You can't go home!

[S&W Fan]

My 50th is next year, doubt I'll go-every one has been in August and that's not a fun time in Tucson lol. In addition most of my close friends were either a class ahead of me or at different high schools. A number of my classmates have reached out to me through Classmates and I don't remember any of them, even when I looked them up in the yearbook. I also graduated a half year early and started college immediately.

 

[Sistema1927]

Thanks for the encouraging words. I will be attending my 50th HS reunion next month, and it will be the first one ever. I don't think that I have had any contact with any of my classmates since about the 2nd year of college. Sounds like I am in for an education.

As to going home again, even though I only live about 250 miles north of El Paso, each time I return I can hardly remember the place. So much has changed.

That is not all that has changed. I can't believe that I was ever this young.

 

[31FordA]

I've been to all my reunions (5th-30th), each one was a nice time. We had 149 kids in my class, over the course of six reunions I'd guess about 50% of the grads have attended at least one. Even though high school was not a big deal to me, and none of the crowd I ran with ever attends, I go to the reunions because somebody goes to the trouble of organizing them. What amazes me is that everyone instantly recognizes me, while I'm not too good at remembering who they were. I was not part of the in crowd, but I must have made an impression. I haven't had, or witnessed, any unpleasant interactions at any reunion. If they have a 35th I'll probably be there.

 

[Goldstar225]

My graduating class had 33 in it. Next year would be my 50th. I haven't attended any of the other reunions and won't start now.

 

[glenwolde]

I debated going to my 50th this year but decided to pass. You're right, you can't go home again...

 

[6518John]

Several of the guys were very Hansom Grandpas, But the actual farm families were reversed! 50 years on a tractor, and in the sun didn't improve anybody's looks.

Farmin' is a hard life!

 

[Ματθιας]

For my 10th, there were two, one formal, set up by the cheerleaders and there was the informal one set up by a group of friends.

When I went to the formal one, I lasted all of about 30 minutes. I really didn't want to talk with all the "beautiful" people.

The informal one was, basically, a BBQ, I lasted about 90 minutes until most were drinking and getting nostalgic. Since I wasn't drinking, I left.

I have no intention of going to another.

 

[BC38]

I went to my 10th high school reunion in 1991.
It was a major disappointment.
There weren't more than a half-dozen people there that I really cared to see again.
I never got any kind of notifications of any of the subsequent "class reunions" (20th, 30th, 40th). And FWIW, I don't feel like I missed much of anything worthwhile.
The "glory days" of high school weren't the high point of my life.

 

[rwsmith]

Living on a farm....

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.

... the conversation is kind of an 'inside' thing. Crop prices, yield per acre, machinery repair, soil conditions, livestock nutrition. And of course, turtle hunting.

And they say jet pilots only talk to other pilots because they are the only ones that they can relate to. Well, they ain't got nothin' on farmers.

 

[jimmyj]

I attended 10, 20,30,40, 50, 60, 65, High School Reunions and looking forward to the 70th.
I came from a poor family and worked after school since 7th grade. In my junior and senior years I worked a full time job so I missed out on many school activities. I entered military service right after high school. after 8 years military I began my law enforcement career. My school classmates still remember me and we all liked each other. As I grow older my friendships become more and more precious memories. However as the reunions come and go fewer and fewer are left.

 

[Rudi]

Just click your heels together 3 times...............

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I went to my 10th, 25th. 50th and 60th. My class was 149 kids. Some are millionaires, one died in prison about 5 years back. Most are gone. I only have 2 I stay in touch with. Just remembered my 50th was 43 years ago. My how time flies when you are having fun. LOL.

 

[alwslate]

I graduated in 1963. Hated high school. I was the poor kid who was the awkward nerd who didn't fit in anywhere. The well to do kids shunned me and the other poor kids tried to bully me, the little guy. Received invitations to the reunions held every five years but never went. There is a sub group that lived in the same part of town and went to the same grade school that has a group luncheon every two months. I finally called the woman who organizes it and started going. I really enjoy them. About twenty people usually show up. Everybody is mellow and super friendly. One of the guys was on the Little League base ball team with me. Another worked at the same grocery store sacking groceries. I am no longer poor and my net worth is greater than most I am sure but I keep my mouth shut about it. I think most that attend are financially comfortable or they wouldn't be there. 61 year reunions this year. About have of my graduating class of about 365 are deceased now. My health isn't great but some are worse off, showing up on oxygen tanks. Spend about an hour having friendly chats. The girl who was Prom Queen and out of my league and promptly turned me down when I worked up the courage to ask her out is now a widow and very friendly. But none of us look like Prom Queens or jocks any more. And the number of survivors continues to drop, another one lost about a week ago. As said in another thread the Grim Reaper is coming. Enjoy what time you have left.

 

[sophie]

I went to my 12th high school class reunion in 1971 and then I didn't go to another reunion until 2009 which was my 50th year reunion. I went to my 55 year reunion, then my 60th reunion in 2019. I enjoyed them all and had good times. Our high school class had about 275 students and there aren't that many of us left. It's now time for our 65th high school reunion but nothings been planned yet. Probably won't.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Never went to any of the HS reunions and I don't think I missed anything.
Would be 65 years next year and I don't remember anyone from my class anyway....

 

[Iggy]

High school was 40 miles away. I was a ranch kid in a farm town school.
I hated every minute of school. I never went back after my class of 13 graduated.
From what I hear, I am the only survivor.

 

[biku324]

Went to my 35th many years ago, but we had moved from MO to NM in our 20s and really hadn't kept up with anyone except family there. Passed on the 40th and 50th. We had 35 or 36 in my class, and quite a few are dead.

 

[twodog max]

I went to the 10th and 20th and hated both experiences. I vowed to never attend another. Only 2 people I cared about from those days and one died about 15 years ago and the other last time he contacted me had gone off the deep end with leftist politics and I need none of that.
I always felt I did not graduate high school so much as I was paroled. It was something I endured but cared nothing for.
Every few months I get an alumni newsletter that immediately goes in the trash. My older brothers keeps me on the list as he reveled in high school. I keep telling him to tell them I am dead but he won't do that.
Nope that unpleasant part of life ended 53 years ago and I prefer to keep it all in the past.

 

[Farmer17]

I graduated in 1977 with 670 people in my class. When I turned 16 my dad said I was now a man with a car and responsibilities and I MUST get a job and there was no time for sports anymore. I worked long hours at Casa Bonita in Tulsa which was a huge Mexican restaurant with 220 high school age employees and the girl to boy ratio was 4 to 1 so I didn't spend hardly any time with my high school friends. Went to my 10 year reunion and had a blast, everyone looked a lot better than they did in HS and remembered many more people than I thought I would and I was still single and had great time with some of the single girls. Missed the 20 because my wife didn't want to go but I did go to hers, and I went to my 30 and 40 year reunion and had a blast, everyone was really nice and humble and no one was bragging, just pleasant conversation. Most people were looking pretty old at the 40 year and it started out fairly quiet but after a while it was so loud because everyone was laughing and having a great time. We had a 45th year reunion but I didn't even hear about it. It was on Facebook but at that time someone hacked my Facebook page and I had to have Facebook delete my whole account and contacts and I had to start over with a new account and page. Fifty year reunion is 3 years away and I look forward to it.

 

[Truckman]

My 60th comes up next year...I get the annual computer generated invites, but I don't think I'll attend...I was mostly ignored when I was still attending classes, so why should I drive 150 miles to be ignored again by the same girls?......Ben

 

[robvious]

celebrated my 40th this summer, had a great time... I went to Jesuit HS for boys, so I only did the "bachelors" event after the golf outing... of course the ladies gathered outside until about 11pm then crashed.. I left soon after that, the first "lady" in was one of my best friends EX-wife and the girl that followed me on my paper route in jr high... before that the drunks in high school were still obnoxious drunks, the rest of us had a grand time catching up and remembering those no longer with us... looking forward to 45th & 50th.. hope I am able to attend.. if not they can have a drink in my memory.. better be a good bourbon...

 

[JohnRippert]

I went to my 5 year and was amazed how many of the young ladies and men had let themselves go to pot so quickly. There were 781 in my graduating class and I was a geek/bookworm, so not popular at all, at all. Have not bothered with another reunion and have not even had any notices of one past the 10 year.

 

[DWalt]

I still have a few living high school friends back in the old home town. We go back for a visit about every five years or so just to see if anything has changed. Usually nothing does. Last visit was last year, only two friends remain there, neither is in good health, but it was good to visit. I still have a few cousins living in the area who I know next to nothing about and I have never bothered to look them up. Not much reason to. You really can't go back home as it exists only in memories.

 

[A10]

I went to my wife's 50th with her and had a better time than she did! I didn't know anyone and didn't much care about their opinions so I just thoroughly enjoyed myself. Most of my wife's HS friends didn't remember her.

My 50th is in two weeks. I'm planning on going just to see how old and fat everyone is (including me btw!). Of our graduating class of around 260 I think 115 are going. I know at least two of the people I hung out with are gone.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I just did my 30th earlier this month. It was great fun and very interesting to hear what folks are doing mid-career. Our son just graduated from the same school and our daughter is a sophomore, so we have a very current connection to the campus.

 

[jjrr]

We have done 60 and best I remember it was decided to lower the frequency. As has already been said there was sadness about the ones who have moved on and lots of reflection about our lives and about children and grand children and great grand children. Gathering was held at the elementary school I attended which is now community center. There were two or three with the look at me what I have done but among the rest of us who have lived good lives raised good families and have been happy people there was a lot of love and fellowship. Somebody wanted to start a last man standing pot which we actually did but it wasn't really clear how that was to be carried out, little fun among the old folks.

 

[LVSteve]

High school was 40 miles away. I was a ranch kid in a farm town school.
I hated every minute of school. I never went back after my class of 13 graduated.
From what I hear, I am the only survivor.

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.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Over 400 in my class. One girl died of cancer in the freshman year.
I knew quite a few people in other classes so "my" class was not a real focal point for me.
Quite a few of the "stars" of my class didn't do all that well, died young.

 

[walnutred]

I attended my 20th HS reunion. Most of the class officers who are supposed to organize these things have dropped off the face of the earth so the reunions are organized by a woman I got along with in HS and occasionally see at CW reenactments where she demonstrates ACW medicine.

At the reunion she took me aside and said: Do you know why I organize these events? I admitted I was wondering why and she explained: Look around, most of these people wouldn't give us the time of day in High School, right? I looked around and admitted she was correct. Well, she said, they are all here tonight because I summoned them! I laughed and remembered why we got along in HS.

 

[Rustyt1953]

My HS had an enrollment of almost 1200 students. The building now houses the Jr High.

Every class holds their reunions at a large local saloon. Besides my own I show up for my sister's, late brother's and Ruthie's reunions. Hilarity ensues.

These entrances still exist.