You can't go home!

[Golddollar]

A small scale reunion:
About 6 years ago I got a phone call from the secretary of a classmate, the president of our high school class. We had known each other since since we were 8 years old, before we started going to school together. I hadn't seen him in years. The secretary said that "Peter" was wanting to come out [from Philadelphia] to see me, and wanted to know if that was OK for me. I said absolutely I would be happy to see him. So one day he made the trip from Philadelphia almost to Gettysburg and we went to lunch at the local diner. Eventually I asked Peter why he decided to come out to see me. He said that out of all his old childhood friends, I was the only one he knew of who was still alive!

 

[Murphy's Law]

I had the opportunity some years ago to attend my 50th back in Detroit. Heck, when I went to High School, they used to "frist" you for weapons before allowing you in. If they didn't find any on you "they gave you some (either a knife or gun). Yep it was pretty tough even back then LOL. And "no" I didn't attend.

 

[DWalt]

Regarding the 40th anniversary reunion I did attend, one of the attendees had been a close HS friend. But he once did me a grievous back-stabbing wrong later that I could not forgive and forget. The moment I saw him, that memory came flooding back from 40 years earlier. He came over and attempted to strike up a conversation with me, but I just could not do it, and I turned and walked away immediately. Strange how long-lasting old affronts can be.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Regarding the 40th anniversary reunion I did attend, one of the attendees had been a close HS friend. But he once did me a grievous back-stabbing wrong later that I could not forgive and forget. The moment I saw him, that memory came flooding back. He came over and attempted to strike up a conversation with me, but I just could not do it, and I turned and walked away immediately. Strange how long-lasting old affronts can be.

At the last "Guys Lunch", about 3 months ago, one of the guys there had a reason to punch me. I decided I owed it to him! He would get 1 free punch. At three, if I could, I'd begin shooting! He sat close to me at the table and laughed like we were best friends! Some people handle forgiveness better than others.

I noticed at Saturday's reunion, one of the men kept giving me "the eye", I have no idea why. A couple of women wouldn't speak to me, no idea why except the person I was in HS wasn't very socially acceptable.

One last funny: One of the guys I see at least once a year (never married/no kids) was telling everyone that he had just been released from the witness protection program. So, the obvious question was, What did you witness? He said it was so classified, they wouldn't even tell him what he saw! (now you can see why no lady ever took him in!)

Ivan

 

[BC38]

I have shot turtles in farm ponds.
They can multiply to the point that they can impact the fishing.
Never actually called it Turtle Hunting or discussed it at Social Events.

Me too! In the midwest/south snapping turtles will take over a farm pond and kill off all the fish, frogs, and even ducks.

They are kind of an apex-predator, nuisance species. We used to hunt them with scoped 22LR rifles. We'd wait for one to poke his head up to catch a breath and then do our best to put a 22LR HP between his eyes.

I will never forget one time my cousin shot one - at point blank range - with a shell over 24" in diameter. That thing was a MONSTER. When it opened up it's mouth I swear I could have shoved my whole fist in it's maw!

 

[BC38]

I cannot fathom being in a graduating class of over 100. The thing in England was that most left school at 16 in my day. I think there were only about 25 or less of my year that went on to 18.

FWIW, I can't fathom being in a graduating class of less than 300-400.

I graduated from a suburban AAA high school with a student body of around 2,300.

In the 1980's suburbs of St. Louis Missouri, that was the norm.

Pretty much EVERYONE graduated High School. Those who didn't graduate had made the CHOICE not to...

 

[TX-Dennis]

My class was around 700. I've never been to a reunion. Probably never will. I just really hate parties, to be honest. Only go to the ones I have to.