Blast From The Past - Part 2

Successfully attending your high school reunion can take some finesse.

Especially when the high school you went to was a little rough around the edges. Let's just say we drew a wide population.

In addition, and more importantly, we graduated in 1985. That means we were in high school for the first half of the 80's. Reagan was president. There was bad hair - big hair, with lots of curling irons and bad perms. For instance, someone with incredibly thick, naturally curly hair (that would be ME) has NO BUSINESS sporting a perm. There were also bad mullets. 'Nuff said.

There were bad clothes. It was the early to mid 80's. Seriously, have you looked at those styles? Ugh. There were lots and lots of Camaros. And they weren't the cool ones. (My husband, who graduated in '79 disagrees wholeheartedly on this point.)

There was bad music - arguable, depending on what you were listening to. We had everything from the rockers, the punk-rockers, the new-wavers, to disco that was turning into 80's dance music.

We were looking in my old yearbook and I was pointing out some friends my husband knows now. He kept saying, "Wow, she looks a lot better now." He finally said, "Yeah, you all look a lot better now." Thanks, Sweetie. That's okay. I include myself in all of the above 80's scariness.

Let's just say we've come a long way, baby.

In reality, many of the girls I graduated with look fantastic today. Of course, we will probably look back and laugh at those pictures, and today's styles, in another 20 years.

There are always a few that make you shake your head, though.

*There is always one guy who shows up that blows everyone away. At our 20 year, it was the skinny punk rocker from high school that was totally hot. This time it was the guy who grew 6 inches after high school, who is now a super intense free spirit, attending 10 day retreats taking vows of silence.

*The four (yes, four) guys who showed up in sleeveless wife-beater type tank tops. Apparently, 25 years after 1985, those are still appropriate attire for social events in some places.

*The drunk who still acts 16, making perverse sexual theatrics at married women (jokingly, but still!!!) Embarrassingly, I've known him since we were five.

*The girl who walks in and still doesn't talk to anyone. Some things never change.

*The guy that looks the gals up and down, commenting on how great they look, all the while having the creepy uncle look on his face. Ewww.

All in all, I totally admit to a fun weekend with some great friends, both current and old. It was great to see some of those faces again and catch up. And I attended without a mullet or over-curled hair, without a polka dot mini skirt or stretch pants that stretched out in the knees when you sat down, and without a Camaro (though I wouldn't mind the 2010 model!!)

...but we did listen to some of that bad music... fun flashbacks!

***Ally