High School Reunions. Whouda Thought?
So my 15-year high school reunion was lovely. I don’t lovely like “tolerable” or “non-awkward” or “I was reminded why I live 2,000 miles away.” More like I enjoyed myself a lot.
I’m not sure how it happened but everyone who came to the reunion I liked. Some were married with kids, others single, career focused. Everyone was still trying to figure out the great mystery called life but they’d also reached a place of relative adult serenity. Everyone had also put aside whatever hangups they had about everyone else long ago. The sensation that hung in the air was something like “Wherever I am now, I have a shared experience with these people. Perhaps that’s something to relish, at least for today.” And we did by staying out late, playing “do you remember” and laughing like kids.
When I called my parents the next morning, I said perhaps the best thing one can say about a high school reunion. I said I was happier having gone than not.
So Liz, Dan, Fred, Matt, Leigh, Francine, Tracy, Kara, and John, thanks, all of you. You made my weekend.
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8 Replies to “High School Reunions. Whouda Thought?”
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my 10-year high school reunion was exactly the same for me. i was anxious before going and SO glad i went afterwards. the vast majority of the people there seemed to have let go of the past and were genuinely interested in finding out what everyone else was up to. it was astonishing to me how much i really enjoyed myself.
i can’t say, however, that i’m as interested in jhu reunions (although i still live in baltimore). have you been to any?
sarah hedges (’97)
my 10-year high school reunion was exactly the same for me. i was anxious before going and SO glad i went afterwards. the vast majority of the people there seemed to have let go of the past and were genuinely interested in finding out what everyone else was up to. it was astonishing to me how much i really enjoyed myself.
i can’t say, however, that i’m as interested in jhu reunions (although i still live in baltimore). have you been to any?
sarah hedges (’97)
My 15 year reunion is coming up in August. It’s a picnic, during the day (our 10 year was a sit down dinner with dancing but a lot of people complained about the price). Reunions are fun if you run into folks you forgot you knew and liked, which is how my 10 year went. It also brings up memories and puts people in your thoughts that you may not have thought of in a long time. Your sentiment is the same as mine-being happier you went than not is how it should be.
I have yet to go to a college reunion. Don’t know how I’d feel doing that.
My 15 year reunion is coming up in August. It’s a picnic, during the day (our 10 year was a sit down dinner with dancing but a lot of people complained about the price). Reunions are fun if you run into folks you forgot you knew and liked, which is how my 10 year went. It also brings up memories and puts people in your thoughts that you may not have thought of in a long time. Your sentiment is the same as mine-being happier you went than not is how it should be.
I have yet to go to a college reunion. Don’t know how I’d feel doing that.
Hey Kevin…. thank you too. To me the whole experience was like being around people who knew me, as me, alot better than most of the people I had met over the past 15 years…. Just a tremendous amount of mutual compassion in that 10 person group. I wish I could do it again soon.
Live long and prosper,
John.
Hey Kevin…. thank you too. To me the whole experience was like being around people who knew me, as me, alot better than most of the people I had met over the past 15 years…. Just a tremendous amount of mutual compassion in that 10 person group. I wish I could do it again soon.
Live long and prosper,
John.
Thanks John. It was lovely to see you.
Sarah, I went to my 10 year at JHU (class of 1995) and considered it a bust. $100 for bad food with people I didn’t keep in touch with for a reason. Everybody I want to see, I do already.
Thanks John. It was lovely to see you.
Sarah, I went to my 10 year at JHU (class of 1995) and considered it a bust. $100 for bad food with people I didn’t keep in touch with for a reason. Everybody I want to see, I do already.