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| Upper St. Clair High School class of 1987 |
This past weekend I attended my 25 year high school reunion. I was fortunate to be a part of the incredible class of 1987 at Upper St. Clair High School, in the south hills of Pittsburgh, PA. And I say incredible because for me it was truly that. Another classmate made the reflection that we really did not have a lot of bullying, fights, or major conflicts. Sure there were some, but I actually liked going to school in large part because my classmates were FUN. And so when I received the notice for the reunion event it was simply not a question for me about whether I would attend. It was something I wanted to be a part of.
We had about 370 students in that class, and about 40 of those attended the event (not including the spouses). Not a great ratio, but it did allow for a rather intimate event. I was able to converse with almost all in who where there, and was content that by the end of it I felt that I had caught up as much as I could have hoped for. Indeed, the time passed very quickly that night.
I can't say that any these classmates were really in my closest circle of friends while in school. Most of them I had not had any contact with since high school (with the exception of our 20-year reunion). But ironically I feel much closer to this group now. It was obvious how much each one appreciated being there, and how highly they valued the importance of staying connected. The high school experience shaped the foundation for our futures, and basis of our friendships. We saw each other grow into adulthood, and now we are there for each other as we adapt to middle age. And it is a very surreal experience to suddenly see your teenage friends at such a different stage in life!
I certainly wish more people could have attended. I know that many were simply unable due to various conflicts, and I can understand that. Some may not have known about it, but in this age of social networking you have no excuse. But others were simply unwilling, and that is harder for me to comprehend. Especially so for those that are still local to the area. But I guess some people just feel much stronger bonds with the relationships of their youth. As for me, I think I derive a much stronger sense of purpose through my friendships -- both past and present. And that may be largely due to the fact that I am unmarried.
I did not have to sacrifice much by being there. Were I at home I would have watched college football on Saturday with my neighbors, enjoying some adult beverages and grilled foods. I would have watched the Falcons play on Sunday followed by a great dinner with my girlfriend. And maybe I would have made some much needed repair work to my laundry room doors. But as it was, I had a short and easy flight from ATL to PIT that Saturday morning, had lunch with a friend I had not seen in 18 years (not from my HS), then met up with some of the HS friends at Primanti Brothers where I enjoyed some adult beverages and watched college football (Georgia-Florida, and the Bulldogs won!!!), after which we went to the reunion. Then on Sunday I joined some other fellow classmates at a sports bar to watch the Steelers game, followed by an easy flight home. So my weekend turned out to be basically the same, but I got to experience it with some rarely seen friends. And that is something I will always treasure. As for the laundry room doors, well I probably would have put that off anyway.
How do I measure the experience?
1 round trip airfare from ATL to PIT = $300
1 hotel night = $119
1 ticket to the reunion (including buffet dinner and open bar) = $70
Car rental = $55
Various food and beverages = $35
Memories = Priceless
