We go together

Driving to Rochester from Philly for the reunion. Thinking about living in Boise for 10 years and being jealous of my friends who would run into people from high school. I felt they had some sense of security and that I was missing out on to be with "their own people". I look forward to feeling at home with you all, just for one night.

We are all different. We might have different values or disagree about politics or God. We might totally annoy eachother. But inside each of you lies a piece of my history and a sense of home, whether I like it or not. I am one of you, and we are all apart of a unique experience, time and place. To some degree, you made me who I am -- good or bad.. And I'm grateful.

We might not keep in touch after the reunion, or maybe we will rediscover friends old and new. But either way, I'll treasure you forever. You're my people...and I can't wait to come home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn60NIh2NGU&feature=youtube_gdata

Surprise inside, Devil Inside

What's the surprise? People are coming out of the woodwork for this reunion and buying their ticket at the door -- reportedly, a few who haven't aged a day since high school, and a few who are now Unrecognizable! Isn't it great!??

So many people are pumped for the golf outing and the Friday night fundraiser, along with the main event. We have some fun things in store for you Saturday night. It's possible you'll be asked to do a little "Treasure Hunting" in exchange for a chance to win 50% of your ticket price back in cash! I hope you plan to come and join us! I promise I will personally make sure you have a good time re-connecting with old friends and people you don't even remember!

Trust me, I don't remember a handful of you and I'm darn sure people are having trouble remembering who the heck I am. Well, to jog your memory, I was president of the bowling club senior year. I'm sure you remember now! ....not. Isn't that the title you hope your own children will hold in high school?

Here's another clue, after asking at least 12 guys to prom and getting rejected, I wrote a bitter article in the Talon newspaper about how senior boys were cheating senior girls out of their high school prom by taking underclassmen. To accompany the piece, Jeff Zinn drew a lovely illustration - a dude with a 5 '0clock shadow and a tiny girl with a flip and headband under a banner that read "Senior Guy, Peon Girl Prom." Luckily, a kind sophomore from yearbook took pity on me and took me to prom. A double standard, for sure, but he was taller than me, bought my shoes and let Holly Peters drive his red convertible because our dresses were to big to sit in the back seat.

How about this: I won the teachers' choice for best speech (Jessie Jackson) for our Mock Election. I'm pretty sure the students' choice award went to the Bill Bradley guys. I think that was the group who mooned the audience in their boxers? My brown power suit could just not beat that.

OH...this one maybe you'll know: I drew the illustration for the senior girls' powder puff football team shirts -- "Devil Inside." Eh? Eh? See??!!! I was SOMEBODY. And you are too, so get your body to the reunion and show us what you're workin' with!

Remember when we said "Later days?" Well Saturday is that day. Be there.

Forever young? Maybe not

Well...the reunion is just days away and I've finally decided I might try to lose 20 pounds, maybe 30, in a hurry. In fact, I'm already grateful we might have a 25th reunion, so that maybe I can redeem myself as a fabulous 40-something next time. Can you relate? Or, maybe you're bald and you're on the phone with Hair Club for an emergency transplant. Is this your situation? Are you still trying to decide if you want to come to the reunion because you're worried about unveiling the new you, 20 years older?

The last time we saw each other, we were 17-18, firm and invincible. It's true, there are some of us who might look better now than we ever have, while others might not be feeling so hot. But seriously, does it really matter? Aren't we all in the same boat?

"Forever Young" was our class song... And in our hearts, we'll always be forever young. But time has passed, we've all been through some things and it's OK. Don't let the fear of how the years have treated you keep you from giving us the gift of you, your light and your life. You might be thinking..."I've lived the last 20 years without them. Why do I need them now?" You could be right. But how will you ever know if you stay hidden away? We all have something to offer each other and something to gain. Be there!

Rod Stewart - Forever Young
Uploaded by Discodandan. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Reunion Do's & Don'ts - Don't wear denim; do bring cash

Time, Date & Place - 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, Wyndgate Country Club, Rochester Hills, Mich.

Tickets - If you haven't purchased your tickets yet, you can buy your tickets at the door, CASH ONLY - $80 per person. Please email us at reunion@rochesterhighschool1989.com to tell us if you plan to attend and buy your tickets at the door.

Dress Code - "snappy casual." It's a country club venue, absolutely NO DENIM allowed. Not prom or wedding fancy, but wear something cocktail party-ish -- perhaps too sexy to teach high school, too nice to wear bowling.

FREE Valet Parking - Drive up to the entrance for valet parking service. It's already been paid for! Feel free to tip or not. Use your own discretion. Remember, if you need to leave your car in the parking lot, it won't be accessible until 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Bar Time - Beer, wine and soft drinks are FREE, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Cash bar for liquor will be available. CASH ONLY! NO CREDIT CARDS!

Food - Food at the reunion will be served throughout the night in the form of a variety of served appetizers, with some vegetarian options, as well as nacho, coney and pizza stations.

Friday Night - Fundraiser Party, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Buffalo Wild Wings Rochester, 1234 Walton Rd, in conjunction with the Matt Moscato Charity Golf Outing which takes place Friday afternoon. Click here for more information about the event on Facebook. Varsity Football Game, 7 p.m. at Rochester High School vs. Stoney Creek High School.

Photos - Be ready for your photo shoot upon arrival. A reunion service company will provide photo memory books, which can be ordered at the reunion event. Also, take your own photos! Click here to check out our Flickr group; upload high school and reunion photos too!

Hotels - SpringHill Suites Marriott in Orion Township and Hilton Suites of Auburn Hills are offering reunion discounts. Click here for more information about hotels.

Transportation - We will have a list contact information for taxis and other safe ride options available at the reunion venue.

Stay Connected - Click here to check out our RHS '89 Facebook group. For all the details and blogs, visit http://www.rochesterhighschool1989.com

Share your highschool pics for reunion slideshow

Senior All Night Party - Jenn & Andy
Originally uploaded by Jenn S2

Remember when you looked good wearing a baggy and horizontally stripped shirt with a short jean skirt? We want to remember it too!

Take a minute to upload more of your high school pictures with you and your RHS '89 pals to our Flickr group! We'll be showing the pics as a slideshow at the reunion and could really use more mugs!

Check out our group on the link below...and start uploading!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/rochesterhighschool1989/

The Time of My Life

Wow, first Michael Jackson and now Patrick Swayze. You know you're old when your teen idols pass away.

I think it was junior year when "Dirty Dancing" came out. I saw the movie, but I was never as into it as some people seemed to be. What I remember most about that movie is the torture I endured because of it. Here's what I mean: My name is Sylvia, see. And every single day, at least once a day from the time that movie was released, someone in the hallways between classes would call out to me. "Oh, Sylvia!" and I would obligatorily answer back..."Yes, Mickey"...and then I was expected to complete the lyrics to "Love is Strange" (click the link to see the clip) for the next year and of half of my life.

On a brighter, less annoying, side there was another song "The Time of My Life" (click the link to see the video) that came from that movie that my gal pals and I, especially Tammy Ferguson, would sing to each other at the top of our lungs. And it was true: high school and being with my friends was great...and we did have the time of our lives. Of course, the years go by and get better with age. Still, I love looking back to my high school days when we were young and free.

I know at our reunion...we'll have the time of our lives again. You'll see! We hope to see you there. (The Pay Pal button to buy your tickets online is still up and running. No official extension is being announced, but I encourage you to take advantage of the savings you'll get by purchasing your tickets online!)

Still on the fence?

Many are finally succumbing to my incessant nagging about buying reunion tickets, and I thank you. But some are still on the fence. Perhaps you're one of those fence sitters. But I want you to know that I truly think this 20-year reunion is going to be magical. I'm kind of like the gals in Romy and Michelle's High School reunion. Remember that movie? Like them, I was oblivious enough about the reality of high school to think that those were the best days of my life and that somehow I'm so different and so much cooler now. Eh-hem, maybe not.

You're probably thinking..."Why on God's green Earth would I want to put myself back in a "high school" situation with those people? (I admit, I have a bit of dread myself.) But seriously folks, we are all grown up now. And as I have reconnected with old friends on Facebook and also with classmates I didn't really know in high school, I realize how wonderful some of us have turned out to be. Don't you agree?

Did you know that Harold Greeney is coming? The dude lives and works in the jungle of Ecuador and some of Rochester-ites are still wondering if they should make the effort to be there. Laura Kray is on faculty at Berkeley in California, and she's making the trip. Jeff Zinn is fancy design guy living in New York and he's showing up. I'm driving 10 hours from Philadelphia. Don't you know we need you too? (...especially my old friends....no offense to everyone else....giggle)

The party really can't start with out you...each one of you....right? I mean, really...could it ever?

Although I might not be able to recreate all the good times I had with my girls in high school, I know there will be dancing...and laughing, and I might make new friends with my old friends, if that makes sense. Or, if nothing else, I will have made a valiant effort. All I can say is, be there, or be square.

Alrighty....three blog posts down, 18 more to go, and in less than 13 days. I LOVE deadlines!

80s make a comeback

It's 20 years later. When we were 17, what kind of progress did you think society would make by the year 2009? Did you think we'd be flying cars? Or dressing in some sort of aluminum foil kind of look? It's worse, folks: We're so old, the kids think it's cool to dress like us. I guess fashion goes right round, baby.

It's true! Check out the photo of my old friend and RHS classmate Dana (Mahon) Bougie's teenage kid on his first day of school. She posted this photo to her facebook profile, commenting: "first day of school...10th grade...is it just me or does he have on jeans and high tops like in the 80's????"

Upcoming Fashion Week in New York is all about the 80s. Shoulder pads, harem pants (you know, kind of like MC Hammer used to wear...), track suits and IZOD. Even Duran Duran is on tour. It's all back.

'Course, some of use knew the 80s are back because we have tweens and teenagers who insist on putting their polo collars up before they go to school for God's sake. Seriously? They want to wear their collars up?! The 80s trend has been creeping back for the last 3 or 4 years. When I was teaching high school in Idaho, the girls were all Flash-danced out, wearing leg warmers, hoop earrings and off the shoulder t-shirts AND BELTING THEM Madonna style. They realize WE dressed like that in the seventh grade...right? And my son thinks I'm uncool?

So let's make a deal Gen X, we're not showing up to our reunion looking the same as we did then. Right??? Well, of course not. Many of us are a bit more chunky or bald than we used to be....but the point is - no Max Headroom sunglasses, no ripped jeans and no big hair. Hoop earrings are OK, as long as they've been purchased NEW in the last 2 years. Let's be reasonable.