Advice - Going to 50th HS Reunion

[VaTom]

My wife and I am going to my 50th High School reunion this weekend. She was a year behind me at same school. Out of a class of 160, 37 have already passed. About the only advice my golfing buddies (who have been to thiers) have given is : The people who were jerks in HS are still jerks.

Any advice / experiences from those who have attended their 50th?

 

[cougar14]

You WILL Think

Do I look to them like they look like to me? I sure hope not. Especially the women.

 

[Old_Cop]

Show up with a squad of Secret Service agents and dine alone with your wife.

 

[HenryT]

Bring along your 24 year old 6'1" tall blonde female full time "live in" nurse. You will be the hit of the reunion.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I'm happy for you that you graduated in 1971.

My 50th was to have been last year -- CANX.

I've been to the 10th, 20th, 40th, and 45th, and I thoroughly enjoyed each one. There were 256 of us who graduated in May 1970 -- that school's largest-ever graduating class. We attended our first classmate's funeral in August that year.

Fewer than half of us remain; the gals had a list of those who'd passed at our 45th. Some were poor, some were brainiacs, some were socialites, some were rich, and we miss them all. Perhaps the reality brought the others of us closer together.

Especially at our 40th and 45th I talked with folks I knew in school but only because we had classes together. We all knew each other that way. We had a ball recounting some of the major events of our school years and catching up on life since.

Walk in with a smile and a light heart. You'll go far.

 

[billwill]

Your golfing buddies sound like smart guys. Trust 'em.

 

[old bear]

The main rule for class reunions, is never forget the "First Liar, never stands a chance." So go big or go home.

Have a great time.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I, too, graduated in '71. Our reunion was cancelled due to crowd size. At the last one, besides everyone changing physically, they all were a little more humble and mellow. An open bar helped.

You'll be glad you went.

 

[Truckman]

I received a generic invitation to my 50th six years ago...I figure the same people who didn't know who I was then wouldn't know me now either...I didn't bother to RSVP......Ben

 

[Puller]

I live about 20 miles from where I went to high school, never been to a single high school reunion. Don't intend to go to any, just has no attraction to me.

 

[biku324]

Well, keep us posted...my 50th is in '23, and since it's 800 miles away, I'd need a positive reason to go. My best bud from then died in his back yard last year, so there's not that kind of reunion to look forward to. His brother (yup, 9 months apart) was in my class as well, but he drank himself to death years and years ago, and our High School queen died by suicide in the '80s.

There were 35 in the Class of '73.

 

[Capt Steve]

Enjoyed my 50th...

Graduated in 1969 in a class of 849. Went to the 50th and thoroughly enjoyed myself, would have regretted not going. Was amazed at how many had passed, sad. I've stayed in touch with a dozen or so friends since high school and will continue to do so.

 

[bigmtnman]

My advice is this ..... Remember what you liked, appreciated, or admired about those who are there .. and tell them. When you are seeing old friends for the first time in decades, savor your time with them and share old memories. It may be the last time you will ever see them. Let them know how much you appreciated your times together and they are fondly remembered.
Generally the "jerks" I remembered were much better people by the time 50 years had passed. Give them a chance.
If there is a gal there you had a crush on but never told her ....tell her. It will put a warm spot in her heart.
If you felt you wronged or hurt someone back in the day, let them know you regret it.
Don't let your time get monopolized with just a few people. This may be your only chance for some others.
Be prepared for people to be more friendly, or less friendly than you would have expected.
If you have more than just an evening event, like a picnic the next day...go to it also.
My younger brother and his wife were in the same graduating class but had a different circle of friends. At their reunions they go their separate ways for the evening ....... works fine for them .

 

[ZGrand]

My class of '71 is not having a reunion, that I am aware of. They haven't had an "official" reunion since the the 25th. They had a couple of unofficial ones (30th and 40th) that I found out about after the fact.

 

[max]

Go with an open mind and have a good time. I graduated with 91 others and 22 have died. We have lost 3 this Summer. 15 of us went to Vietnam. but all came home, a few were wounded.

I was in charge of our 50th and everybody seemed to enjoy it. I try to keep everyone informed as to what is going on and who is ill.

 

[Tom Beavert]

My class '64 sent a large number to NAM, several didn't make it back. Several of the Vets took their own life later, I have no idea if any were service related. I went to the 20th and 40th, had a ball at both.
Go, have fun.
TB

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I'm class of 74! (155 students, 127 grads) The "In crowd" That put together the reunions for the first 35 years couldn't find my address in the phone book, or any of my friends! Then they quit having reunions, because nobody came to the reunions!

Then two cousins (of each other) put up $35 to cover the expenses and reserved a dinning room at a local restaurant. Put out a Face Book request to contact anyone and "You all come!" About half of the survivors showed up!

At #45 I talked to a woman that never once said a word to me in school! And ask why I married out of the community? "It was my fault, I was unfit for Human consumption! When I got myself straightened out, I met a girl from the next town at a Bible study, and it worked out." That seemed to be the answer! Accept the responsibility that you need to, and pretty much all is forgiven! On the opposite end, Forgive completely!

You are not the exact same person you were in H.S., neither are they! The girl that was the class slut, use the insurance from Husband #1's suicide to become a psychologist and help clinically depressed people!

The girl that had 2 kids before we graduated? She is still married to the same guy and is the grandma of 7!

The one teacher who cared about all of us (8th grade History!), comes to our reunions! There was another also (10th grade English!) but she was older and passed 25 years ago! The teachers that were jerks, they stayed the same, and as you grew wiser, you knew them for what they really were! And you learned, to not be like them!

My wife (class of 74 different H.S.) was in a class of 675ish, and has never been invited to a single reunion, she was an Honors student, and nobody I talk to from her class knew who she was! But now she has several friends from my class!!!

Lastly, a tribute to my classmate Otis! Otis was a guy from a working class family, so he worked and worked hard! He started a small business that sold concessions at our schools games and made team shirts for the kids sports teams. EVERYBODY knew Otis, everybody loved Otis! I would be in a buffet line and Otis would come up behind me and tell me of our latest classmate's passing. Otis passed two days after our 45th reunion, a close friend told me a few days later, I always figured that Otis would tell me himself. Maybe he did, and I wasn't listening!

Enjoy your classmates while you can.

Ivan

 

[Muss Muggins]

Did you attend any of the previous reunions? That's important information right there . . .

My wife and I am going to my 50th High School reunion this weekend. She was a year behind me at same school. Out of a class of 160, 37 have already passed. About the only advice my golfing buddies (who have been to thiers) have given is : The people who were jerks in HS are still jerks.

Any advice / experiences from those who have attended their 50th?

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Wear a girdle to hold your gut in..........

 

[pharmer]

They had a "generic" (for multiple years, I'm 1971) 50th for several years back in early Summer. I went to the 25th which had early '40's folks, a nice party at a nice hotel in Morristown NJ. Since it was again in NJ ( and I have no desire to go there again) and we're talking late '60's folks, I passed. Almost no one I hung with in HS went to the 25th. Joe