Last week was my 20th high school reunion. I've rehashed the night a couple of times online but now that a week has passed, I thought I'd recount the things that have stuck with me even after a week.
I am so glad that I took so many pictures. I wish that I had taken more! There are a few shots I wish I had taken but for the most part I'm satisfied with the visual remembrances. And because I like to share, I thought I'd share some of my favorites.
with my good friend Debbie
Debbie and I actually became friends after high school. Or rather, our friendship hits its stride after we graduated. We both worked at Festival Cinemas and attended Cal State Hayward, so it became natural for us to become friends. We were friendly in high school and got close towards the end of school and we are still friends to this day. I always enjoy spending time with her and it was no different at the reunion. Even though we mingled away from each other during the night, we got to catch up a the end (I rode with her) and share our different experiences of the evening. Oh, and we also staked out the picnic spot at the dark park with the sprinklers on. Classic.
at night's end, tired but still smiling
I've gone to every reunion since graduation (5th and 10th) but there were actually people I hadn't seen since we all parted ways twenty years ago.
Kristina, Steve, and me
I hadn't seen Steve since graduation. He and his girlfriend Cherise (another '89er) arrived a bit late, but I got the chance to sit down and talk with him for a wee bit. I've known Steve since third grade or so. Towards the end of our Dayton days, I think we were the smart ones of the class. It's funny the things I remember.
with my dear friend Andrea
Andrea and I have been friends since fourth grade. She moved away before we graduated from high school but we have kept in touch. We wrote letters back and forth for many years and now we email or message through Facebook. I'm glad we can still sit down and talk. I wish we lived closer to each other but at least we have texting and emailing and other means of communicating. I will always love my friend Andrea. 🙂
with Bobby
Bobby was my OMIGOSH I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU moment. I was so happy to see him! We were good friends towards the end of high school and we went to the Senior Ball together (I must find those pictures). It was GREAT catching up with him. Hopefully we get together in the future with our friends Elizabeth and Tina.
with Cassady
Cassady has been my friend since high school. We became better friends during our Festival years and have shared a lot throughout the years. I'm glad she went to the reunion. We both went sans husbands, so we hung out together most of the evening. It was great sharing observations on our fellow former classmates.
with Larry, Darryl, and Cassady
I went to Dayton Elementary with Larry and Darryl. We were all in music together, though they continued that route in high school and I did not. I wish I had continued but I think my choices were limited as to where a flute player could play. I don't remember that we had an orchestra (like grade school). It was either marching band (not my gig) or jazz band. I would have loved jazz band but no flutes there. Alas.
I haven't seen Darryl since high school, so it was wonderful catching up with him. We weren't friends in high school, but we were classmates and we grew up together.
I have seen Larry throughout the years, but it was still nice together and chat throughout the night. He's a good guy.
(?), Jeff, Kristee, Eric, Michelle, Andrea, me with Jimmy in front
This picture of mine probably has the most Dayton alumni. Jeff, Eric, Andrea, and I all went to the same elementary school. I didn't get a chance to talk with Eric past a hello but I did find myself standing next to Jeff towards the end of the night and I had to comment on how tall he got. He was not that tall in high school!
with Kyle
Another fellow Dayton-ite! We really should have all taken a picture together. lol! How fun would that have been? Kyle called me Camcam as a greeting, which made me laugh. The things I remember about Kyle are: he's left handed, he has hazel eyes, and he had lighter hair when we were young. I think I remember more about him from elementary school than high school, but isn't it nice that we all still remember each other fondly?
It was a great night of catching up and creating memories anew. I really loved how everyone was mostly happy and enjoying themselves in their own way. I'm glad I got to spend time with my friends.
I am also glad for Facebook. It gave a lot of us a chance to see each other and not be so surprised by current appearances. And it also gave us a little background on each other, if we so wished to check. And now we can share our pictures on Facebook.
I hope plans to have an annual picnic or more casual get together pans out. I wouldn't mind seeing these people again. 😉