My high school reunion (insert big number here) took place recently in Blue Earth, MN.  Yes, at the local grocery store.  We had a large turnout, 54 of the 98 in our graduating class plus several spouses and a few teachers took part in the festivities.  There is a room at the back of the store that they rent out for just these occasions and they cater it too!   But there are some big advantages to this.

 Juba’s grocery, Main St. Blue Earth, MN

During the cocktail hour before dinner I heard a classmate yell:  “Hey Ross, we need more beer, I think it’s on aisle 3.”  “While you’re there, get some decent white wine.”  “We could use some chips too!”  I think they’re on aisle 2.”  Then, as we sat down to dinner, our MC, who happened to be one of my best friends, Eldon Spencer, who lived next door to me growing up, started rushing his speech.  Why?  The only thing that made sense was he saw the candy dishes on the tables and panicked, thinking that was our only dessert.  When he finished he rushed into the grocery store looking for desserts.  “No jello molds!”  someone shouted. 

So you see, having the reunion at the grocery store wasn’t all bad.

Probably the best thing that happened to me however was a long conversation with a woman I was scared of in HS.  Back in those days, she and the two friends she hung out with were intimidating.  They would stare at us (the town girls).  Now I think they were just staring at our poodle skirts, thinking how stupid we looked.  Come to think of it, I never saw any of them in a poodle skirt.  Sandy, (that was her name),wouldn’t be caught dead in a poodle skirt.  No Sirree.  We must have looked like complete idiots.  If Sandy happens to read this I’m sure she would agree.  The night of the reunion I had a most wonderful conversation with Sandy and was reluctantly dragged away by another long lost classmate.

Even if your reunion isn’t in a grocery store, you should go.  You never know what old friend will show up and what new friends you’ll make.  And it’s a heck of a lot of fun.

Your most memorable reunion??  I’d love to know!