Monday, August 23, 2010

Heading back to High School


by Donna MacMeans

If there's any question that school will be starting soon, just try dropping into your local office supply store for a quick purchase. More reliable than geese heading south, bright yellow school buses practicing their routes, and long lines at Office Max signal school is about to begin. (And I haven't even addressed the resounding cheer of mothers across America).

Sooner or later all those precious darlings will graduate high school and eagerly race for independence and a bright future. Then, years pass. Couples marry, couples divorce. Those precious darlings have precious darlings of their own and then...sometime after the lapse of many decades. Those same high school graduates race back to home for their high school reunion.

I attended my very first high school reunion earlier this month. Not the first year after high school, mind you. (Grin) When I told a writing friend that I was going to my (cough, cough) reunion, she looked me straight in the eye and said, "I wasn't even born then."


It's a miracle that she walked out of that coffee shop.

My high school, Greenhills High School, no longer exists. The building is there, but it's used for other purposes. The high school has been reduced to a memorabilia room in the town community center. (sigh)

But we still have memories...and friendships that quickly rekindle even after so many years.

Here's a photo of me and my best friend from high school. We went away to college together and lived in the same dorm. I hadn't seen her for about 35 years until this reunion.

Many of those present said this was the best of the reunions they had attended. Apparently, one has to wait a certain number of years for old wounds and memories to dim. I'm glad I joined the group when everyone was there just to celebrate good times.

We ate. We drank. We reminisced. And we danced as a couple of glum DJs played songs from our youth.

Now here's the problem with dancing. I LOVE to dance. I met my husband on the dance floor of a Cleveland bar and I fell in love when I learned he had no objections (then) to being the first out on the dance floor. I dance with enthusiasm - the music just moves me. I've had complete strangers come up and compliment me on my dancing (I think it was a compliment...does "you sure know how to dance" qualify?) It's happened several times but I have this fear that I look like Elaine on that Seinfeld episode. Here's a YouTube clip in case you need a reminder (Sorry, couldn't embed.)


The other thing about reunions...there's lots of photos and light bulbs flashing, and if I'm dancing - that provides lots of opportunities for blackmail worthy photos. The disc jockeys - the only two men in suits in the place - keyed up KC and the Sunshine Band. I believe I was doing an imitation of my Zumba class instructor who leans back during class and yells: SHAKE SOMETHING! Thank Heavens this is a photo and not video (grin).

And so my question to all of you who have picked yourself off the floor from laughing so hard after viewing my photo...Have you ever attended a high school reunion? Good memories to share? Bad? Blackmail-worthy moments? If you haven't attended one, why not? Let's all go back to High School. I'll send a book from my backlist (your choice) to someone posting a comment.

63 comments:

Unknown said...

woo hoo he is staying here again

Unknown said...

Hi Donna

I have never been to a high school reunion.... I now live the other side of the world ... I still get a Christmas card from a friend from school and she has moved away from the town to another part of the UK.... I have not seen her for 50 years

Donna MacMeans said...

Hey Barb - I think the GR likes it at your place. Must be that handsome avatar!

I'd say living on the other side of the world is a pretty good reason for missing a reunion (grin). Have you reconnected with them through facebook? It's amazing how the internet has made this a much smaller world.

So if the event was a bit closer, would you go?

Deanna said...

Hey Donna, I've never had a high school reunion because when I attended high school, all the kids were from overseas - you could only enrol in our school if you were an ex-pat or foreign of some sort. Anyway, we lost touch after graduation and only re-connected with many of us over facebook in recent years. It's been a hoot.

Unknown said...

HI Donna

Yes if I was there I would go. I haven't found anybody on facebook as it is a long, long time since I left school.... I have the school on facebook but only one or two names there and none that I remember...

Kim in Baltimore said...

Aloha! Hawaii's keiki (children) have been back in school for three weeks, so Office Max has had the opportunity to restock.

I have not attended any reunion (high school or college) as the military has me stationed too far to return (twice in Europe). I was a nerd in high school, so I doubt anyone would remember me. College was another story. Most of my college friends find it quite humorous that I read romance since I didn't crack a book back then.

Great photos ... thanks for starting our week with some fun!

Tawny said...

Ack. No. No high school reminders. No reunions. No dancing. No no no.

But you looked like you were having a fabulously wild time ;-)

Jane said...

Hey Donna,
I've never attended a reunion, but I also never got an invitation. Maybe no one set it up or they lost my address.

Anonymous said...
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Christine Wells said...

Woohoo, there's a rival rooster in the house! Congrats, Barb!

Donna, great post! I'm smiling at your photo, but with total understanding for the need to dance. I love to boogie and KC and the Sunshine Band gets me moving every time.

I have a...shall we say...*significant* reunion coming up, which will be interesting to attend, to say the least! You're right about not having them too often or too early. Someone organized a 5 year one for us and it was far too soon. Some bright spark quipped that people either hadn't changed or they'd turned into their mothers! I think we'll see a lot more change (and tolerance) at this one.

Anna Sugden said...

Great post Donna - and I wouldn't laugh at your dancing queen photo!

Nope - no high school or uni reunions. Partly because we don't really have them over here and partly because I've always been abroad for them.

I'd be interested to go to see certain people again, but then I'd probably also have to see certain other people who I have absolutely no desire to cross paths with ever again!

Not had too much of the reconnection on Facebook from school or uni - but have from people I used to work with years ago.

Helen said...

Well done Barbara not sure if I can make it down tonight though have fun with him

Donna

Loved the pictures :) I have attened one high school reunion it was 20 years since I had left school and we had so much fun it was organized in a local club near our school which is still there I went to an all girls high school and we had a ball catching up and talking into the we small hours of the morning but no dancing just lots of catching up there hasn't been another one but if someone organized one I would go it is now 37 years since I left high school time goes fast when you are having fun

Have Fun
Helen

PinkPeony said...

Hey Donna!

I went to my ten year reunion and that was enough for me. I went with a close friend from high school and she hadn't come out of the closet yet, and she was so worried everyone knew. It took a couple of shots in the bar before she had enough courage to face a roomful of our former classmates. :) Former jocks had receding hairlines and paunches.

I went to high school in a small town and most of my class never left. Being nerdy and bookish, I never had a single date so it was kind of funny when a few guys from "jock row" chatted me up. The best compliment I got was...You sure don't look like you live around here any more...heh.

I reconnected on FB with some women I knew in h.s. A couple of them are now my beta readers and they're great.

Congrats on the GR, Barb!

Christie Kelley said...

Great pics, Donna! I have only been to my 10 yr reunion. Next year is the 30th reunion year and I'll probably go. The 10 yr was all right but a little dull. I'm looking forward to the 30th because I've reconnected with so many people through Facebook.

And hooray! My oldest started at the community college today and on Wednesday my 13 yr old goes back to his last year of middle school!!

gamistress66 said...

Last year was 25th HS but I skipped it. I occasionally get to see &/or talk to my BF from HS & I knew she wasn't planning to attend (hadn't heard about it till I mentioned it to her). So couldn't think of anyone who I was so interested in catching up with that might be there that I willing to eat so-so food and paste a smile on my face for an entire boring evening.

Kirsten said...

Hi Donna! This year was my 20th reunion but my schedule didn't allow me to attend. I really wanted to, and couldn't believe it when I saw all the photos of the people who were there. The best part is seeing the people you thought were ***HOT*** get all old and saggy. KWIM? :-)

Donna MacMeans said...

Daz - That sounds like a really interesting high school experience! Isn't facebook wonderful for those reconnections? Okay - so I can see it would be difficult for a big reunion, but maybe you could have a reunion lunch - for those times when two or more people are in the same country at the same time. (grin)

Glad you found us Daz. As we're scattered across the world, maybe you can reunite with one of us. I'm always up for a party.

Laney4 said...

Our high school has a reunion every 10 years for the entire school. I attended in 1995 and probably threw my classmates into a near faint. I no longer wore corduroy hipsters (that were hand-me-downs from my brother) and instead wore a dress showing cleavage (eek!). I no longer was a shy and quiet girl and instead was the life of the party. I no longer was a wallflower and instead danced the night away.
I missed the 2005 reunion because I was making a statement. During previous years, they charged individual prices for each reunion event. At this reunion, they charged a flat fee of $100 each, and I didn't feel it was worth $200 to go with my husband, and I certainly wasn't going without him. Instead, I attended the registration and met my friends for free the night before all the other activities. Lucky for me that I live half an hour away from my hometown! Anyway, enough people complained and the turnout was poor, so I've heard that 2015 will be individual prices again.
It shall certainly be another eye-opener at the 2015 reunion, as I've put on 50 pounds since the 1995 reunion. (Actually I put on more than that but am still losing, with about 50 to go.) I've learned in life not to wait to look better before attending (as I would never get to attend). This goes for my house too: I'd prefer it to be cleaner/tidier before guests visit, but if it isn't, it isn't. They are visiting me and not my dust.

Donna MacMeans said...

Barb - Facebook is great for reuniting friends across great distances. Must say, I had some difficulty remembering some of the names of the people at the reunion, especially as they combined three years of graduating classes for this reunion (if they'd reached and added one more - my brother would been able to go to the same reunion as me). But it doesn't matter - we all had such commonality of background - having gone to the same school - that the reunion becomes for great for making new friends, as well as rediscovering the old.

Donna MacMeans said...

Kim -

School's been back for three weeks already? Just another reason to live in Hawaii (grin). When so the kids get out?

You know - I didn't expect anyone to remember me from high school either. i'm not sure I'd qualify as a nerd. I took advanced classes, but I was't really a big joiner. Wasn't in the band. Didn't play sports. Wasn't the queen or princess or "Miss" anything. But people remembered - and given sufficient time - the memories come back. I bet you are remembered more than you think.

And those wild college days? You were just experiencing life so that when you read romances these days, you can sigh and say "I remember."

Donna MacMeans said...

Tawny -

You're too young to be so determined NOT to do something. Remember this is the first time I made it back - and I have some years on you. You never know...

I can't believe you are dead set against dancing. I thought it was a Harlequin requirement! Next National, we'll switch nametags. You can have cocktails and drinks with the Berkley people and I'll dance away at the Harlequin party. (People will say - that Tawny...she's got the moves - grin)

Donna MacMeans said...

Jane -

The reunion folks didn't find me for years and years either. Don't understand the difficulty. My mother lived at the same address in the same community for decades after graduation. I'm surprised an invitation wasn't sent there.

By the time they tracked me down, I was either pregnant or otherwise committed on the date of the reunion. The timing worked out for me this year.

I bet some reunion committee is searching for you as we speak (grin). Don't despair. The internet makes the "finding" so much easier.

Donna MacMeans said...

Christine -

I can so relate into the turning into one's mother. About ten years ago, my picture was in the newspaper - big and bold. I didn't know they were running the piece that day, and when I opened the paper - I thought my mother was in the paper! (grin) Yes, I'm one of those people who will be forever known when I visit the hometown as "Helen's girl" because I look so much like my mom.

You'll have to report back about your reunion experiences - and if anyone quips about not being born yet, you have my permission to kick them in the leg.

Nancy said...

Barb, congrats on the rooster!

Donna, I did attend a high school reunion, and there was a DJ. I did not dance, though. I'm not comfortable on the dance floor. I did win the prize for having the youngest baby in the class.

The last reunion, I missed. The boy was small, and the reunion clashed with a Halloween party at the karate school. However, I've enjoyed connecting with some of my high school classmates via Facebook.

Donna MacMeans said...

Anna - I think the real pills in high school must stay away from reunions. Either that or I've just forgotten at this age - who they were. A faulty memory can be a helpful thing (grin).

I remember once when I was in high school babysitting for a family, the husband looked over when he was taking me home and said "these are the best years of your life." I remember thinking at the time - if these are the best, then I'm totally screwed. Can't say I would have been the best company at an early reunion.

Now, I can't even remember what I found so dismal so many years ago. I had a great time - you will too if someone decides it's time to start a tradition of reunions over there. Wouldn't it be a hoot to see all those proper young ladies as they are today?

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Helen!

Though we're continents apart, it appears we graduated at a similar time. Cool that you made it to your twenty year reunion. I missed that one. Next time, tell them to spring for a DJ. Music is such a component of our memories. Heck, I'd have enjoyed just listening to those songs...where else can you hear a Sly set these days? Of course, the dh would have had to strap me down to keep me from dancing in my chair.

Donna MacMeans said...

PinkPeony - I think ten years might be too soon = maybe on the cusp. The sore memories do linger much longer than they should. Especially if so many of your classmates stayed in the same small town! What was the glue? Kudos for you for breaking out and making your own path.

Add a couple of decades to that reunion and you'd be surprised at how the jocks have changed - talk about receding hair lines!!! But at this age, we have all changed significantly - no one really cares.

Anonymous said...

Hey Donna--I know you can boogy! We've danced many a dance in the last few years LOL. I've gone to all my reunions, but they've been local so it wasn't out of my way. This year will be my first to miss because I'm speaking at COFW that day. But I don't mind. It seems as though the only people that come are the other locals and I see them all the time at Wal-mart ;-)
Lisa

Donna MacMeans said...

Christie -

Don't you love it when you can settle into a stable routine based on the kids being gone for most of the day? I can see the possiblities for new books spinning in your head!

I bet you'll have a great time at your 30th reunion. I'm not sure that we thought we'd be doing this back when we were in high school. Of course, my "forward" vision probably only extended five years or so. Life takes funny turns along the way.

Donna MacMeans said...

gamistress66 - Don't they have dancing at every reunion? This was my first, so I don't know. I figured even if no one was there that I knew - as long as my husband went with me and there was a bar and a dancefloor, we'd have a great time - and we did! Plus there were friends that I hadn't seen in years and years so we got to reconnect. Not boring at all. Do you still live in the same town as your high school? I suppose that would make a difference. But if the liklihood is that you'll not see these people again - you can bust loose and be wild and crazy at your reunion. Not boring at all (grin).

Donna MacMeans said...

LOL Kirsten - you are wicked!
Not being one of the HOT ones, I figured it's okay that I needed a structurely engineered bra to keep the saggy girls lifted for the event (grin). But I know what you mean. Good thing they provided name tags - I never would have made some of the connections otherwise.

Donna MacMeans said...

Laney4 - Kudos to you on the weight loss! I know that struggle. Been working on that myself. How cool that you were the life of the party at that previous reunion. The inner Laney broke out!

Like you, I can't imagine going to a reunion without my husband, but so many people do - surprised me. Had never thought about going solo - but at $100 a ticket, I might. What on earth were they providing that they thought it was worth $100.?

Donna MacMeans said...

Nancy -

You and I need to go to a readers event and dance. Nothing like a bunch of women dancing like no one is watching to get you out on the dancefloor. Time to lose those inhibitions. If not now - when? I may have more experience looking like an idiot, but I do have fun.

Donna MacMeans said...

Lisa - Yes we have cut loose at RT and Lora Leigh's RAW a few times, haven't we? RAW is coming up in September in Huntington WV - we'll be hitting the dancefloor again, I imagine - what fun!

I imagine it's different attending a reunion if you still live in the same small community. Especially if most of the graduates stay close to home. Surely some friends left, though, and come back for the occasional reunion. They would be great to see again. I wonder if it's different when you're also a teacher - like you were. Granted, these people weren't your students, but decorum would probably still be on your mind as if you were attending a work related function. (Of course, if dancing is involved - decorum goes out the window for me. Doesn't matter if it's work related or not.)

Joan said...

I've attended several reunions all of them with varying results.

1. Sat next to a guy who I'd barely known who, when I mentioned the dinner was good, said "Doesn't look like you need anymore."

2. A friend I'd hung around with in HS called my name, I turned excited to see her again and almost swallowed my tongue...she had a full blown black mustache! And this was early on before we ALL had mustaches!

3. The last (and final one I'll go to) my friend's coerced me into. I got my hair done, had a nice outfit went and saw many of the other girls looked haggered and two guys had OBVIOUSLY hired hookers to be their dates!

I felt pretty good at that one.

The people from HS that I care about I see all the time. No more trips down memory lane, thanks.

Lee Lopez said...

I attended one of my reunions,I think it was the tenth. I was in my first marriage and my then-husband made me so miserable in front of everyone, I never went to another one. I divorce the first, remarried, and haven't heard a word about any reunions. I think they forgot about me, one can only hope.

Saralee said...

Hi, Donna! Great pictures. You really look like you're enjoying yourself.

I've never really gone to my high school reunions, first because it's in Massachusetts and second because I've always been waiting for that perfect moment to go--when I've lost a bunch of weight and have some really cool accomplishment to talk about. LOL! I try to keep up through the alumni magazine, though.

pjpuppymom said...

Congrats on nabbing the GR, Barb!

Great photos, Donna! Looks like you had a fabulous time. I've only been able to attend one reunion - four years ago. It was a four-class reunion (we had a small high school) and was 37 years after I had graduated. I had a blast! Reconnected with lots of friends I hadn't seen in more than 35 years. Everybody recognized me immediately which made me feel pretty good. I choose to think it's because I haven't changed that much instead of looking like my mom. ;-)

What I found interesting at my reunion was that the majority of people who attended were the ones who had moved away from the area. Except for a select few, the ones who still live there didn't come!

Hellie Sinclair said...

Not enough years have passed for me to attend a high school reunion. Not to say that I haven't been out of high school for almost two decades, only that I'm still of the mind that hell will freeze over before I meet and greet with those people.

Basically I'm still in touch with those I have any remote interest in being in touch with, so it's not all bad. *LOL*

I have blackmail pictures of me dancing. I used to LOVE dancing, but then I began seeing the pictures and it looked like I was having an epileptic fit--and it sorta sucked the fun out of the dancing. Shame. Now I'm all out of practice, even for doing a proper epileptic fit.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Barb!! Congrats on the bird.

Donna, what a fun post. I've never been to a high school reunion. They've always been at times that I couldn't go. I do still keep up with a few friends from HS, but not many. :>

You look great out there on the dance floor girlfriend!

Silvia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Donna MacMeans said...

Joanie -
Well, it's hard to avoid jerks these days - even at reunions. LOL on the hookers! That is obviously the height of insecurity. Can't say I saw any hookers at this reunion. We were just an affable normal bunch. (grin)

Donna MacMeans said...

Lee - Sounds like you made the right move with that first bozo. How your spouse treats you in front of your friends says a lot about their character.

Probably the change of last name has thrown the committee off your trail - but I found they found you again. I'm told that 10 year reunions are too soon to go back. Go to the 25th or 30th. I bet you'll have a great time.

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Saralee!

I didn't realize you went to high school in Massachuetts. Heck, sounds like a good excuse for a road trip. I think you are putting too much pressure on yourself. You're a beautiful woman - full of class - and I bet you've accomplished more than most. Why do you think anyone has fared better? I think you would be surprised what a star you would be.

Janga said...

I enjoy the mini-reunions with a core group of hs friends that we manage to have every few years, but I'd have to be heavily bribed to attend the full-class reunion. I'm already leery when I run into people at Kroger who greet me like a long-lost sister but with whom I exchanged maybe a dozen words over six years (7-12).

I find those who think of the hs years as the best days of their lived sad. What kind of life have you had if at 40, 50, or beyond, you think of life at 17 as "best"?

Donna MacMeans said...

Yay PJ - Another one who had a blast at their reunion, and yes, mine was at a similar time.

I think Lisa hit it on the head about not moving from the area. You tend to forget that those that moved away will be returning (why?), and you assume it'll just be all the old friends that you see at Walmarts every week. Why pay for a meal ticket for that?

PJ - you and I need to go party sometime. We'd have a blast. You, me, and the GR (grin).

Donna MacMeans said...

MsHellion - Am I going to have to go over there and shake you? Dancing is therapy. It lets the inner rock star loose and who the heck cares what we look like? I think the people that say I'm a good dancer are really saying - you look like you're really enjoying yourself - and I am.

Just think of yourself on the deck of a pirate ship with a cutlass in your hand. Johnnie Depp crooks his finger inviting you to boogie. You move your sassy self over there and groove to the beat and love it. All the less brave souls standing in the shadows will watch you with envy. Hie thee to a dance floor, woman!

Donna MacMeans said...

Jeanne - This was my first reunion, even though it was four decades after graduating. I bet you'll make it to your latter year reunion as well. You're too social not too (grin).

Yes, good friend Ellen Keiter is responsible for the photos. She gave me permission to use them but I didn't want to post ones with others in them unless I asked for their individual permissions. I forgot my camera, but it's hard to take photos while dancing.

Donna MacMeans said...

Hugs Silvia - Nobody should be treated in that way. Good for you for rising above. I believe in Karma and I imagine those people have sunk even lower in life.

But I bet if you go back to a later year reunion, you'll find things have changed. Ten years is too soon. You don't have to go back, of course. You have the closure you sought. But it would be fun to see that those bullies haven't aged well at all - if they bothered to show up.

Terri Osburn said...

Those are great pics, Donna! And I have heard that the longer you're out of school, the better the reunions. I went to my 10 year and it wasn't good. About a third of the class showed up and not one of them was from my "crowd" in school. So I had nothing to say to anyone. Plus, I hadn't lived there in ten years, so I had no connections.

My 20th is an informal get together this coming Saturday but I can't make it since I have to pick up my kiddo from her summer break. Plus, I doubt my friend will show up at this one either.

Donna MacMeans said...

Janga -
To be honest, I didn't remember a lot of people, but that doesn't bother me. I like talking to strangers. People are fascinating, the quieter and more withdrawn the better. Did I tell you about the conversation I had with a pimp who was trying to recruit me while I was walking to my accounting job? (Picture me in suit - the complete opposite of a hooker). I enjoy talking to strangers. AND - there was dancing (big grin). I would have gone for that alone.

I agree with you that those that live in their high school years are truly sad. I think the man that suggested that my high school years were the best times of my life was referring to the open opportunity one has at that time to shape one's life. The world is full of possibilities that quickly begin to become limited. At least, that's what I hoped it meant as he was married with several small kids. Certainly there was some joy that came with that!

Donna MacMeans said...

Terri -
Too bad you have conflicts and will have to miss the reunion...but another will crop up in another five - ten years.

I should mention that this was my husband's first reunion as well. He changed schools his senior year. Doesn't relate to the school he graduated from and the one he attended for three years doesn't consider him a graduate. Sad. I would have liked to go to his reunion and meet people that knew him way back when. You're fortunate that your school has reunions - hope you get to go sometime in the future.

catslady said...

My husband and I went to both our 30th reunions (he was one year ahead of me). His was a blast. Mine was the most boring thing ever. Apparently the people I wanted to see most had gone to ones before and ones after - go figure. I did get a couple of phone calls last year after our 40th (yikes). After catching up on the usual, I realized it had just been to long to care too much lol.

Donna MacMeans said...

catslady -

What made the difference between the two reunions to make one boring and one not - beside the absence of some friends? Just curious.

My husband is a year ahead of me as well - see, we live parallel lives (grin). I understand what you mean about "after so many years". Let's face it, a LOT of water has gone under that bridge - all without the knowledge or concern of the others. But it was fun to catch up - and dance. I'd go to another reunion, assuming it fit into our schedule to do so.

Laney4 said...

Hi again, Donna.
You asked what the $100 entry fee covered at my 2005 reunion. It included an arts gala and meet/greet on Friday night, a pancake breakfast and dinner/dance on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Most people couldn't attend all of those events, plus find accommodation if their folks/friends weren't still in the area. It cost $40 each at the previous reunion for just the dinner/dance, so I anticipated $50 if it was an individual charge. Perhaps it'll be $60 by the time the 2015 reunion comes along!

Donna MacMeans said...

Laney4 - Even so, $100 seems like a lot even for those events. There is such a thing as too much togetherness, you know? I'd probably only attend the Saturday dinner/dance - which to me is the reunion.

In our case, my husband had to work on Friday, and we had theater tickets for Friday night so, even though gathering were planned for Friday night and Saturday afternoon, we only came down for the dinner/dance. But - had we come from several states away instead of just a two hour drive, perhaps all those extra events would be appreciated. (Shrug)

Hope reasonable minds prevail for your next reunion.

Louisa Cornell said...

WTG Barb!! He loves your place!

LOVE that photo, Donna !! And I am glad you had a good time.

I did go to my ten year reunion, but I missed the fifteen as I was out of the country. Missed 25 and 30 too. My Mom still lives in my home town although I actually went to high school the next town over.

Funny thing is I have reconnected with a large group of my high school friends via Facebook. Had to acquaint them with Louisa, as that is NOT the name they knew me by way back then. Still it is nice to get updates via Facebook and I think I may just make the next one (2012 I think / 35 years SHEESH!)

The ten was nice and it was still close enough to when we graduated for everyone to look pretty much the same. I wonder if any of use will recognize each other in 2012!

We have prayed together online for members of our class who have undergone surgery or suffered serious illness or loss. There is a great comfort in that for the person for whom it is done and for those who participate.

And lots of the gang now drop by the restaurant where my Mom and her little old lady friends hang out to say 'hello' and check on her. Her next door neighbor is a guy who went to high school with me and believe you me I REALLY appreciate him, his wife and children being there and keeping an eye on her.

Best part? They are ALL waiting for me to sell a book so they can attend my first book signing in my hometown!

pjpuppymom said...

PJ - you and I need to go party sometime. We'd have a blast. You, me, and the GR (grin).

Absolutely, Donna! :)

pjpuppymom said...

The ten was nice and it was still close enough to when we graduated for everyone to look pretty much the same. I wonder if any of use will recognize each other in 2012!

Louisa, I was surprised by the number of people I recognized after not seeing them for 35 years. Mind you, there were many I did not but the ones I had been close to and known since early grade school, I recognized immediately.

Donna MacMeans said...

Well, if not for name tags - I doubt I would have recognized many...I did my good friend in the photo, though.

Louisa - I'm waiting for you to sell that first book so I can flood you with congratulations! We're a little too far apart for me to attend that awesome booksigning, but I'd be there in spirit.

Facebook is really nice in its ability to connect people with a commonality - such as high school. I don't use a pen name, but most from my high school wouldn't recognize my married name...just as I wouldn't recognize theirs.

Sell that book, Louisa, and we'll celebrate in a grand way at Nationals that year. It MUST include dancing along with the alcohol and the cabana boys (grin).

Louisa Cornell said...

Donna, you are ON !! I'll bring the booze and the CD's! You bring the cabana boys!!

I have already promised that I will end my almost 52 years without having ever taken a sip of alcohol once I hear that I have sold a book.

It won't be pretty or elegant but it will be loud, wild and fun!

Donna MacMeans said...

Things have quieted down for the day. Thanks everyone for participating. The winner for a book from my backlist is...Lee Lopez.

Lee if you'll go to www.DonnaMacmeans.com and send me your contact information and choice of book - I'll get that right out to you.

Laurie G said...

Reunions
I went to my 5th- 1 year after I graduated from college- Everyone looked about the same, some had married, everyone stuck to their groups. It was nice to see a few people and exchange info.

10th- Still a large number turned out. I loved seeing old friends that I had lost touch with. Talked a lot about jobs, spouses and children. I had a fun time. People were starting to look older, heavier, balding...

The last one I went to was my 30th. My husband did not go with me. I was fine with that because he really doesn't know many of these people. It was interesting to see how we had changed. Many I could no longer remember their names! Embarrassing!
I liked seeing a few people. I probably will not go to any more. I really have nothing else in common with any of these classmates.