Your High School Reunion

[KAK]

I have a high school reunion coming up and was wondering whether, in your opinion attending such an affair was a good or a bad thing. I graduated from a high school in Chicago and the reunion will be in Illinois, but not in Chicago. On the one hand I wonder what my old classmates look like, while on the other hand, I realize that we won't have much in common. So what good could come from my attending a class reunion? By the way, I never attend any of my college reunions, simply because I don't want to be shot to death in the Chicago streets around my old campus.

Thinking about my high school reunion, has made me reflect on my old neighborhood and the neighborhood of my high school. What used to be 100% white, is now 100% black. What used to be solid, working -middle class, is now solid welfare and slums.

The high school is empty and all bordered up. And of no apparent use to anyone, except the mice and rats nestled inside. That area of Chicago, at one time had at least 7-8 Catholic Churches. Now there's only one. Where did the Churches go?

Crime is now the major activity in my old neigborhood, which suffered 10 murders one weekend a few weeks ago.

Looking at photos on the internet of the area around my old school and home has saddened me and sickened me.

On a positive note what continues to amaze me is how stable my hometown in New England is compared to my old neighborhood in Chicago. Why should that be? Why has Chicago changed to much? And not for the good?

[Dghs48]

I was born and raised in Downers Grove, Ill....you may be familiar with that town. I went to HS in DG and we have had several reunions, with our 50th in 1998. We had a total class of 365 and there are now 187 of us still living. Like your school, we were 99% white, but one of my best friends is black....we played football together and he now has serious health problems. I would urge you to attend your reunion and renew some old friendships. Like you, I have no interest in my college reunion, but my HS reunion includes people from my childhood until age 18; a special group.

[Jack of Hearts]

Go to the reunion, you will be glad you did. You have many questions about the changes that have transpired back home, and it is there where you'll find a your answers. Obviously you somewhat want to touch base with some old classmates, and you'll regret not going. You believe you have nothing in common with your old classmates, but how can you be sure; I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the commonality you share with some of them.
If you're truly in fear of your life, revisit the murder statistics. I'll bet that most all of the victims were gang related, under thirty, and knew the killer. But if you're truly terrorized, stay in N.E. and seek professional help.

[Dghs48]

Is this a reunion of your graduating class or is it an all-class reunion?

[KAK]

Is this a reunion of your graduating class or is it an all-class reunion?

This is a reunion of the graduating class.

[Dghs48]

Then by all means, go and renew old friendships!

[KevinCarlson]

By all means attend - you will be pleasantly surprised by all the renewed acquaintances!