To be exact, my 20th high school reunion is this year. WOW, time sure flies!
The thought of the reunion brings back lots of memories, both good and bad. From an Asian dude social point of view, the bad was remembering every girl at my high school who I asked out on a date said no. (Yes, I admit it! And that sucked!!!) The good was having one bold and popular Chinese girl actually ask me out on a date. (I said yes, and she became my high school sweetheart and a good friend to this day.)
Back then I was just another politically apathetic Asian dude trying to fit in. My school was for the academically gifted so we had a proportionately high number of Asians in my class; 15% of the student body was Asian. But our Asian American Society organization was so pathetic; our only highlight was our annual Chinese New Year show. Our parents seemed to be similarly apathetic, getting good grades and a 1600 on the SAT (that’s all it was back then) seemed to be their only concern. (Seriously, I actually did have Asian friends whose parents expressed profound displeasure at scoring only a 98 on tests.)
I was quite different back then. I tried to be pretty color-blind with respect to everything including girls (my Mom’s greatest fear was I would bring home a non-Chinese girl.) I might have even enjoyed watching Sixteen Candles back then (Boo! Hiss!) I had no clue about the biases of American media and how it was affecting me and my Asian brothers and sisters. I guess I was just lucky that I was too stubborn to let “no” stop me.
Fast forward 20 years, I have the Chinese wife my mother always nagged me to have and 3 boys and a girl who in no time will be in high school too. Playing catch-up on Asian American issues was painful and I look back at my last 20 years with a humble “what the hell was I thinking!?” I’m making sure my kids are much more aware of Asian American issues and don’t go through what I did. And that my boys enjoy their high school social experience more.
Now back to the reunion. I have this real selfish urge to show off my wife and tell everyone that she’s my trophy wife, especially to the girls who turned me down. (I’m just kidding!) But bless her Asian genes and her addiction to working out; she gorgeous, looks 21 and weighs the same as when we met - even after 4 kids! My wife nagged to be dressed appropriately for the reunion and I asked her, “Why? You’re the only accessory I need to wear to the reunion.” [ducks…]
P.S. That was supposed to be a compliment.
4 comments:
Class of 1987 here also. I actually went to a school where there were maybe 4 other asian kids (out of 500...small high school). But where I differ is the expectations of my parents in respect to grades. I don't think they cared as much about my grades as just ingraining that I needed to attend college. odd, no? I guess it's the same, but they didn't push me in terms of my grades. As for dating, they were only concerned that I dated women! Didn't matter their race, I guess they wanted to have a traditionally god-fearing catholic son.
I love your blog! I came across it as a "Blog of Note" and I've been hooked ever since, reading through the archives. My 10th high school reunion is coming in 2008, hopefully I can muster up the strength to go. I'd love to know how yours turned out!
Take care,
*nonymous
87! 87!
Hmmm, you know Monster Dad, like Henri and Metrodad, you and I seem to have alot in common. class of 87, 2nd generation (Chinese right?), not into dating the asian girls, but then marrying one....
BTW, I just saw the movie Sky High with my kids, its loaded with covers of 80's tunes. Apropo for the year of our 20th reunions.
Wow, Larry we are looking eerily similar. 2nd Gen ABC here too. Maybe my lost twin separated at birth? :)
My high school sweetheart just e-mailed me and she read my blog and she'll be at the reunion too. She thinks it's a hoot I call my wife a trophy wife.
I really am looking forward to reunion. It's all about focusing on the good and forgetting the bad and remembering the journey that took us to where we are today.
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