Wednesday, November 28, 2007

See Mommy at the Reunion

It's been too long since I've written. Last Friday night I had my high school reunion. I will admit that I really worried about how I'd look. I was pretty average in high school and am still pretty average so what was I worried about? I will also admit that I HATE to shop and had to go to the stores 3 times and ended up wearing something out of the closet. I had a baby 11 months ago and had not tried anything on in while. My Mom came through with a suggestion of a red dress she remembered and oh miracle, it fit. I got on a plane in KY at 1pm, got to Boston at 5pm, my sister's house to change at 6:30 pm and before that stopped at TJ Maxx to find one of those slimmer panty deals I've been hearing about. No luck there, but some good control top. Did I mention that I left Boston 20 years ago and it seems most of my classmates did not? I had all the turmoil you might think about seeing people after all these years. My hair felt too blond (I was light brown in high school). It was great to see my sister. She and her roommate made me feel good as I trouced out the door wearing heels I've not worn in 13 years (my husband is my height-- no heels w/him). I navigated my way to the hotel and met my brother in the parking lot. He graduated a year before me and sees these people regularly. My best friend since I was 4 years old (the yoga queen) also met me there and boy, was it strange. I walked in and there were two tables set up. I almost attended another high school's graduation till our event person saw me and called me over. For the first hour I was absolutely dizzy with hugs and old faces at the door. It took me that long to get inside. I graduated with 700. We had a good showing. As the night wore on and I got my eyes full -- so much came to me. First, it was so not about what we looked like now. It was who we were then.

I was a non-gossipy, friendly person in high school with nothing for anyone to ever be jealous about. People were happy to see me and I was happy to see them. As a generality- the ladies looked great and the men were a bit bald/chubby. But that also was pretty irrelevant. I remember thinking you can tell who works out and who has not. There was one guy who is now a police officer who clearly works out, but he was one of just a few. The ladies on the other hand- walked, did yoga, hit the gym..... When I was in high school I walked a lot out of sheer necessity to get where I was going and not for exercise. Also, I made sure to attend the Red Sox game that took place on Patriots Day in April (did you know Patriots Day is only Massachusetts?- I did not until 1990). That same day is the Boston Marathon and I would get with some friends and watch the runners come in. At that time in my life I would have thought I'd be a more likely candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize and never a Marathon finisher.

One of the things that hit me most was what you told people about yourself. I first mentioned my Army husband, my 4 children, my service in the Army and not at all that I am a lawyer and once jumped out of airplanes for a hobby. It is all about being a wife/Mommy for me and it felt so good to really be proud of those things. I really am so happy to be able to love on my family. I think being 43 is so great. I'm so much more comfortable than ever before.

Another good deal-- my husband got my 11 month old to sleep through the night (I was only gone for 13 hrs) and now she is doing it each night. It is a good thing I did not teach him how to nurse before I left. Now I'm sleeping through the night too! Did I mention that I came in at 2AM to my Dad's house and felt like a naught teenager. I flew back home at 0530 and in my families arms by noon. Ahhh, what a great time.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Revisiting the past is nerve-wracking...oh heck, I'm trying to think of something to say, but darned if you didn't already say it all.
What I want to know is this: Just how in the world did your husband get the baby to sleep during the night???

Trice said...

I'm sure he just did not wake up. I hear everything and cannot let her cry in there. All the others slept with me and at one time or another fell off the bed. I'm so afraid of this squirmy one falling that she's in a crib. My two middle ones are still coming into our bed so it is a bit crowded anyhow :)

Trice

SeeMommyRunandBoxandCraft said...

YOU ROCK! I truly enjoyed reading this blog.

I did not make it to my 20 year high school reunion last year due to giving birth the week prior. However, I had visions of how it would go. Nightmares maybe. A few months ago I was invited to a mini reunion with the other cheerleaders from high school. Yep, I was a cheerleader - but also a HUGE REBEL and went against the grain and never fit in. It was a pleasant surprise that we did not all immediately put on our old personas. We are well-rounded, successful adults despite our smalltown, miserable little high school full of cliques and bullies.

So, mine was a completely different high school experience. But thank goodness, like you, we grow and change and find our own place!!!!

carla said...

I love this post and have read it a few times...its all about being comfortable with who you are huh?

Carla

Trice said...

Hi Carla,

Yes, but it is also the road getting there. You have to travel it to be comfortable and then you're there. I wish I had a secret of how. Some things never change though- I still can be a child when I talk to my Mom :)

Best,
Trice

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say *sniff* that I love you guys.