I attended two high schools back in the 70’s: Floydada high school and Dumas high school. Just three hours apart in travel time, but at that point in my life it might as well have been three hundred hours.
I’d spent all of my school life in Floydada, Texas, population 4,000, until the end of my junior year in high school when my dad switched jobs necessitating a move to Dumas, Texas, population 10,000-ish. Eventually I adjusted to life in the “big city” of Dumas. It was tough, but I made friends and met my Studly there, and graduated from Dumas high school in 1975, so all’s well that ends well, right?
Fast forward to 2015 and the epic forty year class reunion. I would love to attend the reunion in Dumas, and I’m even going to be in Texas the weekend it takes place. Unfortunately that’s the same weekend the the Doright Family Reunion is scheduled, and I’ll be unable to be in two places at once.
Floydada’s class of ’75 is planning to meet in Gruene, TX, in October. I’ve already booked my hotel room for that event. After all, these are the grown-up versions of kids I went to school with from kindergarten through my junior year.
I was never “most beautiful” or “most popular,” but I always had a place among my class. And I was probably too busy dealing with my own insecurities to notice those who were more disenfranchised than I was. So I was caught by surprise when a member of the class became angry that she’d been invited to the reunion because she had felt disrespected and unnoticed during our school years.
I wish I’d noticed her more. I wish I’d been nicer, friendlier, more inclusive. I wish I’d known then what I know now–that it doesn’t diminish our own worth when we include others. Who knows how my life might’ve turned out if I’d known that years ago?
To all those who felt they weren’t included, you are loved and valued and I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you this years ago.
Peace, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 
Leslie, this is Blake’s wife and I couldn’t have said it better. I can’t say I ever felt that I had my place in our class, but I have been back for several reunions. It’s comforting to know that people grow up. I remember debating whether to attend a couple of the reunions, but, in the end, I’m very glad I went. I connected with people that I never really interacted with in high school. I’m glad I didn’t miss that opportunity.
Thanks for your post. I’m looking forward to seeing you in October.
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Thanks! I’m excited to see you again. Hopefully this time I’ll have my hubby along! His job is so unpredictable that he has trouble committing that far in the future.
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well written……….children can be so self absorbed can’t they. Youth is wasted on the young……..I understand that now I didn’t back then lol
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No one understood it back then.
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Yikes! A man recently shared a story with me about my brother. This man used to be bullied and ignored when they were children. One day my brother noticed what was going on and stepped in. Stopped the bullying and made sure he was included from then on in all events. This man told me my brother changed his life. You never know what a kindness might do for another person.
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Is it the first time you will see them since the 1970s? Oh it will be a very strange experience when you recognize a voice but not a face. Two years ago it happened with me, and to be honest I just wanted to cry and run away.
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I think I saw most of this group ten years ago. Plus we keep in touch on Facebook.
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Oh then it will be fun 🙂
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