Well, it's been twenty years since I happily walked up to recieve my high school diploma. I remember the bittersweet emotions I had about parting with my safe, familiar, little world and facing the great unknown future...
It all seems so long ago now. At one time I really wanted to see all those old friends and show off my handsome husband and beautiful children. But as time has passed and my pounds have increased I've become less and less interested in any sort of reunion. After all, I already keep in touch with the friends that I'm still friends with...if you know what I mean.
A couple of weeks ago I got a call from my cousin (he was a member of my senior class). He wanted to encourage me to attend the homecoming football game so we could reconnect with some old friends there. The plan was to start getting a list together of all members of our class in order to plan a reunion for next year (one year late---long story). Anyway, I hem-hawed around and tried to ignore it but eventually curiosity won out and I decided to go with hubby and 4 of the 5 children in tow (11 yo DD was at a birthday slumber party).
I probably don't need to tell you how the rest of the 2 days before the event went. I spent every waking moment trying to figure out how to look like someone else...younger, thinner, prettier, hipper (is that a word?). I called my dear friend (cousin's wife) and asked her what she was wearing...she too was in a panic. We decided we needed to do some shopping and hair makeovers. Forget about housework, etc...I hit the stores. I bought a magazine so I could familiarize myself with what people wear these days.(honestly...people expect me to wear things like that?) I also looked over some hair style magazines.(you've got to be kidding...that's an actual style?!)
With a tight budget I opted to start my shopping trip at Target. They seem to stay fairly trendy. Of course, the next step is to actually know what to try on. I haven't tried on a modern pair of jeans in a long time...they come in such unusual shapes these days. It can be very confusing.
I took all the kids with me and all 5 of them waited outside the dressing room. When I found what I thought was a good combo I stepped out and let the kids vote. I had a hit! My 16 yo DS gave me a thumbs up and a smile. My kids were surprised to see that I could look modern and kinda cute . ;-)
My dear hubby gave me some pretty nice compliments that evening, as well.
I never did do anything spectacular to my hair. I just bought a new curling iron. Did you know that modern technology has really improved those things? I mean instant heat and 25 heat settings! Wow! (mine was about 12-14 years old).
Well, it turns out I had all that panic for nothing..It seems that other people age too! In fact, some of those guys looked really old! Are we really the same age?
It was pleasant to see old acquaintances and we had a great time visiting after the game. I won't dread a full fledged reunion quite so much now. It might be fun.
Sunydazy
P.S. If you want to read a very funny story about a high school reunion, just visit my friend TC and read her post called My underwear (mis)adventure. Be prepared to laugh until your sides hurt! |
Oct. 12, 2006 - High School/reunions
I have been reading your blog lately. A fellow homeschool friend who blogs through HomeschoolBlogger directed me to your site since I also have five children, have always homeschooled, and my oldest is 16.
I was reading your post from the 11th and it made me think about my highschool days. I never even hung around with but three or four kids from my own class. I hung out with my sister's friends who were three years older. I was a chubby geek in highschool so most of my interaction with kids in my own class was through demeaning comments from them.
As my own 20 year reunion has been approaching, I've thought about what most of them would think of me now-an at-home homeschooling mom who likes to wear long skirts and long hair, who still loves to read even though I don't have to, who lives in a mobile home by choice. Would they just think I haven't changed all that much? I'm still chubby too. In fact I'm still the same size I was in high school. I thought about the fact that most of them who teased me can't fit into their prom dresses anymore. That's kind of a good feeling.
Well anyway, there was one girl who was relentless about teasing me and who also was prom queen and voted "most likely to suceed" (she had plans to become a lawyer) I still hadn't chosen any true career path as a senior and she thought that was wierd. So I was going on my homeschool email list one day and found a post from a new homeschool mom wanting to get with others in her area. The name was shockingly familiar! It was the same girl(woman). No she hadn't become a lawyer, she never finsished college, she did odd jobs until deciding to work from home as a jewelry designer. As an engaged young woman, her fiance had left her two months before the wedding because she had found out that she was pregnant and he did not want children. Now eight years later she is pulling her daughter from school due to "excessive bullying at the local elementary". And she also decided she wants her daughter to get a real education. She says she never knew, until after highschool, just what the real world was like outside of school and it was a real shock to her.
It's amazing that the two of us, so different at one point in our lives, now head down the same path. The Lord will surely lead us where he wants us to go, He is always at the reins!
Blessings & Happy Homeschooling
Amy