Thursday, April 16, 2009

ten year reunion...

my ten year high school reunion is coming up, and i can't figure out if i want to go or not.

here's a little history. i moved to utah in 8th grade. i hated it. i missed california. i was completely lost in social circles. it was different here--people didn't like me just because i was mormon. i had to be something--in the band, on the soccer team, etc. and even though i was involved in some of those activities, i never really quite found my stride. my best friends were a year older than me--i really don't think i had and real close friends in my grade in high school.

high school just wasn't my thing. i was awkward, clumsy, loud and nerdy. i was still really trying to figure out just who i was. i know that's normal--but with 6 older extremely talented, smart, and beautiful sibblings it took me a long time. i don't really feel like i found me until i reached college.

timpview is just a bit different than other schools. it tried very hard to take in a mixture of people from provo, but the reality is that most everyone drove fancy cars, wore expensive clothes, and was super polished. when i moved from california, i refused to shop anywhere but savers where i could find old grateful dead shirts and ragedy jeans.

this is one of the reasons i love living in springville. i don't run into many people from my high school. because this is always how the conversation goes:

me: "hey, do you remember me--we went to high school together?"
person: blank stare
me: "i'm heidi...last name..."
person: blank stare...
me: "at timpview...."
person: "what year did you graduate?"
me: "1999--we graduated together"
person: blank stare...

and, i don't even have that great of a memory.

so my ten year reunion is coming up, and they keep asking for a head count. it's going to cost us $80. i'm in touch with almost everyone i want to be from those days (i did find two fantastic friends who i lived with at different times at BYU). i really don't want to introduce myself 400 times and get the blank stare. i'm going to be big and pregnant. jayson isn't interested in going at all. most of the time i'm not either.

but then there are times when i can't seem to let go of it.

to go, or not to go?

17 comments:

SNSsoup said...

how funny you just wrote this post... I was just thinking about doing the same. Mine is this summer too- and of course I'm undecided as to whether I want to go or not. Spencer doesn't want to go- he will however if I make him. I would just like to go to see everyone- since it's been 10 years and most those people I haven't seen since the graduation after party. Like you though- I'll be preggers- depending what month they have the reunion this summer I may not even be able to go since baby is due in August. I think I only care to go cuz of curiosity. I LOVED the time I spent in high school, and I knew most the kids in my class, but the friends I hung out with the most were usually a year or two older than me. I'd have to say I love Facebook since I've reconnected with so many kids from my graduating class on there. It gives me some sort of insight as to what I might expect if I were to decide to go to the reunion; turns out kids from my highschool haven't done a whole lot with their lives other than graduate college, get jobs and hang around San Diego and go out and party every weekend. I'm not sure I have too much in common with these people anymore since I'm married and a stay at home mom to 4 kids. Oh Hiedi, I wish I could say, YES, GO! but I'm having the same trouble deciding. Look at it this way, at least we have the CHOICE to choose whether or not to go- if we were student class presidents, we would have had to have gone- Senior Class President at my highschool is in charge of organizing the entire reunion! Let me know what you decide. I'd be a bit afraid to go to a Timpview reunion too- a lot, not all, but a lot of the alumni i've met who have gone there WERE pretty snobby- you're one of the exceptions.

sarah said...

If it makes you feel any better----I don't think I'd go to mine. That's what facebook is for! You can find out people's news without any of the awkwardness and not having to stress over what they'll think of what you look like (because you look great and who cares what they think but I know I'd be super stressed anyway).
That's just me....

Plus...high school is soooooo OVER :)

Stephanie said...

Unless you have a group of friends that you want to go with, then I say don't waste the time or the money. Spend the 80 bucks on a night out with the people you DO care to keep in touch with. And as someone who actually TAUGHT at Timpview, I totally get it. Believe me.

Shelane said...

Blah. Who needs schmancy reunions when we have facebook?

Ruth said...

when is it?

Owner of the Band said...

I am in the same boat. That is it costs $75, and i don't really want to go because i have you and bridget and Kari from High school. I see a few other people that I want to see, and I everyone else, I have already stalked on facebook, so what is the rush. Tim doesn't care. I'll be fat from just having had McKenna. I'll have to fly to LA. And I am not the same person i was. i happy with who I am. I don't want to spend a night talking about how I have been married for 6 years and have two kids or have people think I am super cool or smart for teaching college when in reality, I hate my job :) So, The price just went up last week because I did not RSVP, so now I have even more to deal with. oh dear. Let me know what you decide.

liz hawkins said...

I can't believe you're still debating about whether to go. I thought WE'D decided WE were going TOGETHER!! Call me. We need to chat about this. --xoxo

janae said...

Wait. You didn't feel like you fit in during high school. YOU. Heidi. You didn't have friends in your grade? Are you serious?! I didn't know that was possible. I suddenly feel so bonded to you. Seriously.

High school was fine for me, but I never seemed to be able to really fit in any of the groups, etiher. I had a friend or two in each group, but when they'd do the clique things on weekends I'd never be invited. And I truthfully don't feel super motivated to go to my reunion next year.

So if you're gonna regret not going, I say just do it. Swallow the 80 bucks, and go just to prevent regret. One more night of high school awkwardness won't kill you. But if you're not gonna regrets. I say DONT GO. :)

janae said...

Woa. That's a lot of typos. You might need a urim & thummim to read my comment. :) Sorry!

Alison said...

I'm totally biased but why pay 80 bucks if you don't really care? I feel no connection at all to Timpview. I went there for two years (so funny when we ended up in Seminary together) and felt no sadness at leaving. My situation was slightly different in that I moved there later in the K-12 spread, and graduated in '98 a year early - but I remember feeling that it was uber snobby too and that being LDS didn't mean nearly the same thing. I figure if you keep in touch with those who really care than what's the point for the rest - compare who's life is better now? Have fun with your decision. My mom said she saw you last week - and she said to tell you Congrats!

The Livingstones said...

i signed up for mine, then didn't go. i think i had some race in provo that morning, and i would have had to drive to elko and go in the evening. i really have no regrets though. being back in nevada, i occassionaly run into people i went to school with - and that's enough for me. i'll have to reevaluate when i get to 20 years.

Sharalea said...

I didn't go to mine last year b/c I had just had baby J. I was glad for a 'good excuse'.

I saw pics from the event on facebook later & was really glad I didn't go--just a big beer-fest (of course, I doubt that would be the case at Timp...).

The friends I want to be in touch with I AM in touch with & the rest--who cares. I vote don't go.

Spend the $80 on a spa day, a hot date, a shopping spree with Mae, a baby splurge.

Sheli said...

Well Heidi, I boycotted my 10 year reunion (lots and lots of years ago) and never regretted it! I was in a "not so great" place in my life and didn't want to deal with the whole high school thing all over again. From what I heard, my 10 year was LAME! I do have to say, though, that I went to my 20 year reunion a couple of years ago (yeah, I know, I am super old!) and it was one of the best nights of my life! So, there you go. I don't think I would waste the money if you aren't all that jazzed about it. Wait until the 20 when people have less to prove....it might be a whole different experience. Enjoy a night out with the friends you are in contact with if they decide not to go as well. That might be all the reunion you need. Good luck!

erin said...

I say go for it. I went to 3 different high schools and I know what you mean about the blank stare. I never even get invited to any of the high school reunions. But I remember people and it might be my morbid curiosity but I think it would be fun to be able to just show up on my own terms. High school is best left in the past, but you are beautiful and accomplished now, so go for it.....

Jamie Meacham said...

Heidi Remember I loved you from day one! picking flowers at camp, I think that was illegal and always getting a great hug from you. Don't worry I thought I had friends in high school, yet at the end of high school we have never connected. I am closer to you than to any of them. So who needs a reunion when the people you really love you are already in contact. I am not going, I can't go, but I if I could I'd go with you and laugh in the corner about our nerdy and awkward days! hee hee hee, I think most common people were nerds in high school, you weren't alone on that one. love you

tricia L said...

I'm suppose to go to my 20 year this summer. Nope.

The people I really care about and want to hang out with, I already do. I figure why would I want to bring up memories from a four-year nightmare that was high school.

The friends and family i have now are SO much cooler, nicer, funnier, etc.....

Saige said...

Hey, just a friend of Careys, usually just a lurker, but had to post my thoughts on this. OK I went to a small high school-- not like Timp but it was clique and had all the different groups. I did attend my class reunion-- best time ever. Not because it was some fantastic affair, but I came to terms with my own high school experience & got a chance to meet some old friends and their significant others. But I loved the fact that the most popular, beautiful girls were not even noteworthy, while all the quiet, shy girls (nerdy??) were so amazingly beautiful--it was wonderful to see. There was genuine excitement to see one another and opportunity to put past behind us and look forward to the 20yr(which in my case is coming up soon. There were a few friends I touched base with who have since passed away-- & I am so grateful that the last time together was marvelous. Now I say all this, but myself being prego -- I understand not wanting to make such a "large" impression. {I didn't go to my mission one, which was one of our only ones, because I was too fat & prego}. If you don't go, plan on 20yrs.... I hear it gets better as we age--I'll let you know :)