Responding - or not - to the latest school reunion invitation

[overthehills49]

I received an invitation to a class reunion last week. I was surprised: I wasn't particularly friends with the main inviter - or any of the co-signatories - to the letter, while at that school. And in the first five or so years after leaving, whenever I made an attempt to keep in touch with her - or the co-signatories - as follow up when I bumped into them, they never responded and I was relieved to just move on. Whenever we did compare notes about our schooldays during that time, it was normally to say we hadn't enjoyed the experience at that school. I haven't seen or heard from any of them for over 30 years. There had been a ten year reunion and I didn't go. Many of my former peers did and I later heard vehement criticism about an outrageous twist to events which the organiser or organisers had not warned of. I heard from one of those who had attended that they had regretted going because of what happened.

The invitation I received last week was a general invitation - sent via the former-students' newsletter coordinator and addressed to those in our Year 7 form only (i.e. not the whole year group, nor, presumably those who had joined after Year 7). I just thought "Why?" I don't intend to respond. Hopefully the sender won't even know that I've received the invitation. Maybe if the invitation had said something like "I'd be pleased to hear from you anyway" I would have responded one on one, but it didn't. Instead, the very brief message just said that they'd decided it was appropriate to celebrate the fact that it had been so many years since we'd all met and that if the given meet-up date was difficult, they would be glad to receive an update (as in one for sharing).

[RiceCrispieTreats]

The prospect doesn't make you sound happy, so don't go.

Why do you think contact from people you last saw 30 years ago stirs up so much emotion, though? That might be worth exploring. It's really no use to you to carry negative feeling for that long. This could be the chance for you to do some soul-searching and to free yourself.

[CalleighDoodle]

Christ whonwould remember who was in a year 7 form so far back anyway?!

[Cabrinha]

You seem to be taking it very personally. You're just a name from a class list. A group of (probably) women who are still in touch think it would be a fun idea so they organise it - why would they personally say to you to get in touch anyway? It's just a class thing. Don't go, you don't want to.

[junebirthdaygirl]

Have had a few reunions. Never got personal invite just general one. It takes someone to organise it but its not their personal party. If there are a few people you would enjoy meeting go and never mind the organisers. Otherwise don't bother with it.

[SooticaTheWitchesCat]

There have been reunions from my secondary school and I have never had the slightest interest in going. If you don't want to go just ignore the invite and forget about it.