I went to a committee meeting at Candy’s the other night. We are having committee meetings every few months now in preparation for our 45th high school class reunion this coming August.
There were six of us there, Barb, Becky, Candy, Cheryl, Kay and me (our only male committee member, Jerry, was out of town — the one who is so good at reminding us we’re getting off track). Barb, Becky and Cheryl are the relatively “new blood” that is much needed for a committee that has been meeting every five years forever.
The hotel is booked and the program and menu will be planned closer to the time. But there are always two items that we have to work on now: finding addresses and/or e-mails in order to contact classmates, and, once we’re in contact with them, convincing more of them to attend!
I am always amazed at the number of classmates who even still live in this area, but never attend the reunions.
I think there are probably three common reasons that people don’t attend:
1. They hated high school and have absolutely no interest in being
reminded of anything associated with it. (There’s not much we
can do about this one.)
reminded of anything associated with it. (There’s not much we
can do about this one.)
2. If their friends from high school aren’t going to be there, they
don’t think they will have a good time.
don’t think they will have a good time.
3. They are afraid they won’t look as good or be as successful as
the other attendees.
the other attendees.
It’s the last two that I wish we could somehow convince them are non-issues.
Regarding number two: Hello? It’s been forty-five years! Who the heck remembers everyone they were friends with in high school? At this point, you are getting together with people who have common memories of your teenage years. There is something so fun about sharing memories of a favorite teacher or a memorable hang-out, even with someone who you didn’t know very well then. (And, since most of us have really bad memories by now, we’ll be able to compare the same memories at our next reunion in five years, and neither one of us will remember, so it will be like a new conversation!
And, number three. At 63 years old — we are all waaaayyyy past caring about that “looks” and “career” stuff. Yes, there are some who are more “well-preserved” than others, but there are many more of us who just look like what we are … people in their sixties! And, you know, at this age, everyone is friendly and glad to see everyone else, and there’s hardly any talk about “careers” because most of us don’t have one any more! So, if you smile and look like you’d like to have a conversation, someone will feel “invited” by that smile, and strike up a conversation with you. I’d bet on it.
So, now dear readers, here’s my request of you. Becky, one of the “rookies” who has really taken to this reunion stuff, suggested that in our initial mailing, we have a fun list of “Top Five Reasons You Should Attend the Reunion.” I think that’s a great idea and I know there must be some terribly clever things we could put on that list, I just can’t think of them.
So, how about helping me look “brilliant” to my fellow committee members for our next meeting, by giving me any ideas you have for reasons we could put on that list?
I’m looking forward to seeing what ideas you might have.
