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.