Homecoming and Class Reunion

20 years ago last month, I started college.  I said, "Good-bye," to high school life and began the process of growing up and becoming an adult.

20 years ago last May was the last time I was with the people I went to school with every day for 13 years.  Some joined us along the way, but there were a lot of us who started and finished together.

Tonight, many are gathering at the local football game for our Homecoming.  Tomorrow night, many are gathering for a little fun and concert.  I won't be joining them.  The people I  know well are those that I see or speak to regularly.  A lot of others I keep up with via Facebook.  Now, I feel like I spend more time (not literal time) with many classmates that didn't really speak to me in high school.  I do enjoy finding out what they are doing now and about their families, but I don't really talk to them normally, so I am OK with not seeing them this weekend. 

I went to my 10 yr reunion.  It was nice visiting with folks the night after the game, but when we had the dinner the following night, it was very much divided into the groups from high school.  There was an obvious separation of folks.

Homecoming used to be a big deal.  We wore Homecoming Mums all day Friday at school and at the game that night. We wore them to the Homecoming Parade on Saturday morning.  I still have mine hanging in the back of my closet. I had so looked forward to that tradition with my niece and nephew.

Now, the Homecoming Parade has been changed and moved to be the Unity Parade.  We now have two high schools, and the newer school griped and complained that they didn't have a Homecoming.  (You have to have a graduating class to come back "home" so you can have a Homecoming.)  Now, when the two high schools play one another, in order to not divide the town, they have Unity Week, the Unity Game, and now, the Unity Parade.  The town and school are working hard to make sure there isn't a division in the town.

Well . . . all that sounds find and all, but why can't Homecoming be the weekend both schools play one another?  Everyone could come home, support their team, visit with everyone they know, and more.  Just my thought, but no one asked me.

Homecoming Mums:
Our moms used to get together for "mum making parties."  They did such a great job!  Each year or high school was represented by different colors (adding silver or gold), we got to pick our trinkets, and more. 
Tonight, I have seen a few pictures from around the Metroplex, and I just don't understand why girls have them hanging on a ribbon that is then around their neck making the mum hang down their middle.  We used to pin them over to one side at the shoulder.  Just seems really odd to wear it in the middle.  Actually, I think it looks weird.  Just my opinion.  If they have to hang down the middle like a massive necklace, maybe they are just too big.

I'm Getting Old

This year is my 20th High School Reunion.  A group of classmates is making plans for the event(s), so it will be fun to learn the plans.  With such a milestone glaring me in the face, it brings about many memories and thoughts.

Memories
I was blessed with being able to attend school K-12 in the same school district.  We had one elementary school (K-6), one middle school (7-8), and one high school (9-12).  Our middle school didn't have a cafeteria, so every day, they bused all the 7th and 8th graders to the elementary school for lunch.

When we graduated, we took a series of pictures.  We started with everyone who went to Kindergarten together and then added students who joined us each year--1st grade, 2nd grade, etc., until we were all in the picture as graduating Seniors.  I wish I had those pictures electronically.

I wasn't in the "popular" group.  I just "was" most of my school life.  When I got to middle school, I think it became more obvious that I was in the "advanced" group (not that I wasn't in elementary school). Once in high school, I became a "band nerd" and loved it.  I made some great friends through band.  I also had my friends with whom I had been in advanced classes all my life, but I started "hanging out" with my band friends. Many of my friends also went to church with me, so we had Youth Group experiences too. I loved going to Disciple Now, football games, Band Banquets, and more. Our Senior Cruise to the Bahamas was fun.

I am sure I will think of more things to say on this topic as the reunion approaches.

Thoughts
I am Facebook friends with many of my former classmates.  I didn't "hang out" with them or go to high school parties with them, but I know them, care about them, and am genuinely interested in their lives. (I think graduating with a class less than 100 makes everyone a little closer than high schools with hundreds of students.) If I haven't said it before, I am an Introvert, so even though I know these people, I will be extremely nervous and uncomfortable about the whole reunion, but it will be great to see everyone and listen to what is going on in their lives.

I wonder how many are still single, don't have children, and more. I am not married, and I do not have children.  I always thought I would.  I thought I would find "Mr. Right" while in college, get married right after college, and have 2 children by the time I turned 30.  Well, that didn't happen.  I can't decide if I just couldn't figure out what God's plan was and that I tried to be more in charge than Him so I messed all that up or if God's plan really was for me to still be single and childless at this age.  No need to question it.  I just continue to pray that I follow the path God has for me and to accept if that does not include a husband and children. However, all of these thoughts have come boiling up lately because one of my high school classmates, a girl whom I went to school with Kindergarten-12th grade and was at my Kindergarten birthday party, just announced that she will be a grandmother in July.  A grandmother!  I'm not even a mother. I am happy for her.  I absolutely love been an Auntie, so I know she will have a ton of fun as a grandmother.

I'll keep you posted on the reunion plans and God's plan for me.