Some Good Advice

It was last summer that I attended my 20 year high school reunion, and I did so with some anxiety and trepidation as I think pretty much most people do. At least that's what I can tell from the reports of friends and family.  Those of us who do attend generally enjoy it once we're there but let's face it, going can make you nervous. Unless of course you're my husband and then it's nothing but happy.  He really does have an awesome class - Oly '88!  Even I had a ball at his reunion because I love those guys so much.  And that brings me to my point.  If you want to go to a class reunion and having nothing but a good time because you're not facing any of your own history or past issues, I have some good advice: go to someone else's!!

I bring this up because last night I attended a really fun class reunion that wasn't my own....nor was it my husband's.  Is that weird?  To many people, yes.  Let's face it, not many people are okay to go out on a date with an old guy friend once they're married but for me, it's no big deal.  I was lucky enough to have in my life the perfect "boy next door" story, his name is also Troy, and he is a very near and dear part of my life. He let me know that he would be coming in to town to attend his reunion but that his sweet wife, whom I adore perhaps even more than I do him, would not be able to join him and asked if I would go instead.  Maybe that would still be weird except for the fact that there are probably 25 more people from his class than my own whom I love and am close to. I do have friends from my own class, of course, but I'm much closer to his.  So, I went! (For the record, I'd also love to hit an East High '89 sometime...but I don't have a next-door-neighbor to take me to that one.)

I admit to feeling a little foolish when I first arrived.  Perhaps I should have felt foolish when I was first picked up...by a boy...to whom I was not married...but no, that was fine.  Troy drove a snazzy little convertible (he borrowed it from his mom) and we cruised through the city trying to locate the correct Marriott hotel.  That was fun.  But getting there I did feel a little lllaaaammmmeee but I felt much better after a few really happy hugs from friends and a chuckle from Kenton who said, "Of course Troy brought you.  Who else would he bring?"  And I just got to hang out chatting the night away with dear old friends, without a single weird old picture of me in the slide show, without a single mention of me here or there - I just got to be there and enjoy.  Loved it.  You really need to try it.  Many thanks to the first Troy in my life and his generous-hearted wife for letting me be a part of a really fun evening.

Not the best shot ever ...but....let's chalk it up to the camera
and not to the looming 40th birthday, okay?