Who's Looking Forward To Their 20th High School Reunion?
3 Comments Ryan Welton on Monday, July 21, 2008 at 12:03 AM.
It's hard to believe given my youthful good looks, but my 20th high school reunion is coming up this next weekend in Henryetta, Okla.
Some folks aren't fond of high school reunions and make it a point never to attend them. However, I had a pretty good time growing up, and even my general misanthropic nature couldn't keep me away from this.
OK, I'm lying. I don't like social gatherings at all. Hate them. Don't like mingling or small-talk, and I really don't like talking about what I've been up to for the past week much less the past 20 years. My presumption is and always has been that nobody really cares what I've been up to.
But I am curious as to what other folks have been up to. I'm nosy like that.
I just wish that we could have reunions for junior highs and elementary schools. Now, those could be wicked fun.
Oh, me? I'm Ryan. It says it there on my name sticker.
Ryan who?
Ryan Welton
Uh, not ringing a bell
Well, I remember you, Tina! Just like it was yesterday when we were 6 in Mrs. Quinlan's class. Like that time you passed me that check-yes-or-no note.
Have you been stalking me?
We should also have reunions for our past jobs. Heck, those could be filled with tense conversation.
Hey, Ryan, good to see you!
Good to see you, too, Mitch! Have you been able to get work since the embezzlement conviction?
Uh ...
I told you I'm not good at small talk.
In honor of the event, I figured I'd spend the week looking back at pop culture from 1988 -- the music, the movies, the shows, everything. I might even detail what we used to do for fun before the Internet came along.
Heck, in Henryetta, we used to play baseball in the back yard, complete with improvised bases, bats and balls. We even used to use our cars to illuminate the "field."
We played massive amounts of basketball and playground football.
Video games. As in arcade video games. We didn't have Madden '08 back then.
Paper football tournaments. Those ruled.
Oh, we'd get into trouble a time or two. No doubt. However, I'm a firm believer that kids need to sow their oats. As adults, we just hope that they don't die or end up in prison because of a mistake. Most of us were pretty lucky in that regard.
Some of us were REALLY lucky.
Labels: henryetta, henryetta high school, high school reunion, oklahoma
Dude... I COMPLETELY agree with you. What is the point of going to a high school reunion? If you are close with these people, you would keep in touch with them throughout the years. I was forced to go to my 10 year reunion. I GUARANTEE I won't be going to my 20 year reunion. It's not that my high school years were bad, but I simply didn't like half of my class. Lastly, I don't know if it's a Welton thing, but I also HATE small talk.
I don't think my high school class had a twenty year reunion. I would guess most of them couldn't count that high. I am not interested in which cousin my former classmates married and how many monsters they have spawned. Small talk would not be an option with individuals possessing a two hundred word vocabulary.
Well, I missed the reunion too. But then I am never really sure which class I belonged to, 88 or 89. Neither one invites me to reunions so I guess I am off the hook!
My last remaining relative (in-law) just sold their house in Henryetta and moved to Oologah, so I have no reason to ever go back there. It feels strange somehow.
Anyways, Happy 20th!