“Hey, Romy, remember (math) class? There was always a word problem. Like, there’s a guy in a rowboat going X miles, and the current is going like, you know, some other miles, and how long does it take him to get to town? It’s like, who cares? Who wants to go to town with a guy who drives a rowboat?”
—Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
Well, it finally happened. My wife Carolyn and I attended our 5oth high school reunion a few weeks ago. I’d like to say we did it 25 years early, just to be sure…but I’d be lying.
We actually had it one year late, courtesy of the pandemic. But it was worth the wait!
When we moved to Charlotte, new friends got a kick out of hearing our high school’s nickname is “Crabbers” and our mascot is Freddy the Crab.
Hampton, Virginia is a coastal city, with a fishing and crabbing industry vital to the area, so we never gave it a second thought, or had it send our minds to…well, you know!
On our way to Hampton, Carolyn and I thought back to some of our childhood and high school years, and wondered aloud who among our friends would be there. We were not disappointed.*
We reunited with former boyfriends, former girlfriends, old friends, and even made some new friends. In a class of over 400, we couldn’t know everyone back then.
I enjoyed talking to my former baseball teammates. One even thanked me for getting him through our Junior year season…by keeping him company on the bench!
In high school, we hung out with our circle of friends. We never thought of the groups as cliques. They were just small groups based on shared interests–sports, academics, band, clubs, Greek, etc.
Speaking of academics, the math quote above could have come from me or any one of my buddies, except in 1970 we didn’t use “like” the way it’s like, you know, used now.
Full disclosure: there were guys in my class I avoided back then. Especially some who were in the “bad boy” fraternity. They were bigger and tougher than I was (not a very high bar!).
The beautiful thing now, when back for the reunion events, is we are all on equal footing–fellow graduates, 51 years older–with a shared love for our school and more memories than you could shake a stick at.
We talked about those high school years, relived those big football and basketball championships, our classes, our teachers…but also discussed our careers, our personal endeavors, and our families–especially the grandchildren!
Somehow, the threads of opportunity that led us in all different directions and destinations were woven back together again into one big blanket of memories. Seems what we treasure in life goes a little deeper as we get older.
People looked different. Older, of course. But, for the most part, the faces were the same, and only the hair had grayed or disappeared. What really mattered–the personalities, smiles, and voices–hadn’t changed in 51 years.
If there was anything melancholic, it was the notion of missed opportunities for friendships. Not just when we were in high school, but subsequent to that, as our lives spun into different orbits.
And while that’s water under the bridge, we can now work to maintain our rekindled friendships, and hopefully all be back for the next reunion.
One more thing: Carolyn and I drove around town and rode by the houses we and some of our friends grew up in, our elementary schools, the church where we were married, and , of course, our high school… Hampton High School.
Our junior high school has been gone for years, but it was old when we were students there. Otherwise, it was all still there. More importantly, many of our classmates were there, some having made the effort to travel quite a distance.
The good news, with apologies to Thomas Wolfe: yes, you can go home again. So, when you have the chance, go for it! You’ll be enriched by having done so.
*Two things: First, kudos to the Reunion Committee. They worked hard, put it all together, and made it happen!! Second, may the fifty-two classmates no longer with us rest in peace.
#youcantcrushacrab
(Note: No crabs were harmed in the writing of this post, but some were consumed during the reunion weekend.)
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“Hey, Romy, remember (math) class? There was always a word problem. Like, there’s a guy in a rowboat going X miles, and the current is going like, you know, some other miles, and how long does it take him to get to town? It’s like, who cares? Who wants to go to town with a guy who drives a rowboat?”
—Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
Well, it finally happened. My wife Carolyn and I attended our 5oth high school reunion a few weeks ago. I’d like to say we did it 25 years early, just to be sure…but I’d be lying.
We actually had it one year late, courtesy of the pandemic. But it was worth the wait!
When we moved to Charlotte, new friends got a kick out of hearing our high school’s nickname is “Crabbers” and our mascot is Freddy the Crab.
Hampton, Virginia is a coastal city, with a fishing and crabbing industry vital to the area, so we never gave it a second thought, or had it send our minds to…well, you know!
On our way to Hampton, Carolyn and I thought back to some of our childhood and high school years, and wondered aloud who among our friends would be there. We were not disappointed.*
We reunited with former boyfriends, former girlfriends, old friends, and even made some new friends. In a class of over 400, we couldn’t know everyone back then.
I enjoyed talking to my former baseball teammates. One even thanked me for getting him through our Junior year season…by keeping him company on the bench!
In high school, we hung out with our circle of friends. We never thought of the groups as cliques. They were just small groups based on shared interests–sports, academics, band, clubs, Greek, etc.
Speaking of academics, the math quote above could have come from me or any one of my buddies, except in 1970 we didn’t use “like” the way it’s like, you know, used now.
Full disclosure: there were guys in my class I avoided back then. Especially some who were in the “bad boy” fraternity. They were bigger and tougher than I was (not a very high bar!).
The beautiful thing now, when back for the reunion events, is we are all on equal footing–fellow graduates, 51 years older–with a shared love for our school and more memories than you could shake a stick at.
We talked about those high school years, relived those big football and basketball championships, our classes, our teachers…but also discussed our careers, our personal endeavors, and our families–especially the grandchildren!
Somehow, the threads of opportunity that led us in all different directions and destinations were woven back together again into one big blanket of memories. Seems what we treasure in life goes a little deeper as we get older.
People looked different. Older, of course. But, for the most part, the faces were the same, and only the hair had grayed or disappeared. What really mattered–the personalities, smiles, and voices–hadn’t changed in 51 years.
If there was anything melancholic, it was the notion of missed opportunities for friendships. Not just when we were in high school, but subsequent to that, as our lives spun into different orbits.
And while that’s water under the bridge, we can now work to maintain our rekindled friendships, and hopefully all be back for the next reunion.
One more thing: Carolyn and I drove around town and rode by the houses we and some of our friends grew up in, our elementary schools, the church where we were married, and , of course, our high school… Hampton High School.
Our junior high school has been gone for years, but it was old when we were students there. Otherwise, it was all still there. More importantly, many of our classmates were there, some having made the effort to travel quite a distance.
The good news, with apologies to Thomas Wolfe: yes, you can go home again. So, when you have the chance, go for it! You’ll be enriched by having done so.
*Two things: First, kudos to the Reunion Committee. They worked hard, put it all together, and made it happen!! Second, may the fifty-two classmates no longer with us rest in peace.
#youcantcrushacrab
(Note: No crabs were harmed in the writing of this post, but some were consumed during the reunion weekend.)
14 Comments
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Hey, “Crabby” Tim. It’s 6:15 am, I’m already working my merchant services job. I love the quietness of the morning—getting some things accomplished until my phone starts ringing around 8:00 am! I have WBT talk radio on and they are discussing the Va governor race. A new day is dawning and it’s a bit chilly outside. I pick Anne up @ Charlotte Douglas Airport around 5:00 PM (if American Airlines does not cancel her flight from Boston). She has been visiting Elizabeth’s family for about three weeks—I miss her & it will be great to have her home.
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Your comments are much the same as mine when I attended my 50th high school reunion, Needham Broughton HS, Raleigh & also my college 50th reunion, Meredith College, Raleigh. My gray hair is for real! The Sunday morning after my HS reunion, the ’64 alums’ gathered for a memorial time, and one of our classmates asked forgiveness from one of our Afro-American classmates, a moment of atonement I’ll never forget. Reunions are good for the soul…
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Great message, Tim! Great points about reconnecting and classmates now being on the same plane. Maturity brings about better perspectives on life and what is truly important. So glad you all were able to gather and celebrate 50 (+) years! It’s also bittersweet in acknowledging the classmates no longer here to reunite and celebrate. Really puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? Looking forward to our postponed 50th class reunion rescheduled to next year (courtesy of the pandemic!).
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you awoke some memories! :-)
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Glad you could make it back to your Class Reunion. Nice article
Tim !Larry Tucker
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My fondest memories are of high school. The reunions stopped at 50 years and that made me sad. It was a wonderful, innocent, patriotic, God loving time to grow up.
Many of my high school friends aren’t living now but the memories live on.
Thanks for reminding me. -
There’s a special relationship with friends we grow up with that lasts a lifetime. My best friend since first grade lives in Sarasota, and we have managed to get together almost every year since we graduated from high school – and talk to each other several times a week. What a blessing!
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Tim, your reflections of high school started to rekindle in my mind as your post brought back many memories and a smile. I bet you also had some senior pranks that you failed to mention. We also have a close group in our much smaller senior class and decided several years ago to have a gathering once a year. We will get together again this weekend with lots of laughter with some new and crazy stories that I’m sure will randomly surface. Tim, don’t be modest about you and your friends bench days. Your buddy just wanted to be the first to know how “Tim the Terror” hit that monstrous home run and wanted to be the first to get your autograph. Your blog brought back a lot of memories my friend. Cherish them always.
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Good read,Tim. I enjoyed the memories of days gone by. All of them lead to us to where we are now. Keep up the good writing.
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Having just come back from my 50th college reunion, I totally relate to all of your points. One wonderful thing happened at my reunion. That clique of girls that seemed they were better than me – they welcomed me with open arms 50 years later. To your point – all on an equal plane at this stage of our lives. We all got to know each other better and I think I made some “néw” old friends.
I can’t wait for my 55th HS reunion next year – with my Hampton High School classmates. -
Tim, thank you. I knew I should have ask you, pre-reunion, to write my opening greetings to our classmates! I resemble more than a few of your observations of our class back in the day…some good and some not so good probably. It was an event for reuniting and reflecting which I think was accomplished by all those in attendance. I am proud of the committee members who worked together to make the reunion a reality. I think they did a great job too!
See you and Carolyn at the next one… -
Great post Tim. You pushed my memories buttons! Our class hasn’t had a reunion since 25 yrs. I still keep up with a few locally, but often wonder where some of the others are and how they are doing in life.
I think I will try a little harder to see if I can find a few classmates! Thanks! -
Hi Tim, I attended my 50th in Danville months before COVID. Remarkable how much and how little some people have changed. What really stayed with me is how the attitudes, interests and values of my closest friends have tracked along similar lines. We still “get it”. It all seems like strands of a thread I see only occasionally now. Reassuring.
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Surviving 12 years of school with 80 others was both painful and wonderful. We are closer than relatives with a close-knit group that is in regular communication.
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Hey, “Crabby” Tim. It’s 6:15 am, I’m already working my merchant services job. I love the quietness of the morning—getting some things accomplished until my phone starts ringing around 8:00 am! I have WBT talk radio on and they are discussing the Va governor race. A new day is dawning and it’s a bit chilly outside. I pick Anne up @ Charlotte Douglas Airport around 5:00 PM (if American Airlines does not cancel her flight from Boston). She has been visiting Elizabeth’s family for about three weeks—I miss her & it will be great to have her home.
Your comments are much the same as mine when I attended my 50th high school reunion, Needham Broughton HS, Raleigh & also my college 50th reunion, Meredith College, Raleigh. My gray hair is for real! The Sunday morning after my HS reunion, the ’64 alums’ gathered for a memorial time, and one of our classmates asked forgiveness from one of our Afro-American classmates, a moment of atonement I’ll never forget. Reunions are good for the soul…
Great message, Tim! Great points about reconnecting and classmates now being on the same plane. Maturity brings about better perspectives on life and what is truly important. So glad you all were able to gather and celebrate 50 (+) years! It’s also bittersweet in acknowledging the classmates no longer here to reunite and celebrate. Really puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? Looking forward to our postponed 50th class reunion rescheduled to next year (courtesy of the pandemic!).
you awoke some memories! :-)
Glad you could make it back to your Class Reunion. Nice article
Tim !
Larry Tucker
My fondest memories are of high school. The reunions stopped at 50 years and that made me sad. It was a wonderful, innocent, patriotic, God loving time to grow up.
Many of my high school friends aren’t living now but the memories live on.
Thanks for reminding me.
There’s a special relationship with friends we grow up with that lasts a lifetime. My best friend since first grade lives in Sarasota, and we have managed to get together almost every year since we graduated from high school – and talk to each other several times a week. What a blessing!
Tim, your reflections of high school started to rekindle in my mind as your post brought back many memories and a smile. I bet you also had some senior pranks that you failed to mention. We also have a close group in our much smaller senior class and decided several years ago to have a gathering once a year. We will get together again this weekend with lots of laughter with some new and crazy stories that I’m sure will randomly surface. Tim, don’t be modest about you and your friends bench days. Your buddy just wanted to be the first to know how “Tim the Terror” hit that monstrous home run and wanted to be the first to get your autograph. Your blog brought back a lot of memories my friend. Cherish them always.
Good read,Tim. I enjoyed the memories of days gone by. All of them lead to us to where we are now. Keep up the good writing.
Having just come back from my 50th college reunion, I totally relate to all of your points. One wonderful thing happened at my reunion. That clique of girls that seemed they were better than me – they welcomed me with open arms 50 years later. To your point – all on an equal plane at this stage of our lives. We all got to know each other better and I think I made some “néw” old friends.
I can’t wait for my 55th HS reunion next year – with my Hampton High School classmates.
Tim, thank you. I knew I should have ask you, pre-reunion, to write my opening greetings to our classmates! I resemble more than a few of your observations of our class back in the day…some good and some not so good probably. It was an event for reuniting and reflecting which I think was accomplished by all those in attendance. I am proud of the committee members who worked together to make the reunion a reality. I think they did a great job too!
See you and Carolyn at the next one…
Great post Tim. You pushed my memories buttons! Our class hasn’t had a reunion since 25 yrs. I still keep up with a few locally, but often wonder where some of the others are and how they are doing in life.
I think I will try a little harder to see if I can find a few classmates! Thanks!
Hi Tim, I attended my 50th in Danville months before COVID. Remarkable how much and how little some people have changed. What really stayed with me is how the attitudes, interests and values of my closest friends have tracked along similar lines. We still “get it”. It all seems like strands of a thread I see only occasionally now. Reassuring.
Surviving 12 years of school with 80 others was both painful and wonderful. We are closer than relatives with a close-knit group that is in regular communication.