25th HS Reunion

High School for many brings bubbling up from the past

 any number of mixed emotions.

When I allow myself to look back I can recall the jocks, 

the cool kids, the nerds and the mix of many who 

crossed into a few of those groups.

Different teachers and their classes 

stand out clear from the fog of memories.

My father was in the Canadian Armed Forces and

 we moved around a number of times in my youth.

One of those moves brought me

 to Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia.

It was Grade 8.

I walked into a school knowing no one else.

Friendships had been formed years ago for many

 of the other folks going to this school. 

It's a small community and they'd grown up together.

I was an outsider stepping into these circles.

It didn't always go smooth. A few stumbles along the way.

 A few lines drawn in the sand and no crossing it.

Friends were made.

Good solid amazing friendships.

I can look back thru time to my High school years 

and for the most part smile.

Silly moments are recalled. 

Laughter can erupt from me.

Gym class.

English class

Red and Grey Day.

Boy friends and heartaches

Girlfriends and sleep overs

Piercing and shaved heads

Acid wash jeans and Madonna

I was a part of this group from

 Grade 8 thru to Grade 11.

Then everything changed.

My father had finished his posting to Barrington and 

was being posted to his next place.

My family was moving to Summerside PEI.

WHAT?

OH NO WAY

I made plans to stay in Barrington so

 I could graduate with my friends.

No

My family said I was moving 

with them as a family.

Crushed

Teen rebellion soared out of me

The next year was a rough year on everyone.

I can look back now with the eyes of an adult and see it 

was the best thing to have happened.

At the time, I could hardly 

breathe anything but rage.

I stayed in touch with many of the school friends.
Hand written letters.Grad photos exchanged 

with me wearing green and gold 

instead of red and grey.

Over time, the letters from some friends 

became few and far between.
Life has a tendency to do that.

Marriages. Children. Divorces. All the many twists and turns

 that life can drop at your feet.

Social media platforms came into play and like happens, 

you type in every name you can recall and see if they are part of it. 

Friend requests are sent out. 

You begin a new level of old friendships.

You are able to steal glimpses of family life thru the bits and

 pieces that are shared via status updates and photo albums.

In what seems like a blink of the eye, 

25 years has passed.

A High School reunion gets talked about and then

 a group of them gather to start making plans.

Excitement builds. 

Nerves start to fluster about in my belly.

A few stumbling blocks pop up but are quickly 

swept away by friends.
I'm included in this reunion with no qualms from anyone.
I am part of this group no matter what colors I wore that final night.

I meet an old friend in town so we can travel to the reunion together. 

It's the perfect way to scatter the last of the nervous butterflies as

 we'll talk about everything on the road trip there. 

She was using me for courage and an ice breaker.

It was perfect.

Laughter occurs. 

Tales of teachers and classmates.

 Who's doing what now. 

We play catch up on our lives in the 2 hour

 drive it takes us to get there.

We randomly check the updates and see friends

 decorating the space for tonight.

Kathy is sweet enough to drive the back way into Barrington and

 we reminisce about living along the sea shore. 

Who lived in which home along the way.
Pulling up to the parking lot, this is the first thing we see...

and a night to remember begins.

Friends start filtering into the pub and shared moments of hugs, giggles and

 exchanges of different information begins.
Some faces I knew instantly.

Others brought about giggles when we asked who was who.

 So many memories flood to the surface. 

I haven't laughed this much in a very long time.
Sharing photos taken from the night

..... some mine... some from others.

A series of photos that forever will fill my heart

with happiness and laughter when gazed upon.

Games of pool are played....

A few rounds of shots happen....

A night to remember always begins....

This photo of my friend Doug and I 

wraps the whole array of  feelings

from the evening up for me...

happiness

silliness

friendship

no amount of time

blessed

I am so very glad that I was able to attend and take part

in such a fun crazy night. The laughter still vibrates around my heart.
Those that planned this and made it happen....I thank you.
You all did an incredible job and should be proud.

Those that attended, I thank you as well.

You gave me incredible memories of continued friendships.

I loved seeing every one of you.

Those that weren't able to join us, you missed a magical night and were sorely missed.

Fingers crossed you all will be able to join us the next time around.