Friday, February 8, 2008

Twenty Years is a Long Time

I received a flyer in the mail for my upcoming twenty year reunion.

Did I just type that? Has it honestly been that long since I graduated from high school? I remember my mom going to hers and I thought "Man, she's old"!

But, I'm not sure if I'll be attending, yet. The cost is $60 per person. There is a 3-hour open bar so you know what that means??! Woo-hoo! Three hours of unlimited Diet Coke for me! I should have quite the caffeine buzz working as a result of consuming my favorite beverage all night. Seriously, I hate open bar. Two hours into any event with an open bar you can't have an intelligent conversation with at least half the people there. And, it's just not safe. People drink a little more responsibly when they empty their wallet after a few drinks, but when it is like an alcohol "buffet" that's another story.

Each of our reunions there is a memory book. It is contact information and a little blurb about what you've been doing the past 20 years. This question made me chuckle:

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I'm not sure if I could sum it up in a few sentences because this is what most people who haven't seen me in twenty years would be surprised to know:

  • I don't drink alcoholic beverages
  • I don't smoke
  • I'm faithful, physically and emotionally, to my husband
  • I don't curse like a drunken sailor
  • I don't judge people by outward appearance and say mean things
  • I love Jesus and being involved at my church
  • I love being a wife and mom
  • Pick a hair color, any hair color
  • Pick a weight between 125-203
  • I like playing and watching sports (watching my kids play sports, that is!)
  • I only listen to Christian music and Hannah Montana bubble-gum rock, with a little High School Musical thrown in
So, as you can see, a lot has changed (THANK YOU, GOD!!!). I still have some amazing friends (you know who you are!) and I would go to the reunion just to hang out with the few of them for the night! But, really the lonely, hurting girl I was twenty years ago is dead. In her place is a woman who knows Who she belongs to and who has a purpose in her life. Sometimes going back to those "memories" that defined you in high school is a painful place to go and I'm not sure if I'm up for it. But, it is the Big 20-year reunion, so I'll have to see. I'm just surprised I wasn't more excited about it.......

8 comments:

Mrs. C said...

My 20 year is this October. Hooray for the class of '88!

Livin' Life said...

Well at least you got some kind of invitation. A couple of years ago was my 10 year and they didn't even invite me. I heard about it through me sister. I guess I wasn't as popular as I thought.:)
Anyway I am right there with you, high school was so may bad memories I don't know if I could go back. Especially the whole drinking thing. That was a hang up for me in school.

Kelli said...

I like Melissa!!! (I particualrly can relate to the hair color thing. DO you knwo that Scarlett picks mine at the grocery store???)

purplemommy said...

Okay, I don't know you so I don't want you to take this wrong. You have changed for the better, right? So can you entertain the idea that many of your classmates have changed for the better as well? You claim to not be judgemental but have already decided that with an open bar all of your former classmates will be to drunk to have an intelligent conversation. I guess I'm saying that maybe you should go looking for the good changes in those around you and hoping they recognize the same good changes in you. I have to say I am being a little hypocritical in this because my 20 year is also this summer (haven't recieved an invite yet) and I am already judging people I haven't seen in 20 years. Perhaps I can look at the event in a new light as well.

Melissa said...

In response to Purple Mommy's comment: I specifically said "half the people there" and I was speaking from experience at weddings, holiday parties and past reunions. And, I am not judging anyone other than the person who puts others in danger by driving under the influence. What people choose to drink in the privacy of their own homes is up to them.

I'm also hoping I didn't give the impression of not caring for the people I went to school with, because that's not true, either. I absolutely agree many have changed for the better (most of us grow up at some point!).

My main reason I'm not sure I'll be going is that I feel many people will not attend because the price is too high (and, it is over Thanksgiving weekend) and I really don't need to spend $120 for my husband and I to hang out with the same friends I can see anytime!

Emily said...

I know what you are saying. I think the price to go to a reunion is way too expensive. The price is to just cover the open bar and when you don't drink, it really isn't worth it. I have issues with that too.

The Gang's Momma! said...

You don't even want to know what year my reunion would be. UGH. That may be the only proof we have that we are not, in fact, twins separated at birth. I did go to my 20th, had a blast re-connecting and mixing in the crowd in my grown-up, confident skin. I talked to everyone, remembered way more than most of them because I was sober (then and now!) and got to hear my ex-boyfriend's testimony of his salvation and meet his great new wife. It was a highlight of my summer actually. Not this summer, so don't try and guess :)

Anonymous said...

Ok I am the old timer here, I went to 25 year reunion recently and I totally understand where you are coming from. I have so changed from the girl I was in HS, and it's just hard to relate to a lot of my old gang. I still go each time, chat with everyone, laugh a lot, but stick to soda, and leaving early. But I also feel as if every time I go to a reunion God uses it in some way.

Oh and I can so relate to how crazy the cost is to attend, I usually go with another christian friend. It doesn't make sense to pay all that money for hubby to go and sit with a bunch of people he doesn't know, and he also doesn't drink.