Dear Abby - Feelings hurt in school linger after graduation

DEAR ABBY: I loved the letter from "Ready for the Reunion" (July 31), who wondered why some people in her high school graduating class didn't respond to the notice of the reunion. Some of us would like to completely forget high school.

I missed my 10th, 20th, 30th and 40th year reunions. I did consider going to the last one, but then I started reading my former classmates' posts on the reunion website. It seems everyone is retired, wealthy, has numerous grandchildren, at least one retirement home in an exotic locale and spends their time relaxing and jetting around (or so they say). I'm still working, not wealthy, not successful. Basically, I have a boring life, so I have nothing to brag about. I didn't go.

I'm still in contact with the important people in my life from high school and just don't need the aggravation of attending a reunion. -STAYING HOME

DEAR STAYING: Thank you for your input. I received a number of responses to that letter:

DEAR ABBY: My class just had its 45th reunion. I live 20 miles away, but have never attended one and I never will.

My best friend and I were bullied by our school peers. After 45 years, we are still close. Neither of us has any desire to see any of those people again.

High school was a miserable experience for us, and we couldn't wait to graduate. Why would we want to socialize with them now? We forgave them long ago, but have no desire to relive those days. People need to realize that sometimes we move on and don't need to revisit the past. -CAROL IN GEORGIA

DEAR ABBY: My high school experience was traumatic and put me in therapy. People who look forward to these things look back on their high school days with fondness. I'm guessing that's because they weren't picked on.

I would rather walk barefoot across broken glass than spend another minute with my high school class. I ignore the invitations. -RAY IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.

DEAR ABBY: Successful turnouts often occur as a result of personal outreach from the committee. A personalized note, phone call or other kind of communication will make a difference to an alum. -FORMER REUNION PLANNER IN WASHINGTON

DEAR ABBY: Of the 280 missing students, for a quarter of them to be deceased would be par for the course. "Ready" should create a Facebook page for her high school graduating class. Ours is very popular-35 percent of our former classmates are already part of it. -PETER IN NAPLES, FLA.

DEAR ABBY: It is possible that many of the graduates never received the invitation. Emails, phone numbers and addresses change often. I didn't receive anything about my 10-year reunion, but a few of my friends said they did.-ROD IN OMAHA