Small Town Vibe

You can rush the logistics of a High School reunion out on the Web, but you can’t rush the High School reunion spirit. *matter of fact* Especially this “All Years” reunion sponsored by my High School Alumni Association… graduates from 49 years of classes (1958-2007) were invited to the weekend-long event that kicked off with a Sock Hop on Friday night. *pun* It was held in the old Jr. High gymnasium, and of course we went… lots of golden oldies to Swing dance and Hustle to… but what is most interesting to me is how I felt about being back inside that little old gym. In 7th and 8th grade I was focused on schoolwork and trying to figure out the whole social thing (though it really wasn’t much of a scene)… combined with learning how to cope with having a locker, a different classroom/teacher for each subject, changing into a gym suit, and taking a shower with all the other girls in my P.E. class (it was mandatory!) Those were the good old days? *sigh* On the bright side, here’s the place where I first learned how to dance with a partner – at the Monday evening “Fortnight” dance classes (not always with the boy of my dreams, but he didn’t know I was crushing on him anyway!) It’s where sweaty palms were abundant – however back then no one I knew was a germaphobe yet – and the entire room reeked of preadolescent spirit (nod to Kurt Cobain, RIP).

The gaggle now is much more subdued – more sitting around, less tripping the light fantastic – except for hubby and me, of course… and one peppy alumna donning a vintage pink poodle skirt, complete with a ribbon-adorned high ponytail (a la Happy Days!) I know, I know, a reunion is for re-uniting with old friends… conversely, since I already keep connected with my long-time BFFs from Class of ‘75 (thank you dear Internet) we danced to at least a dozen songs and still got plenty of mingling in (even made new friends from classes of the ‘60’s and ‘80’s!) *grins* It sure does feel good to have so much fun in my old Jr. High… finally! *ha ha*

Then on to the Saturday night main event reunion dance at the local Hilton hotel (yes, it’s a small town, yet trendy enough to have a Hilton!) The set-up was awesome – all of the convention rooms were ours… a room for each decade… complete with open bar… a DJ in one… live band and dance floor in another… happy people circulating everywhere… and a ginormous hors d’oeuvre buffet for noshing the night away! *giggles* We arrived fashionably late, and as it turned out, just in time for me to find my way to the photo shoot (even a short corridor takes a long time to traverse when chatting with every 2nd or 3rd person out of about 1,000!) It’s so fun to see someone that I haven’t seen in person in a decade (last time I attended) and instantly recognize them. The years have indeed left their traces… what I like is how each person’s essence still shines through the same as ever! *sweet*

As a baby boomer (from a big family, to boot) I went to High School with umpteen classmates who also come from large families… resulting in this event having the semblance of being a patchwork of mini family reunions. *quaint* At one point (after I made my way from the ‘70s room… down the hall to the ladies room and back) a very familiar face appeared at our table… it was one of my younger cousins, whom I haven’t seen in years. He had seen me from across the jam-packed lobby, and suddenly realized there was a whole other set of relatives he hadn’t visited with yet (so we quickly got up to speed!) *folksy* Though class of ‘75 turnout was small – we represented! *rah* Everyone at our table was out on the dance floor raising the roof at some point during the evening! Being on a crowded dance floor, surrounded by old and new friends – all with a significant chunk of common personal history – is fantastic… and for me it’s a bona fide connection to my former self.

Have a fabulous week – I’ll be back here next Monday ☺

~peace~