High school reunions, who goes and why?

[Les Paul]

Went to the 10th, 20th, and 30th. Had a good time at all of them. I liked high school. My only regret is all those girls that came up at the reunions saying why didn't you date me? To many girls not enough time. Like so many birdnests on the ground.

Maybe it helps that I only see these people every 10 years and live far far away from them.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Never went. Don't particularly want to. I do staying in contact occasionally with a friend I've know since the eight grade and another I've know from 1st grade, and one old college roommate.

+1...I'm still in touch with those who matter to me from "back then". But as far as showing up to watch people brag goes? Not interested...

[911boost]

I talk to those I still want to.

My 20th is coming up in a couple of years, I doubt I'll go.

Of course, the fact I am in Colorado, and graduated in VA, doesn't make it easy to go on a whim.

Bill

[JavaBrewer]

Graduated in '81. Never went to a reunion and have no plans to change that stat. I didn't have real friends until college. I have zero interest in knowing what everyone else is doing.

[MT930]

Quality entertainment! went to the 20th 4 years ago. I would not go every 5 years. But every 10 is fun. I am 1600 miles away from where I grew up. I still keep in touch with 6 or so of the guys I grew up with.

[Evans, Marv]

Missed the 10th, but went to the 20th, 30th, & 40th.
The 20th was just like being back in H.S. after being there 5 minutes - great time, visiting, eating, & dancing. Some people wanted to tell you about the great things they had accumulated.
The 30th was still fun with lots of the same activities as the 20th, but people were noticeably older. I moved away early from the town we all went to H.S. in but most seemed to stay there. So one thing I thought funny was when a guy said it was like musical wives around there. When some cutey you liked in H.S. got divorced & became available, you made your move.
The 40th was kind of a drag. Lots of unidentifiable fat, bald headed guys. The women were still mostly recognizable. Most people wanted to tell you that their kids were lawers or doctors and about their grandkids.
I'm wondering how many won't be at the 50th in a couple of years.

[deathpunk dan]

My tenth was in 2006. It was underwhelming, but not nearly as full of oneupmanship as I anticipated, for a catholic school in southeastern mass.

I made peace with one old former friend, so that was cool. One guy that hated me throughout HS showed me pics of his kids and was genuinely friendly, which was surprising.

The 'hot chicks' hadn't changed but they no longer intimidated me. Some of 'em already hit the wall.

Some people knew I had played in bands and had questions about that. My best friend re-connected with his HS girlfriend (which he also did at the 5th).

I'll probably go to the 20th since I'll be in good shape, not fat, and with a 911

[berettafan]

zero interest. had more meaningful relationships in the years following with folks i worked with in the restaurant biz.

[BeyGon]

My senior class had over 1100 people so there are still some around. Last summer I got my invitation and the cost was $125 per person. I thought $250+ to see people I only see every five years was a little high. Didn't make that one.

[cashflyer]

I live just 75 miles from my old hometown. I stay in touch with the very few that I care anything about, and the rest can rot for all I care.

Reunion? No.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

Most were Al Bundy types carrying on about the best years of their lives.

I am living the best years of my life and do not feel the need to qualify it by going to a reunion of people I didn't like much when I was in school with them.

+1000000000. Bingo.

[The Gaijin]

I went through the same district K - 12 and so did many of the people I graduated with. It is not that I knew then 10 or 20 years before - but I had known them as kids. We actually had a lot of fun. I was glad to see most of them had improved with age - and were nicer, more decent and more insightful than they were in High School..

I went far, far away when I got out and now don't like going back - but for a few hours, my reunions have been well worth my time and the few dollars..

[onewhippedpuppy]

My best friends came from college. My one friend from high school I've known since I was 3, and talk to him often. The rest, I really don't care.

Funny though, I just found out that my 10th came and went. Should I be insulted that I wasn't even invited? My only guess is that whoever was in charge of the invites didn't like me way back when. I've moved away, but my parents have lived in the same house for almost 20 years. Oh well, I wouldn't have gone anyway.

[Rick Lee]

My 20th is next May and alumni day at my prep school is a pretty cool occasion. I used to go there with my dad before I was even in hs. I knew just about all my teachers years before they were my teachers. But I doubt I'll make the trip to NJ for this one.

I think it's kind of interesting that so many folks here disliked so many of their HS classmates. I don't remember disliking any of them, but am also not much interested in catching up with them. I get our alumni magazine every three mos. and those who send in class notes are always the same people. The ones I'm kinda curious about seem to be MIA. I've bumped into classmates walking around in Europe or in the U.S. Once in a while I see some on the news. That's enough for me.

[Zeke]

It looks like about 50/50 on going or not. I especially like the posts about what you experienced. So far, my little joke list is pretty accurate.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by milt

It looks like about 50/50 on going or not. I especially like the posts about what you experienced. So far, my little joke list is pretty accurate.

Gotta agree with that. One thing about my 50th coming up...if I went, there would be less peer pressure.

[Tishabet]

I was out of the country for my HS 5th, my 10th is in a couple of months. I'm planning to attend, but expect a lot of "I'm more successful than you" posturing... going to HS in one of the richest suburbs of Boston probably doesn't help on that front.

Managed to miss my 5th from college as well, since the wife (a fellow alum) and I were on our honeymoon. Heard from many that it was a blast. Whether I go to the 10th for college probably depends on how the 10th from HS turns out

[fintstone]

I only went to my 30th. I enjoyed it. It made me appreciate my own life. Everyone looked surprisingly old and out of shape though. They looked as if they had led a very hard life. At first I thought I was at the wrong function. Seeing what had been considered the "hot" women (cheerleaders, homecoming queen, etc) when I went to school reallly made me appreciate my own spouse.

It was good to see some of my pre-high school friends because I really did not spend much time with them in HS as a ran with a "faster" crowd because I was more popular (a jock). It seems that they were really better friends all along. Most of the "cool" crowd did not show up since their post HS accomplishments did not give them bragging rights. there were a couple of folks that had been HS "losers" that had done well or married well who wanted to tell everyone how well off they were...but they were ignored and soon stopped.

[slodave]

I read this when first posted and at the time, was content in having left HS behind. Facebook recently reconnected me with a few people I knew - I went to a small HS and friends spanned a few yrs. on either side. Our school is too small for individual class reunions, so they had one tonight, open to any alumni.

I had a great time. We brought each other up to date, then the memories flowed... The school has been around since the 50's, so, there were a bunch of people that I did not know, but there were a bunch from the years when I was there and we all remembered each other, we all look the same - an amazing feat, OK, age is present, but other than that, nobody has changed. A good thing I guess?

There is one classmate of mine that was not there and that's fine with me. We all plan on keeping in touch via Facebook (and other means) from now on.

It was an Oktober fest theme, so Brautwurst and beer was on hand and tap...

Good times, with old friends. I plan on getting together with some in the near future.

[John_AZ]

I enjoyed an old "Drew Carey" episode when he went to a reunion and hooked up with a cheerleader. He asked his friends why she was interested in him now and they said, "Drew, you are single, own a house and have a job".
Fits with todays economy as well.

From my experience, 5, 10, and 30th, the best part was the flight back home to AZ.
Curiosity satisfied. Lots of hometown alumni don't attend. I did enjoy talking to the few who seemed happy and successful.

John_AZ