Conference turris::womannotes-v3

    Susan -
    
    I don't have an answer, but have a similar problem.  My high school
    reunion (20th) is in October.  It's the first one we've had since
    graduation, and it is *far* out-of-state for me to attend.  So I'm also 
    curious about whether_to_go/go_solo.  (And it's a big class - over
    1000, and the kids I hung out with are on the list of "Do you know
    where to find any of these people?".)
    
    Alison

I went to my 5 year solo (it's the only one I've been with so far). I can't
imagine bringing anyone not from the class, even my honey (though I would make
the offer to him). Who wants to explain and introduce all night, and possibly
have a bored partner (depending on their style of socializing).

Maybe you could go 'together' with someone else in your class?
	Mez

    
    i absolutely recommend going solo. i had a blast at my 10 year
    reunion and, frankly, if lauren had been along, while it would
    have been nice in a different way, it would not have been as 
    much fun for me and it certainly would not have been alot of
    fun for her. a few people did bring their spouses, boyfriends, 
    what have you, and they *all* looked uncomfortable.
    

    I would go solo.  My 10 year is this fall (but I won't be going for
    various reasons).  I went solo to my 5 year, and most of the people
    who brought spouses had to spend the night "taking care of" their
    spouse instead of catching up.  Plus I noticed the spouses of my former
    classmates seemed really uncomfortable.
    
    Tammi

    I agree - go alone - much more fun that way.
    
    
    -Dotti.

    
    I have not yet attended my high school reunions - my 25th is coming up
    this fall -  but have often been tempted to just to show folks that the
    prediction of me being the most likely to become a virtuoso violinist
    just just didn't turn out...
    
    However, IF I were to go, I would not drag my hubby with me to the
    reunion itself.   This is not because I wouldn't have more fun with
    him, but because he HATES events like that.  If  your significant other 
    likes reunions, parties, etc..., and if he likes to dance,  then take him.   
    If not, then do yourself and him a favor and leave him home.
    
    -m

    
    I have just entered a similar note in Human_Relations!
    
    While I have not gone to any reunions - yet - I do plan to
    attend my 10th the weekend of Thanksgiving.  You may want 
    to read the replies to my note in H_R for more info
    about reunions.  I don't have the note #, but it's the
    most recent entry.
    
    Hope you have a great time!
    Cherie

    	I went to my 5th year reunion and brought someone with me.
    I think he ended up having a better time than I did!  (I should
    say, he's the type who enjoys meeting new people anyway.)  I found
    that the people I really wanted to see didn't show up.  Of the
    people I knew that did show up, it was the same old cliques all
    over again.  I left kinda sorry I had gone.  Then again, I'm not
    really in touch with any of my high school friends anymore. I
    suppose if I were still close to them, it might have been
    different (or at least if they had shown up!)  I've heard that 
    the 10 year reunion is much better...I don't know yet if I'll go 
    to that one yet.

    	One neat thing was that some people had put together this
    booklet of who was doing what and where they were.  That was kind
    of interesting to read through.  

    	:Amy

    I hated my high school.
    I hated the town I grew up in.
    I hated the classmates which I went to school with.
    I refuse to go back to that town.
    I refuse to have anything to do with that town.
    I refuse to answer any mail from the reunion people.
    I want nothing to do with that school.
    I want nothing to do with any one from that school.
    
    REK
    
    I grew up in Lebanon, N.H. the pits of the world!
    

    Thanks for all the input so far, keep it coming.  The consensus,
    after reading your comments and talking to others here and my friends,
    is to go alone.  
    
    When I mentioned my reunion to my SO, he immediately said he'd go
    with me, and even though he is outgoing, I think he'd be bored.
    
    There are definitely so people I hope will be there and want to
    see.  I had an interesting experience at the 10 yr.  My best friend
    in school, Martha, was smart, cute, and dated and married the brilliant
    football star (handsome too) who is now a pediatrician.  I looked
    up to and envied her so much.  At the 10 yr. reunion, I was in the
    ladies room, in a stall, and she came in and was talking to someone
    about how great it was to see "Sue" and how much she ENVIED me because
    I was married, had a house and was happy in my career. (Her husband
    was still in med school, they had just had their second child and
    not much money).  I came out and we cried and cried because all
    those years I thought she had the "perfect" life.  Of course, we
    vowed to stay in touch and never did.
    
    Susan
    

    Re: -.1
    
    
    awwwwwww...Leb's not so bad!  There's a Ben & Jerry's store there --
    how bad can that be? :-)
    
    daniel (a resident of Hanover, NH during the regular year type time)

    This topic reminded me that this would be the year for my 25th high
    school reunion ... if the high school existed anymore. Having graduated
    from an English-language international mission school in downtown
    Tehran (that's in Iran for those who flunked geography), I rather doubt
    I'll be getting any announcements, though.  Pity; it was a good school.
    There's nothing like going to a school whose ~300 students comprised
    30 nationalities and 9 religions to temper the kind of jingoist
    arrogance that Americans are [in]famous for.

    One of the bigger surprises I've had while watching the Today program
    in the past few years was seeing my brother's girlfriend from that high
    school (Irene Natividad) being interviewed as a spokeswoman for some
    Washington lobby. Small world...

    Wow, small world!  I lived in Hanover, NH and went to 3rd-9th grade there.
    I would probably go back to a reunion there if I'd graduated from that
    HS.
    
    But I hated my high school in Maryland. I didn't enjoy my high school
    years at all, I hated myself, and I had a lousy time except in drama
    and music and English.
    
    I didn't go to my 5th or 10th year reunions for high school, although I
    have gone to all my college reunions.
    
    But I'm happy for those of you who had a good time in high school -- 
    I envy you all!  Have a great time!
    
    Pam

    
    	The only reason I brought my wife to my reunions is because I 
    	knew there would be people that she knew and wouldn't feel
    	out of place. I did see a few unhappy looking S.O.s
    
    	The funny part is that many women who I knew vaguely came up
    	and insisted that I dance with them, so I was a true dancin'
    	fool for the whole evening :-).
    
    	The other funny thing is that I met my wife when my old band
    	played at her 5th high-school reunion. We didn't go to her 10th
    	because not too many of her friends were going.
    
    	Oh, my point is there is no reason not to go alone.
    

    I've never been to any of my high school reunions.  My 20th would have
    been 3 yrs. ago, but if there was one nobody bothered to let me know. 
    I don't feel as negative about it as REK does :-), but do feel rather
    apathetic.  I guess I really don't care what happened to most of those
    people!
    
    I did go to my ex-husband's 10th high school reunion with him when we
    were married.  Although, I can't say I had the time of my life it was
    interesting for me to note that almost none of the guys seemed to
    remember him even when he introduced himself, but that almost all of
    the women came over to him to say hi and give him a hug! :-)
    
    Lorna
    

    I'm with you Lorna. I've never gotten anything from my high school
    about a reunion and probably wouldn't care enough to fly to Indiana
    anyway. My high school was only a high school for 5 years then became a
    middle schoool. Maybe my class just fell through the cracks. There are
    only about 5 people I'd care about seeing again, but I would like to
    see them. liesl

    Six years ago my wife (well, she wasn't my wife then, but she is now)
    took me to her 20th HS reunion.  Not only was I bored, but she was too.
    It was in this small night club.  The air was so thick with smoke you
    could hardly see the band at the other end of the room.  Sure could
    hear them though; very loud, and they weren't even playing music from
    20 years ago.   Even though something like half her class turned up,
    she was one of the few there who went on to a professional career.  We
    didn't have much in common with them.
    
    Then when it was my turn, I didn't go.  Of course my high school is
    over 700 miles away, which had a lot to do with it.  And it was over
    4th of July weekend.  So I missed my chance to march in the marching
    band in the parade (which I used to do, and they had a special alumni
    band).  The parade marshall that year was the actress Beverly D'Angelo,
    who graduated the year after I did.  I looked her up in my yearbook,
    and she was a cheerleader back then.
    
    Although I might have found it interesting, I doubt my wife would have.

    I went to my 25th reunion 10 years ago and had a blast. I did bring a
    date and he had a blast also.  When we were voting on when and where to
    have the next one you would have thought he had been a class member
    with all his enthusiasm. His comment after we got home was "I wish that
    I had gone to your high school." There were only two "cliques" in high
    school, the college prep kids and all the others, but since there were
    only 80 kids in my class we really knew everyone. The biggest shock was
    the obituary page in the program, 7 women had died of breast cancer. 
    One of my classmates became ill after replying that she would come, so
    her husband, a nonclassmate, came with out her. He appeared to be
    having a real good time. My class was very friendly.
    
    I am real disapointed that we didn't have a 35th this year, I think the
    vote was for a 40th.  Oh well!!!!!!
     

    I'm looking forward to my 10 year HS next year, because there were only
    30 in my graduating class, so everyone should remember everyone else. And
    with only 8 woman by process of elimination they'll know who I am.
    I'd probably go solo, unless someone specified otherwise.
    
    Gail

I've been to both my 20th and 25th reunion. They were great!

I've lived hundreds of miles away from home since I was 18.
Being away from the 700 kids in my class ... well, it felt
like shutting several hundred novels slam! bang! in the middle.  
The reunions gave me a quick read of the most recent chapters for
a few hundred people.

It was exciting to see people for the first time in 25 years.
Some had changed immensely, some hardly at all.  There were
also some big surprises.  

>.0  I have heard lots of stories about how it is a good place
>    to meet the guy you overlooked who grew up to be WOW, 

Happened to my sister. Her husband moved out in a fit of
mid-life crisis. She went to her reunion just to see old
friends and she is now married to a classmate who she loves
dearly, although she still can't remember him being in her
class. 

> dance partner

It's the 25th. We are now all free spirits and bold as
anything. Go stag and ask people you like to dance.


PS Our reunion committee prepared one color badge for grads
and another for guests.  These were a great idea because
then the grads knew who to squint at, and it also made it
fun for the guests, who felt very free to chat up each 
other (and make fun of the grads whooping and screamng 
at each other).
   

    I just went to my 25th class reunion and had a blast!
    
    I took my husband because it was in Michigan and he and my best
    friend's husband had a riot!
    
    Would I go again?  You Betcha!  Anytime!
    
    Life is what you make it, we (best friend, Diane) went to the 20th and
    tried dieting and were scared, etc.
    
    This time we just went and we didn't care and we had a good time! 
    People who weren't happy with their's should get on the committee for
    the next one and make changes....I am sure it is hard work, don't
    complain - volunteer!
    
    It (25th) was just one more thing in my life that I experienced and
    didn't expect much and HAD A BALL!
    
    Jackie
    
    ;-)
    

    Well, the jury came in on my dilemma last night, and I won't be going.
    
    The invitation came in the mail.  The reunion will be a cocktail party
    and dance at a local, private country club.  No sporting event to
    attend.  No informal get-together.  No opportunity to go to the school
    itself.  And tickets for the event will be $50 per person.  That's just
    a little too steep for me.  And brings back a lot of old tapes about
    the emphasis on money and social standing that were what I *disliked*
    most about high school.
    
    I will be sending the organizers some ideas for the 25th reunion. 
    Like, pick a weekend with at least *something* in the way of a sports
    event, preferably one which also has the fall play or a concert.  (The
    school only has an orchestra, three bands and 6 choruses.  At least one
    of them ought to be capable of some sort of a performance.  When I was
    there, the drama classes put on a total of 8 performances during the
    school year.)  Have an after-school open house in the cafeteria Friday 
    afternoon to check in with teachers.  Generally, make it worth the travel 
    cost and time to journey 1/3 of the way across the country to meet up
    with folks that I haven't heard from since our graduation ceremony. 
    
    Oh well, maybe next time......
    
    Alison

    
    I just found out that there will be a reunion of the Classical High
    School (Springfield, Massachusetts) class of 1970, on November 24,
    1990, at the Hampden Country Club, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  If anyone from
    my graduating class is reading this, send mail for who to contact for
    details.
    
    CQ