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Have You Ever Attended Your High School Reunion?
(21-22 of 22)
(21-22 of 22)
SusieB- Last Online: Aug 14 2010
Tony G- Last Online: Aug 26 2010
Discussion
I did many years ago. It was fun. Some people hadn't changed while some had, shockingly so.
It was weird. Some I didn't remember remembered me quite well and some didn't.
Oh well. It was interesting.
There's another one coming up but I'm not going.
It was weird. Some I didn't remember remembered me quite well and some didn't.
Oh well. It was interesting.
There's another one coming up but I'm not going.
Discussion
My first attempt at a high school reunion occurred the same exact time my father was in hospital. We drove up from Florida (we lived in Palm Harbor at the time) in a day and a half. I knew that I was scheduled to go to the old high school, but was not really ready for the shock.
We saw dad at the hospital. He later made a fine recovery. On that Saturday, we dropped by the football field/track of South Side Senior High School in Rockville Centre (the 're' is correct) New York. For you Long Island history buffs, RVC was founded by Mr. Smith of Smithtown. I guess that when he found his way to the south shore all the names with stones were gone and he thusly named the ville ... ah well!
We arrived on time to the reunion. I saw many people I had not even thought about for years. Strangely, I was approached by a large latino-looking gentleman. He said, " Tony, don't you recognize me?" Truly, I did not. I should have. When I entered the school I was a tenth-grader on the New York scale. What they did not know was that I had just finished the ninth grade in Mexico City at the American School Foundation. We had lived there for almost seven years. It should be no surprise that my second language was English when I returned to the U.S. It would have been natural for me to befriend others who spoke my language. This guy and his friends made the transfer back into this society a little easier. We spoke at length. He asked me if I was going to any of the parties at the local Holiday Inn. I begged off because we'd be returning to Florida on the next day.
People who I had known as friends at the school are still my friends today. Dan lives in southern California. The reason his father never understood him was because Dan was in the wrong place at the wrong time all the time! Mike was a brain. I just was able to communicate with the more intelligent of the school with more ease. Consequently, I had friends in the Physics club, the Yearbook, the Band, and our own newspaper. Mike went on to a double doctorate in the sciences at M.I.T. Dan finished by the skin of his teeth at B.U. Mickey (I'll leave his full name out for the time being) went on to become an excellent doctor and then a better surgeon who we only found out three years ago had been living and practicing in central Florida on the coast for a few years longer than we had been in Orlando (we moved up here in 1999). His wife graduated in our class at South Side. He graduated one year earlier. It was my joy and pleasure to meett her, he could not get away, with Mike from Boston about four years ago. I haven't seen any of them since. Oh, and by the way, I ended up a Spanish teacher; no surprise there!
I feel compelled to write this because I wonder if there are others out there with the same problem. If it weren't so trite, I'd say 'I left my heart in Mexico City', as my singing voice leaves a lot to be desired. Today, I feel closer to the society I left than the American society in which I am living. Truth be told, I did not want to leave Mexico. Arrangements could have been made to leave me there with my god-parents, and let me finish school where I felt more comfortable. My mother had other ideas. To this day I still do not feel completely comfortable. Even my wife is on my side with this and we have been married almost thirty-nine years. Futbol on television, however, drives her crazy!
The alumni magazine reaches me on a quarterly basis mailed from the schools' main location on Bondojito in Mexico City. Attempts to return and visit have been been a non-starter. I am not a good poker player, although I love to watch the 'Big Boys' playing for big stakes on the tube, and have not handled my deck of 'life' cards exceptionally well; except to say that our marriage has been wonderful (I married my best friend), and our son now living and working alone many miles from here has been a joy, delight and wonder to both of us.
You might say that this letter comes as a result of the celebrations which will be coming up in mid-September in 'el D.F. The centenary of the revolution and the bi-centenary of independence from the French will be celebrated all over Mexico. At this point I will be happy just to watch all I can through the Mexican media and whatever else comes along on cable. Someday.......perhaps..... Thank goodness for Google Earth. It has allowed me to re-visit the country of my youth many many times over.
So that's it. Mike, I completely understand how you felt after going to your reunion. The American school had a reunion, but it was in San Antonio. I wanted to get back to 'la patriia' for that celebration. In New York, the day of the reunion at the school culminated when the valedictorian of our class arrived dressed in a sari, bald, with sandaled feet. Apparently, even our brand of religion was not good enough for him. So much for a liberal education.
I enjoy your show when I can get it. It's funny to see the two of you together. Both of you retired from NBC outlets. I lived in the Tampa Bay area for many years watching WFLA before coming up to Orlando to see you every morning on WESH. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.
If you need any thing translated from or two Spanish, don't hesitate to write.......
Hasta la proxima .....
Tony G
We saw dad at the hospital. He later made a fine recovery. On that Saturday, we dropped by the football field/track of South Side Senior High School in Rockville Centre (the 're' is correct) New York. For you Long Island history buffs, RVC was founded by Mr. Smith of Smithtown. I guess that when he found his way to the south shore all the names with stones were gone and he thusly named the ville ... ah well!
We arrived on time to the reunion. I saw many people I had not even thought about for years. Strangely, I was approached by a large latino-looking gentleman. He said, " Tony, don't you recognize me?" Truly, I did not. I should have. When I entered the school I was a tenth-grader on the New York scale. What they did not know was that I had just finished the ninth grade in Mexico City at the American School Foundation. We had lived there for almost seven years. It should be no surprise that my second language was English when I returned to the U.S. It would have been natural for me to befriend others who spoke my language. This guy and his friends made the transfer back into this society a little easier. We spoke at length. He asked me if I was going to any of the parties at the local Holiday Inn. I begged off because we'd be returning to Florida on the next day.
People who I had known as friends at the school are still my friends today. Dan lives in southern California. The reason his father never understood him was because Dan was in the wrong place at the wrong time all the time! Mike was a brain. I just was able to communicate with the more intelligent of the school with more ease. Consequently, I had friends in the Physics club, the Yearbook, the Band, and our own newspaper. Mike went on to a double doctorate in the sciences at M.I.T. Dan finished by the skin of his teeth at B.U. Mickey (I'll leave his full name out for the time being) went on to become an excellent doctor and then a better surgeon who we only found out three years ago had been living and practicing in central Florida on the coast for a few years longer than we had been in Orlando (we moved up here in 1999). His wife graduated in our class at South Side. He graduated one year earlier. It was my joy and pleasure to meett her, he could not get away, with Mike from Boston about four years ago. I haven't seen any of them since. Oh, and by the way, I ended up a Spanish teacher; no surprise there!
I feel compelled to write this because I wonder if there are others out there with the same problem. If it weren't so trite, I'd say 'I left my heart in Mexico City', as my singing voice leaves a lot to be desired. Today, I feel closer to the society I left than the American society in which I am living. Truth be told, I did not want to leave Mexico. Arrangements could have been made to leave me there with my god-parents, and let me finish school where I felt more comfortable. My mother had other ideas. To this day I still do not feel completely comfortable. Even my wife is on my side with this and we have been married almost thirty-nine years. Futbol on television, however, drives her crazy!
The alumni magazine reaches me on a quarterly basis mailed from the schools' main location on Bondojito in Mexico City. Attempts to return and visit have been been a non-starter. I am not a good poker player, although I love to watch the 'Big Boys' playing for big stakes on the tube, and have not handled my deck of 'life' cards exceptionally well; except to say that our marriage has been wonderful (I married my best friend), and our son now living and working alone many miles from here has been a joy, delight and wonder to both of us.
You might say that this letter comes as a result of the celebrations which will be coming up in mid-September in 'el D.F. The centenary of the revolution and the bi-centenary of independence from the French will be celebrated all over Mexico. At this point I will be happy just to watch all I can through the Mexican media and whatever else comes along on cable. Someday.......perhaps..... Thank goodness for Google Earth. It has allowed me to re-visit the country of my youth many many times over.
So that's it. Mike, I completely understand how you felt after going to your reunion. The American school had a reunion, but it was in San Antonio. I wanted to get back to 'la patriia' for that celebration. In New York, the day of the reunion at the school culminated when the valedictorian of our class arrived dressed in a sari, bald, with sandaled feet. Apparently, even our brand of religion was not good enough for him. So much for a liberal education.
I enjoy your show when I can get it. It's funny to see the two of you together. Both of you retired from NBC outlets. I lived in the Tampa Bay area for many years watching WFLA before coming up to Orlando to see you every morning on WESH. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.
If you need any thing translated from or two Spanish, don't hesitate to write.......
Hasta la proxima .....
Tony G
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