So it is 2017, and that means that I graduated from High School 20 years ago. If anything could make my heart jump a bit it would be the realization that I have been out of high school for more years than I was actually attending school. Around the beginning of the summer I got the little idea that it would be amazing if my drama friends all got together. I didn't really have any interest in the actual reunion and I honestly already see most of the people that I want to from my high school days, yet I don't often see many of my amazing drama club friends. I got a lukewarm response at first. I think everyone was interested, but no one wanted to settle on a date or really commit. The one person who seemed the most into it was Nicole. When the official date of the reunion was announced she asked if we should plan something for the night before. I didn't get back to her right away. When I opened up the dialogue again I said we could have dinner at my house, even if it was just me and Nicole, but then the whole thing came together and everyone was in. Tyler flew in from Philadelphia, Stef came from L.A., and Nicole came from St. George. I was even able to get ahold of Tyson, who has always been hard to get in touch with. I couldn't believe how easy it was to just pick a date and then make it all happen. It really felt like it was meant to be. The date that we chose happened to fall on a night that Rusty had a play so we all made plans to do dinner and then the play, and then everyone came over to my house to hang out.
I was so darn excited for the night, I could barely take it. Tiffany and I drove together and walked to the restaurant. Excitedly I went around and greeted everyone. It was like no time had passed. Ian was there, which was a bit strange for me. Obviously I had invited him, but he had not confirmed if he was coming. He was certainly in the drama crowd, but I more remember him from a totally different time of my life so that was a bit unsettling for me at first. But we are cool these days and I was happy to see him, as always. Tiff and I were the last to arrive and it didn't take me long to realize I had left my glasses in the car. So I made Tyler drive me back to my car, because I had worn the wrong shoes and already I had five of the worst blisters ever. Anyway, once we got back and settled we all went around and talked about our lives these days. And it was interesting to me that I pretty much knew all the stories. It just shows how I'm really the only person who tries to keep track of everyone. I just kept looking around and I couldn't believe we were all together. And I swear we don't look old. I guess it is just me, but I really don't think any of us look our age.
Rusty's play was only a few blocks away so we all walked there together. We got to the theater and took our seats. The play was extremely silly but Rusty was super great in it. It doesn't surprise me that he is the only one of us who still acts in his adult life. He was the only really naturally talented one of all of us. I was never a good actress--I just liked being on stage. Anyway, my face hurt from smiling so much.
Everyone was able to make the trek back to my house. I am not sure what time it was when we got there, but most everyone stayed at my house until at least 1AM. It was a late night. It got all warm and snuggly as we went around and shared how much we all had meant to each other at that crazy time in our lives. It was so amazing to see how we all had seemed to really need each other. Our friendships were so genuine and honest. Honestly I don't even think I would have been sad about graduating from HS if it wasn't for these guys. They made my days so fun. We would spend several classes in a row in the drama room just hanging out and being hilarious. And appreciating how funny we all thought each of the others were. That was one thing I really loved about us--we laughed so much together and it was so great.
It was so special to see how 20 years later we still have such great feelings about our times together. I had forgotten how funny Mistie was, how big Rusty's personality was, how calming and sincere Bricky was back then, how energetic Tyler was, and how much I loved being around Stef and Tyson. It was so so so so fun!
Nikole (there are two Nicoles) brought some of her scrapbook pages and it was funny to see pictures at our theater conference in St. George from my junior year of HS. I realized over the course of the weekend that I had really blocked out a lot from that year. It didn't start so great. But it was at that conference that I realized I was making great friendships and getting to know all of the fun drama kids. Especially Tyson--he made me laugh so hard on that trip.
Most of the group left at 1am, but several more stayed later. By the end of the night Nicole and Bree were pretty sure they were going to go to the real reunion the next day, but I still wasn't feeling like I needed to. My major hesitation was that when I went on the reunion Facebook page I hardly recognized anyone. And I couldn't imagine seeing anyone there that would even remember me that I don't already see in my regular life. But as Bree and Nicole discussed it I realized that I felt like if I didn't go I would miss out on a really fun night with my friends. There was also talk from Bliss, who was on the planning committee, that they are going to tear our school down. I couldn't get over how fun it would be to just walk around those halls again with my friends, so I decided: what the heck. And that was that.
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