20 Year Reunion

My over all impression of the reunion was that it was surreal. People looked vaguely familiar or looked exactly the same as if they had literally transported in time. Many of them looked way older than I feel and hopefully look. But the most surreal part was the jogging of my high school brain. It brought forward so many memories, not of specific people or instances but more feelings and attitudes that i had totally forgotten about. My life has been so full in that 20 years and then to bring out the 18 year old through all that was quite an interesting experience.

So here is how it went down: The reunion was held at Red Butte Garden which was a great choice and I enjoyed being there regardless, I had straightened my hair for the event which left me somewhat anonymous, almost like wearing a mask at a masquerade.

Straight hair with identifying nametag

I stood in line to get my name tag which proved to be the only way most people were able to identify me. I then immediately walked to the bar and got wine and found my friends who I hang out with on about a monthly basis anyway. Then we went and looked at the memorial table, which was well done and touching since one of our friends just passed unexpectedly a few months ago, and the flashback table with yearbooks, photos, etc. Fun to look at but it all seemed so out of body yet so familiar it seemed like yesterday!

Memorial Table

Ahh, memories!

We got food which was also kind of strange because I have been on the other side as the caterer at that venue so many times. The great organizers of the event started their program which was touching, funny and sweet but since it echos terribly in the Orangerie and no one would shut up, even for the reading of raffle numbers, it was difficult to hear. We watched a video of then and now photos and talked about old times.

I talked to a couple of people while in line for food, a few as I walked past and they looked at my nametag and said, "oh Heather! Good to see you" or just smiled and nodded but no one really paid too much attention to me. Which pretty much sums up my high school career anyway. I actually forgot how I was back then. I was shy and kept mostly to myself and just surrounded myself with like minded people. Which actually isn't that much different than i am now actually, just that my world is a big bigger and I care way less what people think.

Jana and Laura, friends whom I see regularly and the only ones I bothered to get photos with

So overall, glad I went...oh wait! Almost forgot the best part! There was this raffle, see..and I bought a few tickets because it was easier than getting change for the drink tickets and it went to some charity. So the second to last prize was up (the last prize being a free colonoscopy...i'm not kidding...are we really that old?) and they called one of my numbers! Hooray! I actually didn't even know what I missed and my friend Laura said, "That's you! I think you won a putter or something!" ok, I thought, I can give it to a friend or put it on craigslist or something. So I walk up there and my class mate who is giving out the prize tells me to sit down and she will come over and "explain" my prize to me. Uh, ok. So a few minutes later she comes over and explains that she an her grandfather handmade...wait for it...putters, canes, walking sticks and show horns out of...bull or bison PENISES! Only me right?! So I giggled and listened to her explain that it is custom made so I get to fill out a form and give it to her and my major award would be coming to me by FedEx in a couple of weeks. Seriously, who does this crap happen to?! So that then led to several jokes amongst my friends, like "Wow, you must have a lot of balls", or "Good thing they didn't give you the shaft", or "You can take shlong walks with your new cane" (thanks Mark!). So there you go. Dare you to top that reunion story!