Went to 40th high school class reunion last night - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 09-16-2007, 08:32 AM

In Greencastle Indiana.

It is a small town. At this age much of the posturing is over with. A lot of talk of retiring and grandkids. About 25 classmates out of 173 attended. About 12 deceased including one who died in a swimming diving accident before we graduated.

Several folks who I did not recognize by appearance or name even after informed of the correct ones. I have got to remember to study my yearbook next time before attending.

One guy came from Australia to attend, one from seattle, one from new york, and some from lots of far away places.

Several folks openly admitted to being unemployed. One guy talked on and on about simplifying his life and doing a lot of meditating. (I leaned over to the Mrs and said "he's unemployed", I think).

Although Viagra was mentioned in passing, nobody openly admitted to using it.

A couple of gals came who have not come to any other reunions. At least one other person (besides me) has attended every one.

It was good clean fun. The Mrs. offered that I could go alone, and maybe next time I will instead of torturing her.

Still fun.

Tom W

POS · #2 09-16-2007, 08:52 AM

I'm 38, and I skipped my 5-year and 10-year reunions, but I finally went to the 20-year reunion earlier this year. I expected little, but had quite a bit of fun. I have a long time to wait for the 40-year - hope I make it!

G-Benz · #3 09-16-2007, 09:07 AM

Went to my 5 and 10-year...skipped my 30-year over the summer...low turnout forced cancellation of some activities.

I remember being the only one with hair at my 10-year reunion, so I can't imagine what 30 would have been like.

Nevertheless...high school years were full of angst (in general for many), but going through it as a short socially-challenged zit-faced geek who never had a date much less attended a dance...less than fond memories that I care to relive with anyone!

aTOMic · #4 09-16-2007, 09:58 AM

I was almost on the committee for our 15th, after answering to a plea for help in the mailer - I was the buyer for our church's Oktoberfest (no small affair, 30k people/day) so I thought I could help. I was transported back in time! They popular "kids" wanted to run it from their thrones, weren't interested in saving $ but instead in making $. I tell this story because I wonder if this is a normal event planning. They charged $150 a person/couple and the total cost was $50. The profit? To be put into a "DBA" account in the name of one of the *********s who was little changed from HS. I (and several others)strongly objected and was subsequently shunned and excluded from future meetings! I cannot believe this as I write it but it's true. People are strange.

TheDon · #5 09-16-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

Went to my 5 and 10-year...skipped my 30-year over the summer...low turnout forced cancellation of some activities.

I remember being the only one with hair at my 10-year reunion, so I can't imagine what 30 would have been like.

Nevertheless...high school years were full of angst (in general for many), but going through it as a short socially-challenged zit-faced geek who never had a date much less attended a dance...less than fond memories that I care to relive with anyone!

shoulda have used sharks with frikn lasers on their heads to make the others cower

t walgamuth · #6 09-16-2007, 01:53 PM

It cost $20/ person. Steak and chicken breast, pototatoe wedges, corn cassarole, beans and strawberry cream cheese pie, coffee, tea and water. cash bar.

It was at the American Legion building....not plush.

But the food was very good.

Tom W

The Swede · #7 09-16-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

I'm 38, and I skipped my 5-year and 10-year reunions, but I finally went to the 20-year reunion earlier this year. I expected little, but had quite a bit of fun. I have a long time to wait for the 40-year - hope I make it!

Ditto. There were about ~50 alum out of 100 at my 20th reunion in July. It was actually a lot fun. Most people looked remarkably unchanged.

suginami · #8 09-16-2007, 03:32 PM

I skipped the 5 year reunion, went to the 10 year, but skipped the 20 year.

Many of the stereotypes that you hear about class reunions were true for me.

The jocks were bald and overweight.

The "nerds" ended up being "normal" and had successful careers.

There were some girls who were "wallflowers", and ended up blossoming into beautiful women.

The one thing I was looking forward to doing was confronting the guys who were well-known bullies, but none of them showed up. I wanted to ask them if they ever felt guilty about tormenting some guys in school, or wanted to apologize.

One curiosity I was left with is that I recognized so few people. I recognized neither their face or their names, and I still can't figure out how that was possible. I thought I knew everybody, but I guess I didn't. What was even more weird to me is that so many people knew me (recognized me by sight), but I had no idea who they were. Even when I glanced at their name tag, I still didn't know who in the hell they were.

t walgamuth · #9 09-16-2007, 04:13 PM

In my experience there was really no set pattern. some of the "IN" crowd have been successful and some not. Some of the Jocks have been successful some not. Some gals who were "hot" in hs are still hot now. Some who were skinny are fat and some who were wallflowers are really hot now.

One fellow who was kindof a bully and not really bright is now in law enforcment.....not a comforting thought.

One thing is though, after 40 years we are all looking pretty old!

Tom W

raymr · #10 09-16-2007, 05:22 PM

Nobody planned anything since the 20-year, so a few of the ladies thought it would be fun to make the next one a big 50th birthday party for everyone. So now we are having a 32-year reunion in October.

Benzadmiral · #11 09-16-2007, 05:25 PM

At the 10th, nearly everybody was recognizable. Hair styles had changed, some people had gained weight, etc.

At the 20th, there was a lot less hair on the guys and more flesh on everybody. Since I'm almost the same trim weight I was in school and still have all my hair, I had a chance to feel a bit superior. But I kept asking myself, "What do I have in common with these people?"

I was popular enough in high school; I had a good time, dated, participated in activities, got good grades. Despite that, I never felt I had much in common with those folks beyond the POW-camp mentality -- you know, "We're all in this together, the guards (the teachers) are the enemy." Once that worldview morphed in college into "These people have something valuable to teach me," what I had in common with my schoolmates faded. (Though I would be curious to find out what my *grade-school* classmates have turned into!)

Not to mention that most of them have had kids, and that was most of what they had to talk about at the 20th. No thanks.
.

rickg · #12 09-16-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

The one thing I was looking forward to doing was confronting the guys who were well-known bullies, but none of them showed up. I wanted to ask them if they ever felt guilty about tormenting some guys in school, or wanted to apologize.

.

I actually did run into one of those guys about 15 years ago. Hadn't seen him since we were in junior high(middle school to some of you) back about 1970.
I had left the shop I was working at for about 7 months, decided the grass wasn't any greener, and went back. There he was, having been hired while I was gone. Was very wierd. We talked, and actually became friends. He knew he was an ********* back then. Told me he ended up in alot of trouble, getting arrested for stealing cars, drugs, ect. A judge finally gave him a choice, either jail or the army. He chose army. Ended up in Viet Nam. Said that really opened his eyes to life, blah, blah, blah.
Never went to a reunion, probably never will. I wasn't part of "the gang".

t walgamuth · #13 09-16-2007, 05:47 PM

You ought to go. There is no gang any more.

Tom W

Hatterasguy · #14 09-16-2007, 05:51 PM

I hated highschool.

I may go to one just for fun, but probably not.

suginami · #15 09-16-2007, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickg

Never went to a reunion, probably never will. I wasn't part of "the gang".

I was never part of "the gang" either....definitely not part of the popular crowd, yet not one of the computer nerds. I floated somewhere in the anonymous middle, trying to get good grades and not get beat up at the same time.

I actually wanted to go to the 20th (held last year), but they wanted like $100 for a bad chicken dinner at a ritzy hotel in Irvine, CA, which seemed like a helluva waste of money.

As far as I'm concerned, we could've had the bash at the beach, and had an In-n-Out truck make double double's for us all.