Bending the rules just a little.
Because I can.
***
Like many children, I “ran away” from home as a toddler. My mom watched me drag the extremely heavy suitcase out the door, and merely shrugged. (She knew my aunt lived in the adjacent building and that I would go there.) So, as soon as I slammed that door behind me, she engaged the lock, turned to my brothers and said, quite loudly, “Ok, she’s gone. Let’s have ice cream!” I remember screaming and begging to be let back in. Of course, mom took her own sweet time doing that, and then told me she was sorry but all the ice cream was gone. I never ran away again.
In elementary school, my idea of disobeying my parents was to sleep on the floor in my room instead of in the bed. For some reason, my childish self thought that would hurt my mom and get revenge for whatever slight I felt she had dealt to me. Come morning, she just laughed. I never did that again.
In high school, I was one of those goody two-shoes nerdy glasses-wearing chicks that the teachers love and the kids hate. I never got into trouble, if only because I knew mom would be incensed if I did. The other kids picked on me constantly because they knew they could and that I wouldn’t fight back. Until I did. But after that, everyone pretty much left me alone.
I seriously could not wait to get out on my own, as far from home as possible.
Which is why I opted out of attending college, even though the State of New York had granted me a full scholarship to any SUNY school. My guidance counselor was askance. But I simply could not stand the thought of even one more day of being harassed by my peers. Mom backed me up, saying whatever decision I made was fine with her, so long as I was happy in the end. At that time, women were still expected to work only until they got married and had babies; college really wasn’t needed except with an eye towards attracting the proper type of mate.
Having thought long and hard about it, I declined the scholarship. Instead, I went to work for the Federal Government, in Washington, D.C. – far enough away from home. There I became a woman and learned, finally, to stand up for myself. Today, I’m one of the strongest women I know. I take shit from no one. It took many, many years to learn that I don’t have to kowtow to anyone.
Recently, I received an invitation to the 50th reunion of my high school class. I declined. I hated high school. Why would I want to relive those memories half a century later?
Perhaps if I’m not there, my old “friends” can still talk about me behind my back. If they even remember me, which probably most of them won’t.
Anyway, since the reunion is in summer, I’ll likely be too busy playing with my cameras.
Speaking of which, here are this week’s photos. The snow has mostly gone already, but more is on the way:
HAPPY WEEKEND, FOLKS!
__________
I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
__________
Images by Cordelia’s Mom/TeddyRosalie Studio
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
I understand. I haven’t been to any reunions. I remain in contact with one friend (out of 735 people in my graduating class) and I am connected on facebook to one other friend. Great pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My best (and pretty much only) high school friend went to a different school. We’re still close. Everyone else I don’t care about much.
LikeLiked by 2 people
WOW, 735? That’s HUGE! I was one 327 — my older kids had 500s and these kids will be more like your number — shows city size and growth rather effectively.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a big enough class to get lost in. Our daughter’s class was 125.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cody-pup has the right idea
LikeLike
Yes, she does.
LikeLike
I love reading that you do not attend high school reunions! although I enjoyed high school, why in the heck would I want to spend money to hang out with people who I have no contact with…….it just seems silly!
LikeLike
I know, right? It’s been 50 years!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate. My class was a gang of useless idiots, in my opinion. I’ve no idea what they did afterward and don’t care. If they had a reunion it would either be in a prison or an asylum I’m sure.
The assumption one is friends with people just because circumstances force association with them is a false one by far.
LikeLike
I love the honesty in your comment. There were 2000 people in my graduating class, and I didn’t hang out with any of them. My closest friend, with whom I am still close, went to a different school.
LikeLike
The pup has the right idea in snowy weather.
High school – the pros and the cons. I enjoyed, for the most part, my high school years, as I recall. It’s been a very long time ago. I do remember getting teased a lot for various reasons – I was always taller than the other kids, they said I was bow legged – not untrue, but hurtful. Why are kids cruel, anyway? I’m happy you grew up and “got over it” and moved on with your life.
LikeLike
I don’t know why kids are so cruel. Maybe it’s simply a rite of passage. Certainly, I have no burning desire to revisit it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely pic of Puppy Cody.
There was a grammar school reunion to mark 25 years way back in 1997 but I wasn’t sent n invitation, not that I would have gone anyway. I hated grammar school and certainly had no friends when I left that I wanted to keep in touch with.
LikeLike
The consensus here seems to be that no one likes school reunions. I wonder why anyone organizes them to begin with.
LikeLike
I have no idea who organised my school reunion, and it wouldn’t have been that difficult to trace me. Still, I had nothing in common with anyone at school anyway, so definitely not after I left. From what I learned, apparently three of the major swots had large families, one of which was on her 5th pregnancy, a sporty type had sadly been hit by a car and killed outside a major store, and several had taken up nursing or teaching (preferred career as per my school anyway) so I wondered if it was just a means for a get together to compare notes and living standards. It was ironic that one of the messengers at the bank I worked for was the father of one of my class colleagues who had gone into the police force and was now involved with child protection.
LikeLike
Most of these reunions are simply a way to see how did better than anyone else. Since I didn’t, I especially don’t care to compare notes. I have an average life, a basic house, and a long-term marriage. I doubt that anyone would be interested in any of that.
LikeLike
Likewise. I’m happy with my lot
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hated school I was bullied mercilessly, I have no desire to ever meet any of those in my class face to face again. There were three people who were friendly but not constant in my life then. Not good memories. Love the photos, brilliant especially the beautiful Cody.🤐🤐
LikeLike
Thanks, Willow. High school was bad for many of us; I don’t know why anyone would ever want to go back – well, except maybe for the jocks and popular girls.
LikeLike
We only had girls at our school, a convent I won’t say what I would call them 💜💜💜
LikeLike
I have not attended any of my high school reunions, CM. No. 50 is the next round number that I’ll have to ponder about down the road. I understand your reasoning, but there are some old friends I’m curious about all these years later.
LikeLike
I could see you attending your 50th reunion, Mark. You’re a friendly sort of guy with accomplishments of your own. Me, I couldn’t care less about anyone else there, especially since my only true high school friend attended a different school. In fact, that friend now lives in Liverpool, probably not too far from you!
LikeLike
It would seem like such an effort to go all the way downstate though, CM …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great shots, CM. My favorite is Cody’s pic. (⺣◡⺣)♡♡♡
LikeLike
Everyone loves Cody pics. I’ll try to get some when she’s not sleeping.
LikeLike
Lady Ryl put up with harassment and bullying in high school…. until the fateful day she picked up and threw a student-desk across the room at her tormentor. Peace reigned forever more. 😯
LikeLike
Ha! There’s a limit to how much the oppressed can take, then the gloves come off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am very sorry to read that you had SUCH an unpleasant high school experience. You couldn’t pay me to be in high school again so I don’t go to reunions — even tho I live only blocks from the school.
I agree, you’re a strong woman and your time is better spent otherwise. Capturing snowy trees is always a lovely endeavor 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Joey. Wait until you read how I spent my time this weekend. Much more fun than a high school reunion. Post is coming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike