How It All Started
Guess What?
WERE YOU IN A CLIQUE? WERE YOU ONE OF THE 'IN' CROWD? OR WERE YOU ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN? ARE YOU HESITANT TO ATTEND OUR REUNION? GUESS WHAT? IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.....................
If you're hesitating to attend our 50th KP celebration because you didn't think you were popular, or you didn't like the way you looked in high school, or for any other reason. Guess what? It doesn't matter! We're all Medicare Seniors now! Adolescent hang-ups gone!
An article appeared in the May 9th issue of the Los Angeles Times titled: Blast From The Past - Surviving And Enjoying - A High School Reunion, written by Kim Kabar. We'd like to share some excerpts from this article with you. We don't know if we're violating any kind of copyright, but we won't tell if you won't tell. We think you'll find the below excerpts interesting and enlightening:
Whether you were a teen in the days of sock hops and soda jerks or protests and peace signs, an invitation to your high school reunion might inspire mixed feelings.
Reunions offer you an opportunity to reminisce with high school pals, to flirt with your old prom date or to prove that pimple-faced, geeky boys and shy, gawky girls can grow to be both good-looking and confident. They also serve to satisfy your curiosity in learning how your classmates have aged, who they have become and what they have accomplished since graduation.
Yet, class reunions can also be nerve-racking because they require us to reflect on our lives and to provide an accounting of sorts to our peers. Whether you are all "rah rah shish boom ba" about attending your high school reunion or greet the idea with the enthusiasm of going to a dental appointment, know that you are not alone. Americans hold an estimated 75,000 high school reunions annually, with about 40 per cent of those reunions held for people who graduated more than 30 years ago. But even when you know that you're not alone in this milestone event, the mere thought of attending your reunion can throw you into a state of acute anxiety.
To help ease your fears, here are a few survival tips from those who have gone before you.
Lower your expectations
You will repeatedly hear the words, "Oh my gosh, look at you!" and "It's been so long!" There may be hugs and many handshakes. Before entering the banquet hall, a peppy former classmate you might not remember might ask you to publicly humiliate yourself by wearing a nametag printed with your high school yearbook photo. That's exactly what happened to Dewayne Baum, a 69 year old electrical engineer who recently attended the 50th reunion from Wilson High School in Long Beach. "Everyone had these little nametags on, and you had to go around gawking at those to figure out who in the world you were talking to," said Baum.
Don't expect to recognize everyone
Remember Joe and Donna? Every high school had a Joe and Donna. They were the god and goddess of good looks, popularity and coolness. Fast forward 40 years. Joe might be bald and pudgy. Donna might be gray-haired, plump and have her fair share of laugh lines and crow's feet. Seeing how your classmates have aged is probably one of the most surprising, if not down-right shocking, aspect of school reunions. Janice Dong, age 68, a retired teacher who graduated high school in 1955 said, "As soon as I entered the room, I asked myself, "Who are all these people?" said Dong. "They were all old."
Don't expect to resume old friendships or rekindle old flames
Dong further said, "Prior to my class reunion, I was sort of curious to see if my old boyfriend would be there. He was there and it turned out that we are now completely opposites - in our values, spiritual beliefs, politics, everything. I think we both walked away saying to ourselves, "Thank goodness I didn't end up with that one."
Leave your ego at home
The number one question asked at most reunions is, "What have you done since graduation?" How does one sum up 50 years of struggles and triumphs, laughter and tears, accomplishments and mistakes in a matter of minutes? Relax! People measure success differently 40 years out of high school than they did at 10. By the time you are in your 60's you realize that a person's success in life can't be measured by what they own or what they do for a living. By the 40th or 50th reunion, everyone is on more equal footing. Everyone knows themselves better, and everyone is not so self-absorbed anymore.
Enjoy the party
Once you've set your expectations and your ego aside, let the party begin. And, party you will - if you attend with an open mind, an open heart and a willingness to enjoy the camaraderie and to celebrate how far you've come since high school. Enjoy the rich history of your generation. By the 40th or 50th reunion, it's about what we all accomplished together. It's about coming full circle and saying, "Yeah, we made it."
Some tips on attire and attitude
Dress appropriately. Read the invitation carefully. Look at the time of the event, then decide what appropriate attire should be. You don't need to wear a pinstripe suit so that everyone knows you're a corporate attorney or wear a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt so that everyone knows you raise horses. The invitation may say black-tie or casual dress. Read your invitation.
Don't try too hard
Don't try to be someone you're not by dressing overly sexy or too youthful for your age. Just be yourself.
Accentuate the positive
Above all wear something that fits. Nothing says "I've put on weight" like something that is ill-fitting.
Be comfortable
You don't want to be tugging at your outfit the entire evening. You want to come off looking poised and confident. Be comfortable.
Comments by your secretary, Pat (Duchess) Stack:
I was fortunate to have attended my brother's 50th KP Class of 55 reunion as his guest. I can tell you from observation and experience that everyone was having a wonderful time at his reunion. Those humiliating nametags? Well, trust me, they are a necessary evil. You will be glad you and everyone else is wearing one. Cliques didn't exist anymore. There was no "in" crowd - just a bunch of Medicare card carrying seniors who were sincerely and genuinely happy to see one another. There were lots of hugs. Lots of laughter. Lots of reminiscing. It was truly a memorable event. I personally encourage everyone to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event. Your KP friend, Pat (Duchess) Stack