CLASS OF 1998 CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

I graduated high school 20 years ago. Wow, That’s kind of hard to type! In May 1996. I was 17 years old and I received my high school diploma with almost 200 others from Vandebilt Catholic High School Everyone says it but rue. It feels like this event was just lost year! Surely it can’t be 20 years later!

My nephew Nicholas Brunet is a senior this year at South Terrebonne High school, the class of 2019. It’s exciting to look at him and remember where we were at this time. Homecoming was last week for him. Do I remember who our Homecoming Queen and King were back then? Oddly enough. I do. I remember the chants we screamed at pep rallies, I remember my teachers and still hold the lessons learned “grappled to my soul with hoops of steel” as Brother Alfred would soy. I remember my friends. While some have drifted away. I never imagined social media, would still keep us all so connected.

AS I prepare for my 20th class reunion this weekend. I began to peruse the Internet I was curious how far we how come in the 20 years and happy to reminisce on the things that were popular in my time So many trends and fads passed during my years in high school. I started 6th grade in the fall of 1993. The 90s were an interesting time that saw such a mish-mash of things! Depending if you took your cues from TV or music fashion varied drastically from year to year and group to group. Neon colors, grunge, leggings and oversized shirts, and a bit of the 70s cycled throughout the decade. The baby doll dresses of 8th grade gave way to fashion logos, vests, tube tope, denim on denim, chunky heels, flannel and butterfly clips. In 6th and 9th grade, you had to own Dr. Martens. I can remember my parents saying no to the name brand combat boots, and instead my dad brought me a pair from Jackson Barracks’ Post Exchange. Myfriends thought it was super cool that I had “real” combat boots, but secretly, all I wanted was that telltale golden stitching around the sola Poofy bangs gave way to tie layered “Rachel” look thanks to Jennifer Aniston of “Friends” fame. By the end of the decade, the pixie and very short bobs were on the rise.

Technology was an the rise. When I started high school, I kept quarters in my gym bag to make a call from the pay phone at school. That gave way to the “bag phone” that was to be kept in the truck, used only in emergencies, to finally the Nokia 6120, Internet was AOL 4.0 and everyone remembers that dial-up sound! We had AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ to stay connected after school. The Apple computer was released and everyone wanted to pick their favorite color.

Entertainment was Still VHS tapes and the weekend meant a trip to Blockbuster. My VCR recorded “Friends” and “E.R.” every week. And I admit it…I had a Fur by and even got in on the Beanie Baby craze for a hot minute, “Titanic” won nearly every award at nearly event award event. “Dawson’s Creek” premiered in January “Posh Spice” Victoria got engaged to soccer star David Back ham, I admit I wasn’t a “Seinfeld” fan, but I watched those last two episodes in May. Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman were married a whopping nine days.

Music was changing. Boy bands were a thing, thfmkB to N*SYNC and the Backstreet Boys. The early 90s saw girl groups on the rise, such as the Spice Oris and TLC. We were gettin jiggy with will Smith, figuring out whether the Boy belonged to Brandy or Monica, and chancing the station every time Celine reminded us her heart would go on and on. A quick glance at the Grammy’s Beet New Artist award nominees and their hits instantly triggers memories: Indigo Girls. BoyzII Men, Color Me Badd, Arrested Development. Blind Melon, Counting Crows. Green Day, Sheryl Crow. Alanis Moris Bette. Hootie & the Blowfish, Shania Twain, No Doubt, Han Ban, and Lauryn Hill.

According to peoplehistory.com, the cost of living was of course different than today. The average new home in the U.S. cost $129,300; a new car was under $17,000. A gallon of gas cost $1.15 and a U.S. postage stomp was 33 cents. A loaf of bread was f 1.28 and a dozen eggs were 66 cents.

In history, our 42nd president Bill Clinton was in the midst of hearing regarding his behavior with then intern Monica Lewinsky. During the NFL draft. Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is the first pick by the Inianapolis Colts. Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Mark McGuire hit a record 70 home runs. Jesse Ventura is elected governor of Minnesota.

Overall, my high school years were filled with great memories and fun times. It was a great decade to be a teenager and learn about the world around yon. While I’m not ready to dress like Cher and Dionne again, I have enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.

CLASS OF 1998 CELEBRATES 20 YEARSCLASS OF 1998 CELEBRATES 20 YEARS