Second Guessing

The planning for the 45th is well underway. The place and time are set, the arrangements with Reitz are done and the reservation forms have been sent. Linda has made a special effort to contact those whose emails bounced back (naughty naughty for not letting your reunion committee know that you changed 'em) and several of the few we mailed were returned to senda' so we're working on that too.

The point, I suppose is that it's decision time. To go or not. One evening out of 45 years to satisfy curiousity, to see how people turned out, maybe to renew an old friendship. Not a bad deal for $20 bucks. I can tell you from my own experience with my class and my less than friendly reunion committee that at one point I was seriously torn about attending my own reunion. But ultimately, I went and I managed to avoid the committee for the most part and managed not to get myself thrown out for expressing my feelings.

In return, I received far more than I gave for the $75 they charged for admission. All that I wrote about how some people change, how some people don't, how the reasons for friendships 45 years ago still exist, it's all true. I'd say that I'm so wise, except Linda will tell you the truth. So for less than 1/3 of the cost of my reunion, come make up your own mind about how wise I am. There are people who will be looking for you. If you come, it will make it worthwhile. If you don't, they will miss you.

The biggest problem the reunion committee is facing now is second guessing itself based on the results of the 44th Spring Get Together. While following the guidelines provided by the forms we had folks fill out, we're going to have a cash bar and no music to interfere with the conversation. That still leaves decorations, themes or no, menu planning, program of events, a directory update or not, how to handle memorials (the way we did it at the 44th, while very moving, was quite the downer), so many issues for the committee to work out.

In truth, a hundred years from now, no one will know the difference, but nonetheless, any conscientious person will continue to second guess themselves right up to the actual event and beyond. I know it will turn out fine. I know that everyone will have a good time. I'm hoping for an even better turnout than last time because everyone will have heard about what a good time was had back in the Spring of 2011. And our pictures will still be free for all who want them from the website or for the cost of printing and postage for those without the means to print them. And I absolutely promise to get that shot of the Veterans of the Reitz Class of 1967, without fail. Linda has also sent postcards to teachers who may attend.

Till next time, I will leave you with a thought: No matter what you may think now, attending will have an impact on you. I think back to Dave Spae, in my class, with whom I reunited in the process of putting together my class directory. We were actively finding friends and classmates and talking about the reunion which just took place, on a regular basis. Dave didn't attend. He passed away this past February, just 3 months shy of the reunion. I would have liked to have seen Dave again, but never got the chance. This year Reitz 67 has lost several classmates since the 44th. The message is clear.......

Get Ready for the OOBE

OOBE? That's Out Of Box Experience. I just had one this past weekend. In addition to the Wayne Valley High School 45th Reunion in Wayne New Jersey, I also attended a get together of my 7 and 8th grade classes featuring our teachers, who married not long after surviving us. They had a profound influence on us then, and they did again this weekend.

This weekend was an emotional and intellectual roller coaster. There were too many people to talk to them all, and some I even missed until I saw photos later. Many of them were there because of Linda and my contacting them, some of them attending for the first time. They are only just beginning to see how reunions can be different. As you can see, I think Reitz 67 had almost as many people  for the April get together. Wayne Valley had 600 + classmates. So not the turnout one would hope for.

Now the Reitz Class of 67 has had a chance to see what can be done. Now the Reunion Committee is stepping it up a notch! By a whole $8 dollars. For $20 a head, you get fed, you can buy a drink and pull up a chair and talk with people you haven't seen in a while (sometimes a good long while) and share in the memories you made back then and the memories you will make in September. There are going to be teachers there too.

So presuming that you've already gotten your reservation forms, fill 'em in, send in a check and we'll mark you down for the t shirts you say you want. July 15 is the theoretical deadline (we're trying to be kind to our vendors by giving them enough time to do what they do.) September will be here before you know it.