Ah ... high speed Internet connection. We're now at my brother's place in Red Oak and he works for the local cable provider. So, he gets really cheap high-speed Internet.
Night #1 of the Reunion was an informal get-together at one of the local bars. I figured I should go to it so that I could get out of the way the awkward first meetings where everyone is trying to guess who the other person is. I was terrible at identifying most of the women in my class. Most of the men look pretty similar -- maybe just a little heavier with a little more hair on the chin and a little less on top (not unlike myself).
I probably looked the least like I did in high school, which provided much amusement and surprises. But, my showing up seemed to be well-received.
Most of the spouses (including my own) looked a bit like deer caught in headlights. It's tough to come into a situation where you really don't know anybody. Add on to it the fact that the bar was having karaoke that night and it was loud as hell. So, it wasn't very easy to have conversations. But all of the spouses that we met were very nice. An interesting side note - one of the girls in my class is married to Dr. Jerry Punch, ESPN NASCAR and college football reporter. Early in his career, he was instrumental in saving several racers' lives because of his medical training. He was a genuinely nice guy and didn't have any of the airs that you would fear that someone who is a little famous might have coming to a small town.
I had to suppress a laugh when I was talking with one of my best friends from high school. He's a very avid hunter and certainly leans to the right on the political spectrum. He's not really political, but you know where stands. Anyway, I asked about his sister who was a few years younger than us and that I knew pretty well. She's working for the Department of Natural Resources for the state of Iowa. He commented that she was definitely liberal and that he sometimes clashes with her on environmental issues. He said that she's out there "trying to save the planet". Inside my head, I'm elated at what she's doing. But I didn't want to make this weekend into a forum for my world views.
We had a good time and I was genuinely pleased to see everyone. As I suspected, there didn't seem to be a lot of extra baggage. I'm looking forward to the official Reunion tonight.
3 hours ago
3 comments:
I often wonder what some of the people I went to school with ended up doing. I also think I'd have a great many arguments, since though Oak Park was pretty liberal, there are bound to be a few right wingers around and, unlike you, I can't keep my yap shut.
Laura said, "... I can't keep my yap shut." -- And we wouldn't want it any other way.
The difference is that you had probably established in high school that you were fairly outspoken. While I had definite opinions in high school, I was deathly shy and did not really make them known. To spew them all out at once now would have been a bit of a shock.
Actually... for the first two years I was a bit of a basketcase... but yes, I pretty much found my voice by Jr. year. I distinctly remember telling a classmate who was basically arguing in favor of social darwinism to get off his "rich boy soapbox" at one point...
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