This blog is a commentary on the premiere episode of High School Reunion from castmate Eric.
I decided to come to this reunion for many different reasons. As I went through high school I tried to hide as much as possible, and only allowed myself to open up to those individuals with whom I felt safe. Because of this, I feel I really kept myself from getting to know others and connect with them. This reunion was a chance to take advantage of an opportunity to make friends with people who I avoided in high school and possibly confront someone who had picked on me. It was also a chance to challenge myself and help me grow as a person. In high school I was not a confrontational person. I avoided it whenever possible. Being gay and having seen the show, I presumed I would have the opportunity to confront someone from my past who ridiculed me for who I was. Luckily I had that opportunity.
There were many people who ridiculed me in high school. The person I ended up confronting was John. Since I had the opportunity to confront John with how he treated me in high school, and being that I'm not very good with confrontations, I rehearsed what I was going to say to him. But unlike what happened in previous seasons on the show, my detention with John wouldn't end on a positive note, so my rehearsals were in vain.
Standing on the train tracks with the rain falling on me, I heard John's voice pierce the tension and anticipation I was feeling. Instantly, I knew my detention with John wasn't going to go as well as they had in other seasons. Most of what I'd rehearsed vanished from my mind. I almost instantly resigned myself to the fact that John wasn't going to apologize for his actions in high school.
Part of me figured that John wouldn't remember me or the things he had said to me in high school, but I was hoping he would. I prayed he would at least listen to me and apologize, to say he was sorry that his words hurt me. All I had hoped for didn't happen. I have to say I was proud of how I handled myself. When John approached me, I wasn't prepared for him to instantly get in my face. No matter what, I was going to let him know that the things he had said to me in high school hurt me. We parted ways on a negative note, but I was fine with it. This isn't high school anymore, and people like him no longer have power over me like they once did.
I loved watching the scenes with Tracy B. and me. It meant so much to have her greeting me at the door of the reunion mansion. We weren’t close friends in high school, but we were acquaintances. Instantly I knew I had an ally. I was also relieved to see how the other classmates greeted me with open arms.
Only time will tell how things end up with John.
Here's to the future,
Eric
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Dear Eric,
It is appearant that you are a kind, loving person with a heart of gold and I applaud you for being open about your feelings of how John treated you and confronting him. He is a very wounded individual and that is why he is so full of rage. He is hurting inside and that is what causes anger. He has no love for himself and therefore he is incapable of showing any love to others. You on the other hand are blessed because you are happy and emotionally balanced and do not carry all of the emotional baggage he carries. I think you are awesome!
There`s a name for people who after 20 years are still stuck on their "Glory Days" of High school…LOSERS!!!!!
Hey Eric i hope that you read this. I am 17years old and saw you on the high school reunion on T.V. I am going through the same thing. I am not ashamed of being gay i am just scared how people are going to treat me if i tell them.
I FINALLY had time to sit and watch the TiVoed episode. Having become your friend when you were already a confident adult and not a tortured youth, it was very difficult for me to watch John treat you that way. I find it so hard to deal with people who treat my friends like that, regardless of their history.
Please tell me he evolves somewhat throughout the filming. Please?
And I am SO glad you had Tracy there with you!
Eric, I just wanted to let you know how much I see myself in you. I was able to be in the closet in high school, but having such a visible handicap as Cerebral Palsy was something that I could not hide, and sometimes, I was mocked and made fun of throughout my life and that continues every now and then to this very day. I would like to share a poem I wrote in 1988: what I will do, is rather than publish the whole poem here, I'll give you the URL address of where to find it: http://home.att.net/~JBT-DMC/poetry/wounds.html …. I really hope you do read it. It is a poem I am most proud of and at the same time, most humble about. Take care, God Bless and God Keep, Daniel
John was acting like a complete loser. Don't let him get you down. I hope you can get through to him in the upcoming episodes. You act like more of a man the he ever will be.
Eric… I loved you then as I love you now. We have known each other since kindergarten and I just wanted you to know how amazing I think you are and how I pray that I NEVER made you feel sad or uncomfortable!!You are an inspiration to so many and I couldn't be prouder to call you my friend! XOXO- Mary P
Eric, forget John. People like him arent worth the time you waste thinking about them. I thought you handled yourself very well in the face of his ignorance. You have evolved, he has not….not one bit past high school it seems and that is what is really sad.
Eric dont EVER lat anyone put you down !!!!!!!!! You go boi !!! :O)
Eric,
You showed that you have class and are really the stronger person. John, well he's a little man with weak attitudes. He'll always be an ugly human and have an ugly life while you are a beautiful man and will have a beautiful life. The very best to you.
Eric, Congratulations on confronting that low life. I suffered the way you did as well in H.S. Reunions have become one of my favorite things! People do change. Their loss if they don't. Be true to yourself and be happy. You deserve it. John is a child. You go!
I love you Eric and am so proud of you for standing your ground and not letting John get you down!!! I am so glad we were there together too!
You go Eric, John is a idiot and people like him never amount to anything. You are a true person and I applaud the way you handled that ugly fat redneck!!!!
I saw the first episode last night. My heart sunk as I watched John treat you that way. At first I was appalled but then I was proud of you. He is obviously a very little man with very little happiness in his life. While that scene made me want to hold your hand and confort you I think that you handled yourself very well. It's hard to not lower yourself to that kind of level. You are a great person and I am proud to share this world with you.
That John- Wow! I guess it shows that people really never change. Not only was he rude about the meeting on the tracks when he got to the house, I think he was a bit scared. He was shaken up by the fact the people with thoughts and feelings and different ways of life other than his exist. In fact, exist happily. That is something he will never understand. I would understand if he stated some sort of religous belief or something but he was just a pure HATER – Just thank god you are above him in every human way. Any ADULT man would have said something to the effect "I am sorry you felt that way or if I had that affect on you let's put it aside now",not John – he must have some sort of giant chip on his shoulder hopefully he can find his own happiness and not be so resentful or confrontational with others in the future.
eric,
forgive the poor style of my typing. i recently suffered a severe injury that almost cost me my life and my left hand. so im typing this letter with one hand.
you may not remember me, but i remember you. i was one of a few in school that knew you were gay in high school and as your former stage designer, lighting and sound operator for theater you were one of the best stage performing actors we ever had for yrs to come after that.
from what i saw tonight on the premiere show, you may never get that apology from john that you are looking for. in 20 yrs he still acts as he always have since high school and he'll never grow up and from his attitude with the upcoming episode of our old rival valley he desperately needs his ass kicked by valley or someone in general and not even that will guarantee he'll still grow up. i went to my 10 yr reunion and there were some of the popular crowd who still didnt grow up then which ive decided i wont be attending anymore reunions after that either for that same reason.
dont worry about what he or anyone else in this short life say or think about you only what others think of you in a positive light. i have a saying in life "he doesnt pay your bills so dont matter what he thinks about you unless he's willing to pay your bills." take care eric and have a good life
michael
You have a lot of courage to face this moron John who is a mental retard and in the same frame of mind as he was in high school. As a gay man I went through all the same ridicule and physical and mental abuse. I would never attended any of my high school reunions, nor would I ever. For me, that was 28 years ago and I wouldn't want to see any of those people much less confront them. You are a very brave person! You should be proud.
Eric Im so sorry that you went through drama when you were in high school. Kids can be cruel. Watching Jerky John treat you like that now that he is older, He is still an ass. You are a better man than him and dont you forget it.
Eric there is Nothing Wrong with Being Gay and you knocked John Out Literally
E: forget the psychopath John. This guy is a freak of nature.
Eric, I know you planned out what you were going to say, just know that you didnt need to say anything…..he made himself look like and A@%…all by himself!