Could Van Dwellers learn from this ?

[eDJ_]

I saw this in today's local newspaper.

Dear Abby:

DEAR ABBY:

Today was my high school reunion. I was the most notable student for all the wrong reasons. I was born with some birth defects and learning disabilities. I overcame them, but it was hard. While working blue-collar jobs, I lived in my car for a few years.

On a cold winter night several years ago, I met Dr. X in the emergency room. He was a former classmate of mine, and we pretended not to know one another. He discovered I was living in my car and heard some of my story. Then he arranged for me to be admitted to the hospital for a day so I could get warmed up and recover. When I left the hospital, I found a $100 bill in the gas tank door of my van. I'm sure it was from him.

I now have a home of my own and I'm doing OK, considering everything. When I sent my reservation and check to the reunion committee, it was returned uncashed with a $50 bill along with a note saying "Please don't come." The reunion was being held on the estate of Dr. X.  

I guess my classmates are more closed-minded than I thought they would be. I was hoping age would mellow them. In addition to the reservation return, I have seen a few forwarded emails mocking my attempts to find out about the event. I hope none of those people were blessed with a child with learning or physical issues.

I guess people never change on some things. Thankfully, I have found nicer, caring people along my journey in life, and for that I'd like to thank all of the kind people in the world. — UNEXPECTED SUCCESS

DEAR UNEXPECTED SUCCESS: 

Your letter shocked me. I am glad to know how you are doing. Although people age, it's apparent that not all of them mature.

In case you haven't yet realized it, you weren't the only student in your class with problems. People who would behave as you have described were obviously born without a heart. It is inexcusable for you to have been treated the way you were. In recognition of the challenges you have overcome, you should have been the guest of honor at the reunion.

How many here could see themselves in this story ?  Do you think those who choose to full time in Vans, RV, etc or dwell in Tiny Homes on urban micro homesteads would be welcome around the old Alma Mater "onward and  upward McMansion set" ? 

I'm just curious.   I've been razzed about my stories of using my Van in School days and the great time I've had with dates back then taking them camping on the weekends,  towing my small motor boat behind the Van and doing something more than going to the campus  beer bars and drinking every night.

Was it because I had such a grand time but didn't try to fit into the College "Mold".   LOL  Anyways, I woldn't
trade it for arriving at the Country Club in a Porsche or Jaguar ever. 

Can you imagine yourself arriving at your Class Reunion in the vehicle you are presently living in ?


Story Source:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/...comes-disability-not-school-prejudice/325636/

 

[B and C]

It never ceases to amaze me at how shallow a lot of people are 

I am aghast at this story and at a loss for words (probably a good thing).

Brian

 

[LeeRevell]

It is unfortunate he was treated so shabbily by those who consider themselves so 'successful'.
I cannot even begin to understand or commiserate with how he was treated, or the hardships he went through.  But I was something of a loner back in high school.  I did not care.   The two bullies who tried me, were themselves put on the ground - I always was a 'big kid', and used me strength when necessary.  The bullying stopped.  I was ridiculed, but thought up ways to counteract them.  One idiot tried to hound me.  I carried a small notebook and each time he did something, I'd look at him and smile craftily while scribbling in the book.  All year he was trying to find out what I was up to, asking others if they knew.  I could see the worry in him.  That notebook contained useless scribbles, but it caused him a lot of angst.  He suffered, I had a good laugh.
I had a few friends, enough to count on one hand.  I rode a motorcycle, and got some derision from those 'well to do' kids who drove cars.  I took whatever advanced classes I could to avoid the fools, not because I was any smarter than they.  (Generally I was...)  They considered me a 'nerd'.  Yep, I wore that badge proudly.  
Only once did I receive an invite to the High School Reunion - the Twentieth.  The others passed unnoticed.  If they send me another, I will ignore it.  I care nothing for anyone from that school.  I have no feelings of loyalty to that school, it was just another whistlestop along the Road of Life, long gone into my rearview mirror.
Life is too short to worry about the losers back then.

 

[highdesertranger]

you know what eff those popinjays. highdesertranger

 

[Gary68]

umm,in jr-high school i lived in the back of a chevy truck and a off the grid wooden teepee,me and a buddy dragged a 72 torino out of the bushes and welded in a 460 out of a rv and drove it to school so the only thing that has changed is that they got all fat and bald

 

[GotSmart]

My school has an all class reunion every year.  

So far I have not seen a reason to go back.  I just missed #39.  For some reason going back where the land is a Million $ an acre is depressing.  I passed through there last summer, and did not see a single person I knew.  I met a friend in the next town who is running a "family" Deli.  He set me up with some great Antipasti. That lasted me until I got to Ehrenberg. 

The only people from school that were decent to me are on my Facebook page. This includes my first ex wife! 

I had more in common with the people up North, who just had their town burned down. 

They can have it to themselves.  Who needs $50 a bottle wine. One beer or a shot of good shine does me fine for the evening. 

 

[Canine]

I have had exactly the opposite experience.Was always a poor boy,always working on the farm while other kids were doing the social things.Never in with the in crowd or the better off kids.I left school at age 16 and went to work,before joining the Navy at 17.Some way and for some reason,the people who do the class re-union have always managed to find me and send me an invitation.I finally went 2 years ago and couldn't have been treated any nicer.The only problem was,boy those people sure have got old.

 

[Patrick46]

Huhhhhh....


reading all this makes me look back at how much I did not fit in with ANYBODY during my school years.
I was a weird, eccentric, loner, artistic type kid, and I guess I still am.

If I ever went back to any of my reunions, it'd still look pretty much the same.

Some things change, many things don't.

 

[WriterMs]

I was a weird, eccentric, loner, artistic type kid, and I guess I still am.

Yep, you do still seem to be most of those things, Patrick, from what I've read from you on the forums. And they are among the things we all seem to LIKE about you. Celebrate your uniqueness! (what was it I read about a custom bike?)

LOL.

 

[CTP]

Huhhhhh....


reading all this makes me look back at how much I did not fit in with ANYBODY during my school years.
I was a weird, eccentric, loner, artistic type kid, and I guess I still am.

If I ever went back to any of my reunions, it'd still look pretty much the same.

Some things change, many things don't.

I received a 20 year reunion invite from our neighbor down the street.  Nice lady but I hated high school.  I wrote "deceased" on the envelope and dropped it back in the mail!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

WriterMs....Patrick's best attribute has yet to be mentioned...He's got a big heart.
And he has a line of BS a mile long

Ya know, I can't recall but a couple names from high school. I worked the same place all the way thru and had no interest in their social structure crap.

 

[akrvbob]

I graduated from HS in Alaska in 1973. Alaskans are a very different group of people!!! Long hair, long beard, dirty clothes, I look like 90% of the people in town!
Bob

 

[wagoneer]

Not to get everyones hankie all wet but I had a pretty bad stutter especially around a girl i was taken by. Made it difficult to communicate, it still on occasion presents itself 50 years after graduating, made me realize the importance first impressions make.

 

[Queen]

I grew up miltary, went to 14 schools before high school. My high school class was 2/3 townie/farm kids and 1/3 military kids, they didn't like us so we stayed to ourselves and developed our friendships within that group. Before, during and right after our senior year many of our group moved, so no one really stayed in touch. The only people who go to reunions are the townie/farmer group and even though I only lived 13 miles from that town, I've never gotten an invite... and my sister in law and I graduated together and she attends.

 

[Almost There]

I've never gotten an invite either!

But maybe it's because I dropped out of Grade 12 twice.... and from the same high school no less!!

Once at 17 because teen pregnancies and an early marriage disqualified me from going to school and then again at 22 as a single working mom of 2 because the doc said I was burning the candle in too many places!!

There's really only 1 or 2 people from back then that I have a remote interest in finding. But not enough of an interest for me to even start looking for them.

 

[LeeRevell]

I have run into a few old classmates through the years.  Mostly at work, as state employment is a major 'industry' here.  But I did not seek to renew any connections.  I still meet a few of my old IT team for lunch now and then.  The class mates I care nothing for.
I know of no one in my past who got into the 'van thing'.

 

[ramblingvanman]

I am like Queen. Military brat, 3 different high schools and more other schools than I care to remember. To me they were all the same. By the time you get to know anybody you are off to the next school to start over. So I don't care about those people and don't even remember any of their names except my last high school girlfriend. Her I remember and am still friends with over 30 years later.

 

[eDJ_]

It is interesting and refreshing to read the replies here.

My Jr. High  and High School experience was spent with many of the same kids. It was very cliquish as
these were small schools.  I never truly fit in but managed to get along with most of the rebuffs owing
to my "independent" nature. My Parents were rather strict and insisisted that I was only there for school
and no extra curricular activities.  I guess it gave me the appearance of not possessing a social intelligence.
(at least comparable to my peers)

In my Senior year, however, a class was offered at another High School  that I wanted so it was arranged
that I take Gym, General Physical science, and Art class there.   This provided several neat features.
I got 1 1/2 hours for lunch and got out of school 1/2 hour earlier than my peers at the first school.  As
my original High school let out for the summer a week earlier than the second School I was able to talk
the Principal at the second school into letting me out of school for "senior week" so I was finished there
two weeks ahead of time.

My first real enjoyment of School at the High School level was those afternoons at the larger School.
I was actually able to feel like I was part of a number of new friends. So different than before.

In this time I was approached at the second school about registering for the Class Reunions.   It dawned on
me to explain that I was really part of the first High School.   It was understood but I was at least made to feel welcome to attend perhaps as an escort of a girl who had graduated there)  It lead me to think that I may
explain to the kids at the first High School that I would be graduating at the second High School.  But nothing was ever said to me at the first High School. 

After Graduation Ceremonies about a month later I was sent a card regarding Class Reunion.  A penciled note
with the form explained that I wasn't in school when this wa discussed.   Obviously that discussion took place in the afternoon.  I returned it stating that I had graduated from the other school.  No reply or question.

No one seemed to even remember my walking across the stage to receive my diploma.  I guess they were too absorbed in their own worlds. 

I went on to University and would occasionally run into some old classmates who were puzzled.  I'd just explain
to them, "aww that was High School Stuff,   man I'm leaving that in the past". 

During University years I met some Guys who were heavily into SCI Fi Fiction and when visiting happened to notice this "Twilight Zone" Comic Book one of them had on the coffee table.   The story was titled:
"The Joiner".    As I read it,  it faintly reminded me of myself.  I had been in Boy Scouts, been a Newspaper boy, worked in a Gas Station,  was even pursuing membership in the CAP (Civil Air Patrol) all of which were
not related to School. 

Here is an abstract of "The Joiner" in  that Twilight Zone Comicbook.  Somehow my Van back then would become my "trip ship" to realms where I may find new kindred spirits and appreciation for what I had to offer.

"The Joiner"

http://twilightzone.wikia.com/wiki/The_Joiner

Comic Strip Here

 

[66788]

I was forced to attend High School and did not like most of the kids there. They still send me reunion messages and invites by email, but I choose not to attend, as I have nothing in common with those people at all.

Friends are far more important in life than family or classmates, as you choose your friends and inherit your family and classmates.

 

[Iggy]

I've attended several HS reunions over the years even though I was basically a nerd with few friends growing up. It's mostly the popular clique that attends but they welcome me and want to chat. I'm FB friends with many of them so they are aware of my financial implosion and me living in my van now. They think my life is fascinating (though I doubt they would trade places with me) and often contact me via FB to say so. We have all changed and grew up since high school. So I don't hold anything against anyone from back then and love to hear how they are doing. Guess my experience has been different than most of yours.