remembrance of things awry

Last night, I attended the 25th anniversary of my La Salle Greenhills High School Batch 1984.  It coincided with the 50th anniversary of the school and it was a very big and very successful event with a record ++ 1,700 alumni attendees thanks to the stalwart leadership of several former batchmates and classmates, all outstanding achievers in their chosen fields. 

It was absolutely wonderful to see my former classmates and batchmates from H.S. ’84.  Yes, it had been that long!!!  At about 42 years old, some born in 1966 the Year of the Fire Horse and in 1967 the Year of the Sheep, many were still bravely holding on to their youthful looks, but several of them already showed the stress and difficulties of the many years past.  Personality-wise, Nobody had changed and it was great!!!  Several were stellar successes, a great number were successful professionals, some were laidback sportsmen.  Everyone last night was just so glad to see Everybody Else.    

We may have mellowed down the last 25 years, but in its time Batch ’84 had many provocative characters and caused the school administrators more than a few headaches.  We occasionally spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E.  While there was no lack of stellar academic achievers, nor outstanding athletes, there was a distinct abundance of stimulating, exciting, and unpredictable individuals [ the Chinese would refer to the 1966 Fire Horse influence ].   We had a truly heady mix of “astig” macho hard drinkers [ during school hours  😛 ], car enthusiasts, drag racers, wild boys, truants, young Lotharios / “pablings” / “chick boys,” Polo Club boys, wheeler dealers, budding entrepreneurs, artists, eccentrics, “fashionistas” [ way before the term ], punk rock guitarists,  preppies, soul searchers… the whole gamut!!!  

In an effort to stir up conversation, I started to take an informal poll…

“Married already, of course?!”

“Yes.”

“No.  Still single.  Still enjoying!!!”

“How many children do you have?”

“Two.”

“Three.”

“Just one.”

And I would ask:  “And you’re on your… nth wife?”  And since it was already the year 2009, I fully expected a range of first wives, second wives, third wives, mistresses, partners,  sex buddies, in-between entertainments, one night stands, fatal attractions, disclosures, indecent proposals, 9 1/2 weeks, basic instincts, etc., etc., etc..

Unexpectedly, the answers, despite all the liquor, were…

“No, I’m still with my first one.  She’ll always be the one.”

“Nooo, only one for me.  Thank you.”

“Oh, the first one.  She’s the only one for me.”

A grinning former classmate explained:  “You know, Toto, we’re the last holdover of the traditional values.  Yes, we were ‘wild’ in those days but the Christian values somehow became ingrained.  Really did.”

OH.

MAKES ME PROUD.  So we’re not bad, Batch ’84.  Not bad at all.   🙂   🙂   🙂