Apparently it's already that time. Yes, Class Reunion time. It's only been 5 years, but being that my brothers turn 14 and 19, respectively, over the course of 9 days (and I turn 23 just two days after that course of 9 days - frighteningly enough my dad calls us the "October Heat Children" as only my late sister was born outside of that 11-day span from July 1-11), I am feeling pretty dang old. I know, I know, I'm not really that old and I still have two years before I can enjoy lower insurance rates, but I feel like I belong in a nursing home. My baby brother is ...almost in his mid-teens. That scares me. I remember the day he came home from the hospital! I remember changing his diapers and sticking him in the baby swing so he'd go to sleep! Now his voice is changing and he's taller than I am!
Whoops, that's not my point. My point is, yesterday I received a postcard from an old classmate of mine. We shall call her "Andrea." Of course, this postcard was announcing a 5-year class reuinion to be held in August.
I only graduated with 41 kids at my private school in Bumfuckingegypt, Iowa so it's not going to be some huge event, rather a series of small events at the lake (Big Blue) and the local pizza joint. We have always been easy to please and most of them needed only a bottle of booze to be pleased (but not I, for I was one of the two students who was not a complete lush in high school) so I'm sure it will be a smash hit with everyone. I always wondered how these came about, how the reunion-thrower found out where everyone was living to send them invitations, but I know she has always had my contact information. Maybe I'll ask her.
The problem is I'm torn between going and skipping out (what other choices do I have, really?). Naturally I would drag Stiggy along and he would, of course, act as a buffer in any shitty parts as well as keep me company and help me analyze people. Though, there are some people I would really rather not bother myself with and also those I am afraid to see because of the guilt I feel for purposely losing contact with; but the question is, does my desire to stay far, far away from them outweigh my curiosity and desire to see the few others I wouldn't mind catching up with? Oddly enough it is those I was closest to and knew well in middle and high school (we were a Preschool-12 Catholic institution and I moved to town in 6th grade) I really don't care to see ever, ever again. Those I didn't know quite as well, some of the boys, a few of the girls I didn't hang out with much, I have no problem with. Maybe I am being snotty or childish but frankly I don't give a damn. For example, there are three redheads in my class. One was my best friend in middle school. She was lame, manipulative, and took advantage of the fact I was passive and had few friends. I cut away from her in high school and got my own personality, but sometimes I am still curious about what the fuck lame things she has done with her life since I last saw her 5 years ago. Stupid, I know. The second was my best friend in high school and my worst enemy when we lived together a year and a half after that. She dug the knife even deeper well after that bout of living on our own and I tried to come out the bigger and better person and she stopped harrassing me. Thank god because she was a bitch. The third I never knew very well as she was one of the "cool" girls and throughout middle school was pretty mean. In high school we talked a bit but never got very close. I wouldn't mind catching up with her and maybe it's because we have little common ground to base any assumptions from. That doesn't make any sense but in my mind it does.
Which brings me to the question, are class reunions all about who has gotten where, who is better and who has improved the most since high school or is it just about catching up with old friends?
Well, if you were keen enough to see old friends you'd probably make a date well before a class reunion to see them and catch up.
So, yes, it is mostly about who's who and who's not.
Looks like not much has changed since high school.
Phototime: Ahh, the last time we were all close. Some of the girls when we were seniors at our 2nd Senior Retreat just before graduation. High School was fun - don't get me wrong. I'm just happy to never relive most of the social scene again and if I can, I want to kick ass.
Is that so wrong?
<3 / Va-Va
