"Do you recognize these former classmates?"

It’s udderly fabulous that the numbers are rolling in, but some of our herd still need a little steer-ing.  With the reunion 2 weeks away, what are you waiting for? A cattle prod? Bovine intervention? A glimpse of the remarka-bull amoosment to be had?

Now, get mooooving with those RSVP’s so we have a cownt for Saturday’s dinner. I cud go on and on with the cow puns, but I’m done. Well done.

~Billie

Info in Group Email #4, June 14, 2011

Meet-n-Greet $3.50/person: We will meet at the Outback miniature golf & driving range. An 18-hole putt-putt course is available if you or your kids want to play, but we’ll also have a great, shaded grassy area with tables and snacks to mingle and visit. Ah…isn’t it awesome that we are at the age where “visit” is one of our most prominent action verbs?  Beverages, both alcoholic and non-, will be available for purchase.

Ross Park Pool & Pizza, $10/adult, $2 per child up to 2, $25/family: We have rented the Ross Park Pool from 10am -noon for us and Highland’s class of 91 for this joint event. That’s right! We’ll have full, private use of their great kiddie pool, water slide, lazy river and large pool. (If you’re rolling your eyes at the thought of a swim suit, please read the blog noted above.) At noon, we’ll meet across the street near the Zoo for pizza and drinks. After lunch you can head back to the pool, check out the zoo (at additional cost), visit the Upper Ross Park disc golf course, or other nearby attractions. If you have family or friends in town that would like to tag along, they are welcome for $10/adult & $5/child under 18 and can pay upon arrival.

School Tour:  See what’s new, a gym added in 2006  known as “the palace”,  and what is still the same. Our class photo’s appear just inside the main east entrance near the venerable rock.

Saturday Dinner, $30/person in advance/$40 at the door:  We’ve rented one of Pocatello’s newest and finest restaurants for our adults-only evening. Located on 1st street near the railroad, The Bridge is a renovated warehouse that offers beautiful views of the Portneuf gap. Local DJ Kelly Martinez will bring his best 80’s & 90’s tunes cued and ready on the outdoor deck, and may even be persuaded to don his personal ensemble of hammer pants, leg warmers and 80’s head band.

Music: Speaking of music…start sending in song requests to pokyclassof91@gmail.com. You don’t have to compile a big list & send it at once; just forward them on as they pop in your head. And, lemme tell ya…if you don’t, you will be stuck with my old favs of Erasure, Roxette and a bit of GnR, Red Red Wine and that one Fine Young Canibals song. Over and over and over.~Billie

Teachers: We have sent invitations to all of our former teachers that we can find. I would like them to join us as our guest and any extra funds that some of you have provided will help cover their attendance.  (I spoke with Mrs. Call and just the sound of her voice made me want to sit up and pay close attention and discuss themes of The Great Gatsby. She was so sweet and so thrilled and would love to hear what we’ve been up to.)

Afterhours: We’d like to suggest a few local businesses for your afterhours revelry. Local non-smoking bars Hooligans & the Flip Side will offer drink specials—with proof of your reunion registrations; Charley’s will waive their normal cover charge, and  EFresh, a spectacular, stylish sandwich shop & gathering place is open from 11pm to 3am for the late crowd,  More information on these businesses will be included in your reunion goody bag.  (oops. I let a little surprise slip there, didn’t I? We have a limited number of these so get going on your registration.)

                                                                                                                                           ~Billie           

Reunion Musings

I’ve gotten a little grief over planning the swimming event. “I can’t believe you’re expecting us to wear swim suits at our reunion! What were you thinking?” I’ll give you a multiple choice as to what I was thinking:

A.      I want the perfect surroundings in which I can handily win a cannonball contest.

B.      I want to resurrect those ole “bun-hugger” volleyball uniforms and prance around poolside.

C.      I thought your kids would love to have the water slide, kiddy pool, and lazy river ALL to themselves so the weekend wouldn’t be so grown-up focused and boring. 

The mere word “swimsuit” can conjure face-scrunching angst for so many; just like the words “high school.”  Some of us revel in our memories while some of us cringe and are thankful everyday that it’s over. Some of us aren’t where we wanted to be 20 years after the fact. Some of us surpassed all expectations. Some, because no expectations were placed on us. Some of us are fat. Some of us think we are fat. Some of us are unhealthily thin. Some of us are happily married. Some of us are getting divorced—for the second time. Some of us can’t wait to bring our partner while some of us are silently wrestling with the idea. Some of us have 3.5 kids. Some of us have 8 in a blended family. Some of us are regretting not having children and some of us have lost a child. Or a spouse. Or a parent. Or both of them.

Some of us just want to come back for a Buddy’s salad. Some of us need to check in with the ‘rents, so the reunion is as good a time as any.  Some of us have never left Poky and love it here, while some have stayed and feel trapped. Some of us are nicer than we were. Some of us are as nice as we always were but are now more outgoing so the world can see it. Some of us are still shy. Some of us are still jerks. Some of us drink. Some of us don’t. Some of us probably shouldn’t. Some of us have heard, “you have cancer” and some of us delight in each new sunrise.

Some of us loved every minute of high school (really? doubtful), and some of us hated it all. But ALL of us spent part of our existence, simultaneously inside the old brick walls of Poky High. And all of us can make our reunion weekend whatever it is we want, or need, it to be.  I want it to be fun and laid back and filled with classmates’ multiple perspectives. I want to reconnect with some and meet others for the first time. I want new, happy memories. I need…RSVP’s. 

~Billie