More out of curiousity than anything else. I wasn't a big socializer in high school plus I had quite a few friends in other classes-dated only one girl in my class.
About 75 people out of about 400-about 15% gone already. The three people I didn't want to see again were not there and yes, I did say to my one friend "Where'd all these old people come from ?" I happen to be unusually well preserved and have stayed fit. One girl I remembered as a real cutie-the years have not been kind to her. Surprising how many people remembered me, makes me feel guilty for not paying more attention to them. The music too loud for my taste but watching my erstwhile classmates on the dance floor I figured if they can be 16 again.....

Thanks for that. I can't remember my 50th and so I can take your write up and pretend it was mine.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

I received a letter recently letting me know about my 50th high school reunion. First such letter I had ever received, and still scratching my head how they got my present address. Joined the Navy right out of school, that or good chance being drafted into the Army (Viet Nam) was just getting hot in 1964. Ironically, right out of boot camp received orders to the USS Oriskany and immediately deployed into the Tokin Gulf off Nam for three separate deployments. Ended up staying in the Navy for 22 years. Gave lot of though about attending, but going back to Detroit made me decide otherwise. As with you OP, most are probably on the wrong side of the grass by now. In the long run, my shipmates over my span in the Navy are, and "Continue" to be my best friends.

I was fortunate enough to have lived in the same neighborhood from elementary school through college, so I had a lot of long-term friends. At my 50th high school reunion, I got to visit with four of my kindergarten buddies, as well as with many of my "newer" friends from junior high and high school. I must say I had a blast.

On the other hand, my sister went to her 20th reunion looking like a million bucks, and came back spitting mad. She had lost over 50 pounds in college, and had kept it off. Her best friends didn't attend, and no one else knew who she was. Classmates she had sat next to in class every day for four years didn't/wouldn't recognize her even after she explained who she was.

The difference? I went to an inner city high school where there wasn't a single "rich kid" in the school. No one could feel "superior". Everyone was pretty much down-to-earth as a result, and it was easy to make friends. She went to a much wealthier/snootier/snobbier/cliquier high school where overweight girls were non-people.

So whether or not you choose to attend depends on your experience at the time. If you had some good friends, and they're going to attend, you should go. Even if you haven't seen them in many years, you'll likely pick up where you left off, and will have a great time. If your high school experience was more like my sister's, I'd say blow it off.

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What, me worry?

I got my invitation for the 50 th reunion for this year and it went into the round file like all of the rest. the only thing I noticed that out of a class of 340 47 are dead. I don't know if that percentage is high or not considering we would be in the 69 year old range

I was in the largest graduating class in the history of my high school. There were 13 of us. 40 miles to school every day. I joined the class as a Freshman. Twelve farm kids and one ranch kid, me. Longest 4 years of my life.
Been 56 years since then. Wouldn't be much of a reunion, only two of us left and I didn't like the other survivor then or now.

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Eccentric old coot

My 50th would be this year. I haven't heard from anyone regarding it and have never gotten any info on previous ones. You'd have to hogtie me to get me to go to one.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Many years ago I went to my 10 yr reunion and had a blast, was newly divorced and looked better than I did in HS. Past on all the rest until 50 yr a few years ago and did go to it. People were all shapes & sizes. The one guy in my class that I dated a little turned into a blimp and his previously trophy wife was just as bad. Over all it was OK.

This past Saturday, the 23rd of September, I went to my High School's luncheon for all classes.
I graduated in May 1956. Only about 20 attended.
I go to this event every year, and many were not there this year.
Hope to hear why so many were absent who attended last year's.
I think I already know.

I'm pertineer old enough to attend my 50th but since I got kicked outta the 2nd grade for not shaving (tells ya how long I was in the 1st), I may not make it.

Went to my 50th 5 years ago. Upon receiving inquiries about a 55th, I replied "What makes you think I want to spend an evening hanging around with old people?"

That's why I don't have lunch at the local Sr. Citizens...

Attended a HS class reunion in August.

Never saw so many people with pot bellies, thin hair, and chin whiskers in my entire life...'til then.

And some of the men looked kinda bad, too.

Be safe.

My first HS reunion attendance (and also my last) was my 40th anniversary. It wasn't that much fun and I couldn't much get into discussing the "ol' days" with my fellow graduates. I had long ago left the area, while a very high percentage of those who attended had never left. We had very little in common to discuss. My wife was bored to tears and told me if I ever wanted to go to another reunion, she would stay home.

Been to all but one and I'm sorry I didn't go to it. Next one will be the 55 th. If I'm on the top side I'll be there then. Didn't do sports then had a job and my 54 Chevy. The ones that played sports are still working and look rough. I'm retired and not too bad a shape. Can still get into my 1980 uniform and it fits great.

My 60th High School reunion is next month. Even though I look like HELL I am planning on attending. I liked everyone I went though school with.
This probably will be the last time I see them, I want to say good by and how I treasured their friendship.

My sister-in-law and my brother went to their 40th. In preparation for the event she made an extra trip to the hair salon, WHY? because you will see many grey haired men, but no grey haired women!

I went to my 40th was 3 years ago, and no grey haired women. I saw people I liked, and only one of the premadonnas, and she said hi and left me alone. Due to the normal course of time we have lost our share of people, and due to drug use in the 1970's & 80's we have lost about 30% of our people.

My late Mother-in-law told me the 40th was the one to attend, the survival rate and health will all be down hill from there. Of the 24 people in he class 23 survived to the 40th. 12 to the 45th, 8 to the 50th. She was the only survivor to the 60th and passed three week after what would have been her 65th.

Like Jimmy J says, say hello/goodbye to you friends (and just ignore the rest!)

Ivan

I went to my 10th, and never even heard about any others. Last June would have been the 35th.
Funny thing is I got a today postcard from the "alumni" association asking me to update my info...

I drove the wife to Mt Pleasant Utah for her 50th reunion.
She had a great time seeing all the "Kids" and talking about old times.
She was on the cheerleading team, so had a lot of extra fans.
I found another old guy that was in my ship and we made it through the ordeal.
Food was fair and most cleared out after the food was gone.

On my 50th, I drove to Marine county and to a golf club where the tables were set up.
Our class was seven times larger than the Utah class and we started at 1pm to 7pm with an open bar and the driving range open.
Lets just say it was a lot more fun and the food was what one would like at a party.
My brother and I were into sports and my sister was into the "Girl things" and all were in the marching band.
Lots of good friends, lookers, stuck ups and all the rest that make a class reunion "Special".

Of course the three of us kids got a little more attention than most, since we were,
Triplets.

I did go to my 50th reunion and was very surprised to see 10 out of 20 of us buddys that enlisted into the military 2 months after graduation even tho we where split up in the military and never made contact again i knew 5 of us where killed in Viet nam and one became a pow seeing these old friends again was worth the 1300 mile trip back home would I ever attend another high school reunion no will I remember my 50th reunion yes forever

Sent from my LG-K371 using Tapatalk

I had to be dragged to my 50th high school reunion--I didn't want to go, but I did and had a ball! About eight of us codgers, who had not seen each other in 50 years, now get together for breakfast about once a month and it's great.

If you are considering not going to yours, reconsider! You may find it's more fun than you imagined!

Tim

I went to my 10, 20, and last weekend to my 40th reunion. The 10 year was definitely the funnest because the girls looked awesome and gave me a lot of attention. The 40 year was fun too but not as much.

50 years form now the high school reunion will feature bald and tattooed old men and tattooed fat old ladies dancing to hip-hop.

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A gun has no brain.. use yours

I see you are from my hometown. My 35th was two years ago, SPHS. I went to my 10 and 20, that was enough for me.

You grew up in St. Louis too? How did you figure out I was from St. Louis? I don't see where I put that in my profile anywhere.

I graduated from to Oakville Sr High in the South County area. Where is SPHS?

Graduated high school in 1964, that summer enlisted in the navy. In all the years since then except the last 20 have only run into one guy who was in my graduating class. Sad to say three of the guys in my grade never made it to graduation. One died of a drug overdose and two died when the car that they stole crashed into a tree and since back then no seat belts were used back then I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to how they died. It's been 53 years since I graduated high school wondered more than a few times what happened to some of them. A few I could make some pretty good educated guesses though. Frank

Attended my 50th in August. I'd never been to any earlier ones, and it was pretty much what I expected. The cliques gravitated back together. Some had aged well, others hadn't. A few ladies thought it was still 1967. Short skirts, plunging necklines, etc, (Give it up, sugar. You're pushing 70). The list of classmates who'd passed on was sobering. I did encounter a few people who remembered me, a surprise since I was a ghost in high school. The organizers recognized those of us who were veterans with a certificate of appreciation. The standing ovation that followed caused this old hard case to choke up. Don't know if I'll be around for the next one, but if I am, doubt I'll make it.

My 40th is this Saturday the 30th. If I go it will the first one for me.
Like a lot of use I left town the same month I graduated, and live 3 hours from where I grew up.

Had to pay for our food by the 9th of this month, so I sent it in before that knowing I may not be able to go.

Yesterday I had two different operations on my back, I asked my neurosurgeon before I went into O.R. and he approved it so it just depends on how I feel Saturday.

Your location shows Spokane, WA; I assumed you either live there or were from there. My mistake.

My class was just over 50 kids. I have attend most of the reunions, at their five year intervals. I'd say two thirds of the class attends and it's the same ones for the most part, every time.
High school was great for me. I was a decent student, had friends and was a farm kid, so school got me out of a lot of hard work.
Our reunions consist of a get to get her at a building, lots of beer, snacks etc and just talking. There is not any kind of formal program. Usually they last 2-3 hours.

My 50th will be in 2019. I have yet to go to a school reunion but it might be interesting to see how many are still around for the 50th. Who knows I might not be around for that one either. I had a dream and in the dream I had 5 more years to go so I might be around for it.

Heh-heh, except that battleship the jock tattoed across his chest will have sunk at the navel base. I went to my 25th, the hot girls got dumpy and the dumpy girls got hot. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

By the 40th, almost all the gals will have gotten dumpy. Or skinny and wrinkled.

My wife and I, who were classmates in high school, attended our 50th 10 years ago. Our class has kind of hung together as friends following graduation, and it was great to see over 200 of us out of 600 or so who graduated, swapping lies and reminiscing. Most of us, even the locals, took rooms at the hotel where we had the event, and it was fun to get together informally after hours.

Since then, we have had "mini-reunions," annual gatherings at a popular Mexican restaurant for lunch and Margarita drinking. I was in charge of those bashes, and they were fun also.

This year we will have our 60th, next month. Sad to say, our numbers have been depleted with the passing of many. We're having it at the same hotel as our 50th, but we can only expect about half the number we had then. Some of us are in wheelchairs, some have canes or walkers, and some just can't make it at all. One of my best friends in HS, who I last saw at our 50th, lives with his wife on South Padre Island in Texas. Hurricane Harvey hit them bad, and they can't come because they are in the midst of repairing their home, dealing with insurance, and the federal folks. I will probably never get the chance to visit with him again. I'm sad about that.

We'll probably continue our "mini-reunions" after this "big" one, until there are only a few left standing to toast our departed classmates. We had good times in high school, and it was those bonds that kept us in touch over the years. We have had a good run. Good people, good times - but all things change, and soon, only memories will remain.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

My wife and I were in the same graduating class. We attended #10, #25, #40 and 2 summers ago #50. I think the best 2 were #10 and #50. Ever since graduation I'd tried a few times to locate my best friend from high school. I knew his family had moved to Canada to run a very large dairy farm. I searched on the internet and found nothing. Then at #50 I looked at the table which listed "those no longer with us". His name was there, he had died when he was 52 but but I never found out how. Except for that let down the 50 was good. Others at #10 , #25 and #40 were very much into how well they had succeeded, that was not even mentioned at #50. We just had a great time.
While I was not very social in HS, we all got along well at that reunion. Since then our class has a summer informal picnic at a local State Park and we've gone the last 2 years. I guess they held them before #50 but we were too busy working to attend or take time to care. Our class also holds an informal in Florida for those who've moved to warmer the climate. That one might draw us to that one too, except I'm in maple season when it's held in late Feb. each year. Besides, my wife no longer likes to travel, 1 hr. drive is about max now and from our home to that would then take about 3 weeks each way. Besides, neither of use can take the heat, 60 is about our best temp.

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Certified NRA rifle instructor

The posts reminded me of my 50th HS reunion. I had spent 31 days in ICU (result of a on duty incident). My doctor was a female and I charmed her into allowing me to attend my reunion. I went in a wheelchair with a concealed IV (TKO). My wife and on duty #1 son was with me. I had a great time and everyone wondered how important I had become to have a armed guard and a hottie with me.

Consider traveling to Texas and see your buddy while you are both alive.

I graduated in '81 and went to my 5 year reunion. I have not received a notice on another since. If I get a invite further up the line I will propably go. We had 781 at graduation. My sister had over 1000 three years later. Commencement took 4 1/2 hours at hers.

I went to my 20th. Most of the folks I did not hang with were there. One guy was drilling well in the peace corp in Africa. He did not want folks to know he was still a flunky, kept saying he was an operative in Africa and if he told us what he did he'd have to shoot us.

Finally i said if I hear the operative story once more please shoot me.

The duds are the ones who put it together every year. I have not been back.

When I went home I would see my old close friends but my old best friend passed 2 years ago and others are passing yearly.

I guess 1964 to 2017 is 50 plus.

But i'm an optimist. At 71 I'm still buying replacement heifers.

My 50th was last year. I didn't go. I was a new kid, I entered the school in my 10th grade year. I did make a couple friends but we didn't stay close. I enlisted in the Air Force right after high school. I stayed in the service 20 years. I did attend the 10 year reunion, said hello to my old girl friend and a couple guys I have fought with is high school. I did get a e mail from my old girl friend asking if it was going to attend. I told her no. I had nothing in common with those folks. I am happy with my life and how it's turned out.

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Carpriver.

I'm assuming that my 50th HS reunion could be any day now but I haven't seen anything about it anywhere. You think that's a message that they don't want me to attend? No, I haven't attended any reunions ever... at least not so far.

It looks like the last event held by my HS class was pretty poorly attended. Maybe that has something to do with it. I also notice that I'm no longer listed as a member of my graduating class! Maybe I never graduated after all and no one ever bothered to tell me.

In my defense (about never attending any of the previous reunions), I had absolutely NOTHING in common with 95% of my fellow HS students and they had nothing in common with me. I literally did not belong there. I belonged in the technical HS across the street, but somehow my folks got some very bad advice and the rest is history. Too late to un-do it now.

My 50th is coming up next year, will not attend, central Calif. high school which refused an Army solider from wearing his uniform to graduation. Never did much fit in anyway LOL

I went to 3 different High Schools (don't ask) and the last one was a boys school in the Y.M.C.A. building @ 1736 G St. N.W. a block and a half , or a little less, from the White House. The building no longer exists. There was a sex scandal in the men's BR in the YMCA portion of the building involving a high Gov't official ,and that whole part was walled of like it was never there. I kind of recall someone wanting to do something about a reunion, but my class was only about 75, and the attrition rate in my age group is pretty steep-mid sixties. I only went there for one year, but it was my fave-lots of bars-and 1 1/2 hours for lunch!!!

I would have thought by our 50th reunion, that the 10th reunion "look at how rich and important I have become" crowd would have grown up and become more humble and truthful. But NO; the same group ( what's left of them) still feel the need to convince themselves that they have been a success as a human being by displaying the same behavior they did 40 years ago. But by now they're labeled as just an old PITA

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John

I do still keep in touch with several members of my graduating class, our 50 will be next spring. I went to the 10th, wasn't really impressed, most folks trying to be something from the 60s. Got my invitation to the 50th, doubt that I will go although a bunch from that class are pushing hard for me to go, just really don't see the need. Fat, bald and I couldn't dance then why would I think I could now? I can get cold cuts and warm beer at the beach.

Not time yet for my 50th, but I've been to most of ours. We lost a classmate, Navall Academy grad, on one of the planes that went into the Towers on 9/11. some of his closest friends set up a scholarship in his name, and conduct a fundraiser each year. So about 150 of my classmates get together every year. We are out of school 44 years, and all the pretense seems to be gone. Fun to see folks on a more frequent basis.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

10 year reunion: "Did you really marry "BILL?" "We have four kids now." "He straightened out, and joined the Marines."

20 year reunion: "I love your gold chains and Rolex." "Gee, Betty looks way better now. Maybe it was the nose and boob job."

30 year reunion: "Gettin' a little grey around the edges, Roy!" "Hate to say it, but Betty doesn't look she's missed many meals." "I hear you divorced Bill."

40 year reunion: "No, we lost touch with each other. I hear he lives somewhere in rural Idaho." "I had to cut back a bit. Alimony and child support."

50 year reunion: "There are still lots of us left. I haven't seen Paul in 40 years." "Remember when my folks were out of town, and we all got plowed at my house? Well, I had to grab the beer cans under the dining room table when they got back." "My mom and dad are gone now, and my brother too."

60 year reunion: "Where have they all gone? There are so few of us left!" "Last I saw him, he was using a walker and carried an oxygen tank around with him." "Judy died of lung cancer just last month." "I still think about Eddie, every day - even though he was killed in Vietnam over 55 years ago." "I think this will probably be our last reunion. Makes me sad."

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -