This blog is a compilation of my thoughts, feelings and observations during the past year and finally, Reunion Weekend. It has been a long and wonderful ride for me.
I can remember giggling at my mother years ago when she told me that her 50th class reunion was coming up. 50 YEARS!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it. At the time, that was an eternity away for me. And now, in just a few days, MY 40tth reunion. How does time go by so fast without one even realizing it? It just can't be possible that we have been out of school for that long. Can it?
What started as a shout-out on Face Book about our 40th coming up has now come to fruition.
A little over a year ago, a small group of us got together huddled around the corner of The Spot and the brainstorming began.
At the helm, Jerry Mindurski who turned out to be a great and passionate leader, who took his job very seriously, and someone I would like to consider now, my friend.
The underlings:
Toni Bartlinski - Toni and I got reacquainted when the bar/restaurant, The Spot opened up about four years ago.We didn't hang out in high school, but I consider her one of my closest and dearest friends now. Her business sense were an asset to the committee.
Ruth Miller - Ruth is great. She was always kind in high school and she hasn't changed. Always ready to take charge when needed with directions and instructions on what needed to be done. She is a true leader.
Kim Hughes - Can you beat Kim's smile? Always happy; our cheerleader. I don't believe her personality has changed since high school. She is smart and always had good ideas and knew how to get us moving again if we hit a snag.
Linda Smith - Always moving and on the go. She knows everyone and has connections everywhere which helped immensely during the planning of our weekend.
Dave Cipolla - With so much on Dave's shoulders, he still smiles and makes us laugh. He is a gentleman and shows what the true definition of loyalty and devotion mean.
And then there's me - The frustrated writer. The unrealistic optimist. The clown.
We were an misfit group that worked.
Let the planning begin...Where to have it, when to have it, how much to charge, formal, informal, the list went on and on.
We debated, talked over each other, disagreed with each other, but in the end always came to a consensus of what would be best for the Class of 74.
So for months we have been meeting, talking, texting, and I must say drinking just a wee bit. But we have accomplished much these past twelve months and I can't wait.
With people coming in from all over, it was decided to make it a
three-day event. More for people to do together than just one night.
More time for everyone to see each other, get reacquainted and also,
create new bonds with friends of so many years ago.
It did give me reason to stop and think, ponder really about my past at school, where I am today and what I could have done differently.
Matt, my husband, and I were recently out Ruth and John. We were talking about the reunion and how long ago it had been since were were in school. I commented at how shy I was back then and how much I had come out of my shell. John, without missing a beat, said, "shy, I never saw you as shy, I saw you as having a presence."
Say what???? I guess we just don't see ourselves as others do.
I know the first thing I could have done differently is start to diet to take off this 900 pounds that I have put on since high school. Why did I wait until one week before? Because that's what I do!!
Heaven forbid I just embrace seeing old friends, listening to stories of people's lives that are so different from my own. Embracing the courage of old classmates who had the vision and courage to leave Point Pleasant. Or rejoicing in my decision to stay.
Was I the only one nervous and anxious about the up coming events? Could it be that I was the only person who still had doubts about themselves after so much time?
As we all prepare for the big weekend, it all comes down to the dinner, wondering what everyone is going to look like, will I remember names (name tags, yup I will). Will there be cliques? You know, the group that everyone thought was better than anyone else? I doubt it, not in our class, not now. So much time has gone by; people change, priorities change; for most of us I believe.
Again, as we prepared for our weekend, we had to face the fact that not all of our classmates would be able to attend. Not because of prior engagements or lack of interest. Sadly, it was because they had died; some long ago and some more recent.
As we went over the names of our lost classmates during one meeting; looking at their pictures in the yearbook a wave of such sadness came over all of us. How could this happen? Alice, Pam, Greg, Mike......this list goes on and on......... Gone but not forgotten.
I still feel too young to die, not at all like it has been 40 fucking years. Yes, I said it!! I'm almost 60 years old, I can say the F word....
So with our reunion weekend finally upon us, I'll continue writing when the festivities have ended.
It's Monday night and I have had a day and a half to reflect and recuperate from the past three days.
In my opinion this reunion was awesome. Making it a three-day affair was perfect and absolutely the right decision . First, meeting at the Idle hour for drinks and to pick up our shirts that were so graciously donated by Billy; then off the football game; which we won I might add. It was casual, easy and fun. I bailed late in the third quarter but several classmates finished the evening at the Broadway.
Saturday was the tour of the High School. I loved it. About 30 of us showed up and it was great. I got flashbacks of my days there. Some good, some bad but all were welcomed in my mind. You could see the look in everyone's eyes when a memory crept in. It was like going home again, even if it were only for an hour. Our tour guide, Mr. Foley was friendly, knowledgeable and really funny.
So much has changed in the school, yet so much stayed the same. It's bigger, the phone booths are gone. Metal shop, gone; replaced by computers. The library is bigger but with less books. Go figure.
For me, the tour was a major highlight of the weekend.
Seafood festival time - note to self - NEVER AGAIN. What was I thinking. It has gotten so crowded you can't even get close to any of the stands. Matt and I felt like cattle being herded to slaughter.
Enough of that, time to go home and get ready for the big night.
I was excited and nervous all at the same time. The ladies in the committee and I had been texting back and forth all week about what we were wearing. Very important you know. Once that was decided, the rest was easy; right?
My evening started off on shaky ground. Matt and I had parked at our daughter's house in the Beach for the seafood festival. As luck would have it, my son-in-laws aunt also parked there and blocked us in.
Horror of horrors, I missed my hair appointment. I was a fucking mess. You would have thought that Martells burned down an hour before our event. I had a hissy fit of epic proportions. The world as I knew it was going to end because I couldn't get my hair done. My priorities once again took a shit.
But being a mature 58 year old, I regrouped and got my proverbial shit together and once again proceeded to get ready.
Six o'clock, time to go. I was so nervous, excited, scared, happy; you name it, I was it. We had worked so hard for so long and it was finally here. I felt like I was a part of something really special, and as it turned out, I was.
At 6:15pm our classmates started to arrive. The line lasted well over an hour as we tried to get name tags on, name and emails gotten and wristbands on. By 7:00 Ruth and I were exhausted. Drink time!!
Let the night begin; and begin it did. There were no boundaries as to who talked to who. It was what we had hoped for. People mingled while the music played. The evening was filled with smiles, hugging and laughter.
The women looked beautiful and the men all handsome.
Speeches were given and as the night wore on and drinks were flowing it became apparent that the class of 1974 was indeed special. As it turned out my nerves got the better of me and I drank too much, talked too much and most likely said too much; but with that said, I also know that I had a blast. I saw so many people laughing and mingling with people that they normally wouldn't have; myself included. Like I said before, there were no boundaries with who talked to who. We couldn't have asked for more.
Sunday at the Broadway was the perfect ending to our weekend. Linda put out a beautiful spread. So many people came our for one last hurrah. It was much more subdued that the night before, as would be expected. Goodbyes were said and hugs were longer as phone numbers and email addresses were exchanged. Promises were made to keep in touch; here's hoping those promises are kept.
I believe that the combination of having it stretched out over three days, giving everyone a chance to wet their feet gradually if you will; made all the difference in the world, and of course, the amazing people from our class.
It's been three weeks since our reunion weekend and our committee has once again been texting and communicating with each other. As Toni said to me during our last group chat "I've really missed this". We all have. Our little eclectic group of seven will continue to meet and our friendship will continue to grow; of that I am sure.
I have a new found respect for each and every member of our little group that will never change. I see each and every one of them with different eyes than I did a year ago. I can honestly say I love each and every one of them. When our weekend was over it was bittersweet.
We can't wait another ten years for the next reunion, of this I am sure.
