Seemed like in my school that the uber-popular ones were all into that "tanned and toned" look back in the 70's--both the men and the women. What I have observed over the years is that the ones who lived out in the sun back in the late 70's are now starting to look like Naugahyde.
What I found a lot more fascinating, however, was the personal changes in everybody. I was a late bloomer, really, and my life did not come together until later than many of my classmates. While they were the jocks and the prom queens, I was just doing my thing and figuring out who and what I am. A lot of them married right out of high school, and many of those relationships did not last. I didn't marry until my 30's. I'm still married to that same man. I had our daughter when I was 37, and actually had the experience of taking my baby to a reunion at a time when some of them were talking about grandkids!!
The girls who were so very pretty in high school aged--some not so well and other look just fine . Some are still slender, and some got fat. The one girl that was killingly beautiful has been married and divorced and she works in the local eye clinic as an office assistant. The girl that was ok--but nothing special--had a boob job and lives someplace near Columbine with her second husband. The really good looking guy is now an insurance agent and local entrepreneur. He got caught with his secretary a few years ago, got divorced, and is now remarried. He's become a friend and semi regular in my office. We debate politics an awful lot but it is friendly.
All the way through high school I had a locker right next to the really popular/quarterback/Class President. He was never unkind to me, but we were clearly not on the same social strata. I found myself sitting at the same table with him during the dinner, and of course, everybody has to ask how you earn a living. I explained that I'm a real estate appraiser in county government and left it at that. He went off on a huge rambling thing about his "very important" (yes, he actually SAID that!) fund raising position with the alumni association at the local university. He told us all about his wife "the stewardess" (yes, he actually used that term repeatedly!) and he told us all about his new house. My husband was giving me that sideways "what a fucking prat" glance periodically all the way through dinner. This is a guy who peaked in high school and has never grown a bit since.
A few months later that same guy turned up in my office needing help with the real estate tax value on his new house. One of the secretaries came back and said there was a taxpayer needing help at the counter and would I go talk to him. I went out to get him and it was priceless to see his expression when he realized the situation. I took him to my office and he was floored to realize what I do. He kept on saying, "I had no idea..."
I think that with age we become more of who we are. It isn't so much that we change a huge amount, it is a matter of unfolding a bit so that our true abilities and attitudes start to take center stage. Yeah, I'm going gray, there's more of me, and what I have is making a run for the southern latitudes, but I am still that same person with a bit more refinement, a little sharper focus, and a lot less angst.
Go have fun. Just prepare to be amazed by some of what you see.
Laura
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