This coming December 18, at about 6pm, trivial pursuit will start unabashedly for THS Batch 1985. It may not stop well after dawn. It will be catching up time for those who missed old classmates, GF's, BF's, and lost opportunities, hoping they'll still be available (damn, they'd be a bit old to be GF or a BF, won't they?) or at best, they're "it's complicated".
Preparations have been started for over a year so there's no stopping it now. I am quite sure it's gonna be a blast. 80's music, both pop and new wave never fails to ignite the passion or the dancing skills of a kid growing in that era. I am sure booze and music would be flowing like river.
Then the question: should I attend or not?
Back in the days, I wasn't really gaga over HS. For me it was a phase I needed to hurdle. Most people enjoy or consider high school as the best time in their life, probably 90% of the population. I guess I belong to the other 10% who didn't went ecstatic while I was there. I prefer college anytime of the day. It was more liberating for me, no more uniforms to wear, no more haircuts to have, no more adviser to haunt me like a nagging mother.
College gave me a breathing space I never knew I could have, never knew I could keep for as long I desired. All of a sudden, life was less structured, less disciplined but not necessary unruly. I still have to study well to get a degree, otherwise I'll be an overstaying bum wasting money at the onset of every semester.
It took me 21 years (sometime in 2006, on a Batch 66 GR) to go back to my high school. Not that I hate my school or my stay there, I had a nice time full of laughter and some high wire situations while I was there. I guess there wasn't really a great urge to drop by. The visit was ok, I met a number of old classmate and had some pizza, and booze after that. We had a nice time reminiscing.
Unlike with my college, it took me 11 years to go back (sometime in 2001, during a foundation day), after a somewhat eerie dream. Back then, we, as an organization, have a "Tambayan" and so are the other orgs and frats. Ours was quite unique as we have a concrete pond with a fountain where we can have fishes or other aquatic animals which in my case, one of my turtles. In my dream, I saw that the Tambayans, both ours (Horti-Soc and Agro) were demolished to give way for a construction of a new stage. A few days later, I decided to drop by at my college. Much to my surprise and chagrin, the pond was gone and so are the Tambayans.
Crap! Didn't I saw this happened in my dreams? Eerie? Maybe. Deja Vu? Perhaps. Sad? Hmmnn, not anymore. We all have to give way for modernity or improvement. They must have a good reason to do that so they have to. Besides, I don't own the place so how can I possibly object to it?
Fast forward to 2010. Another friend took over the helm of the Batch 85 Committee President. I was asked to help representing my section. Never really the leader but wouldn't be a follower, I took the responsibility. I pleaded, at times coerced, my classmates to donate to fund the numerous projects the committee undertook, the shining and gleaming stainless steel gate as the culmination. And now, the grand reunion.
Some attendees are from abroad, some residents/citizens of other countries, the others, OFW's. The rest opted to stay put and look for luck here. Some made good, some did OK, some not so. I probably belong in between the "did OK" and the "not so", tethering on both edges from time to time. Anyway, I live a very modest life and quite happy with it so no qualms. I have been around anyway so not really wanting so much. If opportunity knocks around, I'll take it but I won't chase it.
I don't mind people doing good in life. I am very happy with what they accomplished as I did some accomplishing too, myself. It's bragging it around that irks me the most. I am this, I am that. I did this, I did that. I've been there and there and the braggadocio can be endless. It would be a drag if the reunion is reduced to a report card announcement. If a classmate/batchmate ask me how I am doing or what I am doing, I intend to answer with the following lines:
I am a pet psychiatrist! or
I sell couch insurance. or
I test-market positive thinking. or
I lead a weekend men's group specializing in ritual fantasies. or
I am the Head Janitor of Union Bank Plaza
And that's what I am afraid of. The mood of joy and happiness might be dampened if not outright destroyed by those who wanna show off. Knowing me, as well the whole batch know me pretty well, I got a short fuse. Any moment of impropriety can light me up. I wish not to be a killjoy so I am reduced to avoiding the event or avoiding anything that can irritate me, provided I did attend.
So the question remains the same: should I attend or not? I'll take a rain check. It is still 4 weeks away. I'll soon see.
