{Photo of the Heidelberg Castle via Google Images}
About three years ago I was able to reconnect with one of my closest High School friends through facebook. We ended up catching up over breakfast while he was visiting Virginia.
It was after this visit that bittersweet recognition finally dawned on me as to just how uncommon my High School experience was. Not only did I spend those four years in Germany taking in an entirely different culture as well as vacationing around Europe, but I would also NEVER have a hometown to go back to where I could continue the relationships that were important to me in High School.
After meeting up with my friend I became a bit obsessed with an idea. I pored over my Senior yearbook looking for classmates I hadn’t yet “friended” on facebook. I had a plan and was determined to make it work. At last count I think I’d found 102 of the 164 who graduated with me.
Late last year I was on facebook one night and saw that three of my classmates were also on at that exact moment. I felt a thought being shoved from my mind and onto the keyboard. Suddenly I was typing each of them a message that said something crazy like, “Sooooo . . . how would you feel about putting together a 20-Year Reunion with me?”
I find it no coincidence that the three classmates just happened to be a) the person voted “Most Spirited” from our class b) the person who has gone back to Germany more than anyone I know and c) the person who has nurtured relationships with and found great comfort from high school friends. I felt like I had found a perfect match.
Fast forward to last weekend, where we were actually able to make made this little dream of mine become a reality. It involved much facebooking, some phonecalling, some creativity and a lot of hard work, but after twenty years a sizeable group of us were able to reunite in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tomorrow I’ll share a few details from the reunion along with pictures of the fun. How about you? Have you attended a high school reunion?
4 comments:
You really had an amazing high school experience! I wish I could have done that, but coming to the USA.
Here in Catalonia/Spain, high school reunions are not that common, though I sometimes do that with few friends from HS that I don't get to see often.
I bet you all just had a blast in Atlanta! Looking forward for tomorrow's post.
I have never attended a high school reunion, I attended 3 high schools, 2 in Texas and I graduated in Maryland. I do keep in touch with a few friends though. It would be fun to see people again. I'm so impressed, but not surprised, that you would tackle the enormous job of orchestrating a reunion. You are awesome!
I've gone to two. Might not need to go to another because of Facebook. Looking forward to hearing more about yours.
I happened to go to an amazing one organized by one of the most creative and loving people I know!! I am so thrilled that we all got to catch up and really hope we do it again soon!
Elizabeth
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