HAHS 50 years!

Wow, what a weekend!  I was never popular, or even very comfortable, as a high school student, but I suddenly found myself enjoying the celebration of 50 years since graduation!  In June of 1968 our graduating class of well over 600 (I actually thought it was 700!) said our final farewell to the hallowed halls of Hempfield Area Senior High School.  We left behind a variety of teachers (some we would miss, some not so much!), fellow students, a handful of close friends (Diane and Kendra pictured), and cafeteria food! 

It’s amazing, though, what 50 years means in the realm of friendships.  Back in the mid- to late-60’s, the friendship ‘clicks’ and delineation of personalities and activities categorized everyone. There were the really smart kids (not me!), the popular kids (not me!), the sports kids (not me!), the Yearbook staff (not me!), various clubs (well, not TOO much me!) — but 50 years later none of that mattered.  We were all on the same plain.  We were talking retirement, health issues, aging parents, grandchildren, and who had traveled where.  We even had a fellow student who now lives in Greece!  (Not me!)

In those early years, our reunions encompassed hundreds of students and their dates, and we kept the hall hopping until 2am.  This year almost everyone was leaving by 10pm, and by 11pm the place was totally empty and the staff had torn down the tables!  But it was a very fun evening, chatting with classmates that we hadn’t – in some cases – seen since graduation.  The years fell away and we picked up where we left off all those years ago, possibly even more comfortably than we had been during those trying days at HAHS.  A girl I went through all twelve grades with – Ellen – came searching me out, and one of the first things we talked about were the Brownie and Girls Scout meetings we had been a part of – with my mom and Mom’s best friend as leaders.  I was amazed that she remembered that! 

When we collected our name tags (complete with senior picture from the high school yearbook!), there was a ‘Plugger’ cartoon enlarged and framed on the sign-in table, which when you get down to it, certainly is true!  The committee had done a great job of organizing everything – the decorations were fun, the food was delicious, the entertainment (our own T-Bird Kettren!) was perfect – a great nite for visiting and reacquainting with old friends.

Diane is our little ‘cheerleader’ to keep us all in touch, and she had a surprise for her three closest friends when we got there.  Kendra (aka Linda), Carol and I were all bridesmaids in Diane’s wedding the August after we graduated in 1968.  She had an 8×10 photo of the bridal party, and we had someone take the four of us together!  I can’t wrap my head around the fact that we were ever really so young!  I swear we looked to be about twelve years old! (We were, of course, either 18 or ALMOST 18!!)

Inevitably, there are always classmates that no one has heard of since graduation, and also ones that have passed away.  There was a memorial table with photos/names in the back of the room, honoring those who had died.  It was a nice tribute to those classmates who were gone.  Despite those who were missing, the evening was a great success and tons of fun, with lots of laughs and good conversation. 

But it didn’t stop there!  Today was the HAHS MEGA reunion – where grads from the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, and even a few from the 1980’s came together at Mt. Odin Park for a potluck picnic and a very casual gathering of a blending of years.  It was much less formal, easier to search out old friends, and a great opportunity to just catch up.  Ralph K from our class worked the group telling his usual corny but very funny jokes; Carol M/N told us about her recent European cruise (envy!), Debbie Y/G shared so many fun remembrances of concerts and bands she and her husband had experienced.  Dan B told us about his experiences with jobs and Florida and bands that played the local bars back in the ‘day’.  Tons of food – too much to even figure out what to eat!  Photos of all the grad years; a great day of fellowship and sunshine! 

Again, I was never a comfortable high school student (I basically tolerated school to escape!) but I had a great time both Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.  It will be interesting next year at the MEGA HAHS reunion to catch up with even more classmates and old friends.  And I promise, Diane, the minute Mark V announces the date I’ll mark it on my calendar! 

Here’s to the Class of 1968 –  and 50 years!!!