Taking a Trip Back in Time

By Shari Einhorn

     

Me in 2008

                            Me in 1988

Go ahead -- LOL if you want to -- I did.  And so did my husband and my kids and my friends.  What can I say -- BIG hair was ... well, BIG back in the 80's!

So why, I'm sure you're wondering, would I humiliate myself like this?  I went to my 20 year high school reunion this past weekend.  Commack High School North -- class of 1988! 

First of all -- I had an absolute blast!  I was nervous about going but I am so glad I did!  I don't know what the official count was -- but there were a ton of people there!!  It went from 8 to midnight and supposedly there was great food and dessert.  I wouldn't know because I never ate a thing!  I spent the entire time talking, trading pictures of kids, catching up and marveling at how so many of the men and women looked the same!  Okay, their faces looked the same, but they had much better hair!

I was surprised at how many stayed on Long Island.  Several bought their parents homes and now their children are in the same school district.  Some moved away and others moved far away -- but they came in for the reunion.  A few came up from Florida and at least one came in from California. 

If you remember anything from high school -- I'm guessing it was the cliques.  You know -- the cool kids, the smart kids, the football players, the cheerleaders, the artsy ones, the athletic ones, the bad boys etc.  Well guess what -- 20 years later -- no one cares about any of that!  It doesn't matter if you were friends in high school or not -- it's just nice to see what everyone is up to.

I met police officers, teachers, realtors, insurance agents, landscapers, restaurant owners, stay at home parents and so many others I can't remember.  Everyone seemed really happy with whatever they were doing. 

The official reunion ended at midnight -- I left at 1 am and there were plenty of people still going strong. 

To everyone in the class of '88 from Commack High School North -- great to see you all and I wish you nothing but the best for the next 20 years!

Shari

Comments

[Holli]

LOL. My HS senior year picture looks a lot like that! My hair was a bit shorter, but just as wide and permed, too.

[phil dluginski]

Well im sorry i didn t read your blog sooner. it was really good to see old friends and certainly nice to see you again shari. im sure we'll bump into each other somewhere around sooner or later.
phil

[Andy]

I am a 30+ yr diabled retiree. I held the position of Road Car Inspector for the railroad so I speak from experienc. By the way I also held the position as President of our union in the mid 80's when the railroad wasn't getting awards for safety in fact they were the worst in the nation from the day I was hired in the early 70's. First off lets get the facts clear and balanced. the $250 or 31 million dollars a yr was and will be paid because of the railroads contractional obligation to past and present employees. Also it was first noted that 97% of all workers now it's 90% and 97% of those receive benefits. another point I would like to make is that the LI railrod is one of the only rails that have negotiated a 25/50 pension allowing more applicants to the disability benefit. that will slow down because they have pushed the age to 55. And also unlike social security RRRT pays benefits if all requirements are met at age 60. I could go on and on because I am outraged that no one read the act created in 1933 where even the federal gov knew the hardship and physical demand and wanted younger more productive employees and afforded most of us some means to keep up financially. They knew that not many could keep up with the demands of this industry after a certain age. I guess that no one is telling those of us that are hurting this is a media or political campaign to find a few that slip thru the system for their own popularity. How incensitive and self serving. I hope at this time when we have enough fears and anger over this economy we could trust the public servants more, but I doubt it. Oh yea I don't beleive anyone created a crime I beleive they used a system they created along with the Federal Government to there advantage. FROM ONE VERY HURT LI Rail worker