The ‘Then’ and the ‘Now’
(Deep-voiced movie coming attraction guy’s voiceover
…)
”
Reunion. This time, it’s personal,
”
was what I heard in my head when I opened my e-mail the other
day.
The ‘Then’ and the ‘Now’
(Deep-voiced movie coming attraction guy’s voiceover…) “Reunion. This time, it’s personal,” was what I heard in my head when I opened my e-mail the other day.
Last summer, I wrote about The Husband’s class reunion. Apparently, he never did decide if he wanted to go as a fire chief or an architect, in homage to Seinfeld’s George Costanza, who fancied himself either working for Vandelay Industries or perhaps working in a sky scraper that he himself designed, as a famous architect and part-time marine biologist. This time, the pressure’s all on me.
I’ve been getting sunny reminders on Classmates.com for a couple of months now. It’s been fun to check up and see who will be at Eagle Ridge on Aug. 9. It’s been a safe, comfortable distance away.
Until now. Our reunion coordinator is so on the ball, she sent out an e-mail telling us of the existence of www.gilroyhighclassof88.com, a site she built in anticipation of the great event and dedicated to all things Class of ’88. I was impressed. She did a great job. People are checking in and signing the guest book and RSVP’ing left and right. Pictures are being posted of us as now nearly 40-somethings in a “Then” and “Now” section. I even got into the spirit and posted a “Now” picture. I was very grateful that I had the benefit of a professional photo from my column, he-he. The “Then” is still a little too painful.
I was pleased when an old…I mean, friend who is my age e-mailed me and told me that I looked just like I did in high school. Bless her probable failing eye sight and thanks to Susan Reno, former Pinnacle photographer, who is now chasing after her twins. Susan made me look nearly thin! It’s an old photographer’s trick; tilt your head up, and at an angle. Not too much. Playfully, over your shoulder, just a touch; very natural-looking, right?
There is even a countdown clock on the site – “143 Days Until Our Reunion,” it fairly screams. That is not nearly enough time to recover from the liposuction, the Botox injections and the boob lift. I guess I could wear a girdle, pull my hair back really tight, a la Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” girls and …well, that’s about it. The Girls will have to remain in the southern hemisphere.
I check back each night after work to see who else has added their name to come back to the GHS fold. Tonight, I saw that the coordinator had issued a challenge to those brave enough to accept. Evidently, there weren’t nearly enough “Then” photos posted to suit her.
“Okay, I put my ‘Before’ picture up. Now, it’s your turn,” she taunted. Darn her, she still has those adorable dimples. Life is so unfair. All I have is the same short hair in varying fading stages of bargain color and any dimples that I might have shouldn’t be seen in public.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, and with helpful, kind words from that old…friend who is my age, I met that challenge and posted a “Then.”
I don’t feel the need to be an architect or a fire chief, but I do feel the need to be comfortable with where and who I am. From the looks of things, based on all those who have posted their “Then” and “Now” photos, the class of ’88 is more than comfortable with themselves and there’s not a single architect in the bunch – so far.
