A view of the patio at Serranos. The fajita and enchilada buffet tables will be located in the bar. Several large sets of double-doors will open onto the patio for seating; indoor seating will also be available at tables in the bar area.

Never been to a high school reunion?

If you’ve never attended a high school reunion, it might seem intimidating. Fear not: reunions are organized and attended by average Joe’s just like yourself. You’ll fit right in — promise.

But I’m <insert here> (fat, withered, wrinkled, balding, sagging...)

Hey, we are too!

But I used to be <insert here> (cute, handsome, buff, admired, sharp...)

Once, all of us were young. Once, we were fresh, strong, and energetic, but now that’s our kids’ job. Nowadays, our role is to be experienced, confident and wise.

Confident and wise? Then why am I so nervous about a reunion???

Because you’re normal. Relax, if this is your first reunion and you are nervous or hesitant then your feelings are very typical. Even the folks who’ve attended many reunions still get really excited.

But people are going to judge me.

“Judge” is such a harsh word. It’s true that you will make an first impression on people but it will be your second impression, later in the evening, that will matter most. It works the other direction, too: You will form an initial opinion of the people that you meet. This is a normal learning process.

But I was going to be an astronaut!

Let’s face it, no one else thought you were going to be an astronaut so why worry about it? We’ve all confronted reality at some point since 1979.

Our alumni have gone into many professions: cowboys, doctors, stay-at-home parents, mechanics, accountants, realtors, grocers, cooks, lawyers, soldiers and sailors, landscapers, and regrettably, some are recently unemployed.

What about my irrational fear of the unknown?

Everyone has to deal with the fear of the unknown. It has placed a heavy toll on many of our lives but there's good news as far this reunion goes: there will be plenty of happy people at Serranos to help you forget your worries.

I don’t drink alcohol. Is this going to be a problem?

Many of the guests are going to drink alcohol, but many others are not going to drink any alcohol at all. Teetotallers should have no problem at this reunion; likewise, vegetarians will be able to enjoy their dinner. A little tolerance can go a long way!

I don’t like to sit around and talk about the old days.

If you’ve never attended a high school reunion before then you might be surprised to learn that almost all of the conversations are about the here and now. Sure, our high school years are discussed, stories told, and confessions are made, but mostly the talk is about what has happened since.

Okay, okay... so what will I see when I first arrive?

Yeah, first impressions are important and it’s the solemn duty of the people organizing this reunion to make you feel comfortable right away.

Here’s an outline:

1.	First, you’ll walk up to the front of Serranos and look around, wondering if you’re at the right place. The big, wide picture (above) shows EXACTLY what you will see, including the steps that lead up to our reunion. Beyond the steps, you can probably make out a table with a white table cloth on it... that will be our greeting and sign-in table!
2.	If you’ve never been to a class reunion, it’s unlikely that you will recognize anyone at the sign-in table, but don’t panic. Cindy and Sandy, the twin sisters of our late fellow alumni Lori Cain, have volunteered to work at our sign-in table. They may seem a bit excited because greeting people is a lot of fun. This is also when bringing a yearbook along comes in handy. (Who the heck did I just shake hands with?) Don’t worry if you can’t find your yearbook because other people will share theirs with you.
3.	You’ll sign in and be given your name tag. Do everyone a favor and wear it!
4.	Next, you’ll walk past the sign-in table and into the patio area. If you are a natural wall-flower, now is when you’ll look for a potted plant to stand behind. Resist that urge and remember that you are “experienced, confident and wise.”
5.	Walk over to the left side of the patio and step into the bar for a look-see. This is where the food and drink are located, a good place to remember.
6.	Get yourself a drink of some sort. It will give you something specific to do when you first arrive, plus, people tend to congregate around food so you’ll probably get a chance to chat with someone right away. Later, fiddling with your drink will give your hands something to do as you meet people.

The number one reunion mistake.

Asking someone when they are “due” is the worst reunion mistake you can make but the second worst is pretty bad, too: You need to be willing to meet people that you think you don’t know. It’s really annoying to learn, later, that you missed a chance to meet your old buddy Joe Blow because you simply didn’t recognize him.