Twenty-six years ago tonight....

[poltr1]

....I graduated from high school. I remember counting down the days from February of that year to graduation day. We had the ceremony outside, at the school stadium. The band played Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" (as per universal commencement tradition).


Since graduation, I haven't gotten any closer with the people I went to school with. I live about 400 miles away from where I went to high school (and college). Sure, I may see people at the reunions (I skipped the 25th last year), and send a few of them holiday cards, but almost no one goes out of their way to look for me.

I don't miss the tricksters, the bullies, the snobs, the "hard guys", and the burnouts. But I do miss the folks from the band and honors classes. Sometimes I think, "Where are they now?"

But I doubt that people wonder where I am now. Sometimes I wonder if I've driven them away. Or maybe they just don't care. They have their own lives. I wasn't part of their lives then, and I'm certainly not part of them now.

I'd love to be able to travel back in time and give my high-school-aged self some helpful advice, like "Love comes to you when you're not looking for it", "What people think of you is none of your business", and "High school aged kids are cruel; don't take them personally".

Comments

[zorya-thinks.livejournal.com]

I graduated from high school 35 years ago on May 30th. College 31 years ago on August 14th. Where have all the years gone?

I've never been to a high school reunion - my school was on Guam. I wonder occasionally where my friend Colleen ended up. Her father was also military and I think she went to college somewhere in Flordia, but that was the last I heard.

I keep in touch with a few people I knew from Southwest Texas State Univeristy but it's been for-evah since I saw some of them. Since we all went to the same Charismatic Christian church I think they would freak to know how I turned out. ;->

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

All my friends in Band ended were upperclassmen. The only people I was good friends with in my own grade were Jenn, Shannon, and Robert (and I lost touch with him when we moved to Ohio). I went to my 10th year reunion and enjoyed it - but of course, it was all about the "in" crowd, as usual. I've lost touch with everyone but Jenn and Shannon because no one who grew up in Miami wants to stay there and raise kids. That's an insane concept to us with all the crime, gangs, and drugs.

As for college, because I was married, I never got close to anyone in the music programs. Same with grad school.

I don't think I've driven anyone away or even wonder what they are all up to. I know they are out there making their own way just like I am. Our lives touched for a time and then they parted, like they were supposed to do at graduation. It's life for all of us who go through any kind of school system. I'm sure there are the exceptions out there who still stay in touch with each other but in general, I think the movie Romy and Michele's High School Reunion just about sums it up.

I do know, however, that Raul Midon is becoming quite the success and I'm very happy and proud to have known him when. :oD

[poltr1]

I remember seeing the entire flute section at the 20-year reunion. They're still a clique. :(

My sister and one of her friends from school -- elementary school and high school -- are still very close, even though they're thousands of miles apart. I envy that.