This weekend was my ten year high school reunion. Before it gets too far gone, I wanted to write down a few thoughts about what it was all about and the various things that went through my mind.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived was that I didn’t recognize anyone. Luckily, they got someone else who was better at recognizing people to welcome people when they arrived. I really have to thank Whitnee for this one – I wouldn’t have thought anyone would recognize me, and definitely not right off. This little bit helped significantly in making me just a little more comfortable with something that could have been disastrously uncomfortable.
There were a few people I recognized when they showed up though – Sarah Blaine, Meghan Gallenbeck, and Daniel Renfrow. Of the people that showed up at all, these three were people I felt close to in some form or another during my time at DHS. It was particularly good to catch up with them, and see what everyone has been up to these past ten years. Hearing that Daniel was teaching was a particular treat, and something I would have liked to hear more about, given the opportunity. It was also nice to talk to Sarah for a while – while we didn’t have very similar social groups at DHS, we had academic social groups in common, which gave us an interesting connection what was stronger than I expected.
Of course, the interactions were a little strange, given that I’d been disconnected from these people for so long. I sort of feel like everyone thought their life had been boring for the last ten years, and so didn’t really want to talk about it. Granted, I felt the same way, but it made making conversation a bit difficult. I’m also not sure we had a lot of shared interests – we all do different things for fun, and have a plethora of different experiences over the last ten years; it makes finding things to talk about somewhat more difficult. I feel like it would have been easier if I had been better at remembering times and events from when we went to school together, but my life seems so different than it was in high school, I just don’t have those memories anymore.
Still, for me, the highlight of the reunion was the parade. I thought I was going to be bored and come away only with copious sunburns, but it turned out to be quite fun. Not only did we have a neat float, with lots of water, but people seemed in a bit more of a fun mood, which made me more comfortable. The satirical discussion with Daniel about a chain of events culminating in a brawl on Main street was a highlight of the morning – a great piece of entertainment if only for the two of us.
When it was time to go home, after the barbecue, I really felt like there were people I missed seeing: Odessa Ash, Chris Ryan, Thomas Scheetz, Andy King, and Travis Whitson. While I’m sure they all had their reasons for not coming, they are people I would have liked to get in touch with and find out how they have been doing. Maybe next time, I say, but I may have to get in touch with them next time I am in the area.
In another ten years, I suspect things will be different. So, as suggested by Jessa, I’m going to update my predictions for another ten years:
In ten years, I will be working toward tenure in a college where I want to live.
In ten years, I will be living in Washington or Colorado.
In ten years, I will be married.
In ten years, I will have no children.
Advice to this year’s graduating class: Beware the advice you give, lest you underestimate the power of your influence. Beware the advice you take, lest you overestimate the scope of the giver’s experience.