Last Saturday was my ten year high school reunion.
Yep. We’re officially getting old.
I didn’t care too much for high school. That’s for another post. Or maybe not. I don’t look back on my past in anger or regret. I just would not want to re-live any part of my life over again. The people who tell us our high school years are our best years? I have finally decided that they are very unhappy adults. The best years of our lives are the years when we’re adults, having learned from our mistakes and triumphs, when we’re creating the life we dreamed of for ourselves. Adulthood is more difficult in some ways, sure. I think my best years will be my 30s. But high school? Please.
Many of my closest friends graduated the year before I did, but I still had friends in my graduating class. I was what most people would call a “floater.” I didn’t belong exclusively to any one group of people. I had friends in a few different circles. Sometimes I found it to be difficult because I never felt like I belonged. This is a common theme in my life. I have lots of friends with very different lives, interests, goals, families, habits, etc. but I don’t have one group with which I identify. I thought it would be different in grad school, but it is just the same. I digress…
I’m happy to say that I’m still close with some of my high school friends. Some I’m closer to than others, of course. I love that the Internet allows us to stay connected when we are cities, states, and countries apart. Worlds apart, but just a Skype call or tweet away.
{10 years ago - spirit week and graduation parties}
Just before we graduated from high school, a friend of mine made our little group a couple of mix CDs. He was a musician (and still is, which is so wonderful). The name of the mix was “Music For When The Parties Die Down.” I still have those two CDs in their original packaging: folded yellow paper with handwritten messages and a little skeleton stamp.
A couple weeks ago, he emailed some of us a new mix. Of course, he shared it on a server instead of CDs. And each song was created by a band with whom he has worked with personally. By the way, you should check out his stuff (and if you live in LA, it’s essential that you check out a show).
It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy knowing that even though ten years have passed and we barely talk to one another, those memories will be with us forever.
It was so wonderful to catch up and see certain people again. Some people did not make it to the reunion, but I was able to catch up with them afterwards at a local bar. Some of us have changed, some have stayed the same. Ultimately, some of us will always stay in touch.
{We are all grown up - kinda}
Time flies. Make time for the people who really count.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
The first day of high school we were ushered into the auditorium for orientation. Wide eyed and excited of the next 4 years of what I was sure was going to be filled with meeting fabulous people, experiencing fabulous things.
One of the first things my principle said was “The next four years will be the best four years of your life.”
Not so much. They were just years for me. They always say high school is the best four years of your life. Really? I will live to be 60, 70, 80 years old and only four of them will be the best?
When I go home to visit, I sometimes see someone from high school and they are usually living in their high school years. So many shallow people, who are still this way. I am glad I became so much more.
I think the best years are the years you move out on your own, explore life and yourself. For me, that is never ending.
Good Post, and site.
Thanks for your comment! You are right… they were just years. In some ways, each handful of years we live are like moments in and of themselves. The same things happens to me when I go back to that place. I am happy to be living my own life, doing so many more things with my life than I ever imagined!
OMGosh I love these photos of you! I’m pretty sure we shared a hairstyle in high school.
You look fantastic, by the way. I’m loving the new hair-do now!
Gotta love the long stringy hair and bangs.
Also, thanks, babe.
Aw- you wound up at reunion with hair closer to your high school hair than its been in years!
I dug up a couple pics of me at 18 this past weekend that I’ll have to share with you when you visit…
Can’t wait to see the pictures.
Oh my god! Long hair! You had it! How cute were you?! The answer to that is very.
My 10th year reunion is next year. I will probably go, but we weren’t really a tight class. But it will still be fun to point and laugh at people who look funny.
I mean, reminisce.
Oh no, there was plenty of pointing and laughing. We had a whole group that resembled the Real Housewives.
And yes, I diiiiid have long hair in high school before I hacked it off. It’s still hard adjusting to growing it out.
Glad that you had a good time
I remember putting on a 5 year reunion. Next year is my 10th. Time to start planning.
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