COLUMN: A different reunion

“Bob works for the city. And Jack’s in lab research. And Peggy plays organ at the Presbyterian Church. And the class of ‘57 had its dreams. We all thought we’d change the world with our great works and deeds. Or maybe we just thought the world would change to fit our needs. The class of ‘57 had its dreams.”

“Class of ‘57,” Statler Brothers, 1972

Before Creston’s football game at Ballard High last Friday I spent some time with an aunt and uncle who live nearby. Over a bite to eat, we caught up on our lives and the conversation included my aunt’s high school reunion that weekend. She had no interest in going. It was a couple hours drive away.

As our area high schools enter homecoming season, it is common for class reunions to be held. It is also common those class reunions enter a float in the parade; usually attending members sitting on a trailer with a banner noting the year graduated. It all adds to the festivity of the event.

My aunt’s reasoning for not attending was fair. She said it’s been too long and she only keeps up with two people she went to school. She didn’t think that was enough motivation to dedicate a weekend to go. She didn’t have enough interest or enthusiasm. I understand.

She then turned the table to me and asked my class reunion history. I told her I’ve been to two, the 20th and the 25th, and I wanted to go to both. I have good memories of my school and high school years and still keep up with two classmates I’ve known since seventh grade. I was in a class with each of them. I was one of 141 in my graduating class and the 20th reunion had a strong attendance. The 25th, not so much. The 10-year reunion was probably the most well attended, but that was before the influence of social media. More on that in a moment. We were still young and had more energy.

I didn’t attend the 10th because my wife and I were in the third-trimester of our first pregnancy and our doctor suggested not to take a day’s long drive anywhere during that time. I respected that and it turned out to be good advice, but that’s for another day.

I can’t determine where all my classmates live, but a number of them live about a two hours drive from the school.

Our class does have a Facebook page. During discussions through the Facebook page months before considering a 30th, comments were made about how people seem comfortable keeping up with each other through Facebook. A 30th class reunion was held but attendance was worse than the 25th. I was part of those preliminary discussions but didn’t attend the 30th because of other commitments.

Maybe it was the dates chosen as reason for poor attendance? Our high school typically has its homecoming week in early October. With some still having kids in school, maybe the kids’ schedules prevent some from attending. Despite the consensus date chosen, it’s still not sure how many will attend.

The social-media relationships are two sided. Yes, we can keep up with friends on a regular basis. One classmate feared some classes won’t have reunions because of that. I am still touched how a classmate reached out to me for a couple of years ago to help write her father’s obituary. She knew I was in the newspaper business and was confident I could give her some direction. We’ve kept in touch ever since.

The Facebook and social media pages have benefits. The last year, I’ve spoken more to some classmates through the page than I ever did in four years of high school. We’ve had some deaths in the class the past few years. Some of the people were known more than others, but I still respect how we all paid our condolences to all.

Referring to the Statler Brothers song, it is dominated with what people in the class do for a living, which there is nothing wrong with that when talking about classmates. A classmate of mine owns a restaurant and it was convenient to meet her there for coffee one morning when I was close. Talking about work is a normal conversation starter but it’s encouraging people to share a bit more. After one classmate’s death, another person had a reality check and suggested to us all to make the effort to see the people we still want to see because we can’t take it for granted.

And it doesn’t have to be at a class reunion.