10 years ago, give or take a couple of weeks, I graduated from high school. I wore a pretty white dress and walked down South Lawn next to my dearest Poopyhead. People spoke, sang songs, giggled. Some nervously speculated whether their diploma-holder folders would actually contain diplomas. Afterward, relatives marked our cheeks with lipstick and gave us bear hugs. After that, I headed off to the Poopyhead house, did things an American 17-year-old isn't supposed to do, and started the rest of my life. Which hasn't proceeded quite the way I thought it would, but...that's life. Full of detours.
Last weekend, I went to my 10-year high school reunion. Which also didn't proceed exactly how I thought it would. As soon as we walked up South Lawn, girls started squealing and lunging for hugs, and I started freaking OUT. So many people, it was too overwhelming. So, we retreated back to the Poops's house after a couple of hours, and stayed there instead of going to the party. Now, I wish I had gone. People were asking about me, there were people I wanted to see, I could have just stayed for an hour or so, and what's an hour out my life? But, I was scared. I didn't really believe that people would want to see me. I felt awkward and weird and just wanted to hide from the experience. I should have gone. Shoulda coulda woulda.
Also, Poops told me that she's moving to Portland, Oregon this summer, which is cool for her, but makes me sad. So, I cried for a good long time after we dropped her and K. off at Prospect Park. Actually, I guess I cried for a lot of things. Regrets and faraway friends and the life that hasn't gone the way I thought it would. I won't dwell on it, though.
The next reunion is less than five years away, after all.
Posted by thevieve at May 18, 2003 8:51 AM | TrackBackNice to see you back! By the way, with all my multi-graduation reunions (high school 10th, 25th, 35th, and 40th), I can provide you with continuous reinforcement at how much EVERYBODY wants to see you and how you want to see enough of them that you should go. Call pre-reunion next time for full reinforcement of need to go. Glad you got as far as you need, and it looks like you'll do better for yourself at the next one. Anyway, anyone who knows you would wanna see you again, dude!!!
Posted by: grandpa grad on May 22, 2003 11:19 AM