10 Years Gone

It's so hard to believe that 10 years have gone by since I graduated from high school. I can remember thinking way back then, "What if I don't get an invitation to my high school reunion?" I didn't really have a reason to think that I wouldn't. I knew almost everyone in my class and had quite literally grown up with many of them from the time we were in kindergarten. Well, I did get an invitation.

Last weekend we went back to IN to see how far (or not so far) everyone had come in 10 years. I had the most fun! I surprised myself with my social-ness. I guess, like most eveyone else, there is something about 10 years that just makes you release all the grudges and bitterness if you ever had it to begin with. I loved seeing my old classmates and sharing about my life. This was the true test, "are you proud of where you are in your life or not?" I was so proud to be there with my husband and to be able to share about my children and my career. It really felt good to be where I am and to share that.

There were a handful of people who I really hoped that I'd see and when I did I was so happy. My friends Shaun, Sean and Scott were all there. These are the guys that I felt the strongest friendships with (as guys go) in high school. What a thrill to see them all. It's so funny to be in such a different place in life, not worried about impressing anyone for the sake of anything too significant. Even funnier was being able to share the "feelings" that once existed for one or more of these guys without any hesitation. Crystal was so funny sharing her crush and then I didn't feel like I could let the night end without getting my crush out in the open. Thankfully, my crush on Sean, first, never amounted to anything and second, was much less significant than the friendship we shared.

These weren't the only people that I was happy to see. There were many others who I'd grown up with that I was so happy to see. Of course, Angie and I showed up in tandum with our husbands. When we walked in, Angie said, "I'm sure that people fully expected us to show up together. Nothing has changed." So funny! In high school Angie, Crystal and I were attached at the hip and you know we left together and went to hang out together afterward. I am so proud of these friendships though. God has been so good me. I would never change my friendships for anything.

Here's what I hope for the next 10 years: I hope that when I show up for our 20 year reuinon, I am again in tandum with my dearest friends and their husbands, that I am still as proud or more so of the life that God has blessed me with, that I can be more open about to whom I owe my blessings-- God, that more than half our class will be there and that Sean and Shaun show up with the women of their dreams.

10 years gone!