The Paths from High School

Today is my 30th High School reunion in MO. I am in TN.

I have only kept up with a handful of the people I knew in school.

Sometimes I wonder what the cement of our friendships was back then. Different personalities, different values, different interests. Yet for some reason we were friends.

In thinking more about it, most of those friendships were ones began in elementary school. Perhaps they were friendships of habit. We were all we had. Our young worlds were very small.

In High School our worlds were becoming larger and we began to gravitate towards likeminded people. Most of my high school friendships were forged through common interests – largely drama and medical. We spoke each other’s language. Some elementary school friends drifted away and new people filled the gaps.

Then we graduated. And that is where our paths split off like bursts of a huge firework explosion.

Some friends’ worlds never changed from where they were in high school – save adding spouses and children to the mix. Some friends’ worlds became very focused on their careers; in essence they became their careers with little room for others. Some friends dropped off the map; their time in public school and our small town something they wanted to put as far behind them as they could. And a few friends, sadly, left this world…

My world expanded beyond what I ever thought.

There are a few relationships I wish I had worked much harder to maintain. People who were special to me and slipped away with life’s busyness. Paul was recently found on Facebook. I was so happy to hear how he has been doing. He’s gone from a rock-n-roll band to a praise band. He was one of those elementary friends… what a love/hate relationship it was! LOL

Strange thing tho, most of those I regret not keeping up with were in the class below me. My best friend – tho I didn’t realize it at the time – was Patrick. He was always there and always caring. At the time I didn’t realize what I took for granted.  Youth is so self-centered.  Thankfully I found him again thru Facebook. A lot of water has passed under the bridge but it is good knowing where he is. Paul and Jeanne and Bill… I wish I could find them.

Maybe I’ll crash next year’s reunion instead!

But today I am in Tennessee participating in a mission project with friends. I don’t think it is by chance both events fell on the same day.

This is my world now.