Class of ‘87

~ MaryG

I have a couple of updates for you on the college class of 1987 (high school class of 1983). Most of us were born in 1965, so we are turning 60 this year. One of my best friends from college turned 60 yesterday. She broke the ice. Now the rest of us will follow…if we’re lucky. Making it to 60 is not a given. We’ve lost people—mostly to cancer, but sudden massive heart attacks have taken down a few of the men.

I appear to be the only grandparent in my college class of about 500, which is wild. A few people still have kids in high school, so I guess we tended to have kids late, but still…it’s a vivid illustration that the birthrate actually has cratered in this country.

Another observation is that people truly do age differently. Some people look 40 at 60, and some look 80. Money seems to be a factor, but not the only one. Most people are still working, but they’re either talking about retirement or saying they will never be able to retire. “Work ‘til I die” is some people’s retirement plan.

There is both a lot of concern—and a fair bit of bragging—about adult children in their 20s. “You’re only as happy as your least happy child” seems to be true. (But if you’re posting an effusive happy birthday message, with multiple pictures, for a 27-year old who doesn’t even use Facebook, you may need to let go a bit.)

Our parents, if we still have them, are very old now. I know of only one other classmate with two living parents like me. More of our mothers are still alive than our fathers.

For the first and oldest official GenXers, the Eighties was our decade. Nobody has quite so many formative memories of those years as we do. Do not challenge us to an 80s trivia quiz, because we will win. And we will also look back on it all with slightly rose-colored glasses. We’ll forget the bad stuff and laugh about that time we ate pot brownies at school and Mr. Ullman’s physics class finally made sense.

I never did see anyone get pizza delivered to a class like Jeff Spicoli, but that would have been amazing.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High came out the summer before our senior year in high school.
My 1984 look
The pizza delivery scene

23 thoughts on “Class of ‘87”

  2. “Do not challenge us to an 80s trivia quiz, because we will win. And we will also look back on it all with slightly rose-colored glasses.” I couldn’t agree more. My son loves to challenge me with past music trivia. He wins most battles, but I clobber him when it comes to the 80s. There’s no messing with us 80s kids.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. So true Brian. I’m untouchable in an 80s music quiz. I remember buying a Spin Doctors album in the very early 90s…I think that’s when I checked out. I’ve been playing 80s alt hits ever since.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yes, 80s is always my fallback. I’ll go country (yea, yea, I know. My only excuse is that I grew up in rural PA) and Jazz (thanks to a college roommate who got me stuck on it) … but I turn on U2 or INXS or anyone else for that matter and I’m back permanently on 80s!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. My brother turns 60 this year. Glad he aged gracefully. It is a good reminder that 60 now really isn’t the same as when we were kids. But yes, to your point, we can’t take it for granted. My 60 isn’t too far ahead of me. I appreciate your outlook and vibe at 60. I want to be in that same place when my turn comes!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you! With everything going on right now, it seems indulgent to make a big deal about birthdays, but it is fun to mark the major milestone ones. I’m planning to be in Ireland for mine. (I decided I wanted a trip)

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a reply to Brizzy Mays Books and Bruschetta Cancel reply