10 Years...

For a long time now, I have been eagerly anticipating my 10 year class reunion… about 10 years, I guess! It's funny, because I was definitely not a social butterfly in high school. If I'm going to get really honest here, I was a dork… geek… nerd… whatever. But for some reason I have always felt kind of connected to the people I graduated with, and I really wanted to see them again.

When it came time for our 5 year reunion, I was all ready to go. Except, as it turned out, we made our move to Iowa over that weekend, and I had to be resolved to waiting another five years. At the time it seemed like forever.

I pretty much lost contact with everyone until the last year or so when many of us connected via myspace or facebook, or by some other virtual means. I have thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with people, and my anticipation grew.

Then, this weekend, it was finally time…

On Friday night, Phil and I went out to the 'ol high school for the last Varsity football game. Well… scratch that. Actually, we went out to the new high school, because the school I graduated from no longer exists as a school. The new school is incredible, and the new field is very nice, but I can't say that either stirred any old memories, because I'd never been there before! I wore my class of '97 sweatshirt, hoping that someone I knew might recognize it. I have no idea what possessed me to order a size L, because I was tiny in high school, but this weekend I was glad I did, because at least it fit… Anyway, by halftime, we were relatively sure that I was the lone dork from my class, sitting out in the freezing rain, watching high school students with numbers on their varsity jackets as high (or low) as "10" running by. Let me just take a moment to mention that the jackets made me feel rather old, and I'm quite sure that if any of them noticed my sweatshirt, they felt that I was rather old, as well. We snapped a quick pic. and left before we had to endure the marching band's halftime show…

We went under the new overpass, past the vacant lot on which the Oasis used to stand, right by the Speedway that used to have gas for $0.82/gallon, and stopped at the new Gus' to munch some breadsticks and the new Target, on the corner, to do a little shopping.

Saturday evening was the actual reunion. Over the past few weeks I had heard from several people who were not going to be there and a few who were. Phil and I talked about the people that he might remember from my class, and we talked about the people I really wanted to see and even a few that I probably didn't. And even though I was really excited to be going, I started to feel a little on the nervous side. Let's face it, by the time we actually got to the parking lot I was feeling… well… a lot like I might have felt in high school. And that's not so good…

We, of course, went in anyway. We had paid $80.00 for this event, after all… Another quick aside… Reunions are expensive! They are just about as bad as wedding receptions, and the food isn't any better, but I suppose there will be more on that in a moment…

We were a little on the early side, and the only people there were the people who had been planning the reunion. That was fine with me, because it gave me a few minutes to compose myself before having to remember a whole bunch of names. There was nothing overwhelming about our entrance. I, of course, started pulling pics. of the kids out of my wallet, almost immediately. I think I was the only person there with "hard copies" of pics. Almost everyone else was just flipping open their cell phones to show off their kids. I do not have a camera phone, but, really, how many times can I write, "dork" in one post…

It wasn't long before more people started arriving. Someone noticed that there was no music, but all we had to offer were a couple of preschool cassettes, so that wasn't very helpful. I guess someone with CDs eventually showed up, because the whole night didn't go by in silence. I thought there was going to be a DJ, but again, it probably worked out better for us that there wasn't. I cannot dance… at all.

There were less than 25 total alumni, which was a pretty disappointing turn out. However, I got to see several old friends that I hadn't seen in years, which was fun. When everyone sat down to eat, we were completely alone, which was a little awkward, but Beth and Brian came and rescued us, and we enjoyed our dinner with them.

Again, let me take that back. We enjoyed them. I'm not sure anyone really enjoyed the dinner. If anyone from my class is reading this, I hope that they will not take offense. We are very picky eaters when it comes right down to it. We just like our meat… well… cooked, ya know? I am also a huge fan of mashed potatoes, but I do not think it is natural to mix in little pieces of ham. The pasta was pretty good. It tasted a bit like Chef Boyardee, but I'm really not complaining. I have four children, seven and under. Chef Boyardee is alright. We were all a little offended when they took our rolls away, but I wasn't beyond retrieving them, so that turned out OK, too…

After dinner, we had the chance to sit and talk with several other people, and it was really a good time. It's funny, but when you stop to look back on how things were ten years ago, you have to laugh at the whole clique factor. I felt completely comfortable with almost everyone there, and it was actually a bit surprising to me how easy it was to just talk to people. I'm not going to say that it didn't take me a little while to "warm up". That's just part of my personality. But I had a lot of fun. In fact, I had so much fun that I really didn't want to go when Phil's mom called at 9:30 to let us know that Ian was inconsolable and I had to come feed him before he woke the entire neighborhood!

As it turned out, leaving when we did was probably in our favor, as well. The only really awkward moment I had all night came as we were getting ready to exit and I ran into one of those people who would have made the aforementioned "People I'd Rather Not Run Into" list. I said, "hello", got a mumbled, "hi" in return, and away we went.

That's the reunion, in a nutshell. But, like nearly everything else in life, it got me thinking. I think what it really comes down to is this: community is really important! It's ironic, but after spending time with just a few old friends from a very long time ago, I realized that there really is a connection there that you can't just form over a short period of time. These are people that I spent every single day with for months on end, school year after school year. Some of those relationships go all the way back to the second grade for me! That's Seth's age now! Maybe I'm just feeling sentimental, but I believe that there is something important about the friendships you make as a child. I think that the people you grow up with are more likely to understand who you really are, because there's just a whole lot of history there.

We noticed something else, too, that we really appreciated. Often, when you get in a social situation and the people you are with realize that you're in ministry, the whole mood shifts. You can just be carrying on a normal conversation, and someone says, "What do you do?" And Phil says, "I'm a pastor." And suddenly these sensors start going off all over the place. You know the ones… beep… beep… beep… and these little red lights start flashing. Then everybody clams up… and looks for a quick place to hide their beers… and starts apologizing for their language. You see this defensive wall come up, and then they make their "escape" from your presence at the earliest possible moment, conspicuous or not. I really have a difficult time wrapping my mind around this phenomenon, but it really does happen. It didn't happen at my reunion, however, and I thought that was great. Again, maybe it has something to do with the fact that these people have known me for a very long time. Heaven knows they, of all people, realize that I have not lived a perfect life, and somehow they realize that neither I, nor my husband, are going to pull out a 75 pound Bible and start beating them with it or anything like that. It was kind of nice to feel like normal people…

Which brings me to a humorous realization I had. When you are hanging out with people who are drinking, you just drink more. In our case, we were drinking water. I think I must have gone through several gallons, and I had to pee all night. It's probably a good thing I don't drink alcohol, because I would have been beyond drunk!

One more concept, and then I'm out… I have recently heard from a few people who felt like they would be uncomfortable at the reunion because they haven't accomplished what they set out to accomplish in life. After spending an evening with the few alumni who dared to show up, I think I realized that most everyone is in the same position. I know of just a couple of people who have actually "accomplished" the goals they had in high school. I honestly think it's amazing and to be commended. However, maybe the rest of us just weren't meant for the goals we had back then. There is something to growing up and finding a different purpose in life than you ever intended. At the beginning of the evening, I felt a bit tongue-tied when people asked what I'd been doing for the past decade. At some point, Phil pulled me aside and told me it was OK to tell them what we've been doing. This made me laugh, on the inside, because I realized that I have been doing something. In fact, I've been doing a whole lot of "something". I just had to step back and switch gears from the "Where I Thought I'd Be in 10 Years" mode to the "This is How it Really Happened, and it's All Good" mindset. If I've ever felt sorry for myself (which I have, but only rarely), it's been stupid. Life didn't necessarily turn out how I thought it would, but I am very, very happy… and very, very blessed, I might add, nonetheless…

I have recently been listening to the new Caedmon's Call CD, Overdressed. Now, I love Caedmon's, and quite frankly, they could put out trash, and I'd still buy their recordings, but it is uncanny how their music has mirrored our life so closely… and I mean every single release. When I got this new album, I wasn't sure I liked it… gasp! But then I realized that it was because it reflected where we were at in life… again… and I wasn't sure I was altogether satisfied with that. After a great deal of reflection on both life… and the album… I like them both a great deal. Below are the lyrics for "Sacred". They apply very directly to my own current place in life, but I think the chorus (in bold) applies to everybody…

this house is a good mess
it's the proof of life
no way would I trade jobs
but it don't pay overtime
i'll get to the laundry
i don't know when
i'm saying a prayer tonight
'cause tomorrow it starts again

could it be that everything is sacred
and all this time
everything I've dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

the children are sleeping
but they're running through my mind
the sun makes them happy
and the music makes them unwind
my cup runneth over
and i worry about the stain
teach me to run to You
like they run to me for every little thing

'cause everything is sacred
and all this time
everything I've dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

when I forget to drink from you
i can feel the banks harden
Lord, make me like a stream to feed the garden

wake up, little sleeper
the Lord, God Almighty
made your Mama keeper so rise and shine
rise and shine

'cause everything is sacred
and all this time
everything I've dreamed of
has been right before my eyes

Thanks for Reading!

Lisa

P.S. I volunteered to be a part of planning the next reunion. I think this will be a whole lot of fun!

P.P.S. I didn't take nearly enough pics: