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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Slice

Secret to enjoying a high school reunion

To prepare for her 50-year class reunion, Ritzville's Karen Meye studied the pictures in her senior yearbook. "Then I went to the reunion and, luckily for me, I was able to recognize and call by name each of my classmates.

"We had a great time! I'm so proud of all of our success in life."

Joan Williams shared this. "I just attended my 40th from Cheney High School. The secret to enjoying them is to forget all the memories of the 'popular' kids, the 'jocks,' etc. By the time you've reached this time in life, you discover that 'life is a great leveler.' Who you were at 18 (or 16, 17) is not who you are at 58. Most have had divorces, grown kids, grandchildren, deaths, and job losses. What is important now is family and friendships.

"I rekindled a friendship with my very best friend from junior high and high school; we hadn't seen each other since the 20th reunion. I was able to make new friends all over again with kids I barely spoke to in school. It's a joy to find friendship."

My friend John Kafentzis had this to say. "My advice on reunions: If it is 30 years or beyond just go. Your classmates aren't obsessed with whether you are unemployed or the bank president, overweight or bald. They just want to catch up and reminisce. Don't wait until next time, attrition has already begun."

Gabi Tilley said the secret to enjoying a high school reunion is to have married your high school sweetheart. "Then you can go together and when someone asks your husband 'What ever happened to that Gabi chick you married?' he can say 'She's right over there and doesn't she look good?' "

Nancy Chevigny-Dahlke said her class meets every year now and she treasures the gatherings. "I learned that each one of those classmates that I either didn't know or never talked to has a story."

Robert Fairfax wrote that he got talked into helping with his 30-year Shadle Park High reunion but has wound up having a blast. I helped set up the website -- shadlepark81.com -- and was able to connect with people I haven't seen in years. Better yet, I have gotten to know people I didn't in high school. And after 30 years, all the drama (and hair) is mostly gone. So my secret? Get involved!"

Larry Schneiderman of Post Falls attended the reunion of his 1961 graduating class back in Iowa last month. He's the wrong guy to tell that high school reunions are silly and a waste of time.

It was a small class. "Most of us were K-12 together. We had a grand time."

Those people mattered to him then. They matter to him now.       

    



The Slice

The online home for Paul Turner's musings and interactions with disciples of The Slice.