I went to a 50-Year High School reunion over the weekend. Right now, you are probably thinking, “What??? Man, you are one old goat. What does that make you…67…68 years old?”
ACK! The heck you say! No, I took my Dad to his high school reunion. How dare you!
My father can’t drive and can’t see very well, so my husband and I accompanied him to the El Camino Class of 1959 High School Reunion in Sacramento. (Any former Eagles out there wanna holla?)
Oh my God, you guys. A roomful of 160 senior citizens. My husband and I were the only ones in the room under the age of 65. And I was supposed to help my Dad find his old buddies. Which meant walking up to a bunch of strangers, squinting at their name tag, and if I got caught, I would then have to ask them if they knew my Dad. And what if they didn’t? That’s a nice and awkward conversation. If I didn’t get caught squinting I could run back to my Dad safely and ask him if he knew them with no one the wiser.
Anticipating a night full of approaching people, you know what that means:
One glass of red wine is just enough to alleviate the anxiety of walking up to perfect strangers but not enough to hump their leg and ask for their room key.
The little cow on the card is not the school mascot (they were the eagles, remember? Gawd, didn’t I JUST show you a picture of an eagle? Sheesh). No, the cow designates what kind of meat I chose for dinner. And I chose the meat of a cow. You might also notice the commemorative mug behind and to the left of the wine that each class member received. Which I thought was a cool idea.
I can be a snob when it comes to event planning. I’ll attend a party and my inner critic starts approving and disapproving of the party elements. Of course it’s not my place to criticize because it doesn’t matter what I think, so I keep my opinions to myself, but I think them nonetheless. I approved of the mug. I approved of the near magnum-force magnetic name tags for the class members. I did not approve of the six inch clearance for the dinner plates:
But I wasn’t going to worry about that. It was still cocktail hour. Time to wander around and mingle.
There were 500 people in my father’s graduating class and 80 of them were there at the reunion. I ran back and forth between my dad and other people’s name tags and he’d remember maybe one out of ten, at which point I’d bring them together and tell them both who they were and let the memories fly. It would go something like this:
Dad (trying to get a good look at someone he can’t see): I think I remember you!
Other person: Well, how are ya after all these years?
Dad: I’m allright. How about you.
Other person: Oh can’t complain, can’t complain.
And then that would be it. Because in actuality, they didn’t really know each other as much as they kind of maybe thought the other one’s name sounded familiar. There was no “Remember the time we streaked across the football field at Homecoming wearing nothing but a giant eagle head? They never did find out who did it! Boy those were the days!”
Nope none of that. Instead, they would run out of things to say. So I would prod them with my verbal spurs with things like, “So…. do you live here in Sacramento?” and “What kind of work do/did you do?”. Nothing too complicated and it generally took the conversation well past the 30 second mark where the conversation would wrap up with a couple of Well-nice-to-see-you-again’s.
And who knew trying to herd a bunch of 68-year olds to their tables was like trying to herd cats? And getting them to sit down and shut up is like trying to get a bunch of cats to sit down and shut up.
Twenty minutes. (Twenty minutes!) before everybody was quiet enough for the reunion committee person to speak to the group. Whatever happened to the generation that did not question authority and did what they were told, etc? I’ll tell you what happened. They reached the Age of Realization where that kind of crap just doesn’t make you happy and life is short and they paid their dues and they were going to do whatever the hell they wanted.
Once people had settled down for a minute you could hear a marching drum cadence in the distance that got closer and closer until the entire current El Camino High school pep band burst into the room and played a the ECHS fight song and the alma mater.
It was really kind of cool. I totally approved of that party element.
During dinner at our table, it came out that:
1. Marilyn (who, by the way, had smuggled in a bottle of red wine to the party) had a high school crush on this guy Albert and if he were here she would finally be willing to confess it. I told her she was in luck and that this guy Albert was indeed there because I remembered seeing his name tag. I told her I’d find him for her and she HAD to tell him she crushed on him way back when and I wanted to see it.
2. This prompted my father to announce that he, too, had a high school crush on this girl Carol, so I said we would find out if she were here and I would bring her to him.
I asked our table occupants who the Homecoming King and Queen were and they couldn’t remember. My Dad said there was just a queen and no king.
WHAT?????
How could (and why would) you have a queen without a king? That just didn’t make sense. I decided that my father’s brain had farted and he didn’t know what he was talking about. I later approached the committee woman and asked her if she knew who the King and Queen were and she told me that SHE was the Queen and there was no King.
Huh.
After finally locating Albert, I brought Marilyn to him and took pictures while she confessed to him that she had the biggest crush in high school. It was awesome.
After finally locating Carol, I brought her over to my Dad, and with his infinite socialization skills did NOT confess but mumbled something about finally getting to put his arm around her after all these years.
Carol was very gracious about the whole thing.
Every time I asked someone if they knew who Carol was they’d say, “Oh she’s the hot one in the black dress, she was just here a minute ago.” I walked up to a woman who I thought might have been considered hot in a black dress and it wasn’t Carol, but they shared the same last name even though they weren’t related. How weird is that? Apparently “Draper” is just a hot last name to have (e.g. Mad Men’s Don Draper)
And then the tunes began to play. At a reasonable volume (as advertised in the reunion’s flyer). Tunes such as:
Walkin’ After Midnight (Patsy Cline)
Sh-Boom, aka Life Could Be a Dream (The Crew-Cuts)
Return to Sender (Elvis Presley)
I’m Walkin’ (Fats Domino)
And how do I know who sang all these songs? Because in this room of upper-Sextuagenarians, most of whom do not participate in much of today’s technology, such as Twitter and Facebook, I busted out my iPhone and used an app called Shazam, which identifies songs and artists at the click of a button. (er, the touch of a screen)
And people danced!
Or maybe they were doing the Eagle Dance, flapping their wings, while others just choked each other. In any event, these cats really put the “boom” back into Baby Boomers, I’ll tell you that.
Marilyn (you know the cool one at our table? The one who snuck in the wine and confessed her crush?) also brought their high school yearbook from 1959. I asked her if we could look for my mom in there, since she was a junior when they were all seniors. (Yeah, my parents dated in high school and got married soon thereafter). And there she was, right there in the Juniors pages. I didn’t think to take a picture of that, but here they are on their wedding day in 1961:
My mother was eighteen when she got married. Eighteen!!!! She was a teenage bride! Can you imagine? Who does that anymore?
One common comment among the reunion attendees was how friendly everyone was, as if it surprised them. I wondered if it was because everyone was a jerk back in the day. I asked one man about it after he mentioned how friendly everyone was. He said that at their 30-year reunion, everyone was still clique-y.
“Do you suppose it’s because everyone has finally gotten over themselves?” I asked.
“Yeah, people have their own lives, their own kids have grown up…”.
I’m not sure how that explained it exactly, but it sounds like I only need to wait another 25 years before the “popular” people will talk to me at my high school reunion. Woo hoo!
By the way, the apple may not fall far from the tree, and my husband and I may have gone to high school together, and I may have been a junior when he was a senior, but I did NOT get married at 18. Hell no, we waited until I was 34. Of course there was that 15-year-out-of-touch-incommunicado gap that delayed things, but still. We waited.
Looks like a good reunion party for all.
I am totally cracking up! And, MY parents dated all through highschool and never any one else — they were married as soon as they graduated colleged — and today, my gawd, they’ve been married 56 years…..you can see everytime my brother and I brought home someone they certainly got the third degree. I didn’t end up marrying my steady but he’s my best male buddy today. My brother DID marry his hs steady but she was married twice and he was married once before. It’s another world……
Glad you did this for your dad & he enjoyed himself!
Next year we’re supposed t have a 25th, but haven’t heard anything yet. We had a 10 year, but it was at the place where a classmate of ours committed suicide a few years earlier. Can someone say “Rocket Scientist”? Whoever planned it was not from this world! UGH!
This was such a nice post. I want to find a 50-year HS reunion to crash because it sounded fun and I sure as heck have no desire to attend my own 20th in a few more years.
this is so cool! and yes, Carol is a hottie, but that picture of your mom is gorgeous.
I am breaking my 16 comment rule to tell you that I LOVE THIS POST. It is so, so YOU…and it makes me want to capitalize ALL OVER THE PLACE! Also, you look just like your mother!
Whoa — that wedding picture of your folks? I took one glance at your dad, and all I could see was you — that’s kinda cool, and it was really cool of you to take your dad to his reunion. And how many of us will get a chance to be 30-something at a 50-year reunion?
Sounds like quite the time. I’m glad your dad got to go!
My husband is an El Camino Eagle… Class of 2004 lol… It will be interesting to go to his reunion since I didn’t go to school with him or in Sacramento at all… I have a 10 year coming up soon, I don’t know if I dare go, I hardly talk to anyone I graduated with anymore… Props for taking your dad to his and for hooking up the old flames 🙂
man our highshool re union, would be a toga party str8 outta animal house. Bess says hi
Yeah, I went to my 30th reunion and those mean girls were still mean. The good looking Mr. Perfect jock was a sleezy oiled back hair con-man. The boy nobody would go to Who’s Who banquet with that my mom MADE me go with is a heart surgeon and a hunk. I can’t wait to see what happens at #50
I absolutely love this story!!! Thanks for dropping in on me:) I love that picture of your Dad and Carol. And yes Carol did look like a movie star! Life, one minute your graduating HS and the next minute you are hopefully at your 50th reunion.
Have a great day!
Ms. Wanda
Oh…. those sixty somethin’s sure know how to throw a big bash, huh?
There was romance, food, wine, dancing and choking. What more could they ask for except memory and eyesight?
I’ve been avoiding my high school reunions for some of the reasons you describe. The awkward 30 sec conversations and remembering that I don’t miss most of the people. (I already keep in touch with a bunch of friends from high school.)
But the way you describe it sounds sweet and is making me think I should go to the next one. If for nothing else, but a good blog post!!
Great job as always!!
You must be the best daughter in the world to sit through/participate in that! 10 points for you.
I agree with Suzy. Carol has definitely had work done!
What a fantastic post… sounds like when I went to The Hubs 40th reunion in 2000. He graduated in 1960, and as I like to remind him, ah, how old was I when he graduated? Oh, wait, I.WASN’T.EVEN.BORN!!!!
Yeah, I was born in 1965, so I was LOVED by the MEN from his class, and HATED by the women… 🙂
BTW, LOVE Shazam!! I showed The Hubs how to use it the other day when Highway to Hell came on the car radio yes, we like the same music, from his generation, up to 80s rock & roll. We both thought Shazam was so freakin awesome when you could see the VIDEO on Youtube after hearing the song on the car radio… AWESOME!!
Your dad is adorable.
Awwww, they’re so cute at that age!
That was such a great post! I’d absolutely take my Dad to his reunion, except he’s too much of an ornery old geezer to want to go. LOL!!!
My dad went to one of his reunions, maybe 50th? I can’t remember. He met his third wife there and divorced my mother because of her.
Uh…Carol has had a facelift.
Wow, that’s sweet that you went there for your Dad. I’ll bet he really appreciated that.
I’ve only been to one High School reunion and that cured me forever. 🙂
I enjoyed that post! I bet your father really appreciated you taking the time to go with him!
What a delightful post. They looked like they were having fun. It’s great that you took your dad. And your mom was so beautiful. I suppose that 18 didn’t seem too young back then. I think girls matured sooner in the 50’s. Both my sisters married when they were still in their teens.
we’re about to go to my husband’s 30th and I’m sooooo excited.
(anyone know how to get a passport in 2 days?)
Seriously though, you get major daughter points for hustling up that hottie for your dad.
(BTW, I’m writing this post with my NGIP pen. Okay, not really. But I did sign a check with it today. I even Maaaaa’ed to add to the effect. 10Q!!)
Returning your SITs visit.
So, I take it the silent generation isn’t so silent anymore? Sounds like fun!
I love this post. My dad just celebrated his 50th this past Friday as well but I haven’t gotten all of the deets yet. He graduated in Minneapolis though, not Sacramento…so I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have run into his nametag!
Sounds like a good time and your dad definitely has great taste. First, Carol and then your mom!
Thanks for stopping by! I LOVE your blog and sense of humor, I will definitely be back!
Found you through SITS.
Great story and am amazed that Carol looks much younger than the others.
You win the daughter of the year award! What a great post. Your dad is so handsome and their wedding pic- Ahhhhh.
Thanks for sharing.
xo
>>>Hey, my wife uses Shazam! She holds a microphone up in like the department store and it identifies what’s playing on the speakers overhead. That app is freaking amazing! Wow, I’m a total nerd. But I can dance. Dennis the Vizsla
I want to know where Dennis lives - A place that allows dogs to get married????
How sweet to take your dad to his reunion, I love the pictures and the ‘crush’ reveals, such fun!
BTW - my thanks for the NGIP pens is finally posted too :)!
Honestly, I can’t even imagine. At my 10th reunion I couldn’t remember half of the people. At your dad’s age, I won’t remember myself.
Aw… that was so sweet of you to take your dad to the reunion. I have to ask, though… what’s with the picture of the people dancing? It looks like the guy on the right is getting choked! Wild times! Wild times! And SHAZAM! Your dad’s crush is really well preserved!
P.S. Did you hand out the NGIP pens at the reunion? I’m lovin’ mine! Thanks!
this is a terrific post. i loved reading it.
So cool that you went too, and I’m sure it wasn’t just to take notes for your blog! 😉
What a great daughter you are. And sounds like you had a great time as well. Well done.
Oh how sweet is that!?! Very cool thing you did for your dad, must have been quite the interestng evening. I know I would have enjoyed something like that! Granted, I have to admit that I just recently skipped my own 20 year reunion…lol.
Hey, my wife uses Shazam! She holds a microphone up in like the department store and it identifies what’s playing on the speakers overhead. That app is freaking amazing!
Wow, I’m a total nerd. But I can dance. 😉
That was so sweet and gracious of you! I loved that fact that they might not have really remembered each other. Pure awesomeness!
That sounds like a lot of fun. I think that I would much prefer going to someone elses reunion to my own.
My parents graduated in ’60 and plan their reunions. Many of these stories could be theirs. Except that they have a reunion about every other year and all still know each other for the most part. I guess that’s what happens when you graduate from a 12 year school and date for all 4 years of HS. Sounds like you ultimately had fun!
thank God there were no goats on those placecards!!!
WOW!!! Makes Old(ish) Injun feel young. I’m class of 1963 & was married to wife #1 soon after & it lasted 20 years. Reaquainted with childhood sweetheart after several years as divorcee. She remembered me & had carried my framed graduation photo from home to home over the years. It’s on our wall now after being in drawers through 2 husbands. Been married since ’94 & going strong.
Your Dad and I are quite similar looking, I even got the beard thanks to a French/Irish great granddad. I’m a tad more coppery though thanks to the rest of my ancestors.
Pen made Mrs Mike very happy. She has carpal tunnel syndrome & it’s easy to grip.Trying to figure out how to get canoe inna box to mail.
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but 1)your mom was beautiful and 2) you look so much like her.
P.S. the pens RAWK! pepper jelly comin’ right up.
schweeeet! sounds like you guys had fun!
This is a very lovely post, my dear. It was so, so sweet - I hope whatever members of ECHS’s class of ’59 are on the big, bad interwebz check it out.
I was unable to attend my 20th (which was in May, the same weekend we were moving from Old New House to New Old House) but my BFF from high school went and gave me a full report. I decided that was just as good as being there, especially once everyone from our class posted their reunion party pics on Facebook. Apparently 20 years is still plenty of time to be clique-y. It also doesn’t help that I went to a super-snooty private school and my total class, counting 4 exchange students who “graduated” with us that year, was just 62 people.
I really, really hope my 50th is like your dad’s was!! Even with the music, but probably not much chance of that. We’ll all be doing the Cabbage Patch and the MC Hammer dance nostalgically and carefully while the gentle strains of Duran Duran and Wham play (hopefully at a reasonable volume, of course)…
On another note, Albert and Carol? Still total foxes! Yowza! I hope I age nearly that well!
Lastly, Hubby and I tied the knot when he was just turned 22 and I was just turned 23. (We began dating when he was 19 and I was 20.) EVERYONE and their mother kept telling us how YOUNG we were to be getting married at that age, and that was a whopping FIVE YEARS older than your mom, in my case! YEESH.
Awwww how sweet you took your dad to his reunion.
The publicist was 22 when she got married in 1982. Almost a teenage bride.
Very rare for her generation. And she wasn’t even pregnant!
You know what…it’s hard to herd goats too.