My Miami Norland Senior High School Reunion – 2009

The Miami Norland Boys from the Band – Then (circa 1980’s) and Now!

This past weekend was spent in Orlando, Florida at a multi-year high school reunion for Miami Norland Senior High School (Home of the Vikings). I met folks who had attended from 1978 to 1986, and it was an absolute blast.

In addition to reconnecting with old friends (and boyfriends!), I also got to know former classmates that I had never really spent time with while we attended school. Some had families, others had had multiple marriages, and other classmates were simply memorialized because they were no longer here.

High school reunions can be bittersweet, but they also teach you about yourself, and how far you’ve come since you left. And it’s amazing how your high school experience becomes so crystallized in your memory that attending your reunion brings it all back.

After the first night’s festivities were done, one crowd went to Orlando’s Howl at the Moon club for more partying, while another group went to Denny’s. I went to bed myself, but the Denny’s crowd reminded me of all those high school trips to Denny’s after football games. We were under 21 at the time. Where ELSE were we going to go??

One high point for me was after Saturday night’s banquet. Most of us went to Adobe Gila’s (everyone was calling it Dobie Gillis!) where there was this quasi-hard rock/metal band that was playing. The music didn’t appeal to us until their female singer took the stage for Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin”. One of my classmates put a Viking helmet on the guitar player, while the rest of us RUSHED the dance floor, and all sang along to the top of our lungs. It was obviously the best song of the night for the band, and the drummer even threw his sticks into the audience! I caught one of the sticks, and later gave it to the classmate who put the Viking helmet on the guitarist. It was just a great night.

Sunday morning was our farewell brunch, and I was even a bit sad to say goodbye. It’s good to get to know former classmates when you’re now an adult, and have an appreciation that you couldn’t even imagine back in the day.

I’m glad I went.

To my Miami Norland Senior High Vikings Comrades: Don’t Stop Believin’!

Guitarist at Adobe Gila’s, October 10, 2009