The Perfect Reunion

I admit...I was a bit nervous to attend my 10 year high school reunion. I had heard several people's accounts of their reunion experience and some of them weren't too positive. There was the girl who was promised by her best friend that she'd show up at the reunion and her friend failed to show. And there was the class who failed to let go of their high school cliche's even after 10 years. I didn't know what to expect.

I'm a single mom who didn't finish college; what could I brag about that I had accomplished in the past decade? What would I say when my former classmates asked me what I did for a living? Would I embellish my occupation? Would I make excuses why I hadn't accomplished more?

I realized that wasn't me. So I simply asked my best friend of about 15 years who went to high school with me to accompany me to the reunion. Being the great friend that she is, she agreed. A couple days before the reunion, I asked myself a question: "Are you happy with who you are today?" My answer was yes. This answer made me much more confident as the time of the reunion drew near.

The day of the reunion, I made a point to address all of my former classmates and tell them hi. Our small class embraced each other and it was as if time stood still except this time there was no drama or criticism. We talked, we laughed and we reminisced until late in the evening. We didn't want the night to end; we even said that we wanted to make this reunion every 5 years instead of an entire decade.

As I went home that night, I thanked God for who I had become. I may not have earned a BA or a Masters; and I'm not married, but I have a love for God, a love for my son and a wonderful job that allows me to provide for and spend time with my boy and for that I am eternally grateful.

Not only did this reunion help me gain an appreciation for myself and where I am at this point in my life, it also gave me an opportunity to build life long friendships; the kind that endures way past a decade. And may the next ten years bring each of us success, joy and most importantly...closer to God.