I can understand why you've put off joining the group but so glad that things have come together for you to join them this weekend. I am sorry for the loss of your brother but he'll surely be there with you all.

I find there's something special about reconnecting with my friends from grade school/high school. I was just explaining to my bf how FB has brought many of us together-- some as far away as the west coast and overseas. My school was small and our town is such that generations of families stay-- so my circles are bigger than my actual group of friends. It's a really interesting cross-section of education levels, political affiliations and experiences. I really enjoy the mix.. and our shared connections (generally) bring a level of camaraderie to our threads despite the differences.

Have a great time! Forget the lbs and embrace the love!

That's why I love facebook, I have a site from the parish I belonged to in Boston and another from my area and all my neighbors who lived near me. We have a blast together and have had one reunion with over 200 people. Planning to do it again. I check both sites every day. What fun for you Oakley, you're going to have a ball and no one cares about 20 pounds, lol.

How fun. Just remember, they're all worried about their own 20 lbs!

True! I'm surprised I'm so calm about it. Thank goodness it's a "jean's" night. :)

What a great story! Relax and just enjoy your reunion with them. It's sounds like fun.
Lynn

In 1977 one of my closest school friends committed suicide at age 23. I was 21 and made my way to a state far away by myself, flying into a tiny airport, renting a car (I practically had to buy it, as I wasn't officially old enough to rent), then driving two hours in the snow in unfamiliar mountains to get to the funeral. When I arrived at the guy's parents' home, I found ten other good friends from all over the US who couldn't miss the opportunity to say goodbye, either. We all stayed together for two nights, reliving our boarding school years ---mostly nightmares for the dead boy--- with song, dance, adult beverages, etc. Years later The Big Chill came out and I wondered more than once if someone spied on us and made us all 15 years older for that story.

It seems the one good thing about death is that it brings together the most unlikely people, or the likeliest people in unlikely circumstances.

Oakley, this will be an experience of a lifetime. Embrace their love.

this is an amazing connection, have fun.

Kswl, what a bitter sweet story. Thank you Gold, I will!

The gathering is taking place a block over from where I grew up. The guy hosting it, it's his childhood home (he lives out of state) but it's empty because his mom is in a nursing home. So it will be in a house I'm very familiar with. From pictures I've seen, it still has the same decor from 30 years ago. lol.

Today's the day! My friend is picking me up in her Jag..oh my! The whole group is meeting at my old house, with permission of the owner, to make a group picture on my front porch. We had a picture of us taken back in the early 70's so we're going to recreate it!

I'm just now starting to get nervous. Very nervous. lol

awww.. don't be nervous. You'll be with friends. No one knows you the way your old friends do... and how special that you are gathering around the love of your brother.

Relax and enjoy yourself!

Oakley, just be yourself. Don't be self absorbed and worried about all your short comings. Reach out! You will have a blast. Can't wait to hear all about your weekend.

How fun! Don't be nervous! It will be just like HS!!!

Thinking of you and hoping you're having a great reunion. We'll be checking in for an update when you recover from all the fun, talk and re-connecting.

Hope you are having a grand time, Oakley!

It was amazing. The owners of my old house let us come and recreate the old picture of us in high school, and I stood in for my brother. The owners are a young couple and they're restoring my house to it's former glory! And they're using the same jewel tones my mom used. He was just as excited to meet me as I was at seeing my house. We exchanged email addys and he's going to keep me updated.

The party was fantastic. I was the only one that no one saw since high school, so there were a lot of deep hugs, tears, and lots of laughter. Our conversations picked up where they left off. :)

A funny. I had three cousins (sisters) growing up whom I haven't seen since I was a little girl. A lady walked into the house where the party was, she looked at me, I looked at her, and she goes, "I know you, don't I?" I said "We're cousins!" HUGE hug.

My friends house. I kid you not, inch by inch of that house should be in a magazine. High end french country decorating with a layered look, but still airy. Now she went to design school which explains a lot. The guest bedrooms were bigger than a master bedroom.

Full of staffordshire K.C. spaniels, Roosters, and rabbits, but not in your face. Everything was either an antique or a high end reproduction.

Every picture on the wall was in an ornate frame. The backyard patio, was built into separate "rooms." A dining table that seats 10, a living area with full size sofa and chairs, an outdoor TV, a full size kitchen, and down the walkway a big brick fireplace. And a pool of course. When we sat outside before going to bed in the freezing weather, she flipped a switch and this huge heater which I couldn't see came on from above. I was about 15 feet from it and let me tell you. I felt good!

Then she brought me home and my first thoughts about MY house was, "What.a.dump." LOL My son and his family were here so she got to meet them and my grandkids, which was neat.

Not sure if I mentioned this or not, but her DD and my DIL are teachers at the same school in my area! What a small world!