“And It’s Not Even a Double Wide!”

September 21, 2015

My wife and I could not have had more different high school backgrounds. I attended a large public high school which was mainly students from working class families. With a graduating class close to three hundred, my circle of friends was from a narrow socioeconomic segment. After graduation I received notices of reunions but post-reunion reports showed very little in the way of attendance. In fact, generally no more than one in ten friends attended. I realized that if I ever went along there would be a high risk that I would not know anyone. That thought process, along with the fact that my parents moved from my hometown, have caused me to miss all of my reunions.

By contrast my wife went to a small private school where her graduating class numbered only twenty-six. Over the years, around fifteen to twenty alumni have regularly attended her reunions. We last attended her fifth so as this year was the fortieth, it seemed like it might be a good one for her to reconnect.

So what had occurred over the last thirty-five years? Well first I should say that I think we avoided many of the stereotypical comments associated with reunions. There had been no shock at inevitable hair loss and weight gain, we dodged the behind-the-back jabs about career choices or failed business ventures, and we were not drawn into feelings of envy towards wealth accumulation.

The fortieth reunion had all the trappings of being the sweet spot of high school reunions. As folks gathered I was able to observe and reflect because my expected role was no more than casual observer, and unlikely “eye candy”. What better role for the writer of a weekly commentary?

My first observation was the absence of jealously or envy. Everyone seemed very comfortable with who they were and where they were. There was no sense of lost opportunity. Instead this group was all about the now and the future. The only true regret was the passing of former classmates. Several times I picked up the comment “didn’t you know he passed away two years ago”. As the night went on it was obvious that being alive, and sharing time with each other were the themes for the night. In some ways the loss of those few classmates seemed like a strong glue that bound everyone together as they shared their need to celebrate life in the present and the future.

I completed my own private assessment of the best one-liner I overheard. Two people were talking about a classmate who was remodeling his home. The brave remodeler was apparently staying in temporary living arrangements. The shocked exclamation that just burned in my mind was: “And it’s not even a double-wide!”

I am sure more adventures and excitement lie ahead for this group. Like many baby boomers, there was a strong sense that there was still much to be done.  We have already started to make plans to attend the forty-fifth reunion to find out what.

Carl Gambrell