So as many of you Facebookers have seen/heard, this weekend was my (and many others) 20 year High School reunion. With the help of Facebook, many of those folks that are not as outgoing (or uhh, totally deranged depending on how you look at it) as myself likely felt much more comfortable and relaxed at the event, and hopefully made some new friends they might never have imagined they would have had. In any case, it was a fantastic time for apparently all involved.
My plan for the reunion Saturday night was to talk to not only the "Facebookers" and old friends I had, but to make an effort to really reach out to and talk with those I didn't know in high School and some that, for whatever reason, might not have really liked me all that much (I know, it seems IMPOSSIBLE!). As much as I like to think I was always a swell guy and friendly to everyone, I know there were times back then that I wasn't as inclusive or welcoming to others as I should have been, though I don't feel I was ever outwardly mean; I just know High School was a time when all of us could have used more moments of inclusion and kindness. Well, I failed pretty miserably at this mission.
I did speak with a few people that are not on Facebook, and I exchanged some pleasantries with former classmates that I never really knew, but that was not the plan. The plan was to truly talk with everyone there, including their spouses/dates and really make a solid effort to not only recruit them to Facebook, but to get to know them and say "You know, I wish I had tried to get to know you back in High School". Hey, I am not an idiot, and I understand that maybe some people just won't gel well with my personality, now or then, and I don't have a misguided desire to be friends with every person I ever come in contact with, but I honestly wanted to do a better job than I did this weekend.
The whole event went by so fast, with the drinking and the madness with the always entertaining Jason Hodge, the scurrying around for after party plans, etc; it's understandable that I couldn't be expected to have long, deep conversations with everyone, but I wish I tried harder.
At the end of the day I know that everyone has their own families and friends, as do I, and not having me say hello and try to re-introduce myself to them will certainly not result in them losing sleep or living an unfulfilled life - I am not that self-absorbed to think I matter to anyone that much - I just think it would have been the right thing to do. At these events, many people (especially the shy ones and the spouses who scour the room desperate to see anyone they might know from another part of their lives so they can do something other than sit their by themselves...glancing repeatedly at their watch) just eat their food, smile and nod as others pass their table and try to put on a happy face but never have the courage to "make the move" and go out amongst the crowd and strike up a conversation - hey I am married to a classic example of this! So, I suppose in some way I feel, being blessed/cursed with an outgoing and unbridled personality, that I should be someone that makes the effort and tries to bring everyone together. Well, I didn't do as well as I would have liked and although it won't cause any lifelong scars to those that attended, it kinda bums me out now that it's over.
Overall, it was a fantastic and fun filled night, complete with the requisite Abare/Hodge mayhem and many wonderful pictures, conversations and stories. I hope all that attended had a great time and are looking forward to the next one, and I can assure you that come that next Reunion, whether I am stricken with laryngitis or 10 beers deep trying to outpace Hodge, I will have had a genuine conversation with everyone there...whether they like it or not!
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