Well, first let’s address why people DON’T go to reunions. The three reasons I’ve heard most often over the years are: a) too far and too expensive to fly; b) I’m too fat now; and c) I hated those nasty, clique-y people. Fair enough, although I’m inclined to say get over reasons b and c, but I don’t know how deep the fear, loathing and resentment might lie inside any particular individual. So, I’ll shut up.
So why go? Kathy Sbarboro put it bluntly in a letter to her fellow classmates. She’s been the major organizer of all our class reunions since the 10th back in 1983. Kathy said, “Because tomorrow is promised to no one.” A bit dark, sure, but true. Why hold ridiculous resentments against the idiots who chased you off the student center stairs during the Nixon administration? It’s time to accept, to laugh it off and to feel good about yourself and those sometimes ugly years.
There are no more cliques 35 years later. We’re grandparents now. We can accept each other if differences in wardrobes or backgrounds exist. None of us are football players or cheerleaders or doopers or greasers or hippies. We’re 53-year-olds, for the love of Pete. Hopefully, we’re a little more secure with ourselves.
Not to say it’s all that easy. At the 30th reunion, I stood face-to-face with lots of folks I didn’t remember at all. Some of them remembered me, though, so I had to fake it with a lot of, “so what have you been doing lately?” kind of talk. That’s to be expected when you go to a school as huge as OPRF.
It’s worth the plane fare and the hassle and the awkwardness, though, when you find out someone’s brother had a crush on you all those years ago, or that you ended up in a book someone wrote, or that someone has been reading your blog. There’s also a sense of community knowing that everyone in that room has something in common with you. “Oh, yeah, I remember that Italian beef place!”
But what would really be great this year is if one very special person showed up who has never been to one of our reunions. Terry Danuser, you’re wrong when you say no one would remember you. Show up. I’ll prove it to you.
Did you graduate from OPRF in 1973? Did your mom, dad, sibling, kid, friend, etc? Please spread the word. It’s coming up November 8, and they decided to make tickets available at the door. You can email me at Barbara@barbarawunder.com and I’ll forward information. Or find the event on Classmates.com. It’s on Facebook too.
Please show up. It’ll be more fun and more memorable for everyone if you do.