High School Reunions: How to Handle Them - Other

There is no way around it: whether you're going to your fifty year, bragging about grandkids and showing off new teeth, or going to your ten year, bragging about degrees received and showing off new cars, high school reunions can be uncomfortable. Part of this lies in the fact that people change, losing touch with those they once copied off of in second period math. But, mostly it's because no matter how old people become, they always seem to somewhat care what their high school peers think of them. You can take the person out of high school but you can't take the high school out of them. Still, it's not impossible to make reunions comfortable. With a little planning, and a little restraint, you may find yourself being as cool as you always thought you were.Don't Have Pre-conceived NotionsWe all wonder what happened to the quarterback of the football team, the head cheerleader, the senior class president, and the class oddball who only wore black and skipped around with ba gpipes. While we have assumptions of what became of whom, don't be so immersed in who you think people have become that you are unwillingly to see who they really are. People often turn out different than even they think they will and the version of them now can be 180 degrees from what they once were. Think about it this way: are you the same person you were in high school? Probably not. Don't Say you Invented Post-itsExaggeration and reunions seem to go with each other, as if they arrived together in an old beat up Honda but called it a Hummer. Still, exaggeration is risky and tainted with desperation. Few things are more uncomfortable than exaggerating, and getting caught by those you're trying to impress. If you feel a need to enhance a little, keep it to a minimum; don't say you are married to someone who looks like Mel Gibson, when you really are married to someone who looks like Mel Brooks. Don't Bring up old BeefMost people had a high school nemesis, that one person with whom they just never got along. While it may have been fine to shun this person in high school, a time when shunning was not only acceptable but highly conducive to social standing, reunions are meant to be peaceful, and full of maturity. A reunion is a time to leave water under the bridge, not a time to open up a flood gate. Don't Only Talk to Those You KnowMost of us have a small group of high school friends who we still keep in touch with, even years later. While we'll see them at the reunion, we'll also see them at poker on Saturday night and at softball on Tuesday afternoon. Instead of spending all your time catching up with those you've already caught, reach out to those you haven't seen in years. Even if you weren't friends with them in high school, you might find, as adults, you have more in common.

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