Blast From The Past

This last weekend, an old friend of mine got married in Seattle. I've known about Lisa's wedding for a long time and as soon as she made her announcement, I knew I wanted to be there for it...even though it was scheduled soon after our move and even though attending meant a very lengthy road trip to justify the expense of travelling to Washington State for two separate events only weeks apart.

Lisa has always been a special friend to me. My earliest friend memory with her was performing in the school talent show in second grade. She and I and two other girls performed a little dance on the sidelines to the song Eye Of The Tiger while four boys pretended to box ( Yes...I was cool even back then;). Growing up in the same neighborhood meant lots and lots of sleepovers on her lush waterbed, after school coffee cake, rocking out to Bon Jovi in her basement, figuring out what we both of us actually knew after watching "the film" in fifth grade during our walk home, goofing off in French class, going to the lake, camping and posing and dancing and dressing up....all the memories any girl should have in her life.

Because it was her wedding, I didn't get much of a chance to talk or spend time with Lisa. Watching her glow with her new husband at her side and talking to her parents, her sister and being surrounded by a room full of people who loved her too was compensation enough. As an added perk, some other old friends who I haven't seen since our high school reunion were there as well. Although I never once hesitated in thought or deed when deciding to attend the wedding alone, it was very nice to have a group of familiar faces to sit and laugh with during the reception.

Lisa and Kent repeat their vows.

Lisa's father, Bob, sings a sweet folksy-type song to his daughter and new son-in-law.


Their cake. It was delicious.

A candy bar. Brilliant!

I didn't have a great time at my ten-year high school reunion. I was, very unfortunately, in charge of planning the whole thing (who really thinks of that when deciding to run for senior class president? I just had a great speech idea (I sat at a piano in a sky blue tuxedo and did a night club act - you know, talking and singing intermittently. It was a hit) and though it'd look good on a college resume. I was NOT thinking ten years down the road). It was not fun planning get together for a couple hundred people I had lost track of from long distance, all the while taking care of my newborn. As a result, I didn't have much time or brain capacity to carry on meaningful conversations with some of my favorite former classmates.

However, I have great, great memories with this entire group. It's so easy....too easy....to lose touch with old friends. Truthfully, I feel like all I've done so far in life is create of trail of long-distance friendships and my old school friends are, sadly, that much further in my past and the memories with them that much more faded.


I probably won't see any of them again until our twenty-year high school reunion, but spending one evening with them, laughing, remembering and introducing our adult selves to each other was worth every effort.

Me and Becky. We had some dang good times in volleyball and other random gatherings. The best part of talking to an old friend is getting to hear their memories. I had forgotten some great stories.


Emily, Kasey, Lisa, MaryPat, Me and Becky.

Love you, Lisa! Congratulations to you and Kent.