20 years.
The concept of the number ’20’ was both inspiring and mind-blowing as we crept closer to the Class of 1999’s 20th High School Reunion at St. Francis Senior High in Calgary last Saturday night, marking a major milestone in all of our lives. How amazing is it that we have all come this far, yet remember 20 years ago as though it was simply maybe 5 or 6?
When I first heard about the reunion, I was stoked. I wanted to attend our 10-year reunion, but in all honesty, I didn’t want to drive 10 hours round trip to meet up at a bar that had nothing to do with our high school years. It was no slight against the organizers at all – merely a decision I made and regretted, knowing I wanted to attend the next one. When I heard that our 20-year reunion was happening at St. Francis High School in Calgary, I knew there was no way I could miss it. To me, St. Francis High School was a second home because let’s face it – I graduated Grade 12 with 149 credits. I spent a lot of my best teenage years at St. Francis and I still miss the familiar nostalgia that I grew up with as we all launched into adulthood in June of 1999.
All Those High School Friends
For me, high school was an intrinsic part of my self-development and helped shape me into the person that I am as an adult. I always took pride that in high school, I ‘floated’ between different social groups as well as having my own little crew who I always knew was ‘home base’ and never judged my need to be the social butterfly I was and still am. I was involved in many extra-curricular activities in high school all three years – including SF Rec, Musical Theatre, Choir, Rugby and Track as well as full course loads, and of course, I was employed. I am not spewing all of this out to pat myself on the back – trust me. I remembered most of this after thinking back to how and why I ended up having such a diverse range of friends that I always knew accepted me and appreciated me just for me.
Our Reunion Night
On Saturday night, June 15, 2019, I had the chance to reconnect with so many of those very important friends again. I chatted with as many people as I could between photographing the reunion and trying to bust a move when ‘my songs’ came on, and visiting outside where it was a little quieter and more refreshing – in other words ‘cooler’. I got the chance to talk with my Jr. High and High School crushes (well – I missed telling a few how I lusted for them 😉 ) as well as some old friends, and even came out with a whole bunch of new friends as I connected with people I went back 23 years with and finally got to know.
That Magical Reconnection
My favourite reconnection of the night and I am sorry I have to drop the name here, was seeing Ronnie Verzi. Turns out Ronnie and I liked each other a LOT in Grade 12 and never dared to talk to each other short of those shy smiles and the usual high school banter. He reminded me we kissed at Grad at the Capitol, and after thinking about it, I thankfully remembered the whole exchange. Neither of us had dates, and we made up for it with that single kiss – I think a few minutes before they shut us down. A memory lost amid 20 years, an asthma attack on the same night and likely one too many drinks. Reasons like this are why reunions are so unique and so consequential to attend as adults – the stories.
Ronnie and I spent a good portion of the night jogging my memory and chatting as we did in High School, and I am positive every single one of you who attended the Class of ’99 Reunion at St. Francis had moments like that through the night where you connected and shared memories you forgot years ago. The pure magic of reconnecting with the people who spent three or more years with you no doubt lead to a lot of being remembered and a new found appreciation for the lack of cell phone cameras between 1996 and 1999.
Andy
I didn’t want what was such an integral part of the evening to get lost in all the rest about the reunion above. I didn’t know Andy well. To be honest, I don’t think we knew each other at all but I did want to take a second to share a thought about a life taken much too soon.
After a lot of reflection on what I found out about him through mutual friends and the beautiful speech given by his brother on Saturday night was that I think him and I would have gotten along famously. We were both overachievers in both academics, entrepreneurship and apparently parents. Few of us are in the club of 4+ kids and I know what kind of pressure having 4 young children in a short period of time is. He looks like he was graceful and courageous at being a dad of four under five and loved every single second of it.
When his brother mentioned that he suffered from his illness privately until almost the end, many thoughts went through my mind about what he felt, knowing that he was aware of the loss so much greater than only his life – the loss of watching his children grow up. It is overwhelming to imagine your children growing up without you, but Andy is clearly remembered for so many positive things in his life that I have no doubt that their father will always be an intrinsic part of his children’s lives. They will all grow up surrounded by the people who loved Andy the most, hearing about his passions, his interests and ultimately the love he had for all of his family and friends and God.
I wanted to express my deepest sympathy and love for his family and friends extend my thanks for everyone who helped me put the pieces together of his life so that I could appreciate him as the man he was and will be remembered as.
The Pictures of the St. Francis High School Class of 1999 – Party Edition
When Dave messaged me on Wednesday of last week (yah – Wednesday) and asked if I would do some photography, I was torn. I wanted so badly to just go and have fun – but the more I thought about it, I felt very committed to providing some images because A) I am a professional photographer of 13+ years and B) I help out because its what I do, so much so I became a Social Worker (my ‘real’ job I went to University for). I came in with no plan or expectation from the committee except a desire to capture some great images of the reunion party as a whole and I sincerely hope you enjoy each and every one of them.
A Little About Suzanne Taylor Photography
In a week or so, I will make these available to all of you for download. To receive the link, I ask you please join my mailing list for emails in which you can expect between 1-6 a year – tops. I operate three different photography companies (Suzanne Taylor Photography (Event, Corporate – product, headshots, etc., Fine Art and Family Photography), GorgeousChaos Boudoir (Boudoir and Beauty Photography) and Obey Images. The last one caters to more of the ‘avant-garde’ style of photography as Dave coined it.
I don’t shy away from any photography job and love the challenge of each new job. I would be foolish to not say that I love new business as well and come to Calgary quite often for photography sessions of all varieties. If you are interested in looking at booking a session or would like to speak to me about potential opportunities for photography jobs, please contact me. I am an award-winning fine art portrait photographer and offer amazing customer service and want your photography business.
If you have read this far, Suzanne Taylor Photography has a gift for you…
As a little token of appreciation, any sessions booked before December 31, 2019, by any member of the class of ’99 will save 10% off your image package. This includes photography from all three facets of Suzanne Taylor Photography ranging from family to business to boudoir to business.
Yay for discounts and beautiful images!
In Closing
High School is a patchwork quilt of experience. We all took different classes, participated in different activities and all had varying interests. In our Class of 1999 – the last graduating class of the Century, we all left St. Francis High School with a dream, a goal, a wish or simply the desire to work. Everyone who attended Saturday night is successful in their own means – some have lots of financial success, others are rich in family, children and experience. The renewed connections reforged on Saturday night hopefully will lead to stronger friendships and bonds, business opportunities (because we were all networking to some degree) and a heightened sense of self as you process and consider your blessings that so many people came out simply to hope you were there.
To everyone I spoke with, thank you for sharing your night with me. To everyone I hoped to and didn’t talk with – I have likely already messaged you to say hello and hopefully meet up sometime very soon. Who knew five hours could dissolve so quickly as we caught up, laughed and reminded each other that the best moments in life are the ones simply spent with the ones we love.
Warmly,
Suzie
Cara - Thank you so much. This was so touching. I’m crying with love for the connections we all truly have for each other.