just gushed over this one guy who was as arrogant as hell. He was dead 2 months later.
Let’s be honest the losers don’t show up.