Do you keep tabs on old classmates? Do you attend reunions?
Posted by:
eyoung on
October 3, 2007 at
1:25PM CST
The letters, flyers, announcements and invitations have been arriving in my mailbox (both e-mail and snail mail) almost weekly for the last six months. The Class of ’97 10-year reunion is coming up later in October.
I’ve been cordially invited to attend — and cordially invited to make a donation to the Class of ’97 reunion gift fund.
I’ve also been cordially invited to join the planning committee, attend area alumni pre-reunion parties, buy tickets for the coinciding Homecoming game, and purchase a lot of merchandise from the university store.
I’m not doing any of those things. And I’m not sure about going back for the reunion, either. It was a big school. I only recognize a few names on the regularly updated Web site of who’s coming. I keep in touch with some friends and old classmates, and that’s good enough for me.
(Besides, my husband has joked he’ll only go with me if Zach Braff will be there. Fellow member of the NU Class of ’97. Really not sure if it’s on his October calendar or not.)
I admit, though, I do like to read the Class Notes when the monthly alumni magazine arrives. So-and-so is now partner at Such-and-Such Firm. So-and-so just published a study in This-or-That Journal. He’s now a writer for "America’s Most Wanted" (Really?). She got married, he has a new son/daughter named Holden/Mallory.
But sometimes those four years of college seem like the strangest four years of my life — throwing me into a career that I chose when I was 17, for heaven’s sake. (And costing me $250 a month ever since ...)
Do you keep tabs on old classmates?
Do you attend class reunions?
Do you feel a big connection to your college or university?
My 20th HS reunion is coming up next year, and I have mixed feelings... I was the 80's typical "outcast" in school, wrote antiestablishment articles for the school paper (or "diatribes against my fellow classmates" as our principal put it), had purple hair, and really didn't emerge with too many fond memories-- plus, I haven't seen anyone since I graduated early and left Kenosha 20 years ago. I went to the 10th against my better judgement, drank waaaaaaaaay too much wine, and tried to hoochie dance with a girl I was once friends with in grade school (egads!). Plus, the same factions and divisions were still present, all those years later-- it was depressing, and I have a feeling I embarassed myself (if I could only remember)... I'd really like to see my HS boyfriend again, who was my closest friend in those days, if only to see how he's doing-- but I'm sure his wife wouldn't appreciate it (or my husband, for that matter!). He was in a grade below me, tho (I've googled him a couple times, and hope that doesn't count as stalking).
What school in Kenosha cyndi? I think you might be only two years older than me. I went to my 10yr. It was fun. I was nervous @ first because I had just gotten divorced and wasn't seeing anyone so had to go dateless. Thought I'd look like a LOSER! To my surprise many people were single, divorced, etc..some of those pretty popular girls (ok so they were my friends) looked old and frumpy (already) Some of the guys?? Fat, balding, but then some looked better than ever :) One of the goody two shoes, class president, honor roll girls got WASTED! and ended up spilling a whole tray of shots all over herself, me and a few others. NICE!!! (although I did get out the way to avoid real disaster) I came away from the whole experience feeling alot better about myself. I looked great and was doing alot better in my personal and professional life than I had given myself credit for. I'll go to my 20yr with more confidence. Chances are I'll still be single and won't have won any great awards or become president of my own company. But I still look great and am still the happy fun loving person they all remember. To me that's as much of a success as they come :) Did I mention I still look REAL GOOD ;)
I went to Tremper, class of '88-- and if you went there, you'd probably have known me (or at least OF me, 'cause I was always getting into some sort of very conspicuous trouble or another...) Where did you attend? If you're a Kenosha girl, you'd probably know my HS BF's family as well, they're pretty conspicuous these days, too (my family was too, if you were old school Kenosha).
Nope, never attended one. Never liked the high school clique thing. Remember everyone at Prom, dressed up like grown-ups acting like children.
There are a few people I have run into since high school that thought they were something too special to be my friend back then. Their lives seemed messy, and they conveniently forgot they were too good for me back then. There are a few who I wonder what happened to, but not enough to get me to one of those shindigs I guess.
I was Bradford class of 90 However I had several friends & cousins @ Tremper; That year actually... hmm... I'll send you email. Funny I had many friends either a grade or so above or below me, and only a handful in my actual grade. What does that say about me? My x-boyfriend and his 3 brothers and sister all went to Tremper too. But back in the late 90's. That's when the 7yr age difference becomes VERY apparent :)
Posted by: hale_bopp on October 3, 2007 5:00PM CST
I went to my 20th last year...I didn't go to 5 or 10 year reunions. I really enjoyed it.
The other people at the reunion were commenting that this was the best one. They said that many of the high school cliques still had staying power at the 5 and 10 year but they really fell apart this time and made the whole experience better. I don't know if this is typical as I have a sample size of one :)
Posted by: lizardmom on October 3, 2007 6:07PM CST
I graduated in a class of 11, yes, just 11 of us. In school, definitely small and definitely minor cliques, but we all basically got along ok. I went to the 5 year reunion, it was ok but too close to graduating. Nothing was planned for the 10 and 15 so a friend and I headed up the 20 year and we had a really good time, it's nice to visit when we've all had time to grow up and really become who we are. I dont' know if I would have gone if it was a big school, I was more of a wall flower in those. I do like seeing the people from our class, we connect way better now then we ever did.
My graduating class had 500 kids in it. Largest one in Milwaukee. The following grade was not nearly so large because of another school being opened. Milwaukee Pulaski and I keep in touch with folks I knew back then...the rest did not define who I was or who I became. When I get back to WI, I'll get together with the folks I want to see....skip the rest.
Posted by: MauriceH. on October 4, 2007 1:38AM CST
Milwaukee Hamilton Class of '88. Stay in touch with a few of the guys and even a few ladies. 20 year coming up - doubt I'll go.
My 25th at Park is coming up next month. I have never attended one of them. I always lived out of state and there were really only a few people I associated with back then. I see them occassionally went I come back home to visit my father. There are a few I would love to get in contact with though. Airline tickets are way to high and gas is as well and I can't see driving the 15 hour drive there one way for a 2 day event.
Posted by: Northwoods on October 4, 2007 6:22PM CST
nope...never been to one....1973...long time...never felt welcome while in school...feel even less welcome now....more important things to do...Beer to drink...fish to hurt...Deer to shoot.....
i have been to all of mine. its kind of fun to see what the jocks look like now and the snobby girls too. guess what? we all look alike. the ones who wouldnt give you the time of day back then are just nornal people now.
Posted by: Stayathomemom on October 5, 2007 9:55AM CST
I haven't been to any of mine. There wasn't a 5 yr and the 10 yr was during the 4th of July weekend. Who sticks around town for a long weekend?! Sure the hell not me, especially to go to a HS reunion. This year it would be our 15 but no plans are made. I might THINK about going to my 20th. I just laugh to myself when I see the so called popular girls/guys at a store or bar or other place and they are nothing to look at....fat (some didn't even have kids, and they blew up!:) bald, old looking. LOL! HEHEHE
I ignore the Carthage Alumni annual fund drive, because I make monthly donations back to the school! Haven't had a reunion yet, hopefully I'll have a better job in the next year before something like that rolls around.
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