Blast from the past

Tonight I go to my 15-year high school reunion.  High school was a bit weird for me.  I definitely liked parts of it--I had friends, I loved being in band, I was active in plays--but I also had a weird insecurity about myself that I don't miss at all.  One thing I remember is the mornings.  Every morning, I would go to the band room and hang out with my band friends. This was in stark contrast to what most people did, which was to hang out in the halls surrounding the library, chat by their lockers, etc.  On those rare days when the band room was closed or we had a half day of school, I dreaded that walk down the hall, shrinking in fear that someone would call out or say something mean.  Honestly, the times when anyone said anything had to have been extremely rare, but I do recall occasionally being called "The Nerd" or "Walking Dictionary", and that feeling of humiliation still rankles.  

I think we all tend to think back fondly on our high school years, and I do the same.  Whenever I start thinking too fondly, though, I remember Class Night, when all the graduating seniors get together to hand out mock awards like "Best Hair" and make predictions about the future.  There were the nice parts--I won "Most Respected" and "Most Likely to Succeed"; the funny parts (completely inaccurate predictions)--"In 5 years, Yolanda Rosi will be on TV in a political debate"; and the mean part (Class Wills)-- "We, the class of '93, will Yolanda Rosi the ability to have a good time".  Funny how you can't forget the mean parts.  

Still, I think tonight will be lots of fun.  I've been to both the 5-year and the 10-year reunions, and it's always nice to catch up.  I've gotten a lot more comfortable with myself over the years, and I'm sure everyone else has grown up too.  We've been sending out email updates, and it's been great fun to read about the lives and adventures that everyone has had since 1993.  I feel like my life has turned out pretty well, so I look forward to a stroll down memory lane tonight and tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted.