I know quite a few folks that are pretty pumped-up about going to their high-school reunion. For those non-Americans it's pretty much a small gathering of a graduating class of 12th grade which is the last federally required grade to complete as education (unless a trade-school is attended). Often, students go on to learn a trade or college from that point on. The end of grade 12 is punctuated with a "prom" (oddly short for "promenade") dance and a graduation ceremony a few weeks afterwards. The film Grease (1978) focuses a good part on the 12th grade of a standard American high-school in the 1950s. When I graduated in 1987 it was somewhat similar, and honestly the basic themes are still in-tact on a rudimentary level. I was more the bad-guy from the gang The Scorpions though, played by under-rated Dennis Stewart. I think it's time for that movie to be made from their point-of-view.
Arch-enemy to John Travolta, "Craterface" from Grease (1978) |
The High School Reunion is a gathering of that graduating class, usually performed at 5-year intervals (for some reason). My graduating class was over 670 students. I believe the attendees of my 20th reunion was about 30 or so, judging by some photos. I've never gone, though I did go to my prom, and it was storybook perfect, and my graduation, complete with square-cap toss, freeze-frame at the end.. paused panned-shot and music from Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" with scrolling credits, straight out of the epic cult-film of the time, Real Genius (1985).
I feel bad for girls in the '80s. Time to do hair: 784 hours and 2 cans of Aquanet. |
When rappers sang, "Be cool, stay in school!" and weren't about killing cops. |
Tango and Cash (1989) |
Aww.. ching CHOW! |
One fun thing is the curiosity of how they actually developed. Often, most people are not at all the same as they were when they were seventeen, or at least I hope not, lest we all have Asperger's in some derelict Mirror Universe world (though I might know a fellow or two that act that way a bit).
We see the cliche examples of people living their heyday from high school, peaking there. It's classic. Hollywood gives us Al Bundy from Married..With Children of course, Rob Lowe cleverly acts it in a current commercial. When I was younger and saw that, I could understand it a bit. I saw some folks who actually did peak there, such as the quarterback guy, or some other jock or bookworm. I could get it in the sense that, "Yeah, those guys did peak then. Huh. Ah well." and move-on. At age 45 now, there are those who are still there though, and it's horrifying to me like in Stephen King's Needful Things the guy with the letterman jacket. I'm sure there are some who actually still have theirs, holding on desperately to it for some sentimental value. They haven't moved-on. They can't.
80's Robot from The Muppets offering a crisp, cool Tab cola. |
Ultimately, I bet a lot of guys who go are trying to one-up everyone else though. Sure, they'll find the "peaked in high school" fellows wearing their letterman jackets but not in an ironic way but as a badge of honor somehow. Instead, guys will braggart houses, cars, jobs, wives, wealth, fame, etc. Perhaps public-office holdings, meager as it stands, or perhaps something like a sports-hero. Me, I don't really need that. In the end, I would only disappoint those trying to play this trump-card one-uppance. I could lie, and say I don't work for a major space conglomerate, or that I help keep World War 3 at-bay, or on and on and on. I've had a very rich life and I'm proud of it, better than most, worse than some in a few aspects perhaps, maybe (doubtful).
Lord Mastermind's world domination eminent, using.. THE COMPUTER! |
You like what ya see, baby? |
Standard '80s high-school fashion. When in Rome! |
Uncle Rico as King Vidiot in Joysticks |
Alyssa Milano in Teen Steam (1988) |
Out.
Oh, a little eye-candy then... '80s style...
Her daddy ain't home. |
And for the ladies, The HOFF!
When in Rome! |
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