TRAVELWISE

IT’S NEARLY a year since
my high school reunion, one
of the best weekends of my
life.

My only regret is the number of
old friends who chose not to return
—- TL know that sometimes it’s
impossible but ] wonder about those
who perhaps could have come but
stayed away for the wrong reasons.

Reunions are usually planned for
the spring and summer and Brian’s
class reunion is coming up.

The April 15 weekend will find
us heading for Victoria for the Oak
Bay get-together. We wouldn’t miss
it, wo
_Thave two purposes in mind as |

write this column. The first is to
urge anyone who has mixed feel-

" ings about attending their own
reunion to re-think and GO!

’ In talking to the dedicated souls
who organized my reunion I learned
that they’ll always make room for
those with last-minute second
thoughts.

Sure, the forms go out months
before the event. And, certain dead-
lines are put forth — pre-registra-
tion then final registration (and

: money) by such-and-such a date.

The purpose of this is obvious
und it's very considerate of us to
obey, Remember, these occasions
are non-profit and may even use the
pockets of the organizers to get
started,

Fortunately, there are usually
enough people like us who jump in
right at the beginning, But there's
almast certainly room for you ~—
just gct on the phone.

Second purpose: if 4 milestone
in your school career is approaching
and you've heard nothing about a
reunion, don’t be afraid to make a
few calls to your old classmates and
get the ball rolling.

Often it takes someone like you
to encourage others to get busy, too.
Don't rely on what used to be the
student council — I’ve seen enough
of these to know that the best candi-
dates didn't always win!

Are you already booked fora
reunion this year? If so, here are a
few hints J picked up from the three
we've already attended.

Clothes:

Forget everything you've
learned about packing light and
bring plenty of outfits. It’s the
weather that can ruin youc plans —
no-one expects to freeze in
Saskatoon in August but it can hap-
pen — be prepared.

Ordinarily, a traveller will just
add a sweater and bite the bullet but
a reunion is different. You want to
look your best regardless of rain,
sleet or hail.

Generally, reunions have an
informal get-together on the Friday
night, some sort of activity sched-
uled for the Saturday mid-day, a
dinner dance for Saturday night and
perhaps a farewell breakfast Sunday
morning.

One vivid memory from last
year’s reunion — how my feet hurt
in one of the pairs of shoes f wore!

Don’t make the same mistake.
Every time I turned around, some-
one was grabbing my arm, “Come
on — I just found so-and-so over
there!” and we'd dash. Ouch!

If you haven't bought a new
dress or suit since Expo, this is the
time to do it. Not that it matters io
anyone else at the reunion, but it
matters fo you.

Short of your kid's wedding, 1
sui Uthink of any other occasion
when you'll enjoy anew outlit
more.

@ Where to stay:

It's great if you can stay with
friends or family but if you're
booking a hotel, book early.

We booked the Oak Bay Reach
Hotel two months ago and got the
second-last available room.

Although we drove the RV to
Medicine Hat for my reunion, we
parked it at a hotel, ['m glad we did
and glad that we spent a few doltars
more and got a suite.

It gave us room to entertain
without guests trying to find a seat
on the bed or floor,

Checking in early is a good plan
—— it gives you time to make a few
phonecalls and perhaps link up with
a few old friends first.

@ Class lists and photos:

These are usually available and
be sure to purchase them, The lists,
particularly, are great.

Please note: if you are on the
planning committee for a reunion,
please include the maiden names of
the women. Ours omitted them and
caused no end of frustration.

Just in case, be sure to bring a
pen so you can scribble in informa-
tion and correct errors.

Bring a camera and lots of film.
Take time to usc it! [ entrusted the
photography to Brian at my
reunion. Mistake! He was having
such a good time he took few pic-
tures,

Also, take the majority of the
pictures early, especially at the
dances. Towards the end of the
dance he’d had a bit more scotch
that what’s good for him and we’ve
a few very strange pictures.

@ And, the main event:

See Graduate’s page 44

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