Day 5: Reunion

This morning, I reunited with my best friend from high school (and beyond) after a 10-year “pause” in our best-friendship.

Life, ya know?

We picked up right where we left off, with silly one-liners slipping between giggles like we were 18 again.

It is a testament, I believe, to the depth of our friendship. But high school was just like that back in the ‘80’s. We didn’t have distractions; we had interactions that led to memories burned into our memories and our hearts.

I think of my own seniors that I teach today, and I want to ask them:

“What do you believe will be the things you remember from high school in 43 years?”

I’m curious about what they may say (seriously, that might be their first daybook prompt when we return from Spring Break).

Anyway, the hours flew by as we reminisced and caught up on what we are reading and writing. We said goodbye with the shared promise to not wait another 10 years.

I don’t think that will be a concern; we already have an agenda for our next gathering to talk about the processes involved in effecting change with elected officials at the local, state, and national levels.

What made this reunion even more special to me is that I visited our high school theater teacher yesterday. We talked about the shows we did and the memorable moments that defined our own experiences so many years ago.

But again – it all seemed like yesterday.

When I step back from these reunions and remind myself that I have been on the other side of the teacher’s desk for nearly 40 years, the passage of time seems ethereal.

Returning to the classroom next week will bring it all full circle, as I carry with me the memories on that high school stage with my teacher in front of me and my best friend beside me.

And in Room 108, tucked neatly in the center of our hallway named International Way, the past, present, and future will merge into a new memory for those who embrace the interactions and abandon the distractions.