I received a call yesterday from an old high school buddy of mine, we ran cross country together. He berated me for missing the 25th year high school anniversary (everyone had a good time). And while such things are nice, I frankly don't have the time to get away.
Bryan was on the decorating committee and came a day or so earlier to put up decorations in the gym/hall (or whereever it was to be held). A movie I always enjoyed for its humour was "Gross Pointe Blank" and while the language is definately questionable, there is a certain evil level of humour there that appeals to me. But I am not in the midst of a life crisis, I don't want to change careers, and I certainly don't want to look up old loves. I am sedentary and satisfied with where I am. And that is my problem, I am too sedentary, at least to my class mates.
Bryan was decorating and walked passed the "in memorium" table. There was "Chip" who had a short career as high school athlete and jock, and then graduated on to becoming an overweight used carsalesman, he committed suicide a few years back, some others that led untimely deaths in car crashes, a mining accident, airplane crash. And then Bryan froze, there in the middle was my high school photo. Consider that Bryan had spoken to me a week or two earlier and so had a fairly good idea that I was yet among the living.
Upon investigation the claim was made that a funeral home had emailed someone, who had put forward the idea that I had died, and since I really don't keep up with my high school friends back east, they just assumed the worst. Bryan, as a friend quickly disabused them of the idea. Which is unfortunate. Had he taken a moment to reflect, he could have gotten all kinds of responses as to how people felt about me, what an excellent opportunity, to sit in on your own funeral! But no, he had to tell them I was alive.
Now, had he called me first, I would have flown right down. But not to prove I was alive. Oh no, that would be way too easy. I would have rented a pine box, created some excuse that I promised I would come to the reunion and then be carried in by co conspirators. Oh, yes, that would indeed be an excellent opportunity. Then when the inebriation was at its height around 9 - 10 PM I would have gotten up to dance, and really enjoyed the looks on their faces.
I wonder if I can still play dead for the next reunion?
Wow, that is so cool! I wish people thought I was dead! Especially some of the morons in my ward. I have to agree with you about the whole reunion thing. I live only about 10 miles from where I went to highschool, had lots of friends, and didn't go to mine. I'm just surprised that you kept contact with someone from highschool. Most guys I know have little or no contact with guys they went to highschool with. Girls seem to maintain those contacts but it seems like guys are less likely to.
At least you're not dead yet!
Also, you must be an OK guy if you ran cross country. I ran for three years with one league championship. Best thing about highschool was running cross country.
Played basketball too and captain of the Chess Club and Debate team. Go figure, I couldn't fit into any catagory. But I loved running.
After my mission in the Andes, my lungs (before they adjusted) were awesome. I would run with old friends and carry on a conversation while they huffed and puffed. It changed soon enough, but for a while it was interesting.
I think the next theme for a reunion should be "Is he dead yet?"
I've still got about 3 years until I hit the 25 year reunion.
They tracked me down for my 20 year, and it was good to see folks I hadn't seen in a long time. And it was even nicer to see and interact with some of the folks who had been snobby to me in high school. Most had outgrown it and were genuinely happy to see me. I went to one of the preppiest high schools in the nation at the time, so money, clothes, and social status meant everything to too many of the kids...
One of my old friends said I hadn't changed in 20 years. Okay, so I'm 100 lbs heavier than when I was a senior, out of shape (I was on the wrestling team in high school, so you know I was in decent shape then), and am starting to show some salt-n-pepper in the hair... yeah, sure I haven't changed a bit... Of course, this is coming from a guy who pretty much looked like Shaggy in high school and we used to tease about being as thin as Old Weird Harold. He was balding and paunchy and had become a high school english teacher... So, maybe it is a relative thing.
Jeff, you need to get a good short story / article out of this un-reunion "I'm not dead yet, actually I'm feeling much better" experience!
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It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
On another note, I have taken the flight to Manaus and Rio several times. The fact the flight was lost there recently does feel like a brush with the next life.
