20th Year High School Reunion

On June 13th the St Louis Ladue High School Class of '89 reunited after 10 years since our last gathering. This was also a perfect time to visit with my parents and to have my sister join us from the other coast as well as participate as an honorary member of our class (graduated actually in '90). Not mention my nearest friends of the Clark's and Miranda's and their kids who each get at least an evening for us to catch up on life's stories.

However, as you can see from the box to the right that this was an extra special trip for us beyond being able to introduce my 'new' wife to some of my oldest friends but we were able to share the joyful news that Pranvera and I are expecting our first child almost on Christmas day!! We could not be happier and it was extra special to be able to see the joy on so many of our friends faces who have stopped producing offspring at least 5 years ago, not to mention being able to congratulate my parents on soon to be grandparents!!

We had almost no time for ourselves in between family meals, seeing friends and attending the 3 official functions organized by the school and friends allowing us to catch up after so many years. Although there were hundreds more conversations than photos these are a couple memorable shots at our first night bar activity at the Schneithorst.

After a relatively late night of trying to remember who everyone was and collapsing 10 or 20 years into 5 minutes, we slept hard and rolled into the next day of visits with friends squeezing in some pregnancy naps. Our second event was actually at our old high school where we invited all the kids and had a BBQ in the gym with tours of the old hallways. With the exception of some additions, much seemed to be the same. Was nice to show Pranvera some of my old stomping grounds.

And our final reunion night was hosted poolside at one of our friends houses. Great fun to relive the old house parties of 20 years back except the conversation had changed slightly to getting advice on day cares, stories about who had divorced who and whether anyone had received plastic surgery. Regardless, it was great to see so many old faces looking so youthful and happy with their new partners and kids. Everyone has spread all over the country and although many of us have lost touch, it was just like picking up where we left off.

On our final day we treated Dad to an early Father's Day brunch and wandered about Central West End. Was able to enjoy an arts and crafts show as well before we arrived at Sidney and Sheila's for our token end of weekend Brazilian BBQ, see their two lovely children and our annual visit to Ted Drew's, a St. Louis institution for frozen custard desserts.