A blast from the past

– Random Writings: Column by Rebecca Lindquist –

I recently attended my 40th high school class reunion – 40 years? I’m still reeling from that reality slap in the face. It seems like only a few years ago, that I attended our 20-year reunion.

I graduated with the Thorp Class of 1983. I was a little apprehensive, thinking no one would remember me, since my best friend, Ralph, couldn’t be there, and I only went to school at Thorp my junior and senior years. Regardless, there was no way I was letting that little detail prevent me from attending.

My daughter, Hannah, didn’t have to work that day, so I asked her if she wanted to be my “significant other” and was delighted when she readily agreed. She was eager to put a name to the faces of my classmates, whose stories I have regaled her with over the years.

Our gathering was held at Cindy’s, in Thorp. It was also June Dairy Days, so there were multiple activities planned. Cindy’s is a split-level establishment, with the bar area on the upper level and a door separating the banquet hall on the lower level. I was pleasantly surprised with how spacious the venue was, allowing plenty of room for alumni, and their spouse or guest.

The first game we played, was going over to the registration table and choosing a name tag. We were given a sheet with multiple questions on it, and the object was to find the person belonging to the name tag and ask them the questions from the sheet. It was fun and a great icebreaker, while getting to catch up on each other’s lives.

Boyd Catering provided the delicious buffet meal, which we ate as we played our second game. A snippet of tunes, of 1983 songs, was played, and we had to guess the name of the song and write it down. There was space for over 70 song titles, but we only made it through half of them. It was time consuming and harder than one would think, but absolutely hilarious. Many of us could sing the majority of the song, but struggled to recall the song title.

I was happy several people came up to me and knew who I was right away. The majority of my classmates hadn’t changed and looked as youthful as when we graduated, which doesn’t seem quite fair. (Where are their wrinkles?) It was great reconnecting with everyone and even meeting a few new friends, as anyone who went to school at Thorp with our class, from kindergarten through 12th grade, was invited.

It was fun recalling some of the highlights from our school days: Yvonne, a tall, beautiful blonde, who looks exactly the same, grew up on a farm and would put her make-up on when she got to school each morning, using a mirror propped in her locker. The guys flocked around her, fascinated, as she made herself even more beautiful. Some things never change…the men were crowded around her at the reunion, as well. And she is still as sweet as I remember.

The senior boys were notorious for their pranks each year. They somehow got into our English teacher’s locked classroom and turned everything upside down. Nothing was left unscathed: her desk and chair, all the students’ desks (many full of books), filing cabinets and bookcases. Miss C took it all in stride, while good-naturedly making them turn everything right side up.

Entering the commons/lunch area one chilly winter morning, was a swift, pungent eye-opener. The stench was over-powering and eye-watering. It appears that over the weekend, someone had put Limburger cheese in the heat registers that lined the east wall. The administration never uncovered the miscreants, who devised the diabolical scheme, but I always suspected it was probably the wrestling team, since they had early morning practice every weekend. Kudos for being so imaginative, I guess, though it was weeks before the smell dissipated.

There are many other memorable tales to share, but I guess the one thing that stands out to me the most, is how some individuals have changed so completely. The guys, who were the popular athletes and basically kind of jerks, were some of the nicest people there. The girls, who seemed extremely shy and reserved during our high school days, were outgoing and talkative.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting reacquainted with everyone and surprised how genuinely nice they are. To all current students, take heart, there’s still hope for even the most obnoxious person in your class.