Comments on: High School http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/ Phenomenally Indecisive Since 1972 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:48:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Amy http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3836 Amy Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:53:04 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3836 I went to both my 10 and 20 year reunions and I had a BLAST. They were weekend events starting with the casual Friday night at a bar (only for members of the class), then Saturday night (much more formal with spouses) and Sunday (picnic with families). Can I be honest? Friday night at the bar was by far the best part!! Keeping in mind that my husband is Mr. Social (seriously he is practically running for Mayor of our street) I know that he was bored out of his mind standing there at the Saturday night event listening to all of us reminisce about our school days. He didn't really know anyone and I had to constantly worry that he was bored and wanted to go home...which he eventually did. Tip #1 -- take 2 cars. It was my suggestion and I was glad that he could leave and I could stay until the wee hours of the morning when the party moved to a local bar. Because seriously, after 4-5 drinks don't we all think that we could still walk down the hall of the school and shove our stuff in a locker? But I digress... Friday is so fun because you never have to worry about the spouse in the first place. It is a great way to reconnect with people and laugh your ass off...I graduated in 1984 at the height of bad fashion. So Tip #2 -- definately plan a classmate only event...at a CASUAL location. Tip #3 -- try to locate some yearbooks for that Friday night event because it is very helpful to look people up while your are there so you don't keep giving them that dear in the headlights look of "who the hell are you again?" Tip #4 - Agree about skipping formal pictures, but at my husbands reunion they asked people to send in a family photo and information about what they are doing these days ie: work, where they live, kids, contact info etc. The information was bound into a little book and people got them Saturday night. That was fun to look over. Did I mention that I went to his "Saturday night" reunion?....really wish that I had that 2nd car...thus our plan when I had mine 3 years later. I went to both my 10 and 20 year reunions and I had a BLAST. They were weekend events starting with the casual Friday night at a bar (only for members of the class), then Saturday night (much more formal with spouses) and Sunday (picnic with families).

Can I be honest? Friday night at the bar was by far the best part!! Keeping in mind that my husband is Mr. Social (seriously he is practically running for Mayor of our street) I know that he was bored out of his mind standing there at the Saturday night event listening to all of us reminisce about our school days. He didn’t really know anyone and I had to constantly worry that he was bored and wanted to go home…which he eventually did. Tip #1 — take 2 cars. It was my suggestion and I was glad that he could leave and I could stay until the wee hours of the morning when the party moved to a local bar. Because seriously, after 4-5 drinks don’t we all think that we could still walk down the hall of the school and shove our stuff in a locker? But I digress…

Friday is so fun because you never have to worry about the spouse in the first place. It is a great way to reconnect with people and laugh your ass off…I graduated in 1984 at the height of bad fashion. So Tip #2 — definately plan a classmate only event…at a CASUAL location.

Tip #3 — try to locate some yearbooks for that Friday night event because it is very helpful to look people up while your are there so you don’t keep giving them that dear in the headlights look of “who the hell are you again?”

Tip #4 – Agree about skipping formal pictures, but at my husbands reunion they asked people to send in a family photo and information about what they are doing these days ie: work, where they live, kids, contact info etc. The information was bound into a little book and people got them Saturday night. That was fun to look over. Did I mention that I went to his “Saturday night” reunion?….really wish that I had that 2nd car…thus our plan when I had mine 3 years later.

]]> By: Court http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3833 Court Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:50:38 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3833 Yup I went to my ten year one. It was a blast. Since I live so far away and hadn't seen my friends in years I set up events and lunch dates which made the weekend more enjoyable. I think if we had just gone for the one night it might have felt a little short. I suggest staying with friends too if any good ones are still in town. It made me feel at home again. <abbr><em>Court´s last blog post..<a href="http://kaiyaslaughterheals.blogspot.com/2009/06/veggie-version-of-fish-sticks.html" rel="nofollow">Veggie version of fish sticks</a></abbr></em> Yup I went to my ten year one. It was a blast. Since I live so far away and hadn’t seen my friends in years I set up events and lunch dates which made the weekend more enjoyable. I think if we had just gone for the one night it might have felt a little short. I suggest staying with friends too if any good ones are still in town. It made me feel at home again.

Court´s last blog post..Veggie version of fish sticks

]]> By: Tiffany http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3828 Tiffany Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:12:19 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3828 Don't worry, I won't go AWOL...I don't think. Don’t worry, I won’t go AWOL…I don’t think.

]]> By: Cathe http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3825 Cathe Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:41:23 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3825 Not only did I attend my 10 year reunion, but somehow I got drafted into the planning committee almost 10 years ago — and it was quite interesting (to say the least!). So, having gone through all of that I can honestly offer these small pieces of advice: 1) Don't use the lame Great Reunions company (they don't know what they're doing and charges an arm & leg); 2) If there is more than 2 people in the planning party, expect 1 person to go AWOL half-way through the process only to emerge at the event night claiming that she did most of the work; 3) If doing a weekend reunion, break it up in small events. Not everyone can make it to every event. We had a meet & greet night before the event, the actual reunion itself, and then a picnic day after for those with kids who want to make it a family event (the last event worked out way better than expected); and lastly 4) Don't do photographers with posed portrait shots a-la arkward senior prom portraits. Treat it like a wedding with candid shots (much more fun when the librations are flowing and people start to get loose!). And those are my tips from my own experience. I don't know if I will have a 20th year coming up, but all I know is that I am not helping to plan it and I'll probably won't be going. Good luck, Jules! :-) <abbr><em>Cathe´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.feterie.com/blog/2009/06/26/inspiration-moment-knock-knock/" rel="nofollow">{Inspiration Moment} Knock, Knock!</a></abbr></em> Not only did I attend my 10 year reunion, but somehow I got drafted into the planning committee almost 10 years ago — and it was quite interesting (to say the least!). So, having gone through all of that I can honestly offer these small pieces of advice: 1) Don’t use the lame Great Reunions company (they don’t know what they’re doing and charges an arm & leg); 2) If there is more than 2 people in the planning party, expect 1 person to go AWOL half-way through the process only to emerge at the event night claiming that she did most of the work; 3) If doing a weekend reunion, break it up in small events. Not everyone can make it to every event. We had a meet & greet night before the event, the actual reunion itself, and then a picnic day after for those with kids who want to make it a family event (the last event worked out way better than expected); and lastly 4) Don’t do photographers with posed portrait shots a-la arkward senior prom portraits. Treat it like a wedding with candid shots (much more fun when the librations are flowing and people start to get loose!).

And those are my tips from my own experience. I don’t know if I will have a 20th year coming up, but all I know is that I am not helping to plan it and I’ll probably won’t be going. Good luck, Jules! :-)

Cathe´s last blog post..{Inspiration Moment} Knock, Knock!

]]> By: Becky O. http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3822 Becky O. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:32:21 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3822 I was about 50 months pregnant when my 10-year rolled around and couldn't fit through the doors. Never looked back... I do love all these comments about a day and evening event. I might have gone if it was a casual picnic. O.k., no. I was about 50 months pregnant when my 10-year rolled around and couldn’t fit through the doors. Never looked back… I do love all these comments about a day and evening event. I might have gone if it was a casual picnic.
O.k., no.

]]> By: Larissa http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3816 Larissa Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:44:35 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3816 I just attended my 10-year reunion a few weeks ago, and it was a blast! My class didn't have the typical social groups, though. We were all mostly nerd and band geeks. :) Hey, but we all got along! Anyway, the consensus by the end of the night was that the next reunion should be in a much more casual setting. I like Kate's idea about having a park day with the option of dinner/bars that night. :) I don't envy you at all, though! That's a big responsibility to plan an event like that! Good luck! :) I just attended my 10-year reunion a few weeks ago, and it was a blast! My class didn’t have the typical social groups, though. We were all mostly nerd and band geeks. :) Hey, but we all got along!
Anyway, the consensus by the end of the night was that the next reunion should be in a much more casual setting. I like Kate’s idea about having a park day with the option of dinner/bars that night. :)
I don’t envy you at all, though! That’s a big responsibility to plan an event like that! Good luck! :)

]]> By: Kate http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3815 Kate Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:17:39 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3815 Because my class was cheep we had a picnic in the park during the day and then went to the bars at night. It was a rather awkward group of people. Mainly the popular jocky type girls and guys and a little from the nomad group and then me. The people with whom I really cared about didn't really show up. I think my husband's will be much more fun. We hang out with his high school friends more and they are a great group of people. I might just skip the next few reunions and go to the one that matters! But I would suggest some type of day picnic activity where familys and kids can be involved and then something at night...optional like dinner. Wouldn't it be funny if you had a slide show of old photos! Haha! Glory Days for sure! Because my class was cheep we had a picnic in the park during the day and then went to the bars at night. It was a rather awkward group of people. Mainly the popular jocky type girls and guys and a little from the nomad group and then me. The people with whom I really cared about didn’t really show up.

I think my husband’s will be much more fun. We hang out with his high school friends more and they are a great group of people. I might just skip the next few reunions and go to the one that matters!

But I would suggest some type of day picnic activity where familys and kids can be involved and then something at night…optional like dinner. Wouldn’t it be funny if you had a slide show of old photos! Haha! Glory Days for sure!

]]> By: Jules http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3814 Jules Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:47:57 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3814 Our class is so lazy, we didn't even have a 10 year reunion. The class after ours took pity and invited us to theirs. I didn't go, because at the time I felt I was too fat and didn't want people to see me in less than perfect shape. Ten years changes a person, because I'm as fat as I was then, and now I'm helping put the damn thing together! I hear 10 year reunions are no good, but that the 20 year ones are fun, most likely because by that time most everyone has pulled their heads from their asses and are just old enough to feel nostalgic. Our class is so lazy, we didn’t even have a 10 year reunion. The class after ours took pity and invited us to theirs. I didn’t go, because at the time I felt I was too fat and didn’t want people to see me in less than perfect shape. Ten years changes a person, because I’m as fat as I was then, and now I’m helping put the damn thing together!

I hear 10 year reunions are no good, but that the 20 year ones are fun, most likely because by that time most everyone has pulled their heads from their asses and are just old enough to feel nostalgic.

]]> By: Morgan http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3813 Morgan Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:40:16 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3813 You are funny! I went to my 10 year which was a BIG mistake. I was one of those weird girls in high school who knew a lot of people but wasn't exactly "friends" with them. So I went with the one friend I did have and everyone else was almost exactly the same. Still the same immature cliques then as in high school. The food was terrible, the music was worse and there was not nearly enough booze to make those things not matter. I've heard that people have changed for the better by the 20 year though so perhaps that one will be different. Either way, as the organizer, I wish you lots of luck! You are funny! I went to my 10 year which was a BIG mistake. I was one of those weird girls in high school who knew a lot of people but wasn’t exactly “friends” with them. So I went with the one friend I did have and everyone else was almost exactly the same. Still the same immature cliques then as in high school. The food was terrible, the music was worse and there was not nearly enough booze to make those things not matter. I’ve heard that people have changed for the better by the 20 year though so perhaps that one will be different. Either way, as the organizer, I wish you lots of luck!

]]> By: Dancing Phalanges http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/06/high-school/#comment-3812 Dancing Phalanges Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:53:39 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=831#comment-3812 Sorry, no advice - my 10 year isn't for another 2 years, and we missed my Husband's (his was 2 years ago). I'm pretty sure I won't be going. The only people from high school that I care to know, I am still in contact with on a regular basis. I went to such a large high school. The people I don't see on a regular basis I see on Facebook, Myspace and the like, and that is enough for me :) Sorry, no advice – my 10 year isn’t for another 2 years, and we missed my Husband’s (his was 2 years ago). I’m pretty sure I won’t be going. The only people from high school that I care to know, I am still in contact with on a regular basis. I went to such a large high school. The people I don’t see on a regular basis I see on Facebook, Myspace and the like, and that is enough for me :)

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