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WWHS class of 1989 20-year reunion

Author's note: Less than four hours after I wrote the bulk of this entry, but prior to my publishing it, my father-in-law passed away. As such, it appears rather happy-go-lucky compared to the somber mood which occupied the rest of the day. I've chosen to publish it anyway with its original timestamp intact. Life is full of ups and downs and should be celebrated while we have the chance, and I hope the text which follows serves as a reminder of that fact. You just never know what's going to happen next.

This weekend I attended the Woodrow Wilson High School class of 1989 reunion. I was at the ten-year reunion as well, but with the exception of seeing Kris Walser again, it was pretty disappointing. This weekend's festivities, however, were quite fun and I'm extremely happy I went.

I got to see many of the usual cast of characters from my past — Beth Reece, John Sellards, Lisa Biggs, Holly Kincaid, and even Becky Bassett (maiden names for the ladies here, because that's how I remember them). I also spent a decent chunk of time this weekend with Darren Hall, one of the people in one of my many extended social circles (more on that in a bit). I remembered him immediately upon hearing his name again. He was one of the 'skate punks' in school, and I had some of those tendencies as well (sans the actual skating) — hence my connection into that circle. He has since turned into a pro-Linux IT bohemian, much like myself, and he still rides his skateboard, which I think is fucking awesome.

Here's the weird thing — although memories tend to fade over time, and despite my vocalizations to that effect, I actually remember a great majority of what went on in high school. Martha pointed out that I was unique in that I could slip into and out of multiple social circles at any given time. Despite my resistance to being a social butterfly — and perhaps even my fear and loathing thereof — it looks like I may have been, to a certain extent, after all.

Making an effort to write a lot of it down probably helped my memory. It made me observant, and I was indeed aware of the goings-on in multiple social circles. And it was important for me to have these qualities, because at some level, I suspect I was collecting stories and bits of dialog to use later. I'm sure there was a good bit I missed too, but that's fine. It was always interesting to watch the primitive politics at work nonetheless (or 'reindeer games' as they were called in Heathers).

So here I am, 20 years later, observing and recording again.

It's interesting how some things change and some things stay the same. There was a good bit of mingling amongst all, and though we did end up — somewhat — back in the same groups in which we congregated in school, it wasn't in any hateful or spiteful manner like it was (or perhaps seemed) back then. Certain commonalities beget certain affiliations. At the same time, though, those borders at the edges of the social circles were not stone walls this weekend, and it wasn't out of the question for someone from group 'x' to come over to group 'y' and engage in conversation and shared memories. If anything like that went on in school, I for one never witnessed it — we were all a rather cliquey bunch.

Of all the people I saw this weekend, the highlight for me was seeing Becky Bassett. Looking back on all those times we spent together, I can probably say she was my best friend for awhile there, though I'm not sure if I ever expressed that feeling in those words. We reminisced on some of those times — visiting the tree cemetery, fake nachos with American cheese, talking on the phone frequently, visiting almost daily, listening to music together, watching the solar eclipse of 1986 — and as a lyric from one of the songs she shared with me went, "Long time since I've seen your smile, but when I close my eyes, I remember."

We exchanged emails earlier this year and now keep in touch on the eternal class reunion that is Facebook — and yes, that's great, but there's a lot to be said for face-to-face communication, on which she remarked, "I can't stop staring at you... I thought I'd lost you forever." It was truly a moment I never expected to happen, and I feel both vindicated and delighted that it did.

Such a happy weekend on so many levels. Cameras, conversation, and camaraderie everywhere I looked. We were all simultaneously rock stars and paparazzi, and in this grown-up world with its attendant concerns within which we all now dwell, I think it did everyone worlds of good.

And seeing Darren Hall skating around the parking lot at Woodrow once again? Absolutely priceless.

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Comments on "WWHS class of 1989 20-year reunion":

Thanks, Brad. Have enjoyed coming over here to get caught up. Hope we can get together again soon.

# Posted by Becky Robinson on August 1, 2009 @ 23:07:41 EDT.

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