I went home last night, a quick 2 hour drive to the place I loved as a child…. Three Rivers Michigan. It was for the committee meeting for our 40 yr high school reunion. I’ve finally decided to participate after all these years. I just feel happy in this time of life, and I am more open to people now. It was great to see the people I knew so long ago. My son rode up with me and the time shared with him was fun and a treasure also. After the first 10 years of leaving the sweet little town and visiting, the reasons for going there started to die. First my mom, then the welcome from my step father, then people that were close to me …. until I had no real reason to go there. I was contacted for a reunion about ten years ago, but I was not in a good state of mind or position at the time. So I believe that now, its good for me to be “back” of sorts. I feel good about it, and I will enjoy it. It isn’t the first time in the past 10 years that I’ve connected with some of the people from there. I’ve had some more private reunions by contacting and visiting others from our “time”. But this will be on a larger scale, and I’m ready.
Rodezzy, Fiber Artist
Edited 11/6/2009 9:00 am ET by rodezzy
Replies
Enjoy it! I can't wait to see the ensemble you whip up for the events. Post the pictures pretty please!
Good for you Rodezzy. I have never gone to a school reunion. However, a dozen of the gals I went to high school have got together every Xmas since 1964 and have a potluck. Started out at Xmas but now in May. I have been to about 3 or 4 of them over the last 45 yrs. I managed to get to the last one this past spring. It was wonderful. I live 3,000 miles away so this was special. I also only told one person I was going so it was a surprise to all of them. We had a blast. Enjoy your reunion.
Heather in Calgary
Thanks, I will. Life is a beautiful thing, when you live it!
Congratulations on recognizing that it takes some time to "be ready" to go back! I went to my 10th, and I think it was a mistake at the time - too many changes and yet too much hadn't changed, at the same time, if that makes sense. Next one will be 35 or 40 (OMG!) and I'm ready to consider it again. Definitely, have fun, with the planning and the attending ~ and Yeah! please post photos as you get them!
Bright Blessings, as always! Kharmin
Makes sense to me. Hopefully you will be ready. smile
Although I have a girlie-girlie trip with three of my closest buds every year, for my college reunions I went back 5, 10, 20, and 25. I skipped 15 because of drama in the household.
I will tell you 25 was by far the best year! We had the highest turnout at 65. That's an incredible amount when you consider my graduating class including graduate students was 136, with 30 of them being graduate students. About 14 of my classmates have passed away. So that means more than 70% came back! Only 27 were missing. Almost all of us stayed in the same hotel and we had a blast... it was great fun!
Although my school is in Tennesee, a bunch of us from my class are meeting in Atlanta for a fundraiser for our school in December. One of my classmates is being recognized as a distinguished alumni.
On the other hand, I've never been back to my high school reunions at all.
I went back to Three Rivers Saturday, and three of my classmates met me and one had the lady open up the old Riviera Show for me to see. They have completely rehabbed the theater and it is beautiful. Now she will see if we can hold an event on that Friday night at the Riviera. Cool.
WAY cool! Those old theatres are amazing spaces. I used to work at the Paramount Arts Centre in Aurora while they were rehabbing it, and it was soooo worth the time, effort and money!Hope you can arrange something for yours, too ... Kharmin
Cool beans!
Do you think that earlier reunions are not as good as later ones because it take quite a few years and life experiences to realize that one really cannot go home again? Everyone changes yet earlier friends are remembered as they were and remember you as you were when one hasn't kept in contact. I think it takes a bit of maturity to grow into a comfortable philosophy of living in the present and recognizing the past as past.
I actually think that the early ones were not as greatly attended because of the cost/expense/timing for folk to travel when they have young people at home. Our reunion is in May-- typically Mother's Day weekend. That's a tough time for parents to get away. Depending on the age of their children, they are involved in sports, prom, graduation activities, etc. My suspicion is that as kids get older the need to hold that weekend sacrosanct is diminished since they are often away at school and the folk who had children right out of school have adults now who don't live at home.
Also, I think there is a sort of "you shoulda been there" that has accumulated over time. We also had several deaths of our classmates this year. And, our school has been in severe financial trouble, so there is a sort of rallying of the family if you will. There is a small group that goes every year because they get to see folk who were in the class ahead or behind us. And there is a larger group that hits the 5's. And, there was a smaller group for whom 25 was their first.
Either way 25 was a blast! There were also a whole bunch of people there for their 50th year!
Interesting comment about wanting to see the people in the before and after class one was in. The one and only high school reunion I attended was many years ago. I was in a crises situation (and thus back in my family nest) at the time so was in a bit of a fog. I went to school in a small town but the high school consisted of students from 3 communities. The day after the big event there was a picnic for my community for all the families. I didn't go, but wish I had as parents and siblings of former students attended. Many of the parents had been figures in my life and many passed on in the years following. C'est la vie.
For me, I was not interested in the earlier years. I went back and forth so much in the earlier years. My mother died when I was 24. I was struggling with my own marriage, my child and just getting a real job and didn't have much connection during those years to the past. When I was contacted for the 30 year, I was going through a big life change and restarting my situation in life. Now I am at peace with the world, I've grown into myself. I have time to do whatever I want and I'm getting old enough to look back with a sense of sanity.
Rodezzy, I've been missing you
The forum has been way to quiet without your sweet countenance here.
I just know you are going to have so much fun at your upcoming class reunion. I live 6 hours away from my old high school. (that's how we calculate distance here in Texas -- the number of hours it takes to traverse the distance....). Anyhow, I'd been only to my 15th year's reunion and it was not a lot of fun, however I was found and coerced into coming to the 30th, and it was magical. All the old chemistries and competitiveness was gone. We accepted each other as the people we had become and could hardly let go at the end of the three days. In fact, we mostly did not. Every day I talk to at least one of my old class mates, and of course, we email and facebook extensively. Since my husband's fairly recent death, they have pulled me even closer and held me up. I am so thankful for the friendships made back then and even more so for the deepened and broadened friendships they have become.
Be sure to let us hear all the details, and place come back to the forum. We miss you.
(I hope there are not too many typos, I can't find a spellcheck or a pre-post proofing function.)
Missing you
Junkqueen,
I'm sorry for the loss of your dear husband. I pray the memories of him will sustain you and strengthen you.
Rodeezy I miss you too!!
I'm excited for you!
I attended my 20th and my 40th high school reunions and found that maturity does wonders for the friendships forged in youth! It was great fun and for a former "high school journalist" absolutely fascinating to talk with and rediscover the "kids" I knew. Forty years really mellows and wisens and levels the playing fields. I'm sure I really needn't say it to someone with the zest for life you demonstrate here in the forum, but I will anyway....enjoy yourself and all those who gather there with you! Best wishes, Susan
When is your reunion??
I am packing to go to the coast for a birthday party. My high school friends are getting together for "April Birthdays". Since several of us have birthdays this month, we always have a big party, so I'm making the 6 hour trek down there. Actually, it used to be 6 hours, but with better highways and enlarged freeways through Houston it's only 4-1/2 to 5 hours now. But I digress....
This trip reminded me of your upcoming reunion, and I'm getting excited for you. When is it? Have you gotten your wardrobe together? Are you getting excited? Inquiring minds want to know!!! Tell all.
Hi Rodezzy,
I know you posted this a while ago, but I just want to add my two cents. My husband and I have gone to every high school reunion (we dated in high school, broke up, then got back together again seven years later) and we've had a great time at every one. Now, since catching up with even more classmates on Facebook, we're looking forward to the next one even more. Sometimes it's nice to be with people who share your history.
So have fun, or if the reunion has already happened, I hope it was fabulous. (And I, too, would like to see what you wore!)
Sherry (SAAM)
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