Ain't Got No Class (the long version)
Ok... so I've been out of school for a couple years now, but I still live in the same hometown. In fact... as many of you may already know, I've moved a grand total of around a mile from where I grew up. Suffice it to say... I know my way around this part of the world. It's also safe to say that I'm not that hard to track down. Truth be told... most all of my classmates still have parents that live in the area, so how hard would it be to track them down and make sure they were invited? Not very...
Anyway, it is customary around these parts that the Senior class president is responsible for putting together all such reunions post graduation, and I was almost elected class president even though I was not very popular. One day, my dad held me out of school to go move cattle or some such thing. As it turned out, that was the day that class elections were held. Nobody knew it, but that's that. I was nominated along with five or six other people, and because the vote was split, I was in a tie for the winner. Had I been there, I would have most likely voted for myself and won. I wasn't, I didn't, I lost in the runoff. That, as it turns out, was a good thing.
The word came out that the person who was elected class president was handling things, and was going to contact people for the class reunion. Case closed... except... well... nobody knew about it. (Hey! It was on facebook, isn't that good enough?)
The few classmates I saw around this summer always asked me if we were having one and I had to reply that I didn't know, or at least wasn't invited if there was one. They hadn't heard anything.
Fast forward to the week before the big day. Nobody had heard anything yet. Then... my best friend from HS had a message on his celly informing him of a class reunion and the time and place. He looked at me and told me... "If I'm going... you've got to go too." Being the good friend I am, I of course replied, "Hell no! You got invited to that thing, not me..."
"Oh c'mon! I'll drive." he pleaded.
So the day comes and my buddy, his wife, and I head down to the big shindig. My buddy looks pretty much like he did when we graduated, and his wife... well... five kids later, she looks EXACTLY like she did back then. And me? I dunno... I think I look pretty much the same, but I've dropped the glasses and have a bit of a beard now. Not much of one, mind you, but obviously enough. Ok... I might have put on a few pounds too... like maybe 40. But hey! I carry it well dammit!
Alright, so we show up (with a fully stocked cooler in the back of his pickup), and we walk up to the collection of folks assembled (all 4 of them) and they all give my buddy a full smile greeting and hugs all around. Me? Not so much... When I'd say hello and call them by name, they'd look at me quizzically and say... um... who are you? I was going to say the foreign exchange student from junior year (we never had a foreign exchange student) and watch them struggle, but alas... somebody would always rat me out.
So almost half of the class ended up showing up at sometime during the day, and a quarter of those people didn't recognize me. What was I... chopped liver?
Truth be told... I kinda got a kick out of it. I mean it's not everyday that you get to meet people you've known your whole life for the first time.
As for the theories... my buddy's wife told me I looked younger than anyone there. A cousin thought it was the beard, another thought it was the overall physical appearance changes or my height.
I think it's because people really don't pay attention and I'm sure my projection (a.k.a. change in attitude) is much different now that I'm not looking for anyone's acceptance or approval.
****************************
Today's mystery lyric: (Remember the rules folks, no online searching of the lyrics, if you don't know it, you don't have the answer!)
someone finds salvation in everyone
and another only fame
someone tries to hide themself
down inside himself he breathes
someone swears his true love
until the end of time
another runs away
seperate or united?
empty or insane?
Answer to last lyric: All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix (there is no other version). Way to go Doc!
Anyway, it is customary around these parts that the Senior class president is responsible for putting together all such reunions post graduation, and I was almost elected class president even though I was not very popular. One day, my dad held me out of school to go move cattle or some such thing. As it turned out, that was the day that class elections were held. Nobody knew it, but that's that. I was nominated along with five or six other people, and because the vote was split, I was in a tie for the winner. Had I been there, I would have most likely voted for myself and won. I wasn't, I didn't, I lost in the runoff. That, as it turns out, was a good thing.
The word came out that the person who was elected class president was handling things, and was going to contact people for the class reunion. Case closed... except... well... nobody knew about it. (Hey! It was on facebook, isn't that good enough?)
The few classmates I saw around this summer always asked me if we were having one and I had to reply that I didn't know, or at least wasn't invited if there was one. They hadn't heard anything.
Fast forward to the week before the big day. Nobody had heard anything yet. Then... my best friend from HS had a message on his celly informing him of a class reunion and the time and place. He looked at me and told me... "If I'm going... you've got to go too." Being the good friend I am, I of course replied, "Hell no! You got invited to that thing, not me..."
"Oh c'mon! I'll drive." he pleaded.
So the day comes and my buddy, his wife, and I head down to the big shindig. My buddy looks pretty much like he did when we graduated, and his wife... well... five kids later, she looks EXACTLY like she did back then. And me? I dunno... I think I look pretty much the same, but I've dropped the glasses and have a bit of a beard now. Not much of one, mind you, but obviously enough. Ok... I might have put on a few pounds too... like maybe 40. But hey! I carry it well dammit!
Alright, so we show up (with a fully stocked cooler in the back of his pickup), and we walk up to the collection of folks assembled (all 4 of them) and they all give my buddy a full smile greeting and hugs all around. Me? Not so much... When I'd say hello and call them by name, they'd look at me quizzically and say... um... who are you? I was going to say the foreign exchange student from junior year (we never had a foreign exchange student) and watch them struggle, but alas... somebody would always rat me out.
So almost half of the class ended up showing up at sometime during the day, and a quarter of those people didn't recognize me. What was I... chopped liver?
Truth be told... I kinda got a kick out of it. I mean it's not everyday that you get to meet people you've known your whole life for the first time.
As for the theories... my buddy's wife told me I looked younger than anyone there. A cousin thought it was the beard, another thought it was the overall physical appearance changes or my height.
I think it's because people really don't pay attention and I'm sure my projection (a.k.a. change in attitude) is much different now that I'm not looking for anyone's acceptance or approval.
****************************
Today's mystery lyric: (Remember the rules folks, no online searching of the lyrics, if you don't know it, you don't have the answer!)
someone finds salvation in everyone
and another only fame
someone tries to hide themself
down inside himself he breathes
someone swears his true love
until the end of time
another runs away
seperate or united?
empty or insane?
Answer to last lyric: All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix (there is no other version). Way to go Doc!
posted by LL at 8:07 PM
21 Comments:
My 20th class reunion was last year. I had zero interest. I've never been to one of them. I was glad to leave. I can't imagine going back and I was kinda cool, I just hated it.
Hey, for the shameles self-promotion part:
Please, subscribe by e-mail to www.thriftybif.com. I need some hits!
Well look at you. I never figured you to go to your class reunion? lol Speaking of which I just had one myself. It was ok, i didn't go to the dinner. We are on the local rodeo committee so that's where I was.I mean if yiou have to listen to bull, you might as well enjoy the view. he he Ok So I haven't been to blogville in a bit... life has just been a little busy. I really don't know how I was blogging before? I can't seem to catch up on all my chores. Just wanted you to know I am still out here. I think some of my friends miss me?
Beth - She's alive!!! :P All in all it wasn't too bad. I got to see some folks that I hadn't seen since graduation, but just like all reunions, the ones I wanted to see weren't there, and the ones that were there, well... I could take or leave.
TW - SHE'S ALIVE!!! ;P Wha? You don't think I can hob and nob with the ol' classmates? Ours didn't have a dinner or anything like that. Just a meet and greet from 11 - 2. Probably long enough as it was.
As for missing you, well... It was more of your abrupt departure than anything else. Besides... you left off on a cat post. That makes everyone at least question your sanity. :ewink:
Oh Lordy!? Am I considered a crazy cat lady?? Well I may have to put aside the irrigation to post! lol School starts here in a couple days. SO hopefully I can get back here. Little buggers keep me runnin! Also I figured you just looked beeter than your classmates, so you didn't want to make them feel too bad.... yeah that's what I meant;)hey Where is WOW???
I never bothered with my reunions. The ones I would have wanted to see are gone. As in gone, I mean they passed away. As for the others, I either worked with them or I see them often enough that I dont want to pay $85 to sit at a table with them while wearing pantihose.
I admit that you do look younger than your actual age. And you do carry the added weight very well. In fact I dont see any added weight at all. Where do you hide it?
Actually, I think you dodged a few bullets there.
"Truth be told... I kinda got a kick out of it. I mean it's not everyday that you get to meet people you've known your whole life for the first time!" Is the best thing I have read in years.
TW - I dunno where WOWie is... when you and she both disappeared at the same time... I thought maybe you'd run off together. ;)
BC - a gentleman doesn't discuss such things... and neither do I.
Doc - I know not of what you speak *whistles innocently*
JennyLu - You'd be surprised how many times people meet me for the first time. I only meet them once, but...
hey that 45,000 a day was meant to be 45,000 a month... either way
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/world/africa/23congo.html
back to kobe?
No... you meant it to be 45,000 a day, that's why you typed it that way. Don't you remember typing "EVERY" in all caps like that? It was merely an attempt by you to play upon the emotions of the other commentors and justify your position instead of through logic and reason.
Unfortunately... talking about people dying in a far off land doesn't really justify your stated position on Kobe Bryant any more than kids starving in China makes someone eat their peas.
As for the rest... I couldn't care less nor give two shits for Kobe or his case. I wasn't there. He was acquitted. That's good enough for me and I've never given it any further thought. But thanks for stopping by anyway.
No.. I meant to say every month, as typos happen sometimes. I was merely trying to point out how trivial her stupid blog was. You can spew your BS all day but that was it no more no less. Oh and you're welcome.
Never been to a class reunion either. It's that whole antisocial/everyone is an a-hole thing I have. I might reconsider if you were in my class though. You could have had a blast using different accents, revealing info about the people you knew that didn't know you, etc. Did they have any 80's music?
Robbie - Good thing you're here to keep all the BS at bay. But if her blog was so trivial... why did you bother to visit and comment?
Deb - I knew... just KNEW that you'd have to watch Billy again. And you could never be in my class Deb. You're in a class far above me. And I told you... I couldn't do anything! Somebody always ratted me out!
You'll always be my class president.
It means more when it comes from adults.
I'll bet you say that to all the guys that tied for class president and lost in a runoff... ;)
BTW... watch out for those typos.
At my 20th HS reunion, if people hadn't been wearing name tags with the grad photo on it, I would have been meeting them for the first time.
CH-ch-ch-changes, baby!
"I might have put on a few pounds..."
Is the beard that heavy?
Well Tiffy... there were only 40 of us, so it's not that hard to narrow it down.
fermi - Pfffffftthhhhhhhhbbbbttttt
I've never gone to any of my class reunions either. Nor would I. I hated HS. With a passion. No thanks.
Glad you had fun though.
Why not? Don't you want everyone to see you now and wonder why they didn't snatch you up back then? Or at least think to themselves that they're glad they didn't? :P
High school reunions give me hives.
And honestly, how hard would it have been to find you?? That's the part that pisses me off. I didn't get an invitation to my ten year reunion - even though I was in the telephone book - but saw a copy of it...I wasn't even listed on the Missing page.
My class had a reunion this year or last (someone who I see once a year, because her brother was in my brother's class and they're best friends told me about it). 25+ years later, the cliques are still active. You'd think they'd have grown up at some point.
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