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Post by cindyupnorth on May 15, 2022 15:34:13 GMT
I know we've talked about them before on here, but summer is coming up and the season for them. My 40th is this summer. I'm iffie on going, and feel like I just need to talk about it. My HS history. I grew up in a very small town, class of 55 people. I was not popular. My dad was the Chief of police. I was never invited to any parties. I had a core group of friends. I never really fit in to any clique though. I played volleyball,and was pretty good. Played Jr olympic, so had a few jock friends. I was fairly smart, very bookish. I would describe myself as an introvert, forced to be an extrovert at my job, and a quirky personality. I've talked to my best friend about it, we went to HS together, and she is iffie on going too. I hated HS. could not wait to get out of there. I had classmates that bullied me, but also good friends from there that I still talk to today. My dh lOOOOOVED his high school reunions. I think he was voted like most changed or something. He was very quiet in HS, and now is a social butterfly. I'm not that.
Soooo. should I go? and what do you wear to a HS 40th reunion when your that old, and fluffy, and it's summer in MN? ha. or should I just skip it because....why go?!
thoughts and experiences? !
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Post by littlemama on May 15, 2022 15:36:24 GMT
I have never gone to any reunions and I dont regret it. High school was awful, I keep in touch with 4 or 5 people from high school via fb and that is enough for me. (My class had 590 people).
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Post by freecharlie on May 15, 2022 15:55:36 GMT
I went to my 20th and enjoyed it. My cousin graduated with me and we went together. I did reconnect with old friends.
I don't know if I'll go to my 40th. Few of my friends were in the same grade as me. Now, if I could have just a reunion of my friends, I'd go in a heartbeat.
If you aren't feeling it, don't go. There is no obligation to see people you didn't like just because you went to the same ceremony 40 years ago.
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Post by katlady on May 15, 2022 15:57:15 GMT
I went to mine. I enjoyed it and I am an introvert. I got to see my former best friend who I had not seen for over 20 years. And I saw the guy I had known since kindergarten! I had a big graduating class, over 1,000, the turnout was maybe about 150 or so. I talked to people who probably wouldn’t have talked to me in high school, like the most popular jock of our class. People do change and high school is such a weird time for most kids. I am glad I went, I was hesitant. If we had another, I would probably go.
ETA - The people on the organizing committee were some of the kids I hung out with, so I knew if I went I would know a few people.
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Post by chaosisapony on May 15, 2022 15:58:35 GMT
My 20th is this year. I didn't go to my 10th and I won't go to this one. I just have no desire to spend the little free time I have with people that I was forced to occupy time with as a kid. The people I went to school with that are still friends I see frequently. The only people at a reunion I would see are the ones I don't want to see. The people that plan our reunions also love to have the tickets be $60 each. I might consider going for a more reasonable cost but there are WAY more things I would rather spend $60 on.
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Post by piebaker on May 15, 2022 16:01:56 GMT
I went to and enjoyed my 10th and 20th, but not the 30th or 40th. We had a huge class of 750.
Just remember everyone is older, many formerly fluffy people are now svelte, and vice versa, some men are balding and bellied, and most have at least some wrinkles.
If people you knew and liked in the past will be in town for the reunion, maybe suggest meeting a few of them for lunch or a drink.
Be at peace and have fun with whatever you decide. You won't see them again for another 10 years! :-)
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Post by stormsts on May 15, 2022 16:03:06 GMT
My 40th reunion is this summer also. I will probably attend. There were 267 in my graduating class. My DH and I were having this same discussion with some friends the other night. DH and his friend were in the class ahead of me so their 40th was last year and neither attended the reunion. They say they see the ones they want to keep in touch with. While I agree with that, there are ones that will come back just for the reunion that I would like to see.
If you did not enjoy high school, I probably wouldn’t go. Don’t feel obligated.
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Post by Skellinton on May 15, 2022 16:06:48 GMT
I went to my 10th and that was plenty. I don't hate high school, it was fine, but anyone I wanted to keep in touch with I did.
The few people I wonder about I could Google search if so inclined.
I don't think you should feel obligated to go, if you don't want to go just don't go.
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Post by ~summer~ on May 15, 2022 16:09:40 GMT
Instead why don’t you organize a happy hour with the group of people you liked?
I went to a large urban high school and overall really liked high school- I think we’ve had 1 official reunion which I did not go to - however I do mini reunions with a large group of friends regularly. If I have a 40th reunion I would go with my high school bff.
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Post by peace on May 15, 2022 16:11:10 GMT
I went to my 10th and regretted it. It was awkward - but at the time I was married to my ex and I graduated with his niece. She was not the nicest person and the whole thing was painful and weird.
I thought about going to other gatherings but since they have a fb page and chit chat- I realize the main folks that attend these reunions for my class, I have zero in common with. They are all stuck in the same hamster wheel and cannot think outside of any box. Lots of racism and conspiracy theories. I have one really good girlfriend from high school- if she wanted me to go with her, I would out of love for her. But thankfully she doesn't want to go either. My 40th is this year, I think. lol
If you are curious at all, why not go? You can always sneak out if it's awful. But either way, you will know after that. You might reconnect with a spectacular soul.
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Post by katlady on May 15, 2022 16:12:39 GMT
Oh, as to your question as what to wear, I wore a nice dressy pants and top. Ours was not a fancy ball gown type of event. Some wore nice dresses, others like me, wore dressy pants. Ours was held in a hotel ballroom, so we only had to worry about too much A/C.
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Post by cindyupnorth on May 15, 2022 16:18:55 GMT
Oh, and then there is the added no front tooth scenario for me, remember? I would have my retainer in, but to eat I'd have to take it out. ugh.
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Ryann
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Ryann on May 15, 2022 16:20:21 GMT
I have no interest in going to a reunion. I absolutely loathe small talk. I’d rather go to the dentist than a party. Besides, I went to five different high schools. I wouldn’t even know which one to attend, lol.
If you decide to attend, have fun!!
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Post by cindyupnorth on May 15, 2022 16:20:44 GMT
Oh, it's being held at the local Legion. Not fancy, at.all.
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iluvpink
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Posts: 4,370
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Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
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Post by iluvpink on May 15, 2022 16:39:59 GMT
They are a no for me. Extreme introvert and shy on top. I had a few friends but we grew apart. One good friend died years ago and my best friend, well she has issues and I've cut contact. Dh and I went to high school together. He keeps in occasional contact with a couple of guys, but that's it.
I'm sure there are many nice people but as I hate large group gatherings and they cause huge anxiety, I'm ok with not finding out! I wasn't very involved in extra curriculars, don't have a ton of memories with friends/classmates and don't feel I have anything more in common with these people than random strangers. So I don't go. Dh is not an introvert but he feels no need to go either.
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Post by Linda on May 15, 2022 16:48:41 GMT
I haven't been to any of mine and DH hasn't been to any of his (same high school but different years). Next year will be my 35th, the following will be his. Neither of us have particularly fond memories of high school. Perhaps if I still lived in the same town, I might go, just to see, but it's not worth a flight and hotel plus the reunion fees to me. Large classes (450 maybe?)
I know my mum loved her high school and college reunions - both small classes though and she kept in touch with several people from each (same town) - she didn't fly back for them when we lived overseas but went faithfully once we were living there again. She was much more extroverted though - I'm 100% introverted.
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Post by Zee on May 15, 2022 16:55:19 GMT
I skipped my 30th, though I did enjoy the 20th.
I had about 500 people in my class and I'm friends with lots of them on FB, so I know fairly well what most everyone I care about is up to.
If you decide to go, wear jeans and a nice top and don't worry about being fluffy, I'm sure lots of others are too.
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Post by snugglebutter on May 15, 2022 17:09:47 GMT
I came from a similarly small town and do not ever plan to attend one. I keep up with a few people on FB.
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Post by paulao on May 15, 2022 17:16:33 GMT
Class of 1975. We’ve never had a class reunion and if we did I wouldn’t go. I’m still in touch with a handful of women from grammar school and have no interest in other classmates. Occasionally a person from HS pops up on my FB feed but I won’t friend them.
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Post by lisae on May 15, 2022 17:24:44 GMT
I really enjoyed high school which was a big change from elementary school. Middle school was well, in the middle. Loved my new friends but hated being that age. Big high school class of 300. My first husband and I graduated together. He was not at the one reunion I attended - the 10th. A friend who went to her 20th said all the cliques were gone. That seemed to be the case even at our 10th.
If we have a reunion this year, I'm still undecided also. My main reason for not going would not be my ex but politics. I don't know how many people really travel in for this but those who live here are mostly of a different political feeling than I am. It isn't just national politics. We have some local races this year that are going to get contentious. Of course the topic might not come up at all. My going will probably depend on whether my bff from high school drives down to attend.
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Post by epeanymous on May 15, 2022 17:29:38 GMT
I haven’t been to any. I didn’t enjoy high school, although it wasn’t traumatic or anything, but I kept in touch with people I wanted to keep in touch with, and just don’t really have a hankering to reconnect with others.
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Post by voltagain on May 15, 2022 17:30:45 GMT
I grew up in a very small town, class of 55 people. You grew up in a big town! My graduating class was 24 strong and that was with the merging of another school in the 9th grade. Their school only went to 8th grade. I went to what amounted to my 10th year reunion because I just happened to be in town to visit my parents and sister. My school doesn't have reunions based on graduation year but holds a school reunion every 10 years. Because we were so small we often had friends in the grades above/below us. That was my first and last reunion. I have had no inclination to attend a reunion otherwise.
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Post by Neisey on May 15, 2022 17:35:13 GMT
I have attended my 10th and 25th and had a blast catching up I moved away to university and then my Dad was transferred out of that province that fall so visits back were infrequent as my family wasn’t there.
Do whatever you want to, maybe a small get together with your closer friends off site earlier in the day. And wear whatever makes you comfortable - you will see everything from jean shorts to cocktail dresses at a summer reunion. I would wear a dress but that’s not outside my normal comfort zone.
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on May 15, 2022 17:50:53 GMT
I haven't been to any of mine. 40th will be soon. I hated HS. I don't see or care to see anyone from that era in my life.
I'd skip it.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 15, 2022 18:04:43 GMT
I went to my 5th, 10th and 30th. Had a lot of fun at the first two. The last one I did have fun but I realized that I have zilch in common with the ones who stayed there and never left. I only lived there from 8th-12th grade due to dad's job taking us there. It's one of those little towns where newcomers are outsiders forever - a fact that was pointed out at the 30th. Decided then that it wasn't worth the time, money and effort to ever go back. It probably won't be an issue in the future as they could only get a handful (less than 2 dozen from a class of 300) together at the local park for a potluck picnic to celebrate our 40th. There was no interest in a 45th. Our 50th would be in 2025 and I will be shocked if they have one.
As for your reunion, if it is stressing you out don't go. It's not the end of the world. Just get together with your best friend for dinner and drinks if you want to mark the occasion.
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Post by KikiPea on May 15, 2022 18:44:02 GMT
The only reunion that my DH and I have attended was each of our 10 year. I have never regretted going again because the o ly people that came to mine were the “popular” people. I didn’t really run around with any of them. I did see a small few of girls I was in choir with at the picnic, but that was it.
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milocat
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Mar 18, 2015 4:10:31 GMT
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Post by milocat on May 15, 2022 18:58:50 GMT
Don't go. You sound like you don't want to and add on your insecurity with your tooth I wouldn't go. DH has went to a reunion his class has had. I have no desire. And we live 5 minutes away from the town I graduated in. There are still some people around here I graduated with, I have seen them over the years, it's a small town.
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Post by monklady123 on May 15, 2022 19:05:51 GMT
I hated every minute I spent in high school, which was actually 7th-12th because there was no such thing as middle school back then. I went from elementary school to the high school with the same kids who weren't my friends all through elementary. I had a few friends from my neighborhood but who weren't in my grade. And I made a few in high school through the choir, but mostly that was it. I hated it. Got out and never looked back. I keep in touch with only two people from then, one from the neighborhood and one from my grade. I also am in the FB group for my high school class. I have never gone to a single reunion and it would be the last thing I'd choose to do. I stay in the FB group because some of them fascinate me... Mostly the way they seem to cling to remembering high school. It feels a bit odd to me. Anyway, those are my thoughts on high school reunions.
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Post by compeateropeator on May 15, 2022 19:08:37 GMT
Hahaha. Grade school/high school friends were just talking about this as it is our 40th this year. I have gone to 1 in 40 years and it was maybe the 10th? I live within an hour and my parents still live in town. I am still friends with my core group, many who live in or close to the area. We often see a ton of old classmates when out for drinks or at events, or getting snow tires changed, etc. Most of us have only been to maybe one.
I have no real desire to go and do not. It is more than enough that I still see most of my friends from that time as well as other classmates periodically here and there. Chalk it up to Small towns and many still living in the area or having relatives still living in the area.
Short response….No I don’t go and have no guilt or desire to and I liked high school and my class so that is not the reason.
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Post by papersilly on May 15, 2022 19:11:36 GMT
I would rather have a junior high reunion. Those were really fun days.
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