Has it really been 20 years since High School graduation? Twenty years since that magical summer of '89 . . . that last summer of my youth, the last summer I lived in the same house as my parents, the last summer I walked the quiet streets of my childhood neighborhood after dark talking and laughing with girlfriends, the last summer of complete freedom, the last summer driving aimlessly with the windows down and the music much too loud . . . the last summer of no responsibility??
Fast forward twenty years to the summer of 2009 . . . responsibility is now an understatement, long walks chatting with girlfriends is a guilty pleasure I relish rather than take for granted, and there is definitely no time to drive aimlessly or to have the music louder than is tolerable!
A couple of weeks ago we, the Bountiful High School class of '89 celebrated those 20 years, and I realized that although we've all grown up, we've also collectively experienced so much joy, pain, happiness, and heartache during those years of growing up. It was a beautiful experience. It seemed no one was afraid to mention the divorce, the separation, the lost job, the illness, the loneliness, the loss of a child or spouse, the fear of moving yet again, or the fear of what lies ahead. As much as I resent the word, we have become adults. However, for a couple of evenings we reminisced, laughed, and shared stories from years past that made each one of us feel young once again.
A couple of weeks ago we, the Bountiful High School class of '89 celebrated those 20 years, and I realized that although we've all grown up, we've also collectively experienced so much joy, pain, happiness, and heartache during those years of growing up. It was a beautiful experience. It seemed no one was afraid to mention the divorce, the separation, the lost job, the illness, the loneliness, the loss of a child or spouse, the fear of moving yet again, or the fear of what lies ahead. As much as I resent the word, we have become adults. However, for a couple of evenings we reminisced, laughed, and shared stories from years past that made each one of us feel young once again.
There is something to be said about those people who share your history, who knew you when you were 7, or 12, or 15 years old. We all seem to remember certain aspects of each other and when you see one another again after so many years, you have a clearer picture of who that person is and how much they really meant to you during those crucial years, and how much more they mean to you now. It was a wonderful weekend to reunite with old friends and classmates, and I am eternally grateful to Kristen and her committee for all the hours they put in to making it come together as beautifully as it did - thank you!
Click here for more fun pictures of the event!
4 comments:
ditto, ditto, and ditto. And thanks to you for you putting on Alumni night!
I love how you said that we see & remember "certain aspects of each other... - and now you have a clearer picture of who that person is and how much they really meant to you during those crucial years." I feel that way too - and love how the reunion awakened that recognition and appreciation. I feel I found a few lost/forgotten pieces of myself that weekend. Some of those friends "get me" more than a husband, or friends from the present ever will or could. They have more pieces to the puzzle of me!
Great, great post.
Just sorry again I didn't get to see you, though I feel close to you anyway through blogging! I've dearly loved that!
And then reading Virginia today I found this...
"Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart and his friends can only read the title."
— Virginia Woolf
the years have been kind to you. You were and are a ray of sunshine.
Wish I could have been to alumni night, but so enjoyed visiting w/ you and your darling husband at the canyons.
Remember I have your Requiem... I'm not worried about it. We'll see each other sooner or later, right? :)
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