I cannot believe that it has been long enough for me to have a high school reunion. The festivities are officially over, but I am still in TX until tomorrow night. It's been a whirlwind since things started with the super-crowded Homecoming football game on Friday night, followed by a hopping party at a pub & grill...then on Saturday night, the party was at a nice club on the 69th floor of a super tall green outlined building downtown.
Things have changed a lot since I was in high school...the football stadium is bigger (they expanded it recently), with less parking (nightmare practically, until a friend saved the parking spot next to hers...thank you P!), more police officers, more rowdy students, the marching band is still pretty good (but the flag corps as I knew it is no more...they aren't as traditional or classy...no offense, but that was what made my high school flag corps unique), the drill team did okay...I really think that they were much better way back when I was there though, cheerleaders weren't as loud or peppy (but still pretty), the football team lost...wait, that's still the same (c: , most of the people I know have kids now...whoa!
The after football game party was little weird...imagine being almost 6 months pregnant, walking into a smoky bar where the majority of the people were drinking alcoholic beverages. I haven't been into a place like that for many, many years. On the upside, it was great to be there finding out what old friends had been up to for these last years. I was very happy that my brother married a gal from my graduating class and that she convinced (not quite dragged) him to come, so I also had someone else to talk to that made things a little easier.
Saturday night was lower key for a while, but we arrived early in the evening. The buffet food was fantastic...it even had a full cheese tray complete with brie...too bad I couldn't have the brie because of baby. There were more people there than the night before and we all spent time reminiscing of the old days. The girls looked a lot the same, but the guys seemed to have changed quite a bit. We voted for different categories like least changed girl/guy, who traveled the farthest (one girl came from China), most children (the gal who won this has 2 stepchildren and 2 of her own, did that count?...I know others who have 3 or like me are expecting #3), most unusual occupation (zoo-keeper), married longest (I won this one and received a prize of a small bottle of champagne, which I gave away promptly to a gal who would actually drink it), etc. All in all, it was a night to remember. Some sweet gals asked for marriage advice, which I don't know if it will help them, but it sure helped me...take time to get to know each other well before kids because it will help during the hard times when those little ones come along AND treat each other how you would want to be treated. I can't claim credit for those words, but I can't remember who spoke them to me (actually I think it was my mother and my mother-in-law respectively). I do now really wish that my hubby had been there with me...maybe for my next one.
I'll have to post pictures later after I get home.
My super great friend, P, is a foster parent and this is ONE of her 2 babies in her charge. She is such a wonderful example of Christ-like love and an awesome mom!!
There were a couple of students standing in front of this sign, so I politely asked them to move. After they cleared out of the way, there were a few other people who kept crossing right in front of the picture. The boy proceeded to stop people so that I could actually take it. After everyone stopped and waited, the boy asked me, "Are you from the class of 1997?" I smiled and told him I was. THEN he told me that I didn't look old enough to have been out of high school for that long!! I THANKED him profusely and walked off with a huge smile.
Funny enough, I actually hung out with these girls, A & H, during the last year of junior high. We spent a lot of time catching up and reminiscing.
K & M (sister-in-law & brother), me, L and M...it was nice to have familiar faces to fall back on. After being gone so long without talking, having family made the difference.
Our party was on the 69th floor of this building, a very familiar landmark downtown. I don't remember being in a high-rise, so I have to admit I was a bit uncomfortable after I looked out the floor to ceiling window of the club we were at. The ambiance was nice, the food pretty good and the company was wonderful. I am so impressed with the people I talked to...many are working on their doctorates, some are married, a few have kids. It's eye-opening to see the progression of these friends. I definitely missed having some friends that I would have liked to see, BUT the trip was well worth it. THANKS again M & K!!!
