Today.
Today I am not at my high school reunion. I will spend the day busy doing things that I love and things that I must. But I will not be celebrating my days at Chambersburg High. I am 90 miles away from the town where I graduated. I could be there. But I will content myself with the passing wish that my high school years had been the kind to inspire nostalgia.
I’ve been thinking all summer about this day and my lack of desire to be there. About nostalgia and memories. High school was hard. Oh, the academics were fine. But the sense of belonging? No. Think of me as the lonely awkward character in the John Hughes movie. The first act. Without the heartwarming montage at the end.
That doesn’t entirely explain away my skipping this reunion. After all, I loved my college years. But I still don’t wax lyrical about the BYU creamery or, well, I can’t think of what I ought to be trying to return to. The last time I set foot on that campus I waited for the rush of emotion. It was sweetly empty.
You know what’s odd? I can feel nostalgia about the place I live now. I go away on vacation and I get hungry to come back. I can walk down the street and feel a fierce yearning for this place and this time. No other. I don’t know what that means about me. The Army brat who finally learned to leave the past behind? No, that’s not really it. But something. I am where I belong. Whether I am what I ought to be, who I ought to be – that is entirely separate.
But where. I am here. Somehow that is sweetly abundant.
Sorry to hear that you will not be at the reunion. I was looking forward to seeing you again, but I understand your feelings about the whole thing.
Well I for one am glad you are here! Its a good place…to feel at home in ones present life!
How did it turn out? Was it a good time?
First the bad :
1) There were 50-60 people there out of a class of 538 – kind of pitiful, but hopefully more will come to the 25th.
2) There was a live band, way too damn loud, forcing people to shout at each other in order to be heard. I think this also led to people leaving earlier than they normally would have.
3) With few exceptions, the attendees still gravitated into there cliques, even after 20 years.
4) There was no ceremony, so to speak……not a word said about the ones who couldn’t be there, or the ones that had passed away.
4) And we even had an episode of domestic violence when a very drunk Stewart Stevens decided to punch his high-school sweetheart wife in the face. Gee, what a class.
Now the good :
1) Everyone was very friendly, even people that I didn’t really know that well back then, but still remembered me somehow.
2) With the exception of the band, the atmosphere was pretty good. I think with the exception of Stewart’s wife, everyone had a good time.
As I said before, I understand your reasons, but I still missed seeing you again. You would have fit right into the group of women who haven’t aged a day in 20 years.
haven’t aged a day? Never underestimate the power of quality cosmetics, a good photographer, or low light. Or all three in combination. Ahem. Now that you ratted me out. (Didn’t notice a distinct lack of specificity in reference to which reunion?
)
Eye of the beholder.
Hope you’ll decide to go to the 25th.