Source

Reunion Blues

Not going back

Seventy-five people showed up for the reunion — less than 10 percent of the graduating class. Over 200 showed up the previous year and over 300 the year before that.

To head reunion organizers Pat Selnock and Melody Mockbender alarm bells went off. The continuing decrease in attendance heralded the coming end to their jobs. Like all good organizers, Pat and Melody decided to conduct a survey.

They sent an email to everyone in the class that they could find who did not attend the reunion. The survey only had one question: Why were you unable to come to the reunion?

Only 43 people responded. Some of the most common answers to the question were: Didn’t want to. Couldn’t afford a plane ticket. Was having a baby. Couldn’t get off work. Perhaps the most insightful response came from the class president, Marjorie Feckenstamp, who had never attended a reunion. She replied, I’ve moved on.

Twenty years later Melody was still planning and hosting the annual reunion. (Pat had died in a tragic hotel fire.) Only 8 people showed up. As soon as the reunion was over Melody started planning the next year’s reunion.

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