We were at least a step ahead on that, where our name tags had the names we had in school and our current names. And we had our photos our name tags which really helped.

I'm still processing my feelings about the reunion part of my trip. I was a wall flower 50+ years ago in school, and feel I've grown more confident, poised and outgoing. So, I guess I wanted to gauge how well I fit in now.... But being back with the same clique type separations, plus the political climate, I felt just as awkward as I did back then, in some ways. Just makes me happy to be back to my current life.

I just meant that the fact that we knew ahead of time which political side are on, and religion, affected some of us from even chatting to see what we DO have in common. Point being it would have been smarter not to answer those questions. I like to think there are some good and admirable qualities in everyone - but having preconceived notions kept me from finding out.

I did have a nice chat with several classmates, and I still didn't know which way they lean politically and religious wise. The not knowing allowed the interaction - where the knowing prevented some from interacting at all.

A lot of people left those questions blank - that was smart - so nobody had preconceived notions - and were open to getting re-acquainted. I discovered in conversation which way people leaned of course, but at least we were able to talk with each other.

Lots of people spent a lot of time talking about their church activities and complaining about our light rail transportation options, and crime and drugs everywhere, which apparently is blamed on the political party in charge, as long as it's different from their own personal political leanings. I didn't speak up to say I have used the light rail to get from the airport to my destination and thought it was wonderful!

Meeting more people today from older and younger class years - at the all class reunion picnic. One is an old boyfriend who I already know is super right wing now. He had friended me on Facebook and I unfriended him when I saw the hateful things he was posting. It's amazing what a divide the politics and religious views make, to people just wanting to reconnect with people we knew 50+ years ago.

Might have been smarter for me not to answer the questions asked - but I can't help trying to seek out others who think like me.

I haven't seen the new school yet. Today is a picnic at Lincoln Park, so I might take a drive and view the school, the house where I grew up, and the old Alki cruising strip, along with other sights and memories from my old days.

@Julie808 A trip down memory lane. It can be a bittersweet moment.

@Betty I'm back home on Kauai now, but this morning before heading to the airport, I wanted to go shoe shopping, so I went to Federal Way, where I worked and lived for several years. I needed GPS to navigate to where the shopping was. A lot has changed in the past 50 years. I didn't recognize the main drag. It was completely different from how I remembered it. -- There is no going back - only memories of how it used to be!

@Julie808 You might be surprised at it's size. We had some good friends that lived across an alley next to the school. The school is just a few blocks from my former house on Kenyon and 35th Ave. SW.

@Julie808 Imagine how I would feel. We live there from 1965 to 67. Now there are two HS's in the area. I once had a plan to buy 2 lots and put in a manufactured home next to a lake - Star Lake. The military intervened and years later I went back to that area. The lake had shrunk, there were many trailer homes and it looked even seedier than before.

@Julie808 @Julie808 To show how things change I thought I'd send a picture of my old house with a Monkey Puzzle tree I planted in 1993 (it was about 4' ). Now look at it.

Flying around Mt. Rainier was often a joyful scare. Often the plane would skirt the mountain for everyone to admire. However, this also meant wind conditions that created a lot of buffeting of the plane. Flying into Seattle at night was also a treat as, with the mountains, water and layout of the city it was not like flying into every other city I'd been to. One interesting item was that often one saw sparkling lights. The houses were on hillsides and in woods which hid the views but then the lights would be seen on and off as they shone through the trees. The city center was right along Elliot Bay and with the dark bay and the lights of the many boats and even Ferry the city really earned the name "Emerald City.' [thoughtco.com] Sometimes I miss it, sometimes I don't.

Julie, at least, had the decency to post pix.

Tenderness above the underwear
A deep shade of red as if you care
The sun ain't gonna shine anymore
The moon ain't gonna rise and say hi
The years are always going on by
With or without pants. Maybe.
 

@Polemicist I think that is what is meant by the term "deep cut."

@Polemicist Nah, I'm good without seeing pictures of a blistered butt!

I remember decades ago, hiking in the Cascade Mountains in my bikini, snow all around, but it was so hot! Crazy times, haha!

@Julie808
"The once who avoided me", and "hiking in my bikini, snow all around, but it was so hot" indicates you have an entertaining way with wirtz.

@Polemicist The Rat Pack meets the Brady Bunch

@Julie808 I have a picture around here somewhere...but it's not of my butt

@Polemicist Oops! I really need to proofread my posts and comments better. Once should be ones, but yes they also once avoided me. Hot should perhaps be warm, though I do wish I still had my 25 year old body!

@Julie808 Don't we all!