Class Reunion

by Annette Dashofy

I received an invitation to my high school reunion in the mail the other day. My THIRTIETH high school class reunion. Egads, how can that be possible? I’ve been launched into an emotional turmoil. Where did those thirty years go?

My class has held reunions faithfully at regular five year intervals. I’ve never gone. Why? Lots of reasons. One being that my husband graduated the same year from a different school. If we go to one, we should go to both, right? And that gets expensive. Especially when it’s someplace you don’t really want to go. Long ago, Ray suggested we ditch the expense of our reunions, take that money and go somewhere we really LIKE instead. Worked for me.

I was always the geek child in high school. Slightly nerdy, but not scholastic enough to truly qualify as A NERD. I wasn’t a cheerleader. I wasn’t a brain. I wasn’t cute. I wore braces. I hated how I looked.

In retrospect, I was probably like everyone else in that regard. When I look back at my yearbooks, I don’t think I looked so awful. But at the time? Yeesh. All the other girls were prettier, sexier, curvier in the right places. I was a stick. Knobby knees, bowed legs and no boobs. These days, I’d have been right in style. Without the side effects of anorexia. I was a natural twig. No starvation required.

Damn, what happened to my metabolism in the last thirty years?

Anyway, the point is I don’t have much in the way of fond memories of high school. I’ve always feared that I would revert to that shy, miserable, self-loathing kid if I went to one of those reunions. Besides, I was so NOT popular, I figured no one would miss me when I didn’t show up anyway.

I admit there are a few people I’d like to see. One of my best friends in high school, who served as a bridesmaid at my wedding, went on to live in New York and won two Emmy Awards for make up. I haven’t seen her in decades. We exchange Christmas cards and promises to get together when she’s in town, but that’s about it. There was a boyfriend I’d be curious to see. Is he still cute? Of course, my hubby would be with me, so maybe it would be better off if he turned out fat and bald. Another friend, who was my maid of honor, moved to Virginia. It would be nice to see her, too. But how do I know they’d show up? Maybe they’re planning on skipping it, too.

In my senior year, when they put out those “Most likely to…” lists, I was dubbed most likely to write the Great American Novel. Thirty years later, I have indeed written a novel. Great American? Well, it’s set in West Virginia which is definitely American, but I hardly think that’s what they had in mind. Still, it would be nice to march into that reunion with a publishing contract to show off. Even if it were for a murder mystery rather than some work of great literature. Otherwise, I’m leaning towards blowing off yet another reunion.

I don’t have to RSVP (complete with a check for the dinner and dance) until June. Maybe I’ll wait until the last minute in case that publishing contract comes through.

What do you think? Should I go? Or should I spend the money on a weekend get-away, just my hubby and me? Have you gone to any of your class reunions? Were they fun or a major disappointment? I’m waiting to hear. Your input may very likely sway my decision.