OpEd Piece: Class Reunions
Disclaimer here: This blog started out as a creative blog, but once in a while, I have to just have a rant about something I hold in and need to let go of.
Okay, here's the thing. This year my high school class is having our 55th reunion. I am not going (an am receiving a little "flak" about not attending from certain classmates that either I keep in touch with, or live close and think they need to "needle" me into going.The reasons I have chosen for NOT attending are as follows, and not necessarily in any order:
A. It's too darn expensive. I know that catering and renting a meeting place are expensive these days, but what would be wrong with a park pavillion and having a cook out, everybody bringing something to share? Even the people who are traveling, could bring something from a local grocery deli!!
B. I have nothing in common with any of my former classmates, other than the fact that we all graduated together. Ours was a unique class in the fact that two schools consolidated in our Senior year and the two classes combined for our last year, and some classmates I hardly got to know by name, let alone personally.
C. The venue for the reunion is at least an hours drive, and I don't drive much after dark. Oh, there's a few motels close to it where I could stay overnight adding to expense of an already heady cost.
D. I admit I was a victim of bullying in high school. ( I was not a "jock," had a bad case of acne, was small in stature, and was an "arty" and "musician" and was what is now considered "nerdy.") Of course, it wasn't considered bullying back then, just "teasing," but it still sticks in my memory. I know that some of the bullies will be there, and I just don't want to be around them. Some say I should just get over it, and basically I am, but I still resent the S.O.B.'s and am better off staying away from them.
E. Our class had a lot of snobs. Especially the girls. You know the ones who thought they were better than everyone else, were pretty, smart and enjoyed putting the other gals and guys down. Well, a few of them have never changed. The last reunion I attended I noticed that those people were still the same and stayed apart in their own little clique. Laughable, but so, so sad. There were a couple of the guys that I can recall being that way, and guess what!! They still were! Who wants to be around them 55 years later when they really don't want to be around us?
F. I've outgrown the need to go back. I've moved on. I have a wonderful live, and have had for the last 50+ years without any of the former classmates. I have no need to reminisce about a time of my life that was not the best years of said life.
G. In short, I DON'T WANT TO GO!!
Thanks for letting me rant and rave, whine, and feel sorry for myself for several sentences. I promise that the next blog will be more upbeat and friendly. I might even post some artwork, though I have been really lax in creating. I've been reading and letting the art work slide. Shame on me.
Until next time,
Go, create something!
JF
Okay, here's the thing. This year my high school class is having our 55th reunion. I am not going (an am receiving a little "flak" about not attending from certain classmates that either I keep in touch with, or live close and think they need to "needle" me into going.The reasons I have chosen for NOT attending are as follows, and not necessarily in any order:
A. It's too darn expensive. I know that catering and renting a meeting place are expensive these days, but what would be wrong with a park pavillion and having a cook out, everybody bringing something to share? Even the people who are traveling, could bring something from a local grocery deli!!
B. I have nothing in common with any of my former classmates, other than the fact that we all graduated together. Ours was a unique class in the fact that two schools consolidated in our Senior year and the two classes combined for our last year, and some classmates I hardly got to know by name, let alone personally.
C. The venue for the reunion is at least an hours drive, and I don't drive much after dark. Oh, there's a few motels close to it where I could stay overnight adding to expense of an already heady cost.
D. I admit I was a victim of bullying in high school. ( I was not a "jock," had a bad case of acne, was small in stature, and was an "arty" and "musician" and was what is now considered "nerdy.") Of course, it wasn't considered bullying back then, just "teasing," but it still sticks in my memory. I know that some of the bullies will be there, and I just don't want to be around them. Some say I should just get over it, and basically I am, but I still resent the S.O.B.'s and am better off staying away from them.
E. Our class had a lot of snobs. Especially the girls. You know the ones who thought they were better than everyone else, were pretty, smart and enjoyed putting the other gals and guys down. Well, a few of them have never changed. The last reunion I attended I noticed that those people were still the same and stayed apart in their own little clique. Laughable, but so, so sad. There were a couple of the guys that I can recall being that way, and guess what!! They still were! Who wants to be around them 55 years later when they really don't want to be around us?
F. I've outgrown the need to go back. I've moved on. I have a wonderful live, and have had for the last 50+ years without any of the former classmates. I have no need to reminisce about a time of my life that was not the best years of said life.
G. In short, I DON'T WANT TO GO!!
Thanks for letting me rant and rave, whine, and feel sorry for myself for several sentences. I promise that the next blog will be more upbeat and friendly. I might even post some artwork, though I have been really lax in creating. I've been reading and letting the art work slide. Shame on me.
Until next time,
Go, create something!
JF
I look at it this way. If you don't want to go, don't go. And you don't owe anyone a reason why. By the way, I think it is stupid to have it over an hour away. You didn't graduate there, you graduated here in this county.
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