COUGAR

With a high school reunion coming up this Fall, I'm wondering how I'll react.  I figure there must be at least four kinds of former classmates I'll encounter.

Those that seem to have aged well.  Of course, we all want to be in that category.  "You haven't changed a bit since high school!"  Maybe not, but I know you've lost considerable vision.   Cataracts are pretty prevalent in our age group. It might be time for the old check up.  And if they're talking about my personality or communication skills, then I'm afraid that that is pretty insulting.  I recall that one guy from our 30th reunion, I believe it was, still had a Beatle haircut.  Maybe, I don't want to be in that category after all.

Those that have aged appreciably.  Appreciably meaning a lot, not that have aged and appreciate it.  Not many want to be in that category.  The "spooning syrup into dry mouths" as Bradbury called it in one of his novels.  The prune people displaying the wrinkled road map of a well worn life. The non-dyed, the silver rinsed, the blue hairs.  One comment from a fellow classmate at our 20th has stayed with me for a long time.  As we were talking, she said, "Well, there's Jonathan Jordan.  He always wanted to be old when we were in school together.  Well, he got there."  (Jonathan Jordan was a pseudonym)  She was right. 

Those who married well is the third category.  Trophy wife or trophy husband/pool boy on arm.  "So I wasn't good enough for you back then huh?  Well, look at me now."  One of the greatest examples of a cougar guy was a classmate at our 40th reunion who had recently married a 29 year-old.  And at age 61, I believe, he fathered a child by her.  I guess he was cross-categorical: that is, he aged well and had a trophy.

Those who married poorly or were single by choice rounds out the reunionaires.  They are there to check out.  To see what's available.  To scope, to prod, to trade in for a better model in some cases.  After our 25th, a friend of mine received a letter from one, still seemingly happily married but evidently not, who wanted to re-kindle.  She was ready to punt and begin again with him.  Wisely, he declined.  Others latched on to the leftovers and partied into the night as a group.  Still others were satisfied in their station and were there, like most to re-new, recall, and reminisce.  And, to me, that's always be the purpose of class reunions.  Shared times, shared interests, shared stories.

I guess that's why I look forward to them. Also, I may just have to report that I found additional categories of reunion-goers.  Stay tuned.