Well I did it. I reunited with my 1988 high school classmates over the weekend sans white teeth, collagen treated skin or a professional make up job. Here’s my top 10 post reunion musings:
- Nametags at 30th reunions should ALWAYS be accompanied by reading glasses. Preferably, in school colors with a mascot themed lanyard, that way they could double as a party favor.
- Learning that some classmates are grandparents, some are empty nesters, some have high schoolers and some, ahem, like me, are still packing lunch boxes and watching Paw Patrol, is frightening and delightful all at the same time. And serves as a reminder that everyone’s journey and timetable is perfectly imperfect for them
- Asking your parents to borrow their car, and a little cash, is a good way to get in the high school mindset. And it probably makes them feel good too.
- Having someone buy you a drink is a small pleasure I’d forgotten.
- Talking in a loud room with loud music makes you feel like you need a hearing aid to go with your party favor reading glasses.
- Engaging in a few deeper dive conversations, however brief, is lovely. And so is longing for more.
- Brief encounters that leave you thinking-“She/he is special-I wish I had known them better/hung out with them more” are bitter sweet.
- Despite our anti-wrinkle culture/preference, I think peoples’ smiles are even more charming and genuine with laugh lines.
- When you can allow yourself to transcend your insecurities and dynamics of the past and remind yourself that no one is one-dimensional; we all have sorrows, joys, untold stories, and aspirations- -good things can happen.
- Staying up and out past 2:00 am two nights in a row makes you feel like you graduated from high school 30 years ago…oh wait, I did.
Looking forward to the next time…
Spin Cycle 