I cannot believe this weekend has arrived. I’m back in my hometown for my 20 year high school reunion. The thing is that it’s not like I haven’t been back in decades. I still have family here, whom I see about once a year. It’s the idea of seeing people with whom I went to high school that is wigging me out. People have been chatting about the event on Facebook for about 6 months now. Honestly, I don’t even remember half of them.
I was a nerd in high school. Shocking, I know. I kept a fairly low profile. I never wanted to be popular. Those people were just plain stupid. I had plenty of friends and had some fun, but high school was not the best time of my life. Not even close. Right now is the best time of my life. Being an adult is awesome. Sure, it’s got some really lame parts to it, but overall, I’m really happy. I’m also at a point where I’m finally happy to be single. I keep hearing about these souls who have all this drama in their lives. Drama that could easily be eliminated if they would just ditch the losers they are dating. Losers means both men and women.
Regardless, this is a time for me to catch up with a few friends who have drifted away. Life pulled us all in random directions for one reason or another. I’m pretty sure none of us expected to be living the life we have. I’m pretty sure all of us will feel very awkward tomorrow night, but that’s why God invented booze.
One good thing, I’m used to being a room of strangers or talking to people with whom I have little in common…it’s called dating. It’s good practice for other social situations.
Tonight, I’m getting ready to go out with a friend I’ve known since 7th grade. Rumors abound on the reunion Facebook page that some people are gathering tonight at various local watering holes. We are on a mission to spy on these folks. Maybe we’ll talk to them, but odds are we will just cringe and run away.
Tomorrow should prove more than cringeworthy.
Can’t say that I would ever go to any high school related social function. It has been 32 years since I left, and have not really looked back. I returned some years ago to thank the teachers that made an impression on me.
The culture of high school does not even remotely parallel adult life-the real world with real responsibilities and adult challenges. This was made clear to me quite early in life. What was so important in high school is complete rubbish in the adult world. My glory days were not spent within highschool, doing things that gained approval of the teachers and moreso fellow students. I have grown up, away and beyond. What common interests I had with others back then are no longer of any concern or importance to me. I just can not get nostalgic about the experience. I have no particularly fond nor horrid memories. I wish no particular evil upon anybody from that time.
I hope the people are doing well.
There is of course a facebook page. Pictures of group hugs, crunched together holding scuffed beer bottles, a scanned copy of a well preserved newspaper article with a color picture of the big game, the blue eyeliner girls who always had the hair, the looks, the clothes, the attention all now middle aged and benefitting from the years of experience of making themselves look good. If they are happy, I am happy. I’d rather spend the time with the grandchildren up at our cottage.