Barbecue, Tequila and Good Memories

Last night I had dinner with two people I had not seen in over 25 years.
Over barbecue and Diabetes-inducing margaritas we laughed, gasped, told some ancient secrets and reconnected. It was lovely.

I couldn't help thinking how different my current life is from its beginning trajectory. I ALSO remembered how much I viscerally hated my High School years. They were vile. And violent. I dropped out halfway through my Sr. year and did not look back... not once--despite the recurring nightmare that I had until the end of my thirties where I was a full grown adult sitting in 5th Period. When I accquired my GED, I fled.

I made the mistake, as so many youngun's do, of throwing out what was then the scalding bathwater with the baby. Youth makes us all do some dramatic things, but some of them I regret. I would have liked to have become closer with some of the people (few, mind you, but they were there) who made those years bearable and who were fun.
The 25th Reunion is around the corner and while I will not be going (70 bucks to go BACK to High School and no open bar??? Clear, please...), I will be visiting friends individually when I go back to see family.

Due to Facebook, I have managed to reconnect with a handful of them and I am profoundly grateful. Last night brought it home. In the diaspora from youth to adulthood we fling so much away from us out of fear that it will pierce us, but later on--after we have FINALLY calmed the hell down, we realize that we want much of it back. Say what you want about "The Modern Era", but it has done that; brought much of it back. Overwhelming gratitude and humility on my part as a result. It's nice to know that fiberoptics may be knocking Wolfe's theory on its ass. It seems that you can go home again.

:)