Yes, folks. Some of you may totally roll your eyes at this posting... but something has totally set into my brain this past week. It's been officially 10 years since I walked across the stage of the dirt-floored Henderson Youth Expo Center (aka. the Ag Barn) and accepted my diploma, both normal size and a lamenated pocket size, as a Henderson High School graduate. Man, it seems like yesterday, but at the same time way more than 10 years ago. Needless to say, it was a BIG day.
We are in the midst of planning our Class of '99 reunion. It looks like it will be taking place in September (which will technically be 11 years since our Senior football season, but who's counting, right?!) At any rate, being in touch with friends from the days of old on a daily basis has definitely been fun!
The thing is, these people know everything about the first 18 years of my life. We all have a special bond and friendship that, once I got to college, I recognized as truly unique. I didn't know that most people didn't go thru school with the same group of people... I didn't know that most people don't still talk to their best friend since 2nd grade... I didn't know that most people don't call their friend's grandparents by "nanny", "daddy-B", "tinky", "granny grace", "mawmaw", "oma", "granny", "pawpaw", etc... I didn't know that it wasn't normal for your parents to be really good friends with your friend's parents PRE-you and your friend's birth... you get my drift. We have something special... and it's pretty dang rooted!
Have we got stories on each other... everything from embarassing hair-dos and styles of the 80s and early 90s, to getting gravy on your dress (aka your boob) whilst at a banquet... on a date, to crusing around in the Jelly Bean with the speakers blaring so loud that it's a miracle we can still hear, to getting all of the teachers and principals on our side so we can basically do whatever we want, to getting ready for every single dance and the sleep-overs that followed. We've shared so much. I love going home and getting to spend time with my girls that have made their way back to Henderson to raise their families. It's awesome to see those same connections grow in their own kids.
As the birthing of this monster of a reunion proceeds, I'm sure that we will all get frustrated, we'll all complain to each other, we'll all just grow tired and want to throw our hands up. But, in the end, it will be awesome to get together with the people that knew the "old" you... even if that old you hasn't changed that much, or if you are a completely "new" and better you! There's really nothing like seeing that face of a dear and old friend and getting to have some quality time to hang out. I'm really hyped about it... and hope that everyone shares in that excitement! We are going to do it up "old school" style and really try to take people back... definitely a blog posting in the making! :)
2.13.2009
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I completely understand that bond you are talking about Decker, going to a really small private school even in the midst of Dallas made it where all pretty much knew everything about each other and bonded us unlike a large public school might have seperated us into our own little groups.
ReplyDeleteI have ridden around in the jellybean with the speakers blaring. . .does that count? :-)