50th
High School Reunion
Yes, this is a big one. While I have attended most of the reunions held every five years, I have never attended the Friday night part. Saturday night is the big dinner, dance, and festivities. Friday night does not have planned things except for the cash bar in the room where we will gather to talk with one another. Saturday night is very planned. And FUN.
I never attended Friday night because of the cost of staying two nights or I just was not interested. Mostly, it was the cost. Twice, I stayed at my sister's house on Saturday night, the sister who lived in Memphis and then West Memphis. Another time, I stayed with a lifelong friend and made his girlfriend angry. ugh The last two times, I just drove home from Memphis. Since the committee decided that north MS was a better place for the reunion, one of those drives home was from Mississippi, still a long drive back--five hours from Memphis and about the same from MS.
Since I have become so exhausted and back and knees hurt, especially from driving or sitting so long, I was worried about making it safely this year. Oh, I will have only one cataract removed by then. Driving at night might not be wise. So, what to do?
I emailed a long-ago friend/lover that I saw in Huntsville and spent time with him this spring. He lives in Maryland now. I told him the set cost of a room for one night, planning to drive up on Saturday, attend the Saturday night functions, and drive back on Sunday. On the list was gas $$$, motel $90, reunion $85, clothes $$$, gas $$$. He did not let me down.
Now, I have a motel room for two nights in a motel after his using points to obtain the room free. The Conference Center motel does not accept the points deal I will have to drive a half mile to the reunion, but that's okay. So, he sent me a Postal Money Order. I am set. Meals will not be a problem. Saturday breakfast is real food in the motel! Saturday night is paid for. Friday night will be little, if any. Saturday lunch may be eating with friends, so that may be the only real meal I will eat. I will have a tiny cooler with yogurt, apples, bananas. I will carry Cokes and crackers for the room, plus other things that will maybe just be leftovers. I MUST have protein, so I might scrambled some eggs and heat in the microwave for one morning. I try not to eat scrambled eggs that are egg beaters.
Now, for clothes. Here is the plan. I will wear pants that I bought for $3, blouse bought half price--hot pink with gold jewelry. That is for Friday night. Saturday morning, I will wear different black pants that were on sale, black and white blouse on sale and yellow chunky necklace and bracelet on sale from a nice store here. There is lots of yellow in fall clothing. (I may rethink the yellow.) Then, Saturday night, not a really dress night, I will wear a black knit maxi-dress ($3) with little knit shrug ($4) and gold jewelry--some is real gold.
About jewelry: There was a time when I wore earrings every day, even to go to the mailbox....for about four or five years. Then, I just quit one day. This summer, I decided I needed to clean up my act, so earrings again is the rule, all the time, every time I go to even get gas. (But, I forget!) I wear long, dangly ones because of my longish hair. Now, this time around, I have added bracelets. Going to school and working, bracelets either hurt my hand because of what I was carrying or got broken, so that is no problem now. Still, they are not so important. Just earrings, long earrings, dangly earrings.
If it is cold, I will wear a long-sleeved sweater. All these things are sleeveless. or have a little bit of cover on tops of my arms. (Remember, I am warm-natured and this is the South.) It is rarely cold around the middle of October. If it rains, I have the hot pink coat I got in 2001 and hounds tooth umbrella. Yes, I have planned it all. Now, for shoes. I am not sure my dressy flats will fit since I have not worn them in about six years and have gained weight. So, there is that to figure out. At least I have money to buy some.
I have a month to figure it all out. At this point, this is what I have purchased. If I see other clothing to wear to the reunion or just things I really need or couldn't afford and lust for, I have money left. Yes, I saved out gas money.
What's left? Change oil. Wash car. Wax car? Have alignment problem fixed. Buy two tires! Ugh. No, I won't be able to do all that from the money he sent. Figure out what is wrong with both big toes that seem to have fungus under them, then turn blue, then recover after apple cider vinegar. Oh yeah, get the one cataract, at least, removed.
That's not much, right? Ha, it's plenty for me. And way over my budget even with the $280 in cash he sent me along with two free rooms. Sooo, those things are what I will work on until then. The alignment problem and tires are waaay out of my reach.
The problem I cannot solve before the reunion? I AM FAT. Please don't try to console me over that!
Your turn
Do you attend your high school reunions? Are they held every five years or ten? Would you wear the yellow so late in the year?
Hi Linda...great plans! I have never attended my high school reunions. No particular reason. But this year someone I graduated with contacted me about a monthly get together and I have gone 3 times. Such a great group of women, and I have not seen them for 50 years! I hope you have a wonderful time, and you have a very generous "friend".
ReplyDeleteCarol,
DeleteI am glad you are enjoying your monthly meetings. My class has a group that lives in Memphis that do that once a month at a predetermined place, so no planning. I do have a generous friend. I really wanted him to go with me, but he won't be back here in October like he thought he would when I saw him last. Yes, he is generous, but I never ask him for anything. He can well afford what he gave me. I won't ever ask him for anything else!
I think you are going to have a wonderful time! And that was very kind of your friend.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to a high school reunion. They haven't had one ever. No one stepped up to set it up. Not that anyone would go, I'm pretty sure that everyone hated each other. LOL
Sonya Ann,
ReplyDeleteI always have a good time. It was even more fun when I was skinny and dancing. It is hard to believe a school does not ever have a reunion, but I am hearing that more and more. I thought having one every five years was the thing everyone did. You would be surprised how much better everyone likes each other after so many years.
Ten years ago, some of the regulars refused to come along with others that were asked because "I look so old." ??? we all know we are within two years of the same age. I hate to be fat, but I knew five years ago this was happening in October of this month. I suppose if I had to choose between looking young or looking fat, I would prefer to look young. And, I will wear makeup. ugh
My class just had the 50th year reunion. I didn't go because it was too expensive to get there - CT from FL. It was a really big deal with a full weekend of activities because we were the first class to attend all four years.
ReplyDeleteAbout the weight issue - I looked at all the photos posted. I'd venture to say 90% of both men and women had gained at least 30 pounds, some much more. And the men - lots of baldness but they grew facial hair to combat it :)
You've planned very well - go, have a great time, wear what you want. Yellow is a great color for all seasons and balanced with the black pants and gold jewelry you'll look great!!
Bellen,
DeleteWe were the first graduating class that beat our arch rival at their own homecoming. Actually, the year I entered high school was the first year there was a graduating class.. Yellow is the jewelry with black and white blouse and black pants. I wear cheap well...lol.
I have never (and will never) attended a school reunion. I was glad to leave the people behind.
ReplyDeleteI share your weakness for earrings, and love that your friend helped out. Have a great time.
EC,
DeleteI really wanted to go back to the five-year reunion. I got so many compliments about how I had changed...and all for the better. Yes, love earrings. He is a sweety pie.
We have them at fancy schmancy places, country club, racquet club, convention centers. have golf tournaments.
ReplyDeleteThe time capsule sounds like fun.
I have been positively shocked at all the yellow in fall catalogs. I will look at the yellow. I might get a pumpkin colored purse I saw to use this fall AND with the yellow.
Yes, the yellow is just right for me.
tlc,
ReplyDeleteThat is mustard, not a color I would ever wear. Mine is lemon yellow. But, those colors are in fall purses and sweaters and a fleece coat.
I've got three years till my high school reunion. I, too, was afraid to go to the last one because I silently thought "geez, I'm fat." Then I saw the pictures. We're good, Linda. Trust me on this one.
ReplyDeleteI've got in-laws in North Mississippi (Booneville, Amory)...who knows, we might be kin...
Cherdo,
DeleteWe might be related. Would that not be funny. Email me. That is around where my family was for a century. And, some are still in N MS, loads of them.
Which reunion is in 3 years?
Actually, they have been there for something like 175 years.
DeleteAhhhh. See I am opposite. I like mustard, not bright yellow. In fact, I am wearing a mustard colored cardigan today.
ReplyDeleteWe have to pay for our participation in reunions, i.e. $xxx for dinner/drinks and to cover the cost of the venue & decor. So I'm ok with it not being in a fancy place.
Oh, yes. We pay $85 for the dinner. Less fancy would suit me.
ReplyDelete