Dear fellow Vikings,
I am still undecided about attending the reunion, but I'm leaning toward going to see Hellboy II: The Golden Army instead. For a few reasons, actually. Here they are in no particular order.
First – I have probably forgotten your name. Yes, we had 3 classes together including lifetime activities and physics. That doesn't matter. I have a horrible memory. That's why when I saw you at Dick's Market a few weeks ago I quickly ducked into the other isle so I wouldn't have to embarrass myself by acknowledging your existence.
Second – the whole "reunion" thing just sounds awkward. I really hate big mingle parties. I can handle small parties with a few people, but when the party gets bigger than say, 12 people, I want to turn into a wallflower and hide. I've never really figured out why. Besides, it doesn't help that about a year into my mission, out of boredom and desperation to receive more letters, I wrote to every single girl I had a crush on in high school. Yes some of you were already married, but I had been in Portugal for a year and for some reason it felt like I'd never come home to face the reality of what I was doing. Well, I'm home now and not really too excited about seeing you ladies face to face. (NOTE: If you got one of these letters, don't be too flattered – I sent out a LOT of them. I had a lot of high school crushes).
Third – I wasn't popular in high school. There might be 1-3 people who attend the reunion, who while leaving think "Man, I wish Ike Yospe would have showed up. I miss that guy." I have kept in contact with most of my good high school buddies. We have our own reunions. And we don't wait 10 years to have them. If, however, 25 people post comments on this entry, I will gladly admit to being wrong and will happily attend the reunion.
For those of you who care enough to have read this far, I guess I can give you a short update on my life since high school… I went the U before (and after) my mission and had classes with a few of you. I was first excited (but soon I became sad) to sit next to James VanDyke in Psychology. A familiar face was welcome, but seeing James ace every test while I was getting B-'s and C+'s reminded me too much of Mr. Jackson's physics class. I already had my mission call, which didn't help my grades at all, and I spent the rest of my college career making up for that 1st semester. I ended up graduating with a degree in Journalism/Communications with an English minor.
I served in the Portugal Porto mission for 2 years (duh). Upon returning home I dated a bunch of girls but quickly settled on one – fellow ward member and class of 2000 graduate Jana Layton. Best decision I've ever made. We've been married for almost 7 years now and have 2 little boys, Luke and Max. They are the pride and joy of my life. I work at Bonneville doing marketing & promotions for KSL Newsradio, FM100, and 103.5 The Arrow. It'd be nice if they paid me a little more (doesn't everyone think that?), but I love working in radio. It's been a blast. Before the kids, Jana and I probably went to 2 concerts a week with free tickets from my job. We built a house in Woods Cross about 4 years ago, and besides living next to a big refinery, we have loved living in Davis county so close to family and friends. I do have a blog. If any out there want to check it out or keep in touch you can email me at iyospe@gmail.com
28 comments:
Man, I hope Ike Yospe shows up to the reunion. I miss that guy.
Brian C
yeah, me too, Ike was a cool dude.
Too bad I won't be there. It would be good to see him.
B Collet
well, Ike, there are four posts from me. 4 out of 25; I feel good about my 16% contribution to getting you to the reunion... a reunion I won't be attending. Oh well. Sounds like you are doing well, unless of course you fabricated your story to feign that you are doing well. I do appreciate you humor, sarcasm and honesty. Thanks for the laugh.
BC
Thanks for you honesty Ike. I like you was not popular, but I do remember you and you were and sounds like still are, a great guy. I am glad life is good for you. You have some really cute kids. Enjoy your movie!
Emily Bremser Wall
Ike, this is Kierstin Spjut (Laws) and I totally remember you. You should come to the reunion just because Brian Collett took the time to write 4 comments on your entry...that's gotta count for something! I've got news for you, MOST of us were not 'popular' to everyone. We all have our close knit groups of friends that we've (probably) kept in touch with. You should come.
Ike,
I just want to say AMEN Brotha for the truth!
You said perfectly what we all feel. But, for those of us that don't live in Davis County and don't see people often come so we can all remember how cool were/are.
WOW, you have officially received more comments than anyone else, now THAT stands for somethings doesn't it! What's popular anyway? Popular is just a state of mind, and really, everyone has people that like them, at least a few people. I am sad that I didn't get a letter dangit!!! Jill Hymas told me one time she sent Christmas cards to a lot of random people in high school and some people thought that was a little strange, she was board too....we laugh about it all the time now. GET YOUR BUTT TO THE REUNION!!!
Oh yea, one more comment from me, HI, that's all...
One more things...if you don't want to come for all those reasons, just come and humor me for all the hard work we've put into it....c'mon please!!! That's 11 comments so far ha ha.
Ike, I think you should attend the reunion. Wish I could be there, than 1st and 2nd chair could hang out together, what is not cool about that? Glad to see you are doing well.
Meredith
Ike,
Great post, but you should still come. I remember the good times had, and would love to catch up.
Oh, and you didn't specify that the 25 comments had to be from different people.
Hope to see ya.
As Mr. Jackson would say, "whoa whoa whoa." I think I was quite clear that there had to be posts from 25 people, not 25 posts from 6 people!
But I guess by posting this now I'm adding one to the bunch! I might end up at this dang reunion after all.
It's been fun hearing from all of you. I hope none of you took my post too seriously. I'm not anti-reunion or anything, and hopefully I didn't make light of all the hard work you're all putting into it.
Ike, I don't know if you remember me or not, but I won't go to the reunion unless you go.
Here's one more for good form
Ike,
I have no idea who you are. I feel EXACTLY the same as you do-- even down to writing weird random letters to people *ahem* AND other embarrassing spurts of confidence. Anyway, I married someone who graduated with us, and he is making me go. I think if I have to go, SO SHOULD YOU! Oh, and Mike (my husband) says this post should count as two.
Thanks for the laugh. See you at the reunion!
*Linda Steimle Richards
This one is for Mike.
Ike, Kirsten actually called me and read me your update before she posted it, and we were laughing our freaking heads off. Tears welling up in my eyes. You need to go be a writer for sitcoms, because it's that skill of saying what everyone else is thinking but saying it in a hilarious way that will make you the big bucks, mo-fo.
Come to the reunion.
Ike Ike bo bike banana fanna fo fike, me my mo mike Ike! Dude everyone I have talked to loves your post and wants to see you. you better go!
Ike who...oh wait, I remember him from band I think....or was that his brother Jacob...hmmmm...I guess he had better come so I can figure this out.
well if you werent popular 10 years ago, you are now!!! loved the post.
Lisa felman Echols
I sure hope Ike comes. that would be sweet!
I think that you should come since you guessed that I am the man of mystery.
You have to come now...comment 25.
Ike, I didn't really know you that well... so if you don't come to the reunion, I won't feel bad. I too probably won't make it on Friday. Mostly because I am stubborn. Hellboy is a much better excuse.
Aron (Simkins) Simkins
Ike Yospe, you've got to come because you are the winner! You have correctly identified the 'mystery couple.' So if you don't come, you'll never know what your prize would've been, and Sherri will get it because she is the runner-up.
By the way, but you can't be mad about not being invited to the reception because you didn't send me one of those letters on your mission :) I'll try to forgive you if you forgive us. Deal?
Thanks for acknowledging my spelling. I wish they had a Spelling B for adults. Maybe we could have one at our 20 year. Now wouldn't that pack 'em in?
I totally think I got one of those letters. But hey, you can't be held responsible for anything you did before the age of 25. We better see you tomorrow at the park. I walked out tonight thinking, Man, I wish Ike Yospe would've come. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Jeff Stevens
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