High school reunions, who goes and why?

[Zeke]

My take:

10 year: See old friends, get drunk with same. Count kids.

20: See what's in their wallet, compare the class idiot to the "Most likely to succeed" (who usually didn't; class idiot is a hugely successful developer).

30: See who's bald and fat (usually most). Count grandkids.

40: You don't have any friends or you wouldn't be there. Get drunk without friends, go home with a divorcee.

50: See who's alive.

...or something like that.

My 45th is coming up next month. I haven't been since the 20th. I assume the 45th will be sort of a combo of 40 and 50.

[widgeon13]

I think the first 30 years after graduation HS or college reunions are more one upsmanship on a lot of issues. I really didn't start to enjoy them until the 35th and then it seemed to be more real sincere interest in how and what you have been doing and "really great to see you" attitude.

I went to two different HS's so didn't make great friends at either one, at each one for 2 years. College reunions have always been fun just interesting to see how people have developed over so many years.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

9th grade MN, 10th grade TX, 11-12 in MA while working 40 hour weeks during school. yeah, never been to a high school reunion.

[cgarr]

Never been to one, and I was out in 77, but I hear there are a few of the guys that are now gals, maybe I should go!

[Joeaksa]

Well worth going. Sorry to see the people who have done nothing with their lives and interesting to see those who made something out of themselves.

As well good to see old friends... been to everyone I could make and plan on making the next one.

[stomachmonkey]

Went to 2 HS's so had 2 20th reunions.

One was interesting. Ran into JK who I lost track of ages ago. How you doing, what's goin on, come over meet the family blah, blah.

Little while later talking to someone else relaying how good it was to see JK.

He says, "you may wanna steer clear of him, he just got out of Federal pen. After school he was running guns and holding up drug dealers with some Chinese gang. Feds came after him and when his business partners caught wind they tried to whack him. stabbed him a dozen times on the street but he lived and became a rat for the Feds. it's not a good idea to be seen socializing with him."

[Bill Douglas]

I went to my high school one 30 years after leaving school. It was the most fun day in a very long time. It was rather interesting who went and to see how some of the old GFs turned out.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by cgarr

Never been to one,

I could not wait to get away from them (Long Island in the 80's) and never looked back, I have no desire nor need to see them or measure my wad against theirs.

I logged into a classmates website about 5 years ago and it was the same BS as high school. 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.

Besides, the whole time I was in HS I hung out with people much older than I was. I was a motorhead and only hung out with car guys in school (very few) and older people outside school.

[Oh Haha]

No for me.

I didn't really fit in with the rich kids so I pretty much hung out with my GF and musician folk that were out of school.

I don't really give a crap about what the others did or didn't accomplish.

I was just in my hometown this weekend for a neice's wedding. Reading the local paper, it seems that several of my "classmates" ventured off into real estate.

Jeez, is everyone a R/E agent???

[targa911S]

I pretty much didn't like any of them then, why should I care now? Never been back, never wondered, don't care.

[rattlsnak]

Been to my 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 so far. Wouldnt have missed them for anything. Had a blast at each one. No one really talks about who does what, or how much do you make now, etc. Just a good time with old friends.

[gassy]

My 20th is next month and have no desire to go at all. High school sucked.

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by targa911S

I pretty much didn't like any of them then, why should I care now? Never been back, never wondered, don't care.

My opinion exactly. Most of the kids I went to school with were really not my cup of tea to put it mildly. Don't see why 25 years would suddenly make them kind-hearted, witty etc.

So I say "pass."

angela

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

He says, "you may wanna steer clear of him, he just got out of Federal pen. After school he was running guns and holding up drug dealers with some Chinese gang. Feds came after him and when his business partners caught wind they tried to whack him. stabbed him a dozen times on the street but he lived and became a rat for the Feds. it's not a good idea to be seen socializing with him."

It goes both ways.

Ran into an old girlfriend from HS while "overseas" years ago. Got kind of a funny reception but found out why later. She was a spook for the US Air Force and for some funny reason her name had changed...

Back at our small HS reunion in the Mid-West and ran into her again and she finally told me what was going on that she could not talk about before. Along comes another old friend and turns out HE was a spook with "the Company" as well, so had a very interesting chat. He was retiring to spend life as a university teacher at a small Mid-West facility, having had enough excitement in his life already.

Another old friend from our class went to the Navy, spent time in nuke boats then came out after 10-12 years there and has just retired from the DOJ after being the warden of a Federal Pen.

Some turned out good and some not so good... ya pays your money and takes your chances!

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

Been to my 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 so far. Wouldnt have missed them for anything. Had a blast at each one. No one really talks about who does what, or how much do you make now, etc. Just a good time with old friends.

About my state of affairs but I missed the 10 & 20. Maybe because it was a small town (only 26 grads) but we get a great turnout. A couple of locals fail to show but we get a couple of widows. At the last one (35th) the word was we were having so much fun we would have one every three years. The last one was at a lake resort 60 miles from the town (which is dying), the next to be at a casino/hotel.
Jim

[nostatic]

never been to one (I think the 30th should be next year). The few people I liked I've kept in touch with. No need for the rest of them. Of course with a graduating class of 1200 or so, that's a lot of people to ignore, but I do my best. Most probably thought I would end up dead by 25 so why not let them keep thinking that?

[wcc]

Go, Don't go, who gives a s"H"I&T anyways? If they 'made' it or 'not' I couldn't care less. I never thought you were that shallow....

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nope. I agree 100% with the people that said "no interest". I have none. I didn't really like any of the people I went to high school with and I haven't been any worse off for the last 20 years without them in my life. No big loss. I've put that entire chapter of my life way, way behind me, written it off as a bad experience and moved on.

No desire and don't particularly care what any of the people I associated with in high school are doing today. Not even a little.

[pwd72s]

Last high school reunion for me? the 20th. 50th coming up all too soon. I won't be there...if I live long enough to not attend...If I don't live long enough? Same result, right?

[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.