Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Reunion Reflections

- Time tempers the annoying characteristics of your classmates while not completely subduing their endearing ones

- After 20 years, it's obvious that those nerdy, bookish types may have had the right idea in high school

- Conversely, if they had tried to enjoy themselves just a bit more then, they may have had more fond memories of high school

- Not everyone is as jaded and cynical as I am ... and that's a good thing

- You still seem to care what the "popular kids" think of you ... and that's annoying as hell. But it doesn't change the fact that you feel that way.

- People reach their defining moment - that moment where things start to fall into place - at vastly different times

- The preconceptions you had of some people in school tend to greatly underestimate or overestimate what they end up doing. Some of those quiet types end up having the most daring, adventurous lives.

- Skanky, smelly small-town bars may not be the height of sophistication but they make up for it in entertainment value and $1.50 beers

I had a great time despite my low expectations going in. Like most of the things I've been afraid of in my life, I've found the best way of handling them is head-on. If I felt nervous about the reunion, it was obvious to me that I should go. Hopefully I exceeded expectations (or at least changed people's perception). I believe I did that. And suprisingly, everyone exceeded my expectations.

I really get stuck in a rut where the only people that I meet are my clients. I don't really have co-workers any more. The friends that I do have are ones I made at my previous job over 10 years ago. Reconnecting with friends from long ago before any of this is not such a bad thing. And that's all that I'm going to say about that ...

6 comments:

Laura said...

"You still seem to care what the "popular kids" think of you ... and that's annoying as hell. But it doesn't change the fact that you feel that way."

Yeah, isn't that a pisser???

At least for my 20 year (which is a ways away) I'm sure that only a fraction of the original 600 will show up, so maybe the douchebags will simply stay home...

dbackdad said...

I was surprised by how many showed up. Those that didn't go to the formal dinner would show up at the bar or around town. I'd say I saw between 60 and 70 percent of my graduating class. But I think small-town Iowa probably differs a little bit from the big city. Half of my graduating class still lives less than an hour away from where they graduated.

CyberKitten said...

Glad you had a good time. Agree with you on facing up to things that make you anxious. Every time I've found them to be less stressful that I thought.

Sadie Lou said...

"- People reach their defining moment - that moment where things start to fall into place - at vastly different times"


Oh. Wow. That is just *IT* right there. I didn't go to my 10 year and Dan didn't go to his and I bet my bottom dollar--we won't be going to the 20. I guess I just don't care.
Is that wrong?

dbackdad said...

Sadie said, "I guess I just don't care. Is that wrong?" -- Not at all. I was largely ambivalent going in. I didn't have any particularly close relationships in high school. High school was actually mostly a negative experience for me. Maybe I was looking for a little closure. The reunion did that ... and more.

BTW, we always love to have you visit us over here Sadie. Hope all is well with you and the family.

Sadie Lou said...

I will always make time to visit when I can Lance. I'm just doing something new and devoting all my extra energy into it but it will get less exciting as time goes by and I'll probably be around more--thanks for the invite.
High school was just--a subculture for me and I have no wish to bask in the memories of that subculture with people that worked so hard to keep me "sucked" in. It sounds like you know exactly where I'm coming from.

Besides, ex-lovers? No way I want to see them again.