Dear Friends and Virginians:

This weekend, the Fairfax High School Class of 1986 celebrated its 40th reunion at the American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax City.

We had 85 classmates who returned from all across the USA to celebrate our days as “the Rebels.” (Hell yes). And it was good.

We were a different generation. Of our 307 graduates, less than half attended a 4-year college. The rest started work or joined the military. There was no “gap year,” unless it meant you worked at the jeans store at Fair Oaks Mall.

The Class of ’86 went on to do some pretty cool stuff:  combat veterans, business owners, high school principals, rock guitarists, maternity ward nurses, grandparents! We include a former Mayor (in Maryland), a former Councilwoman (in Fairfax City) and a former Delaware state rep.  

Looking back, 1986 was a simpler time. There was no social media. No cell technology. MTV was in its infancy. Our entertainment was driving around on Saturday nights in search of “a rager,” i.e. a party at a home with missing parents. Nights might end with a late night swim in Country Club Hills pool (!!)

Youth was a finite resource, and we squeezed every moment from it. I was lucky to be the Senior Class President. The school principal told me that I needed to “grow up” if I was going to succeed in life. I responded that wasn’t going to happen.

To his credit he quoted me in his final address to our class — and said “Chap, don’t ever grow up.”

Mission accomplished, I guess.

Forty years later, we’re the same bunch of kids from Fairfax High, still happy-go-lucky and immature.

Holler back, you Rebels from 1986! Don’t ever grow up!

Peace,

Chap