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Opining of a Cranky Old Man
Do You Have Any Green Bananas? Cranky Old Retiree Ponders Buying Them
Retirees still flooding to high school class reunions, some even having their 75th!
By Bill Kalmar, Retiree
 July 16, 2011 - A review of any newspaper at this time of the year will reveal a number of
schools announcing reunions. Our local paper today has over thirty announcements detailing the date and location of various reunions
and asking for the graduates to contact the committee, if they have not already done so. Both my wife, Mary, and I will be celebrating our 50th
high school reunion this year.
Mine Servite High School. Hers Dominican High School. It is a time for reminiscing and an attempt to recognize
classmates who have dramatically changed over the years.
All of us like to think we have retained our boyish and girlish style and figures but, if that were the case, there would
not be a need to post our high school graduation pictures on badges and then affix those pictures to our shirt or blouse.
When our classmates look at our graduation picture and then compare it with our current countenance there might just be
some minor changes. Perhaps a bit of gray has surfaced in the hair line if there is a hair line! Maybe that svelte quarterback physique has
changed a bit and maybe the It girl is now wearing orthopedic nylons. But whatever the case, reunions are always fun.
Our Servite High School reunion will be at Frankenmuth, Michigan, the Fried Chicken Capitol of the Nation. To date, over
one hundred grads and spouses will be attending. It will cover three days. Our last reunion was three years ago for our 47th year (go figure!)
and it was so much fun that we decided to gather again for the 50th.
My wife Mary will also celebrate her 50th reunion when grads from the now closed Dominican High School in Detroit will
gather at the Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Dominican was a private girls school staffed by nuns. Perhaps a few might even return
for the event and don the habit and scapular that made them so distinctive. Otherwise in secular clothes the grads may not be able to
recognize Sister Charity!
As I reviewed a list of upcoming reunions in todays paper, one in particular caught my eye. The notice stated that the
1936 graduating class of Pontiac High School will be holding their 75th reunion later this month. Yes 75 years!
My curiosity got the best of me so I called the number listed in the paper and talked to a delightful lady who was
coordinating the reunion. She indicated that about twelve grads had already responded and she was expecting several more. All the grads are
either 92 or 93 years of age and, as she indicated, few are now buying green bananas. What a great sense of humor!
Many of you who have attended reunions might agree with this observation. Reunions for the 10th and 25th
year tend to bring out the worst in a lot of grads. People want to prance around like proud peacocks and brag endlessly about their
accomplishments, and impress the group with stories of exotic trips and Italian sports cars.
Once you reach the 50th reunion and beyond its more about settling into a serene life style where the dog
eat dog world of employment is a distant memory. People are more reticent and just enjoy the company of friends. There will be the occasional
discussion of physical ailments, grandchildren, assisted living home recommendations, and upcoming operations.
And someone might even offer a suggestion for a good plastic surgeon but it will be a mellow gathering until we start
doing the chicken to some rock and roll music! There will be lots of Frankie Avalon and Beach Boys music resonating down the halls of the
hotel.
So if your school is celebrating a reunion this year make sure you attend. It will be a return to those carefree days
many of us wish we could relive today.
Well, time to get out my peg pants - my Thom McCann shoes a bolo tie and decide if I should get a crew cut or a
pompadour style haircut. Decisions. Decisions. And, Mary just arrived home with some green bananas she is the ever optimist. Just maybe
there is a 75th high school reunion in our future!
 L Bill Kalmar is retired in Lake Orion, Michigan,
and is the former Director of the Michigan Quality Council. He is a
frequent contributor to SeniorJournal.com. His opinions are his own.
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