Never go to your high school reunion pregnant or they will think that is all you have done since you graduated. – Erma Bombeck
I like to observe. I’m content on standing in an inconspicuous corner, watching things around and trying to analyze every action and reaction. Of all things observable, what fascinate me most are human behavior. Take for example a class reunion. It is interesting to note that a lot could be learned by attending one.
What is the purpose of a class reunion? Why do we invent an occasion to celebrate something that happened some twenty or so years ago? I eliminate “to-rekindle-long-lost-friendship” because one will find ways to keep in touch with real friends, reunion or no reunion. For starter, one factor is “curiosity”; one wants to know how others faired on their personal battle for economic survival. Another is “contact”. It is always to your advantage if you knew people from different professions or classmates working in different government agencies. And the vainest of all the traits, to satisfy ones ego; to let the world know that you finally arrived, that you finally made it.
None of the factors I mentioned above categorize my motive. I go home every year so I’m up to date on every thing that interests me. When ambiguity is removed, curiosity fades away. My job is so specialize that I doubt if knowing what their field of expertise or where they are working helps me in anyway. And lastly, a simple man who enjoys life’s simple things does not possess a huge ego nor need to satiate it.
But why will I attend if I have the chance? I’d like to see someone who barely spoke to me or knew if I ever existed suddenly talk to me like I’m a long lost friend. I’d like to see the class bully became the most amiable guy in the room. I’d like to see the quietest guy in class commanders the microphone and won’t let go until he sang all the songs in the karaoke. I’d like to see my classmate who looks like Rio Locsin then if she looks like Rio Locsin now. I’d like to see the fellow who walks and wears rubber sandals to school arrives in an SUV. I’d like to see what I perceived before is the exact opposite of what I see now.
Unfortunately my vacation won’t coincide with our class reunion. Other wise you’ll see me in an inconspicuous corner, watching things and trying to analyze every action and reaction.
during the years na youve lost touch with your former classmates, surely a lot of things has changed, from the way they look, to the way they live and even with the way they think. its intersting to know what theyve become over the years..
ReplyDeletewhich reminds me we'll be having alumni homecoming nung highschool this coming december, hmmmmm i dont think i would want to go and see them, hmmmm well not yet nway..
Good for you. Reunion is luxury you can't afford if you're a busy body. Maybe next time. : )
ReplyDeleteBlogusVox, i love your thoughts today. Ironically, I always intended to go to my school reunions. I worked for Blockbuster Video when Grosse Pointe Blank, and Romy and Michelle's high School Reunion reminded me myten year reunion was imminent. In 2008, I meant to visit home fror the 20 year reunion... Oh well. Since the development of Facebook, I was able to find and reacquaint myself weith many people, and did not have to rent a tux
ReplyDeleteHi Keith, I find Grosse Pointe Blank funny and interesting. In reality, we really don't know the people we're meeting on a class reunion after 20 or so years of absence.
ReplyDeletei have never joined in our class reunions, it's been more than 10 years, and still, they cannot make me go, I feel insecure when i am with them, minsan kasi pabonggahan ang drama nila!
ReplyDeletesheng, hehe, ganyan talaga, human nature yan. Huwag mo na lang pansinin ang nag patata-asan ng ere. I humbled myself if a classmate ask how I am doing. Bahala silang mag-isip. >: D
ReplyDeleteI was still in college when we had our high school class reunion. After that event, nasabi ko sa sarili kong ayaw ko nang um-attend ng mga class reunions. Di ko alam kung bakit; basta ayaw ko lang. At yes, gusto ko 'yong mga points na binanggit niyo rito.
ReplyDeleteSimula noon, hanggang ngayon di na ulit ako naka attend ng class reunion. Not for me.
RJ, if you're still in college, that means wala pang 10 years kayo nag graduate sa high school. Walang kwenta yan dahil hindi pa hinog ang karamihan sa inyo. Wait until 15 or 20 years and you'll find your former classmates interesting. : )
ReplyDeletewe have our own reasons why we are really attending our class reunion...for me it's for fun lang and to talk the things we had shared during high school days and not to impress my classmates of I had become ;-) I admire your views here, but I bet sasama ka rin sa reunion kung tumama lang ang sked mo with them hehehe
ReplyDeleteactually I will blog my high school at elementary reunion ko during my vacation nun Sept to Oct hehehe, abangan mo na lang....ako lagi organizer e kaya laging may reunion kada umuuwi ako LOL ;-)
Sardz, of course I will kung tumama lang ang schedule. They are more curious than I am of what have become of that weird guy who always tinker with gadgets and invent crazy things. : )
ReplyDeleteThe only class reunion I look forward to siguro is that of my elementary class. Because it is with them that I felt closest and happiest. It's been over 20 years and I have been looking for my classmates all these years. Wala kasi sila sa facebook eh. So far, I found four of them pa lang. I hope dumami pa.
ReplyDeleteNortehanon, that works for me too because most of my classmates in high school are also my classmates in elementary. Kaya in a way, they are actually organizing two reunions.
ReplyDeleteuy pards, meron din kami.. sa nov. 28 naman.IV DIAMOND, kaya lang wala ako. pero makikita ko sila via video cam on the spot.. he he he.. higgschool ang di ko malimutan araw...lahat dun yung una kong nagawang mga kalokohan..:)
ReplyDeleteaba, aba, aba! seryoso ang mama. :) yes, it's fun to go to reunions and realize it's wrong to think people don't change. they do. and i love those who change for the better. i learn from them.
ReplyDeleteever, wow naman, hi-tech naman ang reunion nyo. Stream lined via video cam. Sinong sponsor, Skype ba o YM? : )
ReplyDeleteatticus, hehehe, hindi naman. It's fun lang siguro. You know what, they've been looking for me for so long.
hi blogusvox, i remember u a lot when i was still in the mideast. we shares lot in common, i do enjoy ur cool sketches =)
ReplyDeleteclass reunion is a must not to be missed. i attended ours regularly whenever i get the chance.
more power, and rgds.
reunions are fun because you rub shoulders with classmates and more importantly, long lost friends. Sad to say, such gathering isn't only about camaraderie as egos can come into play when people talk about their pursuits in life.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong when someone is candid about his/her professional pursuit/achievement but there is something wrong when someone becomes overbearing of his status and loses focus on the the purpose of the reunion. Keep it under your hat, don't tell people unless you're asked. I've been to a college reunion and I thought everyone was rather tame. As long as no one gets drunk, things should be OK :)
AJ, "for good" na ba yang uwi mo? Thanks for remembering.
ReplyDeletebw, hehehe, most are "cool" of their achievements but some just can't help it. Meron pa dyan pasimple. Nagbibigay ng "calling card" with their profession and position written on it. >: D