On the whole, the experience didn't strike me as an ideal situation for a self-professed introvert. But a few weeks before the reunion, I realized the consensus among my friends was to go; it was officially the thing to do in Centerville the Friday night after Thanksgiving. Knowing that I wouldn't be braving it alone helped. Also, about five beers beforehand.
Seeing everyone at the reunion was great, and things felt fairly comfortable. Most people looked about the same. Some looked better, some worse.
Really, though, the night was an exercise in mingling and playing catch-up with as many people who you recognized (and cared to acknowledge). It was strange seeing most people there with their spouses (including CHS mergers) and hearing about their kids. Sure, that's what most people do in their 20s, but it was weird for me to put myself in their shoes at this point of my life, because I'm nowhere near that. Even as a late bloomer, I couldn't help but wonder: Will that be me in five, 10, or 20 years? An even stranger thought.
But if I had to attend just one high school reunion, I'm glad it was this one. On the heels of college, the five-year is too soon; the 15- or 20-year too far down the road to be relevant. No, the 10-year reunion is the right time to reconvene before time begins to leave more of its marks, and life really starts to get in the way. At least for some of us.
1 comment:
I had similarly mixed feelings about going, but I’m glad I did. After a while the small talk got a little old and it was too bad more people didn’t show up. One thing that was surprising was how everybody really did look the same. Yeah, 10 years older, but the same. I immediately recognized people who I have literally not thought of since graduation.
10 years after high school is kind of an interesting time. You’re just as likely to run into someone who is married and has children as you are to someone who goes out to the bar four times a week. And there were definitely both types of people there.
The other thing that was weird was that I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to make small talk with. I felt compelled to talk to a lot of people, which is weird since I barely spoke to many of them in high school.
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