Don

I'll travel from Seattle to San Antonio this summer for my 30th high school reunion, plus a family reunion the same weekend. This will be my first high school reunion, so I hope it'll be okay. I've got lots of family in the central Texas area, so it won't be a wasted trip regardless.

Wasn't in the "in" group back then (nor am I now, come to think of it), and haven't really kept in touch with anybody through the years. Found my best friend from high school a year ago via the Web, so I'll be seeing him for the first time since graduation.

Anyway, it'll be interesting...

Marilyn

I traveled about 2000 miles, from SF to St. Louis, and it was definitely worth it.

I would have been the last person to attend a high school reunion, but what made a huge difference was that one of my classmates started a reunion website about 1 year before the actual reunion. I connected with a variety of people -- some I had known casually and some barely at all.

By the time we had all been writing back and forth for a year, sharing memories, arguing over politics, etc, the reunion weekend was like meeting a bunch of online friends for the first time. And some of them happened to bear a vague resemblance to people I knew in high school.

LoveItaly

Hi capri, we have not had a HS class reunion in years (our class never was to organized or ambitious, LOL).

I did go to all our reunions except the last one has had houseguest at the time.

My class reunion was in a real close town, so no traveling involved.

I am fortunate that the friends I had in HS are still good friends of mine so we keep up with each other.

If there ever is another class reunion I guess I would go. But my friends and I have been trying to work out our own
GTG, which personally I think I would enjoy more.

Marilyn, isn't it embarresing trying to figure out "who is who" at the reunions?
Last one I went to they had the name tags with our HS graduation photos on them (taken from the yearbook). That really helped!

babs001

I have traveled approx 800 miles for my HS reunion. The organizers are always amazed that those of us from out of town show up and those that still live there usually do not. I agree with flygirl as to the "why" behind this. I have found that the first couple of reunions tend to resemble the pecking order from high school. By the time you get to the 20th reunion, the playing field has leveled and it turns out to be alot of fun. What is really amazing is to see how much people change. Many guys continued to get taller, alot of hair is lost, many more females are blonde...the list goes on. : ) It can be alot of fun.

Marilyn

I'm not going to admit which reunion mine was, but let me just say that after a certain point, ALL the high school BS is gone.

By the next one, I expect that anyone who can recognize me or remember my name will be damn glad to see me!

buckeyemom

Just had my 25th and Marilyn is right, after awhile the bs stops. People who never gave me the time of day in high school were chatting up a storm with me. Of course it didn't hurt that my bod was toned/buffed, killer designer outfit with great shoes, hair and nails done too. If you are going to go, a girl's gotta look her best. ;-)

My girlfriend and I went without hubbies because they would have been bored to death. We danced till the wee hours and just had a blast!

BTilke

I flew from Portland, OR, to the Lehigh Valley (PA) for the 20th reunion. Am now living in Europe, but if a reunion is planned, I will probably travel to that one as well.

annesherrod

Ahhh Marilyn, I am glad it was worth coming home for!
But, be glad you are where you are right now, it is bitter cold today, blah.....

anne :0)

Marilyn

buckeyemom, there is the expense to consider, and I don't mean airfare. I spent a small fortune on a pair of killer Italian boots, but they made me feel like a million bucks. Glad you had a good time!

Marilyn

Hi Anne -- We FINALLY (!!!) have some sunshine here after several months of what seems like non-stop rain. Hallelujah! Stay toasty.

mikemo

I have been to only one: my 25th college undergrad - travelled from DFW to LGA; none of the A/S sponsors showed; but as it was the 100th anniversary of the school of engineering (the campuses were separate), I met a bunch of capable folks, most with PhD's who owned their own companies - I thought the country in good hands after speaking with these guys.
I'll go to my 50th H/S reunion (Central MX to NYC) in 2012, despite losing so many in Viet Nam and subsequently from that ill-starred class. The class of '63 and '64 each had a few flag officers.
M

vivi

I traveled from Hawaii to CA for my reunion. I was on the planning committee---6 of us organized our well-attended reunion weekend and none of us lived near our hometown. We did it all via a website and e-mail, very easy.

At our last reunion (in CA) we had classmates come from Italy, England, and Kenya to attend.

capri767

I think its great for people travel from so far to attend...many people feel a real connection.I know with ours, tons of people are planning on attending...as far away as Austrailia.Buckeyemom..it seems you arent alone in going without spouses..several of our classmates are coming in from across the country..WITHOUT their significant others..interesting...

jersey

I'd have to be hog tied and gagged before I go to a HS reunion, or college for that matter. Didn't love HS, loved college, but still wouldn't go back. I've moved on in my life and even though I am acquaintences with some HS friends, I consider it ancient history and would rather look to the future. Besides, I'm busy planning my next vacation.

mpf

Traveled 2000 miles to my HS reunion and it definitely was worth it. Many who lived the closest, failed to show up. A video was taken, and many responded with a request for the DVD (free). Several expressed their regret for not attending the reunion after seeing the joy and laughter of renewing old friendships. It was so wonderful, we plan to have another reunion in 5 years, strictly social. Getting too old for planning a big event.

Also, a group that attended elementary school together got together after the reunion, and spent an hour over a cup of coffee sharing "ancient history".
That was icing on the cake (silly old autograph books, pictures, etc.) We agreed that our class was special, and there was a strong bond between us.

buckeyemom

There were a lot of people at my class reunion without their significant other even the guys. I think part of the reason is the expense and the other part is that spouses get bored. Even though the big lug I am married to is very personable, he was bored to tears at the reunions he did go to. And, it was great to have a night out with old friends catching up...

TravelerGina

Traveled from L.A. to mid-Michigan for my 10 year reunion and it was fun, but not enough so to make me want to do it every 10 years (before I moved back to Michigan). My husband was from New Orleans and was relieved when a petition was passed around to stop the band from playing so many polkas - lol!

elizabeth_reed

Drove 520 round/trip for my 10th (1981-1991); was fun because several of us, myself included, were still unattached. And with a class of 28 we still knew each other fairly well. Hope we'll have one for 25. Drove 1260 r/t for my husband's 20th (1978-1998).

Oddly enough, for both reunions I had the most fun the night before -- wandering around the local watering holes and seeing others who had already shown up.

jlaughs

I still live close to my HS and have attended every class reunion (5, 10, 20). Although I was "popular" in HS, I was still lukewarm about attending the first reunion. Figured that I'd kept in touch with the people with whom I wanted to keep in touch. I almost opted out, but I'd already bought my ticket, so I went...and had a blast! Saw people I hadn't kept in touch with, but was happy to see again and actually had a great time with people that I hadn't even known in HS. I'm now in charge of planning our 30th next year <gulp!> and I sure hope that people want to come. The more, the merrier and it really is true -- the "pecking order" that used to exist way back then just isn't important anymore.

capri767

Yep,some things just arent as important as they used to be...I also agree that often the night before is sometimes the most fun..just hanging out with old friends.I dont think that just because you enjoy seeing people you grew up with means you havent "moved on", I think it just means having good fun!