There was talk of everyone's high school reunions back in the Spring but I hadn't heard anything about my own, so I figured we weren't having one. Val was super pumped about going to hers for Boone. Meanwhile, Dustin and Katie wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Flagler-Palm Coast's reunion. I've definitely noticed everyone is at one end or the other - either you are all for it or you never want to see those people again. I'm nostalgic to my core so of course I'd want to go to my own. I mean, I went to our tenth.
And then in May, during the annual graduation chaos I noticed so many "Class of 2023" cards and signs. I don't know how many times I did a double take as I passed by those aisles during that month. I kept seeing "2003" every damn time.
Months went by without a peep and then out of no where Robby popped up to let us know it was in the works. He gave us a date in mid-August and I immediately put it on my calendar so I didn't schedule anything else. As the details rolled in I slid into everyone's DMs. Joanne and I were both on board right away ("I'll go if you go!") which was already so exciting since we keep in touch but haven't actually hung out in forever. Then I messaged some others in hopes they were attending too. Most were meh about it but I'd like to think it was my nudge that got a couple to come. I mean what's one Saturday night out to reminisce with old pals while screaming "OHHHH THREEEE"?
Joanne and I caught up for a bit in her car and then we decided to go into Bar Louie at 7 PM on the dot. We weren't quite sure where it was but when we saw the red balloons in the back we assumed that must be us. There were only about a handful of people so far. We filled out our name tags and I wrote my first name (common AF) and my maiden name (forgot she even existed - I, too, needed a reminder of who Ashtray Slayers was). We had a semi-private room with access to the outside porch. It was a really cute set-up. I liked that there was no charge and we were all just on our own for food and drinks. I feel like the more casual the more people are willing to show up. I know we live in the information/social-media age and can pretty much find out what anyone is up to with a few clicks, but actually having a conversation with them in person is a whole other thing. It's so much more personal, more intimate, and just a hell of a lot more fun. There's something special about hearing someone's voice or laugh. I so loved the in real life human connection and of course all of the reminiscing.
The way the school looked when we were there. The jobs we had. The cars we drove.
The houses we grew up in.
The teachers. The classes. The times we skipped.
The people we hated. The people we dated. The little moments that helped shape us.
It was great to catch-up and find out what everyone is up to these days. But I still hate the "What do you do for work?" question. AND I EVEN CATCH MYSELF ASKING IT. Ugh. It's so ingrained into us all that what we do for money is the best thing about us; no offense but it's the last thing I care about when I'm talking to someone. Just recently I had someone whom I just met ask me "What do you do with your time?", which I thought was a great alternative because you could of course answer with your employment status but you could also answer in a million other ways. So I'm going to try to use that line instead from now on. Maybe it's just me and my enneagram four self but work is like small talk. Let's get into the deep shit. Let's talk about your divorce or the time you had to go to the hospital. We can tell each other about the friend fall-outs we've had or how great it is to finally have boundaries with our boomer parents and what lead us there. Show me photos of your pets and give me their full legal names but also the 100 nicknames you have for them. Brag about that person you're dating or the new thing you just learned how to do. Have a Barbie moment and ask me if I ever think about dying. (Yes, I do - every day.)
The night was filled with so much love. So many laughs! AND SO MUCH GODDAMN SWEAT. The heat and humidity were out of control, and as cute as we all looked, we were also just as gross and sticky. I had to dab my face with a tissue. I drank several glasses of water over 3+ hours and never had to pee once which says it all. Fucking Florida. We gathered around the outside ceiling fan for some kind of breeze which kind of helped.
Thank you all for coming. It was great seeing old friends and talking to wonderful people I only knew of in high school. I hope it's not another 10 years before we all get together again. Sure high school is the history we share but I also love the present day, really-been-through-some-shit and still going, almost 40 year olds I hung out with a couple weekends ago too.
Until next time friends!
The morning of the reunion I really just dove head first into the pool of nostalgia and slowly went through all my yearbooks page by page like the day I got each one. I had to snap some digital photos and share with friends because it's what I do. I still laugh every time I read Nick's quote about working at Planet Smoothie which was across the street from EHS at the time. I remember seeing him out there! I remember when he and I worked together at Panera too!
'
We never go out of style
99% of my wardrobe was Old Navy with a sprinkle of American Eagle and Gap. I wore Reef flip flops religiously all throughout and for a time after. I got glasses in 8th grade but only wore them when I wanted to. It wasn't until my Junior year that I became a full-time four eyes girlie. Towards the end of high school it was more band shirts, plastic frames, and converse - which is not terribly far off from how I still dress.
Life is just a classroom
I was a great student in classes I loved (history, art, photography, english, interior design) or when I had teachers I loved, but I struggled in all math classes. I'm pretty sure I skipped Geometry more than any other class ever. The proof is in my yearbook where both Jason and Kelly (pictured below) mentioned I was never there. If I was there I assure you it was only because of you two.
Talking over a football game with that same big loud opinion
I never went to a single pep rally, even though I would wear red every Friday, so I could get out of class early to pretend that's where I was going. I went to a handful of football games in four years. The only really remember the away games - the annual rival game against Boone (I went with Val!), the Citrus Bowl game (also against Boone I think). Oh and the state championship game, that we lost, in Gainesville in 2004.
You used to work at to make a little money
I got my first job four months after turning 16 in the Fall of 2001. I wanted so badly to work at Old Navy or Barnes and Noble but Panera was where I landed thanks to Val. I loved that dumb little job. I mostly worked in the bakery or at the register because I couldn't be trusted not to cut myself on line duty. I even got employee of the month three months in! I made so many new friends - Erica, Jess, Danielle, James, Chris, Nick T., etc. I also worked with a lot of friends I grew up with - Val, Mel, & Nick. I was there for a year before coming across an ad in my Business class from a law firm which was the move that really changed my life. It's where I met my boo and it's when I learned I loved administrative work.
Now I'm feeling hopeless, ripped up my prom dress
I went to exactly two school dances - my Freshman homecoming and my Junior prom. Oh and I did tag along with my Boone friends for Polyester Paradise our Sophomore year. I'm glad I had those experiences but I don't regret not going to every single one.
In a separate yet weirdly related story, I found four disposable cameras when I cleaned out my mom's house after the flood. I brought them back to my house in a Vans shoebox and forgot about them. Then I found them again and made it my mission to get them developed ASAP. I picked them up days before the reunion and one roll just so happened to contain very pink photos (which can happen when film is old and not stored properly) from my high school graduation party; a party that I forgot ever even happened. I find it so interesting that I got to see these photos of a big milestone in my life for the first time right before another. Unfortunately these are the only photos that came out at all but I'm glad I now have them. Go get those disposable cameras/random film developed. If you're in Orlando area Colonial Photo & Hobby is the place to go.
