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
