My tenth was a blast…less than a week removed. Actually, I didn’t attend the actual “reunion” which was on Saturday afternoon…I only attended the social hour on Friday night.
I didn’t have any enemies in high school…I was the guy in the hall who said “hi” to everyone. There is not a person from my high school graduating class of 365 that I couldn’t pick out by face and full name back then. Yes, I did know everyone. I never had a problem getting a lab partner…I always had someone to sit next to in study hall…I was always the first picked for teams in phy ed, not because I was a spectacular athlete, but because everyone knew that I loved sports and would always give 100%. I guess I was that way abot life too…
But I never really had any close friends from within the school. Sure, I’d hang out, go to parties and dances, etc…but I never dated anyone from my school (I attended three proms, none of which were my from my school). I’d generally bring a friend from a different school when I attended such events.
So I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I went to my ten year reunion. I couldn’t have been more surprised.
Immediately upon stepping into the bar, the entire room joined into a chorus of Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild”. I had forgotten all about that…how everyone always used to sing that when I stepped into a room. Quite possibly it was because I was the only guy in school without a mullet (or what I like to refer to as the “penis-head” haircut…remember those?). All my hair was long.
Ahh…my biggest fear was that everyone would have forgotten me. Apparently, that wasn’t the case.
My second biggest fear was that I’d run into a roomful of successful people and end up being ashamed from myself.
Sure, I ran into some successful people. One I envied to a great deal. He had two beautiful and well loved kids as well as a beautiful wife.
However, what I found at my reunion was something I simply did not expect. I found that, given with what I started with, what I had endured, and what I have accomplished, I was quite possibly the most successful person in the room…and I was able to accomplish that without a college degree.
I’m sure there were others in the room who felt the same way I did.
I only intended to go for a couple of hours. I wanted to make a scene, test the waters, and decide what to do from there. Last call came around, and I wasn’t ready to call it a night.
I wish I could have attended the ceremony. Alas, my position at work requires that I work Saturdays (actually, I volunteer to do the Saturday work. It has, over time, become my shift).
Apparently, there have been three of my classmates who have passed away in the last ten years. They were to be honored. Also, there were three members of my class who died before their senior year who were to be honored as well. Finally, there was going to be a special sermon for another kid who committed suicide his senior year. At the time, the administration forbade any special school-related memorials to him because they feared that it may encourage others to think adversely. I can’t say I altogether disagree with that statement as an adult, but it was a mark that was left on everyone in that class (not even a place in the yearbook). Ten years later, they felt that the guy deserved his place. After all, how many 18 year olds know exactly what they are doing every step of the way. As kids, we felt that he was being punished by the administration’s actions.
What a change ten years make.
It was kind of tough, but I made myself do it…I’ve done nothing in my life to be ashamed of, and quite a lot to be proud of, and the world needs poets and papercarriers as much as it needs scientists and bigwigs.
